Faber Stronghold

[The Maker]

On the nearly uninhabited island of Kólga, John Faber, with the help of his uncle, has begun constructing a nice little property for personal living, and eventually as a business headquarters. It is near a forested area, but there is small clearing and a slight rocky cliff. The cliff is low enough to allow for a dock to built at a later date, and said dock would be easily accessible by seafaring vessels. The cliff is also high enough for it to protect the stronghold from flooding quite handily. The only real population on the island is a small fishing village on the opposite side of the island, making it a very secluded and private place for conducting meetings, working on projects, and even just living undisturbed.

The establishment so far consists of a bedroom suite, which includes a bath, a closet and a bedroom. The furnishings are plain wood, but they all function well enough. There is a small dresser when one can keep their items, the closet has room for plenty of clothing, and the bathroom has a tank of water for self-cleaning, as well as some chamber pots. The wall is all wood, which gives it a rustic feel, but still makes it look clean and neat. There is additionally a painting of a sailing ship hanging in the wall of the bedroom.

Another aspect is a small workshop that is used for walls and furniture and the like. It greatly aids the construction process. It has work tables, and a very similar feel to the suite. There are saws and other useful tools for anyone there, as well as a drafting table which allows for the easy planning and laying out of rooms.

Next to the workshop, Mr. Faber has installed a storage room, where he can put his excess goods. While currently empty, the room boasts a couple of basic shelves, a small lighting fixture, space for barrels, and a small window, in addition to its doorway leading to the main hall as well as back to the workplace.

Across the hall, there is a door which leads to a short hallway separating two additional bedrooms. These bedrooms are much the same as the aforementioned sweet, except they are of course, smaller. They each contain a small painting, one of a horse, and the other of a field.

There is also a kitchen. The Kitchen is much larger than it need be at the minute. It has many pots and pans hanging from the ceiling, with the general use of copper for many things, although steel is used where it is a better choice. There are stoves, fireplaces, countertops, and largely everything needed for effective cooking.

Across the room is the common area. This area is of baser furnishings. The floors are a stained wood, and the walls are painted green, but the only chairs are two armchairs and a small sofa. There are, of course, a few chairs hanging from pegs in the corner, but they are usually tucked out of view. There is a table in the corner, where some maps are stored, as well as an empty bookcase.  

Now, next to the common area is a quite nice room, an office of sorts. It is well-furnished, with expensive carpeting as well as a nice desk. There is a nice, upholstered sofa across from the desk, as well as an arm chair in the corner, but ultimately, all the furniture yields to the desk, which is of a dark wood, with structures in place for storage of ink, and paper and important documents. The chair behind the desk is a nice leather chair, which is sturdy enough to be work-friendly, but comfortable enough that one may lounge in it. A nice painting, of a county landscape with a singular, small cabin in the distance hangs over the wall. The wallpaper is a shimmery, with stripes of various shades of green.

At the end of the hall is a training dojo, of an old style. It has some training weapons mounted on the walls, and has various dummies, as well as an entrance to a fenced-in training yard, where more arduous combat training can take it out.

Outside is the stable. The stable is a simple, freestanding building, where Brigadier lives. It is hooked up to a pasture, which is fenced in. The floor is dirt, and the stalls are unpainted wood, but the attic is a hayloft where enough hay to feed horses for a long time is stored. Due to good grazing, it is rarely necessary. 

---

Contents:

Workplace, Basic {Construction}
Bedroom Suite, Basic 
    Occupants Slot 1: John Faber
Storage, Basic 
Bedrooms, Basic
    Occupant Slot 1:  [Empty]
    Occupant Slot 2: [Empty]
Kitchen, Basic
Common Area, Basic
    Map, World
    Map, Continent x 7
Office, Fancy
    Occupant: John Faber
Stables, Basic
    Horse Slot 1: Brigadier
    Horse Slot 2:
    Horse Slot 3
    Horse Slot 4:
    Horse Slot 5:
    Horse Slot 6:
Training Room, Combat

---

OOC: PM me if you wish to enter. The place is rather hidden, and isolated, so not just any old fool could find it. Description will update as its built.

