Dom could hear the sounds of the growing city from outside the open balcony windows, as he awoke in his bed in Riverside. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, his adrenaline high from the partial fall he had just undertaken once again. He wondered what other people's experiences had been with Game Support as he always seemed to forget to ask as it was the first thing he noticed when he arrived. She wasn't always there either and instead seemed a bit like a Narrator or Guide on his journey.
He climbed out of the large bed, the sun peaking through the balcony windows as he stretched his back. Before him was a white Tunic, with a black Toga beside it for him to put on. They were both excellently made with detailed craftmanship. He began to dress himself as he thought about the days ahead or what he at least expected from them. He needed to catch up with his Leadership team, and then find Andrew and Kai so they could begin planning how to protect themselves and what Dom had built so far.
He finished dressing himself and headed towards the Staircase that led down to the middle floor where Meritamen and Sun Shangxiang lived. The floor was empty, except for one of Ban Jieyu's staff who was cleaning one of the chairs. She looked at Dom and smiled at him as he moved towards the next set of steps, returning the smile at her.
The bottom floor however, was not empty, tall purple drapes were being hung up. The drapes had a Sigil on them that Dom hadn't seen before. There was a golden edged Shield with a Sabre Tooth Tiger on the front of it with a black background. Behind the shield were a sword and spear crossing each other. The Sabre Tooth Tiger seemed to be looking back at Dom as he looked at it, it's mouth ajar with it's teeth ready to strike. Under the Shield was one simple word, Lazarus.
There were seven of them already hanging, with an eighth being raised by four workers who were using Ladders. There were other staff as well, cleaning the walls where different Trophies from their different Battles had been placed, either on mounts or shelves. Items from their first Battle against the Gluttonous Chief Village, through their Battles at Nakbe, Tongpai Town and even the Cove and the Southern Shore. There were even Trophies from their different Quests such as the Battle of Kadesh, Xun Family Quest, Halberd Twins, the Sun Ce Quest and even the recent Battles at Plataea and Mycale.
The best Trophies that Dom saw however were surrounding the door to the Palace Hall, where he could see plenty of people within busy talking and moving furniture. It seemed that most hadn't noticed his arrival yet as he looked at the Trophies around the door. The Door had different items around it that represented the different people that had come to become part of his soon to be found Kingdom. There was a bow from one of the Sarmatian Female Horse Archers from when they first joined Riverside; a Dory Spear beside a damaged Hoplite Shield from one of the many Battles the Hoplite had been involved in; a Gladius and Shield from one of the Legionaries, clean and well maintained as they always were; there was a Helmet from a Forbidden Guard, with a Sword and Bow beneath it. There was also a sling, another bow, a dagger, another sword and even a small throwing spear from the San that covered the entirety of the doorway.
The whole door was surrounded by the different weapons of the different units that made up the forces of Dom's large growing Army. The door itself however had different engravings, with some being polished by a young Carpenter, there was a wood axe, a hammer and nail, a loaf of bread, the sail of a ship. The different civil roles and positions that had helped grow Dom's Kingdom from the inside were on the door, protected by the weapons that surrounded it on the outside.
"The door has taken five days, but I think it is looking good." A voice said from behind Dom as he turned and saw Lars the Lumberjack there, the towering Lumberjack was one of the first Civilians in Riverside and now oversaw all of the Lumberjacks in the Kingdom. Whilst he wasn't an Elite Villager or a Hero, he was still classed as one of the senior people within the Kingdom and was treated as such by everyone. Lars himself was a Lumberjack, as were his Son's, but his Daughters were Carpenters and were excellent ones.
"It's impressive." Dom replied, having never seen such intricate carvings in Reality. Lars nodded proudly as they both watched the young Carpenter who was polishing the door. The other one was wide open as some seats were arranged along long tables.
"It is, but not as impressive as the Kingdom you have created." Lars replied honestly, "I visited the south, saw the Red Woods and the people working on them, my son is in Renatus, preparing wood for new fortresses. We have grown fast and everyone is blessed because of it."
Dom listened to his Lumberjack, who seemed to have increased his Charisma stat if that was possible. It felt like a prearranged speech from the game as part of the Kingdom founding Narrative, but Dom could see the expression on Lars's face that he genuinely meant it and was proud to have been part of it. He was going to reply when a young Egyptian Princess appeared from within the Palace.
"Good morning Lord Lazarus, Marcus is waiting for you with Umako within." Neferure said with a polite bow. The Daughter of Hatshepsut was a beautiful woman and Dom could see that Lars and then men raising the final banner all paused as she approached, her feet almost floating as she moved.
"Thank you Neferure, I will be in momentarily." Dom replied as the young Princess bowed slightly again and headed inside.
