[center][h3][color=yellow]Valthyr[/color][/h3][/center]
[sub]Location: His treehouse, several dozen feet above ground.[/sub]
[hr]
[i]Construction went on nicely the last couple of days. While the tree has not reached its intended height yet, I can safely say that it is already large and sturdy enough to carry most of the intended housing area. I am, in fact, standing on its very floorboards as I am writing this. I was offered one of the new homes on the outskirts of the growing town, but did not hesitate to decline politely. I am much more happy to dwell dozens of feet above the ground. The air is more fresh, I do not have to hide behind any corner to shift, and whenever I do not want any visitors I can just pull up the rope ladder to the ramp.

It's a common misconception that peacocks can't fly at all, but I am pretty confident that particular one I am also trying to escape from never will dare to come up here. I also planted some vines that harmonizes well with the tree, but not so well with anyone trying to climb it and touching one of its many thorns. Got the anti-venom stashed away up here, just in case...[/i]

A rather harsh breeze of wind made the lantern swing back and forth violently below the branch it was hanging down from. Valthyr had to slam his hand down on the page to keep it from flying off. He sat on what could best be considered a balcony in conventional terms, but in reality it was more of a small platform only connected to the center room by a couple feet of narrow catwalk secured with ropes. The platform was bolted down to and supported by one of the more massive branches while railings made sure he would not fall of that easily either. No roof, just a nice place to hang out in a chill night with the possibility to retreat instantly.

[i]I really was not sure whether adding a fireplace would be such a clever decision, but this 'winter' would make it too chill otherwise. Furniture is still mostly missing though.[/i]

He had to chuckle at that point. He had made more furniture for others than for himself so far, but seeing Sya in her new chair so far had never failed to cast a smile on his face. He had a bed, a roof, quite a bit of storage space and room for future expansion as the tree still had not finished growing larger.

[i]Quite a few people have left for the expedition. I think the prince still does not really trust me, otherwise he might have sent me on that one, too. Or he does not know me yet really, who knows. At least the wound has healed fairly well except for a small scar. I can live with that.[/i]

The druid put down the quill for a moment, letting it rest in the small sea of ink next to his chair on the floor. Maybe he could convince Flynn to plant a few more trees ? Not the same species, this one had nothing special except for one could build tree houses on it. He had been nourishing the idea of setting up a few Nahmta seeds he had brought along with him almost since his arrival, but been busy enough with other things so far. The plant did not grow particularly large, but would require attention of maybe a few others than him as well to keep harvesting the sap they literally seeped through their bork constantly to form a tight seal against herbivores. Truth was the sap, once crystallized, was highly flammable and released enormous amounts of heat. His people back home used it to melt the little iron they needed. It just smelled a little infernal before combustion.

[i]Maybe I could gain the prince's full trust by offering him the very top of my home as an emplacement for a ballista or similar ? If nothing happens, the blight might ultimately arrive here, too. A few incendiary devices hurled down onto them might do wonders. I shall not mention how that thing could also be aimed at the peacock's residence however.[/i]