[The Maker]

I arrived back at my home, and walked into my workshop. Sleep could wait, rest could wait. Work must come before I rest. Today has been an idle day; all I did was buy and spend, I must create so I do not become soft. I rolled the diagram out, the one of the storage room which I intended to build next to my Workshop. It would be quite the task, but a simple one.

I looked at the plans. They included multiple shelves. Thats was easy; shelving is a great first thing I can do tonight before I can sleep. I looked at the measurements for the shelves, and began to do the math out on what I would need for wood. With a piece of paper and a pencil, I would sketch out the room, and the boards. For maximum shelving, I would want the entire back wall to be covered, and to have multiple shelves, but hopefully room for a barrel under the shelves. Yes, yes. That'll have to do. So two shelves, above a bottom row of barrels. For that I'll need wood, one foot by the perimeter of the room, minus the front wall.

I have to take into account the overlap, so I can subtract one square foot from each side of the back wall. That will account for the sides. Perfect. So my formula is...

Wood Area = 2*(3*Side of Room- 2). I wrote that done, knowing I'd finish the calculations on the morrow. I would exit the workshop, walking across to my bedroom suite. A quick wash up, followed by changing into my sleeping clothes would top off the night. Tomorrow, work resumes.

---

1,250 - 90 - 30 - 1d100, please
- 833 Ryo please

SPOILER: Click to show

Storage, BasicRank: "C"Type: Main, Room, 1 Stronghold Space, Craftsman RoomEffect: A room in which things are stored.Special: ---Drawback: ---Description: This empty room has rough walls and an unfinished (possibly dirt) floor. Due to the need for aisles and sensible stacking, a typical storage component offers about 2,000 cubic feet of usable storage space. If you need a greater capacity, you can purchase this component multiple times. You can turn a storage space into a vault.Limit: Must be created by a Construction Crafter.Cost: 2,500 Ryo

[The Maker]

The next morning I would awaken, realizing that it was near on 7 o'clock, and I had not stirred yet. I was shocked at this, so I managed to drink some water and eat a quick slice of bread before heading off to my work for the day. I sat down in my workshop, gently looking over my math from the night before. It seemed that my calculations were good. So I looked at the chart, and agreed that the room would be 10*10, so that would provide the necessary input for my function.

56 square feet of wood. I looked at the materials I had, and realized that those could be achieved with my existing wood.I would need four 10 foot by 1 foot boards, and two 8 foot by one foot boards. I looked at my stock, and saw one 10 foot by 5 foot piece of wood that would do all but one of those boards.

I drew out the lines I would need. A quick line drawing would show me four cuts which would give me four of my boards. I took out my saw, and began cutting the first one foot strip out of the five foot board. Slowly I would work, trying to make a straight line which would easily lend itself to better shelving later. And so, I worked, repeating the process until all the pieces I needed for the shelves sat before me. A small, small start, but a useful one nonetheless.

---

(1,250 - 90 - 30 - 1d100) - 90 - 30 - 1d100)
Same as above.

[The Maker]

Now, every good room needs lighting fixtures. But, this is a storage room, so floor and shelf space is the very purpose of the room. If I waste any of that for the simple purpose of a light, I won't be as efficient, and I will have not made the quality of storage room that I seek to make. I looked at the plans, and noticed that they included a ceiling mounted light structure.

I would look further at the designs. They had an obvious flaw. The plan for the ceiling included beams to support everything, but they were set up at an even number. That left the center, where the chandelier type light was meant to hang, completely unsupported. That would mean the entire thing would collapse the moment the light was installed, and I would need to replace half of my celling. Now, two obvious options present themselves. I can move the light fixture, or change the ceiling. But of course, aesthetics do matter. So I decided to change the ceiling.

