Backlands Joint Ventures

A general forum for all in-character posts as they relate to Act VI: Absolution, the characters that inhabit the world at large, and the events that help shape both.
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Nedoral
Posts: 90
Character: Matteo Ponz (deceased)

Backlands Joint Ventures

Post by Nedoral » September 8th, 2021, 11:52 am


- Where do I put that, mister? - asked a tanned bricklayer, holding a sack of gravel.
- Over there, sonny, by 'em stone blocks - pointed Matteo, without even looking. He kept scribbling on some sort of construction plans, adding notes and measurements on occasion. Putting the chalk bit back atop his ear, he raised the blueprint to peruse it again.
- Mattie, the color fellow's here - said a tall blonde lad hardly past his twentieth winter.
- Mattie? Wha' am I, a dog?
- S-sorry, sir, I mean-
- Ha! - the old sailor laughed heartily, smacking the other's shoulder - Jus' messin' with ya! Be right there!

The ruckus amid the yard kept on since early morning, the hammering on stone and wood keeping the annoyed farm animals at bay. A handful of vats lay on the ground to dry, coated twice with a special varnish recipe. Every now and again he'd stop to check something with the crew lest they didn't have enough water for the mortar or had doubts regarding whichever timber to use.

Much was happening as of late that required his attention, but Matteo was pleased to be overburdened. It was good for someone his age and he knew it. He'd soon spice up the farmlands market with goods he had yet to encounter elsewhere, not to mention a brand new place one of his fancy acquaintances was about to open! Matteo could never remember the bloke's name, but 'twas he who gifted Sheila to him. Crossing the treshold just to tie a bandana on, he gazed longly at her, still on the shop counter. What a beauty!

However, now he needed to find the man who'd take the blueprint for approval back in the Province. They called such fellows couriers, though he'd never understand why all these names for people that went back and forth with papers for other people to put stamps on. Really silly business. But if that's what it would take to further his partnership with Fields, then that's what he'd do. Off he went towards the Market Lane, humming an old tune and probably misremembering it entirely. But Matteo kept on smirtling, a smirk not even the damn smell of burning bodies seemed able to erase. Good stuff was just around the corner.

Nedoral
Posts: 90
Character: Matteo Ponz (deceased)

Re: Backlands Joint Ventures

Post by Nedoral » September 28th, 2021, 2:06 am

The last month proved to be a tough one, not only for Matteo but also his fellow dwellers: brick on top of brick amidst spoonfuls of mortar, the tall two-storey building shaped up the rural scenery as it slowly protruded upwards. He had been entirely absorbed in this project, although the land permit belonged to both Fields and himself as the Foundry's charge was much too steep for either one's pockets alone. Nonetheless, whilst his Yultish neighbor busied himself by feeding half of the province, the retired shipwright shoveled sand into water and modeled stonewalls.

Yet noise would not die down even with the fresh new edifice complete, as there was yet more hammering and sawing inside, the foundation still fresh and accomodating. Clutter was everywhere and the smell of burnt oil from the lantens hang in the air, akin to a mine shaft save for the breaks when Matteo would unfasten a window and suck in a whiff of clean countryside air. Inside, the smell of young wood sap and metallic appliances was overwhelming, but he only realized so whenever he had to step outside for a last minute market run or to fetch something outta his workshop.

It still wasn't finished, but he figured it'd never really be. The hall was certainly not as resourceful as the one inside the Fort, yet this was his, Fields' and all their fellow denizens to make use of. Free of charge, just like his partner's vision of how Vivatus should be. Several high-brow practices and assorted toolkits didn't make their way into the commoner's hall as it was bereft of room, yet Matteo stood satisfied: most of the elements he deemed ordinary to anyone's daily life could be manufactured in there should you know how to make use of it.

Sweaty and baggy-eyed, the former seaman stepped outside and quite gladly did not turn the key in its hole this time, pocketing it instead. The hall was open, and he'd be its custodian for as long as he was able.


Finished Commoners Hall.png
Finished Commoners Hall.png (856.73 KiB) Viewed 1283 times

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