A general born to rule

The building a new

Chapter 5: Laying the Foundations

With Alara now under their protection and the immediate threat of discovery somewhat mitigated, Marcus and Sam turned their attention back to their original plan: building a foundation that would ensure the village's survival and prosperity.

The village of Woodhaven was small, tucked away in a remote corner of the kingdom, where the land was fertile but largely ignored by the central powers. Its people were simple folk, mostly farmers and craftsmen, content with their quiet lives but struggling under the weight of heavy taxes and neglect from the crown. The village had no strategic importance, no rich veins of metal or vast fields of crops, and so it was left to fend for itself.

Marcus and Sam, however, saw potential in this overlooked place. With their knowledge from a past life, they knew that even the smallest of villages could grow into something greater with the right leadership and innovation.

The Survey

Their first step was to survey the village and its surroundings. Over the next few days, the two men visited every field, every workshop, and every corner of the village. They spoke with the farmers, the blacksmiths, and the elders, learning about the crops they grew, the tools they used, and the challenges they faced.

Woodhaven’s economy was based primarily on agriculture. The villagers grew wheat, barley, and vegetables, but the yields were poor due to outdated farming techniques and tools. The blacksmiths worked with what little metal they could trade for, mostly producing simple tools and weapons.

As they toured the village, Marcus and Sam began to formulate a plan.

"We need to improve their farming methods first," Marcus said as they walked through a field of withering crops. "If we can increase their yields, we’ll have the food to support a larger population and attract more people to the village."

Sam nodded in agreement. "And we need to upgrade their tools. The plows and sickles they’re using are ancient. We can start by introducing crop rotation, better irrigation, and improved plows made from the iron we’ve started to mine."

The two men spent the following days in the village's small library—little more than a room with a few dusty scrolls and books—drawing up plans and blueprints from memory. They designed new plows with sharper blades, rudimentary water wheels to power mills, and even a basic forge that could produce higher-quality tools and weapons.

The villagers were initially skeptical of the newcomers’ plans, but their doubts faded as they saw the results. Under Marcus and Sam’s guidance, the blacksmiths forged the first of the new plows, which cut through the earth with ease, allowing the farmers to till their fields more efficiently. The water wheel, once installed, increased the speed and efficiency of grinding grain into flour, saving the villagers hours of back-breaking work.

As the village's agricultural output increased, so did their confidence in Marcus and Sam. The two men quickly became trusted leaders, their status solidified when they used their newfound influence to convince the village elders to reestablish an old, abandoned factory as a new center of industry.

The Factory

The factory became the heart of Woodhaven’s transformation. Marcus and Sam worked tirelessly, day and night, to restore the old building. They cleared out decades of dust and debris, repaired the machinery, and began training a group of villagers to operate the forges and lathes. The factory produced everything the village needed: tools, weapons, and eventually, simple machines that made everyday tasks easier.

As the factory’s output grew, so did Woodhaven’s reputation. Villagers from neighboring hamlets began to visit, curious about the changes they had heard about. These visits soon turned into requests for help, as other neglected villages saw the improvements in Woodhaven and wanted the same for themselves.