Lucia says, "Not unless we want to spend even more gold. Cultists don't pay for land. We're going to do what they do and go into the forest, cut down some trees to clear an area and then start building. We need to buy a lot of wood and tools and food to build everything." Kate says with a shrug, "How hard can designing a house be?" 

Alright well, I do think we need some kind of design document because I would not know how to even cut down a tree, let alone turn timber into a house. Is there some place we could get something already made so we would not need a designer?

Kate says, "I don't think they sell those. We're going to have to hire a designer. Damn... I never thought I'd be out here trying to get a designer to make a house. Lucia, you know where we can get one and how much its going to run us?

Lucia says "We can find them at the Aristocracy and it's going to cost us 2,000 GP to get a document out of them." 

Tomoe goes through the chest she now uses for their money and finds it still surprisingly full.

It looks like we have plenty to spare on designs. Perhaps we can even splurge and get some custom rooms. Maybe even our own Onsen.

Lucia says, "I... don't think we can have that. Mostly because we'll have one extra room to work with and we kinda need that for stables. Maybe we can get a new room later."

Tomoe tries not to look too disappointed as her shoulders droop a bit.  Very well. Business before please. But rest assured I will have my Onsen sooner rather than later. With our own private bathhouse we can relax and not worry about strangers or.. certain champions...showing up. 

But we have need for the stable more. Tomoe sighs deeply. Let us be off.

With hiring a designer to make the base design and then buying the materials needed to build the house, it cost Tomoe a good 7,500 GP. Then to design the stable and to get the materials needed to set that room up as the extra room in the base, it cost Tomoe another 1,000 GP. This brought the total cost up to 8,500 GP.

After loading all the building material the party got on their wagon and started journeying. The place they were to set up base was 4 hours from Brass City. Right now this place east of Brass City had a few trees and shrubbery. Later though, it would have Tomoe and Co's new base. They had to get to work clearing the land first. This was not going to be easy.

Tomoe hadn't worked this hard in a long time. After a couple hours of clearing things and moving things, her stamina starts to waver. She finds a tree to shade her and casually collapses underneath it.

"Hey..."

"Wake up."

"Hey Chief, wake up"

Lucia wakes Tomoe up. She would notice that it was really hard to see. It was dark. The last rays of the setting sun in the dark blue twilight sky were the only source of daylight now. Even that was getting mostly blocked by the canopies overhead. The place was cleared of shrubberies, tall grass and small plants but the large trees still needed to be chopped. It was something that would have to wait until tomorrow. The only source of light other than the setting sun was a small campfire that Kate and Ingrid were resting at. Lucia said in jest, "Don't tell me after fighting gangers, cultists and demons, it's random trees that do you in."

Tomoe rubs her eyes and grins. Looks like I have a new nemesis, foliage. How long have i been out? 

"I'd say a few hours." Lucia responds "It's alright though .The three of us were doing just fine. The real rough work will start a few days later when we have to start chopping down trees and dig holes in the ground. And then there's setting up a proper defensive wall and actually building the house."

I underestimated how difficult this would be. Glad I am doing it with my favorite people. What is left r to do today? 

"Well we still have more brush to clear but it's getting dark and Kate's getting tired so we should probably just eat something and call it a night."

You and Kate eat. I will clear some more until the light is gone. I am well rested after all. I will join you when it is too dark.

"Alright Chief. But don't stay out too long."

Lucia then joined Kate and Ingrid at the camp fire. Tomoe didn't manage to clear much of the brush before it went properly dark. The Darkness of the woods almost seemed to consume the area past a certain distance from the campfire.

Tomoe joins her companions, sitting next to Lucia. I guess we will just have to finish tomorrow. 

The next few days passed without incident. All the trees had been cleared and a big hole was dug to serve as the foundation of the base. It was a full moon night and with the trees clear, there was still enough light to see. "Phew" Lucia says, covered in a bit of dirt. "All the digging was rough work. What do you think Chief? Since there's plenty of moonlight, should we keep working a bit more on the foundations?."

Why not. Let us get as much done as we can.

The girls get to work and then a chill runs down their spines. Suddenly the night feels very oppressive and they start to get a really bad feeling. In the distance they hear the sounds of something with large wings flying towards their location.

This feeling is similar to what they felt when the encountered that strange creature in the slime house. There's probably a very powerful Deep Demon heading their way.

Kate says, "I have a really bad feeling all of a sudden."

Lucia turns to Tomoe and asks in a mild panic, "C-Chief! What do we do?"

Tomoe looks around some a place to hide. 

Have we gotten any of the building supplies? If so I would assume there is a large pile of planks of wood and brick near by.