Once again. Two options. I can add or subtract one beam to get to an odd number. Adding is more expensive, subtracting is weaker. I of course, had ordered an excess of lumber anyways, so the addition would work fine. I looked at the diagram, and did a quick calculation. I divided the ten foot span by 11 instead of 10. 10.9 inches would do, leaving me even spacing, and an eleventh beam to make the light more easily supportable. A lot of work done, before the construction has started.

---

((1,250 - 90 - 30 - 1d100) - 90 - 30 - 1d100) - 90 - 30 - 1d100.
Same as above.

[The Maker]

I guess I better get started on the actual foundation of the room I'm building. Today is a cool day, and I'm willing to build a ditch. I'm wearing one of my coarser construction shifts, so its of no difficulty to dig a ditch. I take my string which I've measured some stakes and go out to the yard. Obviously I'm going to want to boarder my Workshop with my Storage Room, so that I can move the things I make to storage easily, so I better set the foundation accordingly.
I stake off the room, knowing that I have a long dig in front of me. The wooden stake slides easily into the dirt, except in the far left corner where it bumps into a small rock, and I have to reposition it slightly

I shake my head, and get the shovel I've stored under my workbench, its still clean from last weekend when I cleaned up the entire place. I also get a large spade, which I know I can use for the purpose of breaking through the top layer where the grass roots are. Going to the closer of the two right corners, my spade breaks the grass for the first time this morning. Stroke after stroke, I eventually reach the other side of this first segment. This might take longer than I had expected.

---

(((1,250 - 90 - 30 - 1d100) - 90 - 30 - 1d100) - 90 - 30 - 1d100) - 90 - 30 -1d100)
No additional price or other changes.

[The Maker]

The strain of physical labor was returning to me, and I felt that vigor of hard work coursing through me. I had cut out the the boarders of the boundary which I would have to dig out. I would lean my spade against the side of my workshop, making a careful note to take it down to the river tonight so it would not soil my workplace. I would then begin to pick up my shovel, and carefully excavate the area where the stones would be put later today. Right as my shovel pierced the top layers, I frowned, realizing I'd forgotten to set up my tarp before I'd started digging.

Leaving my shovel stuck in the ground, I went into my workplace where a tarp was neatly folded in the corner. I took it out, unfolded it, and set it next to the dig site. Every couple of feet, I'd drag it down to a dump site near the river, so I could dispose of unwanted dirt. That way I could keep the area clean, but still dig effectively. And so it began, I ripped up the grass which I can cut off with my spade, and piled it up on the tarp, leaving a nice, clean ring of dirt for me to excavate. A place for my storage room.

---

Above - 90 - 30 - 1d100
Nothing has changed.

[The Maker]

The grass was up, but I figured I could easily put some mored dirt into the tarp. So I began the shoveling, sticking my shovel under some soft dirt, and tearing it up. My work seemed to do itself, as the tarp was immediately filled up, and I had to bring it down to the dump site near the river. It was no big deal of course, as I strung rope through some grommets on the corners of the tarp, folded it over itself so no dirt would fall out, and I began dragging the weight down to the river. It was heavy, but the trek was downhill, alleviating some of the work I would have had to do.

The site where I've been dumping my waste is a lower section near the river. The rainfall does a good job of washing in the entire load most weeks, that way I don't have to worry about having something unsightly close to my home. Beside, its an easy spot to get to, and I needn't waste much time dumping dirt, or I'll never get something done. I untie the ropes holding the tarp in place, and flip it over, emptying my dirt into the pile. I would shake the tarp, hitting gently in the ground to get as much off as possible, and drag it back up to the hill to continue digging. I would continue the process, as long as it took, so that my construction would be swift.

---

Above - 90 - 20 -1d100

[Nira]

Hm, why did you write 20 instead of 30 for the most recent post? Typo?

Building material costs applied.

narutoforumrp.proboards.com/post/946084/thread
1064/1250

Most of the preparations were ready. If you were good with the time, it would probably be only a single set of effort requires. However, as luck would have it, it was more likely to be a couple steps.

