-Hogs village-
Today seems like any other day. People going to their fields some geared in leather armour going to hunt, children helping and playing. A bright sun overhead.
This tranquility stops as during mid day four people arrive. They are a group of three children with a middle aged man leading them. They dress like how cultivators would dress. They seem to be searching for the chief of the village.
Infront of a house made of mud bricks Yang and his group arrive. According to the villagers this is the residence of their chief Sam. After knocking on the door a couple of times a hunched back old man appears from behind the door.
"How may I help you? I don't seem to have met you before?"
"You must be the chief of this village Sam." Yang asks back.
"Ah, look at me forgetting something so basic as introductions. Yes yes I am Sam, the chief of this village. Forgive me I forget things easily now that I am old."
Sam looks like his age was cleary catching up to him. Some lost teeth, wrinkles and a slow and airy voice.
"We heard of the flood last monsoon. We are from a sect that just settled around here. 'Blue moon' sect you can go there if you need help with anything. Today we have come to discuss building a dam for you as we have heard of the losses you experienced."
"Ah that,you came a little late. My son recently took matters in his own hand. No one sees value in building a dam for us. We lost lives, fields and cattles but to other people we are strangers. Even if we want to go beg the mayor, he seem to busy with his own affairs. Thank you for thinking of us but we have to learn to stand our own now. "
Well that was not how it was supposed to go. Yang thought they would be very happy and be very hospitable but apparently the mayors son has started building a dam. The three guys following him don't seem to care about what is happening around them nor in the things he was doing.
After pondering for some time he decides to see how these people are building the dam. Maybe they could help and still get part of the rewards. Following the direction a villager pointed to they arrive to the river. There a group a highly enthusiastic teenagers are following the lead of a young man carrying stones and sticks. No tools in sight, they don't seem to be building a dam but a wall around their house.
"Are you guys sure that you are building a dam?" Yang shouts at them.
The young man looks at their direction and shouts back "What does it matter to you? Get going on your way old man."
Yang walks a little closer to them and says politely "Well I was thinking of helping you guys but you don't seem to be really building a dam."
The young man gets closer to Yang's face and retorts " Whats that supposed to mean old man. You want to pick faults with us?"
"The dam will not hold any thing if you build it as such. They will collapse on the first sign of flood. I tell you what why don't I help you? I will get us some tools, we go to the forest and cut some trees. And build something more meaningful than whatever you are trying to do here. "
" And you are? " The young man asks finally still glaring at Yang.
" Yang from the Blue moon sect. We heard of the flood last monsoon and decided to come help. "
" We dont need pity from you people but if it helps prevent what happened last time I will let you help us. " The young chief calmly replies.
Proud but not blinded by it, a good quality to have on a young man.
" We will go to the nearest market together tomorrow. I will come to the village, get some strong men ready to bring back the tools we buy.
-Early the next morning -
After meeting the villagers, Yang sets out to the market. They walk there but they could hopefully find a carriage willing to bring them back.
In the market they buy axes, wheel barrows, ropes and nails. As it was already past mid day they had to hurry back, no one wants to stay out at night.
They hire a carriage and a cart to bring things they bought back. They reach the village before dusk.
Yang decides to sleep on the village today and get working from early tomorrow. He could see how excited the villagers were today. The dams they didn't hold any hope for might finally be built. The hunters and some old guys will also be joining them tomorrow to help get the work done faster.
As the sun reaches overhead on the forest below small humans have been logging the whole morning. Some logging the woods, some moving them to the river and some digging ditches and collecting stones to keep the beames strong. They bury some large rocks in the ground, stack logs on top of each other so that even if more water comes from upstream only a limited amount of water flows out of the dam. After working day and night for three days they finally complete the dam. It might not help if the water flows above the dam but it will hold for any normal flood.
After seeing the dam they dreamed of complete the villagers decided to celebrate today. Yang is of course invited. They decided to cut some cattle so that they have meat and they bought out the alcohol they have brewed.
Sam tells a lengthy speech to thank everyone. Bright smiles and a slight blush appear on everyone's face. They seem genuinely happy and thankful for what Yang had done.
{Task complete
Build a dam
Reward: blessing of villagers (improve the sect
members constitution by 10%)
}
A gentle chime and Yang's smile grows wider as he looks at the blessings description. A improvement for the whole sect that means anyone who joins later also gets to enjoy it.
"Thanks old man, I want you to have this." The young chief stands before him holding a book.