Chapter 30: NPC Management

When the Book finished interfacing with the Spear, it closed itself and the radiance faded, although it continued hovering within easy grabbing range.

"Go ahead and take it," Dex urged. "It's done. Your world has been updated as you specified."

Hugh reclaimed the Book and put it to sleep, then tucked it away in his makeshift belt pouch. "Will the NPCs know what I did or will I have to explain every little plant and animal to them?"

"They'll know," he replied. "Considering you used Fast Grow, it'll be hard for them to miss. For the other stuff, their instincts will guide them. Some micromanaging should be expected if you want to build a cohesive world, but it won't be anything excessive once you get the hang of it. It'll help as the Nomad society grows. Basically, the more you do, the more they can do for themselves."

"In other words, the babies will grow up into adults?" Hugh asked with a wry grin. "I can live with that as long as their teenage years aren't too troublesome. If they try to rebel, I'll squash that shit flat."

Back outside, they found the Nomads gathered at a safe distance from a patiently waiting Macro and Scout. The fox Engineer panted as she laid stretched out on the ground, resting from her long run, and the eagle Task Bot preened its feathers after its long flight.

"You guys made good time," Hugh said in greeting. He wanted to ask how they'd found him, but he supposed they were made to always know his location. "Dex and I are about to head to Nexus. While we're gone, I'd like you and Scout to focus on building any basic scan I have available and give them to the Nomads to study." He glanced over to Dex and asked, "Do I need to queue the scans in my Book or is telling Macro enough?"

"Verbal orders work," Dex replied quietly. "The developers were careful to program Thrive so you could act as naturally as possible. Being forced to navigate system menus all day would not meet their goal."

"In that case, Macro, I'm leaving it up to you to guide these people toward a better standard of living. Don't make the town any bigger than it is right now, but I'd like to see the current buildings being repaired and improved by the time we return. Work toward securing a renewable food supply and teach them how to craft better clothing. Can you do that?"

"I will try," she replied.

The answer wasn't exactly what he was hoping to hear, but he'd take it. Turning to the gathered Nomads, he said, "I'll be gone a day at the minimum, I think. It might be a few days before I return, depending on how long it takes to make arrangements. While I'm gone, please listen to my... um..."

"Your Familiar?" Dex offered when Hugh came up blank on describing the Engineer to the untutored Nomads. "Blessed Avatar? Totem Spirit?

"Familiar works," Hugh said before raising his voice again. "Listen to my Familiar and her assistant. They will guide you and teach you on my behalf."

"Please, Great Sire," Maeve exclaimed from the front of the crowd. She lowered herself to her knees in supplication, the rest of the crowd slowly following her lead. "Before you go, may we please know how to properly address our savior?"

Hugh shrugged and said, "Just call me Hugh. Among the others like me, I have another name, but I'd prefer if it was forgotten. And you can knock off the kneeling. That kind of stuff should be saved for important ceremonies. I might have abilities you don't, but I don't expect you to treat me any differently than you'd treat each other. Be honest, honorable, and respectful. That's all I ask."

"If that is your wish, Hugh," Maeve replied. As she stood, her body language shifted as she and the other Nomads took up a more proud stance. Hugh internally winced, knowing he'd somehow altered their society with his words, but he didn't want to waste time digging into his Book to find the change.

There was one thing he wanted to try out before he left, though. Staring hard at Maeve, he couldn't see a reason not to try it on her. "Maeve, I dub you Queen of the Nomads. As Queen, it's your job to organize people based on their strengths. I don't want to see anyone rising up due to their bloodline and I don't want to see people picked on if they're a little weaker or slower than everyone else. As long as people are trying their best, they should be praised and encouraged to keep improving."

"You honor me," she said stiffly. She seemed like she wanted to curtsy or bow, but his prior comment about kneeling kept her from doing so. Hugh gave her a quirky salute to see what would happen.

She awkwardly saluted back.

Hugh laughed and strolled away without bothering with farewells. They'd see each other again soon enough. With Dex at his side, he strolled back to the church where the Gateway was hidden and they worked together to open the trap door leading to the cellar. He knew with one glance he never would have found it on his own. The stone tile behind the pulpit looked no different than the others around it, except for a chipped corner he could use as a handhold to pry it open.

The stone scraped against stone as they slid the tile aside, revealing a wooden stair leading down into a creepy dark pit.

"I'm not hunting rats," Hugh said jokingly. Dex raised an eyebrow, not understanding the reference.