[The Maker]

Progress seemed t be moving faster. It had only been a few days, but as I woke up from my sleep, I peeked out to see a room near completion for the purposes of storage. All that was left were some basic interior touches, and then I could finally stop working on this project and find another task for a while. I walked in, and examined, noting the fact that the floor needed to be installed, the shelves sanded and stained, and the lighting fixture hung. It would only be today, if I worked hard enough.

So, I took a floor board in through the door out from my wood stockpile. It hung under my arm, and I stepped through the threshold. It was a bit of a balancing act, and I stood on the support beams on the floor so I didn't fall through to my insulation. I placed the board gently on the far right of the room, and slid it into place. I had cut boards the perfect length for the floor, not the best for price, but it was plenty simple to drag all of this lumber in, and just place it, and nail it down where it needs to be.

Piece by piece, my pleasant, warmly colored wood floor would be placed in the room where I would store things. Another step, and eventually I will be done with this mess.

---

236 - 90 - 30 - 1d100

[The Maker]

I got out some sand paper, knowing the floor was nailed down and finished, and looking rather good. I had measured perfectly, so the number of boards had been perfect, and no clever work was required with nails of with supports. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I began sanding down the walls and shelves, and everything on the floor, so that I could eventually stain down, giving the thing a nice color and protection from any dampness which might come into the room. I sanded in slow, circular motions, and cleansed the floor of roughness.

The work was slightly tiring, but the repetitive motion would allow for me to fall into a rhythmic type of slow, steady work, one that would . Stroke after stroke, minuted after minute, the room began to become a light color, an excellent tabula rasa for the stain I had bought.

I took the stain, and began brushing it lightly on the floor. A different shade would go on the walls, and the floor shade would go onto the shelves. The entire room would tie in, and I would stand back, letting the thing dry. I had made myself another room. Excellent.

---

(236 - 90 - 30 -1d100) - 90 -30 -1d100.
There is no way I could fail this. Building is complete upon approval.

[The Maker]

Knowing his work for the time was done, he would head out to spend the remaining daylight hours in the nearby forest.

---

Exit

[Solus]

It is done! Congrats ^^

[The Maker]

SPOILER: Click to show

Attention Stance
Rank: "E" Rank
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Disciplinary stance
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Toes and heels together, hands at sides.
Limit: Must be taught by a Kenpo Master.

It seemed, that my friend from the Kenpo Dojo had quite the ordeal, trying to spread his art. He showed up at my door step, with a flask of alcohol, and he said to me, "Would the safe-haven you've offered me still be valid?" Wordlessly, I let him in. I invited him into my sitting room, with his bags and all. It was late, but he removed a flask of hard liquor, and I went to the kitchen to grab us each a glass. We drank while he told the tale of his failures, that nobody had been interested in learning Kenpo from him. I told him, that if he stays the night, I would take up lessons on the morrow, and we would propagate the dying art in that way.

---

0|5 [+1 TP per Post]

We were standing there, a little hungover from the previous night's misadventures. He told me that, before he could teach me any fighting moves, he would have to teach me the basic, and disciplinary stances.

"So, the first stance you have to learn, is the Attention Stance. Stand with your feet together, and your hands at your side."

I stood like he said. I felt my toes and my heels next to each other, and rested my hands at my side. I could feel the effects, as my shoulders were shifted back. All the ligaments in my body were straightening me right out. My hand positions and my foot positions were pulling into an attentive state of mind. I now saw why this was an important part of Kenpo.

I twitched my toe, due to an itch on it, and realized that I had to be better than that. Part of this process was to have my mind keep my body in one place. If I move, or shift my weight, I won't be able to focus nearly as much on his lecture, on what he is telling me. My bodily control is very important. If I cannot make my body stand still, how well will I be able to make myself move in precise ways?

