The Balance of Understanding

    It is morning and the sun is shining over the liberated land that will be Eas. The sun has only just crested the peaks, bringing wide beams of foggy light to drive away the mists that evening had gathered. It will not take long.

    Wake is surveying the village. Or what remains of it. There are foundations and little more, and even those are suspect. She stands by a table, on which small models of the city have been laid. Admittedly in primitive fashion, they indicate potential placements of roads, homes, markets, etc. Judging by Wake's expression, she is clearly finding them somewhat less than illuminating, and the presence of the sun is failing to shed the necessary light on the decision that must be made.

    Next to one of these layouts is a plate with what was probably an expertly prepared breakfast. The steam has long since ceased pouring from it, though the scents wafting off of it are incredibly inviting. At least to those who aren't almost out of time to make a daunting decision.

    "This is.. most unclear," Wake announces. To no one in particular.

Goldenblade is an early riser, and she's been at the Library site most of the morning, preparing for what the laborers and masons will be doing today. Having gotten everyone started, she has retired to the table with the city model, where she is eying it thoughtfully as Wake makes plans.

"What's not clear?" she wonders at Wake's question. She's entirely direct, she doesn't do ambiguity. In her experience, anything left ambiguous will be screwed up by the next person to try and interpret it. It's happened in her life over and over. It's part of why drawings are painfully detailed, and she's tried to bring that level of pain to the castle project. It makes things harder, but they work out better, in the end, with a minimum of rework. Rework is always going to be needed, but she tries to keep it to the minimum.

    "Everything," replies Wake.

    "I was hoping there would be one best way to lay things out. But much to my chagrin, that is simply not the case. There are advantages to each, and I cannot wait for the input of the residents. They aren't here and cannot be until there is a 'here' to be in. And so I must make a choice." The Baroness looks down at the models. Well, glares, frankly.

    "Perhaps I should just toss a coin? But that hardly sounds like a good ruler's approach to decision making. One layout favors agriculture, another commerce and manufacturing of goods. I am inclined to the longterm investment which favors commerce and the making of things, but it could be a ways off. And the size of families will be influenced by that choice as well, the way that land shall be shared.. It is not a small decision to make. And it's arguably my first. I'd like to not miss anything when I make it."

Goldenblade smirks at 'Everything'.

She nods at there being multiple ways to lay things out, and says, "That's almost always the case. As you have worked out, there are many ways to optimize, and what's best for one is not best for the other. I understand about planning for growth, and you're right that it's important. But in building, you find all one way or all another is never the best solution."

She looks up, looks back at the drawings, now looking to the city layout, where she'd been concentrating on the Library while letting you do the rest. But since you ask ...

"I think where you might want to go is a hybrid setup. A few small farms in town, but mostly residences, crafthalls, and shops. Residences for laborers and shopkeepers, and the small farms will feed your initial small seed population. Farms in the outlying areas will come to feed the village when it grows larger, and the in-town farms will grow into either parks, or else specialized herb gardens, so spices for cooking and herbs for medicines and such."

    The proposal draws a sharp glance from the Baroness. Not that she dislikes the idea. She simply wishes she had been able to put that puzzle together.

    "I should say I am grateful for your counsel, but that seems a small word for the gratitude I feel. Most especially in these moments of indecision. I approve of this suggestion. We will lay things out in that fashion, and, unless I miss my guess, small farms, in need, could be changed based on the circumstances the future bestows us. And there are no doubt spices and herbs that only grow well in the mountains."

    Wake's eye follows the bit of road in the model and adds quietly, "You know, there is much land near the outpost. It is quite suitable for agriculture as well.. with your road connecting it to the village proper, we could in time have the best of all worlds. It is the greatest road in the entire world. I see now just how much it will empower our people."

Goldenblade beams proudly at the praise for her plan, and for her road. It really /is/ a good road. She's very happy with how it turned out. She also nods about the small farms changing based on circumstance. "Precisely," she agrees. As far as spices and things that grow in one place or another, she can only speculate. That's not her area of expertise.

As to the land near the outpost, she says, "I expect much of it will have to be given over to farming. I don't know a great deal about farming in any era, but I fear the primitive farming you're going to get without tractors and pesticides won't be as efficient as at home." In the real world, she means. "Though ... perhaps there's a way to regain some of those advantages with magic. Tractors, or maybe just golem horses to help till fields. Magic to kill pest species without hurting the worms and bees that the land needs..."

    "Farming improvements are a matter that our Alliance has invested some time in. Now that we are getting close to having a coal source, we may just be able to put our steam technology to good use, as well. Of course, down in the grassland, clever use of aqueducts and irrigation canals-and perhaps windpower-will grant us many advantages, as well. I would like to be self-sufficient in food production for as long as possible. Should disaster strike the shipping lanes, our people must have a way to keep their bellies full. And if we battle should be a matter of concern to us, provisions will be critical. Though frankly I have no desire to engage in such things, save with small forces of adventurers. This is supposed to be a safe haven."

