<23 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo] Before he knew it, the sun was in the sky. Theo had been very busy. The dwarves were dead set on getting as much of the basement carved out as possible. Theo's role was to fill his pouch with the massive eight-by-eight-by-eight blocks and then haul them up to the surface and unload them.

Kreldar had plans for the basement to be twenty feet tall, so there was still four feet of work that would have to be done after pulling out two eight-foot-tall blocks. Kreldar's solution to this was to pull the upper layer of large blocks first, then mine another four feet upwards, and then cut a ledge that a dwarf could stand on. They then put their best miner up there and let him go to work.

Now, several hours later, there were three dwarves, using their quarrying skills, two working on the ramp, Kreldar was overseeing, and the remaining three were happily mining away. Ordus was just being generally helpful and keeping an eye on Julia and Sylvi.

By the time a strange horn summoned them up to the surface, it was lunch, and Theo had to squint at the bright light.

Theo checked the timer as Julia and Sylvi walked up.

Time to Primordial Flight: 28H - 42M - 34S

[Theo and Julia] "What was that?" Julia asked.

"I don't know," Theo said.

"It's a Dwarven horn," Kreldar said, looking in the direction which the sound came from. He pointed, "Look."

Theo and Julia looked, and there was the dwarf they had sent off earlier, along with another dwarf leading a rather strange creature that was pulling a cart.

"That must be the food," Julia said, and Kreldar nodded as they all took a short break while the two dwarves and the creature made their way up to the group.

The dwarf they had sent away stepped up to Kreldar and spoke rapidly. Kreldar nodded and turned to Theo and Julia. "Lord Sorrenson, Lady Brahmin. Our leaders have agreed, an' sent the food we promised. They also know ye' are providing three slots to the dwarves of the clan. They have elected to give one slot to me, one to the young man who brought the cart, and have asked that you elect who the third slot goes to from the dwarves that are here."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "That seems like an odd choice to make. Especially since we can not speak the language."

Kreldar looked uncomfortable. "It is... Being fully honest, I would bet that the cart driver is expecting ye' to pick a specific person when ye' learn who they are. I am also betting that young Harbek's mother pushed for this in the hopes that you would pick someone you knew."

"So we are expected to pick and, in doing so, show how we are going to align ourselves within the Clan's politics," Julia said, and Kreldar nodded.

"Aye, lady Brahmin. That is what they're hopin' for, would be my guess as well." Kreldar said.

Julia smiled. "Very well, please gather everyone up, Kreldar, Theo, come talk with me for a moment."

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Theo and Julia stepped to the side while Kreldar gathered everyone near the Plinth. Theo saw the smile on Julia's face and suspected she had an idea. "So, what is your idea?"

"Well, I wanted to ask, what are your plans for running the Homestead?" Julia asked. "Are we going to rule with an Iron fist? Or are we going to try and be a little more diplomatic?"

Theo shrugged. "I don't know. Probably a mixture of both. I want it to be a team effort of people who live here, but I think that the seemingly inherent nature and social structures enforced by the System seem to favor a more controlling rule. At the end of the day, it will be our choice, though."

Julia nodded. "I agree, but I also don't want to get pulled into a political battle. So I thought that it would be best to make it a choice that they have to make alongside us."

Theo nodded, "All right, I like that. Do we want to do this now or later?"

Julia nodded, "Later, but I think we take an initial vote now."

"Alright then, lead on!" Theo said dramatically.

Julia and Theo walked back to where everyone was assembled near the Plinth. Julia smiled and spoke. "Kreldar, please translate this. Your clan has assigned Kreldar and this young man as two of the three slots available to your clan in the coming Primordial Flight. They have left the remaining slot open to us, doing so in an effort to manipulate us in their political games. So, we will have everyone here decide. Every member of your clan present will vote for another member of your clan that is here; you may not vote for yourself. The top two will come before myself, Lord Sorrenson, Lady Karzun-Morrakai, and Lord Go'Van' Ordus. Those two will present to us why they should be the ones to receive the spot. In the event of a tie, we will ask the Homestead Core, Hestia, to break the tie. If she will not, then I will flip a coin."

The dwarves looked a little shocked. Ordus stepped forward. "To facilitate the vote, I will direct it. You will each come forward and tell me who you would vote for. I swear on the System to uphold the truth and never reveal who voted for whom."

A pulse of power thrummed through the area, binding Ordus to the task he had agreed to. Ordus looked at Kreldar. "Master Kreldar. If you would be so kind as to vote first, come with me over here."

They stepped far enough away that no one would be able to hear them. Kreldar came back shortly, and then the next dwarf stepped forward. After five minutes, Ordus returned. "I have the votes. Of the eleven votes cast, the top two are Harbek Runevein, with two votes, and Yordo Blackshale, with eight votes."

Theo was surprised when he heard Julia's suggestion and rules; he had thought it would be much closer. Julia glanced at Theo quickly before speaking. "Very well, Harbek, Yordo, you will both come before us when there are six hours until Primordial Flight; at that time, you will present your arguments."

Both of the younger dwarves nodded and performed the fist-on-chest salute as Kreldar finished translating.

The dwarves went off and continued working. The new dwarf fell in with them right away. Sylvi spoke up to Theo and Julia. "Are you sure that you want my opinion?"

Theo smiled at her, "Oh yes, Sylvi, can't let the Dwarvish politics have their way. You are a daughter of the Karzun-Morrakai family. Whether your siblings want to be stupid or not, your opinion holds weight, and I imagine that, given the situation, Patriarch Karzun would find this very amusing and want you to participate."

Sylvi nodded and then walked towards the Plinth. Julia looked at Theo. "So, now what?"

"Now we keep working, I am going to continue helping the Dwarves, and if you want, I think they would appreciate your help too," Theo said.

"Okay, Sylvi might not be able to help, but we did both learn the Durability rune," Julia said.

Theo was about to respond when a message appeared in front of Theo and Julia.

>Private Message: Skill 'Group Message' Active - receiving message from Lady Eg'Valla Dreamscaper

Theo and Julia then heard Lady Eg'Valla's voice in their minds.

"Lady Brahmin, Lord Sorrenson, I would ask a favor regarding the upcoming Primordial Flight. Please meet in the lobby of the Deep Mirror Retreat. Be aware that we will not be alone."

>Private Message: Skill 'Group Message' Ended

"Well, shit," Theo said, checking the timer.

Time to Primordial Flight: 28H - 08M - 21S

"Better go take a bath, I guess," Theo said, and he and Julia went to explain everything to Ordus before going to the Crystal.

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