326 Developments in FalHerim (1/2)
The most obvious change to Fal'Herim was that Lynxmice were everywhere.
Before, they lurked and watched from the shadows. But now, they ran out freely, playing with the children on the streets, sunbathing on the rooftops, frequenting the shops with their new human Comrades…
Oh yes. Remian recognized Comrades when he saw them. Lynxmice sitting on people's shoulders or helping them fix things in places hard fo humans to reach… somehow, over the past week or so, Tim had managed to introduce Comrades to Fal'Herim, even though most of them were Field Lynxmice or Desert Lynxmice.
”We've taken over everything.” Tim assured Remian. ”Underground and above ground alike.”
”Yeah, you've even taken over the royalty.” Mindy shot Asda a dark look.
”Pretty much.” Tim shrugged.
The industrial district likewise had undergone huge changes. Tim had brought them underground to protect them during the Beast Tide, and afterward, they decided to stay there. The underground of Fal'Herim was incredibly vast and filled with Draconian ruins. Looking at the walls engraved with draconian art, Remian suspected that Khar'al-dras had stayed there for a while and had a multitude of servants with him. The whole underground labyrinth was riddled with dragon-sized tunnels. Tim merely occupied it and set to work opening pathways that made everything much more accessible and less of a maze. On top of that, they had cleared out several buildings above ground and put in lenses and mirrors to direct sunlight all across the underground.
”It's not good enough.” Remian shook his head. ”Tim, we have to put in light bulbs. We'll have to see about putting up wind and solar generators as soon as possible.”
”Or, we could stick a hundred lynxmice on dynamo wheels.” Tim suggested. ”We'll make it a competition. The top ten get double cheese.”
”That might be enough if it's just for lighting, but sooner or later, you'll want to use electricity for machinery and everything else.” Remian warned him. ”At that time, a thousand Lynxmice wouldn't be enough. No, I think… hmm. I think you can go straight for a hydrogen power plant. That means, you're going to need a lot of fuel cells.”
It took some time to explain fuel cells to Tim, but at the end of it, Tim nodded. ”We can turn some of the factories toward building these. We'll have less weapons to sell, but it won't be a problem. The question is where this hydrogen of yours is coming from.”
”I'm going to have to set that up as soon as I get back.” Remian admitted. ”Basically, I'm going to have to ask Deepsilver for help. Also we can turn all excess power production in Craggy Falls toward making hydrogen. That's the simplest way to do it right now, at least, until the bacta is ready.”
”What's bacta?”
”Uh… it's bacteria and algae. It's for algae bioreactors. We'll be using biotech to produce hydrogen. It just takes time for algae and bacta to grow, so it's not ready yet.” Remian grimaced. That was a secret project at Craggy Falls. The adventurers who cared for the algae and bacta probably had no idea what they were doing, only that they earned guild points for doing it.
In a matter of weeks, algae bioreactors could start hydrogen production in full swing, but weeks felt too long for Tim's case. Remian wanted to put in light bulbs and start up a power plant right now.
”What's the rush?” Tim asked, when he heard about it.
”There's no rush, exactly. But if we had power, this entire place could be utilized.” Remian said. ”We could quintuple the production. If we built up on top of this, we could have a massive arcology. On top of that, if we bury the arcology we could keep it all cool from the desert sun and warm in the desert nights. It'll look sort of like Kara-Goth.”
”A town-in-a-hill…” Tim mused.
”Exactly. With some clay and stone, it could look like a rocky hill from afar.”
”Let me think about that a little more. Tell me about this solar and wind power. And why the sudden urge to expand our industrial capacity?”
”It's because I'm worried about Kara-Goth.” Remian sighed. ”I don't think it's going to last.”
”What's not going to last?” Both Tim and Mindy were stunned.
”George is trying to build up heavy industries in a land ruled by a wolfcat. Shadowflash and his kin are not happy with all the pollution and the noise.” Remian explained. ”Sooner or later, things are going to get rough.”
”You want to move all of Kara-Goth's industries here.” Tim understood. ”Because the lynxmice here don't seem to have a problem with heavy industries.”
”I think they would if things get too noisy and the pollution gets too heavy, but there are ways to reduce that. We don't need to cover the desert with black smoke and chemical waste. We can set it up right this time, or at least avoid the worst of it. But that's going to take time, and a lot of work on my part…” Remian frowned. ”I might need you to take a class for me for a while.”
Tim flatly rejected. ”Nope! Can't do it! Too busy, sorry!”
”Mindy, then?” Remian turned to her hopefully.
”But… but the airships… the shipyard…” Mindy protested.
Remian sighed. ”Looks like all three of us are going to be busy here at Fal'Herim for a while. I guess I have no choice then.”
”What… what are you going to do? Ask George?” Mindy queried.