"Have you thought about a third wife Lord?" Lars asked him teasingly, whilst Dom rolled his eyes in response, patting the Lumberjack on his tall shoulder before heading inside the Palace Hall. The Hall had around twenty people inside, with Cicero and Umako both sat at the top table with a long parchment in front of them. The Room had been converted in to a miniature banquet hall, with long tables throughout that were being decorated with flowers and vases. More Drapes were being placed in this room as well, with two men struggling in one corner to not stand on a table being prepared beneath them.
"That's the wrong location!" Neferure shouted at one person as Dom entered the room, the young Princess being anything but the gentle persona she exuded to the Senior Heroes and Dom.
"Lord Lazarus, sorry to grab you so early, we wanted your thought on something." Cicero started, as Umako crossed out a name on the parchment, that was seemingly a seating plan.
"We were thinking of having Meritamen's guests on the right side as a place of honour, however that would mean pushing some of the Officials to the lower tables." Umako explained, his tone measured. Dom laughed internally at how the three of them; a Roman Senator, a Japanese Warlord and Priest, as well as an Egyptian Princess, were all organising what seemed to be an evening dinner in his Palace Hall.
"I trust both of your judgements better than my own." Dom replied honestly, having no understanding and little care to how the seating was arranged. He understood the political implications of where people sat at important meals and meetings, however at the same time he didn't have any understanding about it. He could stand here and ask them to explain it to him in detail, but decided whilst he still had three days left of this log in, to get a move on with other things.
"We will stick Meritamen's guests to the right and move any one below the Leader of a Department or an overall Military Commander to the lower Tables that are closer to the front then." Cicero nodded in understanding, appreciating that Dom had at least responded praising them, rather than explaining his lack of interest. Dom however was wondering who her guests were, as they would hopefully be the two Kingdoms of greater size to acknowledge the Lazarus Kingdom's founding.
"But General Subutai has a wife who may attend, Xun Yu and Xun You also have wives, will they be with them or a different table." Umako questioned, as Dom saw a glint of wanting a rescue in the eyes of Cicero.
"How about the table to the left is only the four or five most senior people and their partners, any other family that are in attendance can sit with the rest of the Leadership on the lower tables?" Dom replied, with Umako nodding in appreciation to Dom's thoughts, whilst Cicero mouthed thanks when Umako wasn't looking. Dom turned and saw that Nefurere had seen the whole thing and was holding in a giggle as he left the two of them and exited his own Palace to escape any more questions that may come his way.
He left the Palace and saw that Actumerus was waiting for him with three other Batavi Guards. They were all wearing armour, similar to that of the Forbidden Guard, that didn't represent their usual fighting style. He then looked and saw that the grounds in front of the Palace were also being decorated and there were around forty people currently planting flowers, or pruning ones that were already there.
"Why the new armour?" Dom asked Actumerus who looked uncomfortable. The Batavi beside him the one who had claimed the giant Type 2 sword at Mycale, but the weapon wasn't in his possession.
"We have to look like the defenders of a King." Actumerus grumbled, before noting he was talking to Dom and changed his words slightly, "Which we would of course gladly die for."
"I would rather you didn't." Dom replied, shaking his head at his Batavi Emperors Guard, before looking at the other one. "Where did you take your new sword?"
"Ou Yezi has claimed it temporarily, he said I could have it back when he has finished his research." The Batavi replied politely, whilst shaking his shoulder that was uncomfortable in the armour.
"How is the armour, apart from uncomfortable?" Dom asked Actumerus as he began walking, trying to escape the large number of people working outside his Palace, but with no destination in mind at this moment.
"I understand why the Forbidden Guard like it, it is very strong. It deflects slashes and has a good defence against stabs and arrows, however, as with all armour it is only so good." Actumerus explained honestly as Dom decided to head towards the Town Centre where he hoped to see one of his senior Leaders, either Shang Yang or Xun Yu, to discuss what he had missed and what was next. As he was thinking, it was like Actumerus had read his mind as he began giving him an update. "General Subutai is currently meeting with the Senior Generals at the Sabre Tooth Tavern, there are limited meeting spaces today. Lord Xun Yu is still organising the new arrivals, who have began moving to different Town's, whilst their Military Units have began basic Lazarus Kingdom training under Huang Zhong's Centurions. Mayor Lucius is currently meeting with the San People who have visited, they have now formally joined us. Prime Minister Shang Yang should be at the Town Centre with Lady Meritamen who is preparing to meet her guests with Lady Sun Shangxiang. I expect the Kingdom founding should be late afternoon or early evening from the information provided to me."
"Dom!" A voice shouted from the distance, interrupting Actumerus. They both turned and saw Andrew running towards him. Dom's guards didn't react as he approached, knowing the two were like brothers. But Actumerus still had his hand hover over his weapon just in case.
"Hey Andrew, what's happened?" Dom asked, having only seen Andrew run around a track or after a woman, and never for him before.
"Have you checked the update news?" Andrew asked him, as Dom realised that he hadn't even asked the System yet about the update that had forced them all to log out.