    The Baroness shakes off such worries. They are not of the moment, in any case. What is in the now is the decision that has been made.

    "I feel like I can move forward now. I hope the rest of my day goes this well! When we have things ready, we will be able to rebuild this village to our plan. I for one feel confident that we will build a wonder in this place. In fact, as soon as the village is ready, I mean to focus my efforts on the Dome of Stars. I have bold plans for that structure, Goldenblade. I want it to be the most impressive observatory of the stars in the land, as well as a seat for government. The library will be done before we even start there, of course. But after the Dome.. well, I would like to see a building set aside for higher learning. A college or academy. Inspired by what you had started near the Peko Ranch."

Goldenblade nods about the farmng improvements. "So near the lake will give you ample water for irrigation, of course. Though if you haven't given concern to water-powered mills yet ... well, I had. I had planned space for those mills in the castle foundations to make use of the water going over the falls. Though my end goal for those falls is hydroelectric power. But that will take some doing, I expect." She nods agreement about your plans for the village. It's good to have goals.

As far as the Dome of Stars, she says, "The library will attract scholars, probably more than my academy has. The lack of library was one of its main shortcomings. But here, I think the library is likely to accumulate scholars over the course of time. Refugees from Ezzo, at first, but once you have a core, others will come to seek them out. The Dome, worked into an observatory, will put the bow on top of that fine package.

"As far as a seat of government, though ... what are you planning to govern? Are you planning on assuming the governmental control from one of the Dukedoms? I can't see that going well. Takamatsu and Tokushima are the closest Lander capitals, and I can't imagine them shifting their leadership to here without taking it away from you. And I don't think tiny Eas could compete with a major port city, which both of those are, anyhow."

    "I do hope we can gather the wise. My hope is that Eas will gain a reputation for wisdom, beauty, and achieving things that others view as impossible." She isn't sure just what will be invented here. But that is what is so exciting about it. "Perhaps we will have an Archimedes, Michaelangelo, and a Leonardo here. Eventually I aim to get a concert hall built and in the village an ampitheater."

    There are clearly enough aspirations to last years to come and Wake is only getting started. "As for the governing, I am part of the Dukedom now. I am truly Baroness Wake and I have an official function. Of course there will be matters of law and justice for those who dwell here, and a great deal of decisions to be made. We also stand as the power of balance that shall ensure that peace is maintained among the Dukes. Other actions I hope to take may be just what we need to dissuage outside forces from threatening the Dukedom as well. There is so much to be done. In the end, Eas will be a wonder of the world, from its road to its tallest tower and down to its most humble home. All made beautiful by the hope they maintain for those who come to dwell here."

Goldenblade agrees about gathering the wise. "They'll come for one of the few open libraries in the land, I'm certain of it. As to whether wisdo will come out, it will depend on what the scholars try to accomplish. The idea of an Archimedes, Michaelangelo, or Da Vinci being among our refugees is not as likely as a humble scholar with access to so much knowledge /becoming/ one of those. Or, that's what I forsee."

She ohs as you clarify that you just mean your own local governing. "Yes, that will be quite important, though I don't think it will take as much space as you are expecting, unless you're going to put an army of clerks to work organizing things. There's advantages to that, but disadvantages also."

    "You make an excellent point. This place must enable these dreams and the dreamers who would bring them to life. And do not be afraid of an army of clerks. I have you.. and hopefully will have you with me for many years to come. I trust you to keep me grounded. There are many things I hope to do here, but left to myself, I am prone to taking on far too much at a time. One cannot build the second floor of their home without a sound foundation. And one should not dwell too much on the second floor when the first isn't even completed." She laughs at herself.

    "I wish my skill in construction went past making metaphors about it. I will be leaning greatly on your skills, Goldenblade."

Goldenblade smirks with amusement, and says, "My skills like in construction, but I can't build dreams the way you can. Your vision for this place inspires me, and I think it will inspire everyone who comes here and sees your vision." She rises from her chair, and says, "I've got to get back to the library, to keep -them- grounded, perhaps. You are right, we must start all our projects at step one. But that doesn't mean there's a top limit. I have no idea how long we might be here for, but I'll be pleased if we continue to work together. I think we make a good team."

    Wake slips into her usual curtsey, her head bowing to Goldenblade. "I will be along later this evening. I find it particularly inspiring to see Uta's dream take root here. It is.. a special thing." The Baroness rises, and for a moment her face reveals a struggle with emotions. It lasts but a moment, and whatever was nearly coming to the surface is smoothed over. The serene surface is in place.

    When Goldenblade departs, Wake immediately gets to her work, directing others to begin marking out the measurements for the village based on the plan Goldenblade just put forth. The Baroness dreams, certainly, but her will is grounded absolutely in what must be done now to get there as effectively as possible.

    "Let's ensure we double check every measurement and consult the plan with care. We will need to capture it precisely so that everyone can act as one," she calls out to the People of the Land. With the buzz of activity spreading swiftly through the village, Wake lets out a deep breath and smiles.

    "There is balance in understanding," she declares.