DAY EIGHT—TWO DAYS BEFORE EXECUTION

  TWENTY-FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE INVASION

  Congratulations, Rivercrest has reached level 3!

  Additional Structures have been unlocked.

  I whistled as I walked through the increasingly crowded village, marveling at the new buildings that had popped up overnight, and at the sheer number of people streaming in and out of them.

  From the looks of it, the villagers were taking to their preparations seriously, which was especially impressive given that it was a little after six in the morning, and the sun hadn’t even fully risen.

  But soldiers in heavy plate were drilling in the square nonetheless, and a mix of robe-garbed clerics and mages was seated in a circle, listening to an older mage in blue robes discuss the fireball floating above his outstretched palm.

   Ezzie said.

  The wall had been finished as well, its towers and gatehouses now soaring high into the air, and the mortars were shining at the center of the city, waist-high golden urns mounted on circular grates with a crank attached, probably to rotate the weapons into position.

   Ezzie said.

   I said.

  

   I said.

  

  Wall Upgrade: {Bronze Cannons}

  Benefit: Allows for the construction of up to 10 {Bronze Cannons} per length of wall. {Bronze Cannons} deal 75-150 physical damage to all targets within a 10 yard radius of the impact zone

  Operation Requirements: None (automated defense)

  Range: 0-75 yards

  Attack Speed: One projectile every 15 seconds

  Cost: 5 Bronze per {Bronze Cannon} (max 40 {Bronze Cannons})

  Selecting this upgrade will disable the {Ballistae} upgrade

  Wall Upgrade: {Ballistae}

  Benefit: Allows for the construction of up to two {Ballistae} per length of wall. {Ballistae} deal 500-600 physical damage to all enemies in a straight line, within 300 yards. Targets beyond the first take significantly reduced damage.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Operation Requirements: 3 villagers per {Ballista}

  Range: 0-300 yards

  Attack Speed: One projectile every 60 seconds

  Cost: 40 lumber per {Ballista} (max 8 {Ballistae})

  Selecting this upgrade will disable the {Bronze Cannons} upgrade

   I said.

  
  {Bronze Mortar} Upgrade: Incendiary Ammo

  Benefit: Adds 200-250 fire damage to each {Bronze Mortar} strike

  Cost: 25 wood per {Bronze Mortar}

  

  Ezzie sighed.

  {Bronze Mortar} Upgrade: Shrapnel Charges

  Effect: AoE impact zone increased to a radius of 25 yards (up from 15)

  Cost: 30 bronze per {Bronze Mortar}

  {Bronze Mortar} Upgrade: Tar Balls

  Effect: {Bronze Mortar} strikes create a field of black tar on impact, applying the {Tarred} debuff to all enemies within the impact zone. {Tarred} reduces movement speed of all targets within the tar patch by 50%, and reduces movement speed by 50% for 3 seconds after the targets have left the patch. Tar patches last 20 seconds.

  Cost: 30 wood per {Bronze Mortar}

   I said.

  

  

  

  

  Ezzie grunted. A good sign.

  

   Ezzie said.

  {Basic Infirmary} Upgrade: Devotion Unbound

  Benefit: Removes the cap on the number of villagers that can be upgraded to clerics.

  Cost: 50 bronze, 30 copper, 20 coal

  {Basic Barracks} Upgrade: Ferocity Unbound

  Benefit: Removes the cap on the number of villagers that can be upgraded to soldiers.

  Cost: 50 bronze, 30 copper, 20 coal

  {Basic Academy} Upgrade: Knowledge Unbound

  Benefit: Removes the cap on the number of villagers that can be upgraded to mages.

  Cost: 50 bronze, 30 copper, 20 coal

   Ezzie said.

  

   Ezzie said.

   I said.

  

  

   Ezzie said.

   I said.

  

  

  

   I said.