[Nira]

+4, +1, Learned

[The Maker]

SPOILER: Click to show

Natural Stance
Rank: "E" Rank
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Disciplinary stance
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Feet shoulder width apart, arms relaxed at side.
Limit: Must be taught by a Kenpo Master.

0|5 TP + 1

---

"All right now, you're going to have to relax a little bit for me, is that all right? So, the next stance you have to learn is the one known as the Natural Stance. Believe it or not, it feels pretty natural. So, set your feet a shoulder width, and relax your arms at your side."

I already saw where this was going. I spread my legs, and loosened my arms, noting how far my fingers went on my thigh. My shoulders relaxed, and I realized that this stance provided me with a basic understanding of how not to tense muscles. While the attention stance taught me how to hold everything tight, to make my body hold still, this is teaching me how not to tighten my joints. Being loose is vital to a full range of movement, the most important part of the body arts, or so I hear.

I felt where my feet were set, and realized that this too was intentional. With my feet out here, I was neutral, and able to do whatever I wanted. This natural stance was such a blank slate, a clean place to stand, that I could quickly shift into any of the other forms I needed to be in. Even attention stance seemed to be a quick jerk of a few muscles together, and I would be in the taught stance from earlier. Simple as that. 

[Captain M]

LEARNED

[The Maker]

SPOILER: Click to show

Rest Stance
Rank: "E" Rank
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Disciplinary stance
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Feet shoulder width apart, hands clasped behind back
Limit: Must be taught by a Kenpo Master.

0|5 TP + 1

---

"Now, move your hands behind your back and clasp them together. Thats pretty much the rest stance, not all that much to learn there.”

That would be how it would seem, on the surface. But, that really wasn’t quite factual, the way I saw it. The rest stance seemed to draw me back, and open me up for lessons. If I had my hands at my sides, it was very primal. This was more proper, less natural. With this stance I was starting to shift my posture upwards, but also pull myself back, and get in a state of observation. Without this stance, I would be very turned inwards, but this stance seems to have turned my body outwards, and made me look at what is going on around me.

There stands of course, the importance of rest which is demonstrated by the very presence of the stance so early in the martial art. Rest is where we grow stronger. We destroy our bodies as we work hard, but between works is when our body puts itself back together, but this time stronger. The rest stance is for those times when the mind and the body are building back ups stronger, and more ready for fighting and striking. Without rest, there is no reward, there is no strength. That is this stance. I moved my arms behind my back.

[Captain M]

STOP RESTING YOU LAZY DEADBEAT!

Nah just messing with you!

LEARNED

[The Maker]

SPOILER: Click to show

Horse Stance
Rank: "E" Rank
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Disciplinary stance. Only front weapons available (side horse). Center line open. A 50-50 weight ratio
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Feet outside shoulder width, knees bent, hands at side bent, fists in at waist, knees out over ankles.
Limit: Must be taught by a Kenpo Master.

0|5 TP + 1

---

“Now, they get more and more useful, I promise.” The mans tendency to say ‘now’ was getting almost irritating to me, but I took him with patience, knowing that this was a great opportunity for me. “The Horse Stance. Spread your feet wide apart, as if you’re riding a horse, and put weight on both feet equally, bending your knees.” He demonstrated, getting into that powerful stance.

I lowered my body into the correct position, but looked at how he stood, and realized that this was quite the important stance. It was all about alignment, as my knees get shifted over my feet. I can pull my body out to the right spot, and therefore I am pushing all the joints into the correct places. And, that builds muscle. While this stance isn’t very hard, I can already feel how a long stand in this position would make my muscles stronger, and better suited for kicking. My fists were at my sides, ready for an, effective, if not overly telegraphed punch.

This stance also, now that I come to look closer is teaching me balance. I can feel myself, shifting from one foot to the other as I try to find my center of gravity and put it precisely in the middle of my body. Of course, when standing on one leg for any moment in any kick, I would need excellent balance to deliver correctly.

[Captain M]

LEARNED