The csses at the academy went off without a hitch given the lower number of goblins I was teag. I did gather some very useful information about the nature of prestige and evolution that I wasn't expeg. I hadn't really been thinking about the fact that the goblins wouldn't really know what they should sider useful or non-useful information, so it ended up taking this long to gain a key insight that I holy should have been asking them about.

  The ope was about how goblins bee hobgoblins. Namely, they reach a prestige one level above mythid thehey max that out, they feel as though they ot prestige again, but are instead offered the ability to evolve into a hobgoblin. I found this out after probing a hobgoblin who retly evolved for more information about their evolution, and the details leading up to it. I rewarded them handsomely for their time and information since I asked a lot of questions to get to the truth of the matter.

  Everything sidered, this may be the highest level attainable overall iige, or it could be just the highest level foblins. For now, I'm calling it the Apex prestige. After Zeb and I did a little bit of testing before, I believe that the words and phrases used internally for describing things are basically sciously or unsciously named, so by giving it this o myself, I'll get some more insight if I choose to prestige agaiime if my status reflects the term Apex.

  I went around and double-checked with other hobgoblins after this, and they seemed to be in agreement; you reach Apex, then you get to bee a hobgoblin. I find this a little odd though, since I know that some other evolutions occur at other prestige levels as well. I'm thinking there is some other principle at work, leading to the specific situation of the goblin to hobgoblin transition. They do look somewhat simir to each other as well after all...

  After I finished running the academy and colleg data, it was time for me to harvest the st of the float vihat were in the way of the fishiy we've been building. Getting the remaining float vines ended up taking the full remaining sixteen days of the month, taking us into the first day of winter.

  I also got to try some of Maka's ftbreads that she made, which I'd say were quite the success. A while ago Rishi had tried her hand at making ftbread, but I suppose having someoh training in baking really does make a differenbsp; Since we put a request in for the material for brewing alcohol, I'm hoping that it might also fun as a leavening agent, plus I'm sure the dwarves will appreciate us having alcohol avaible for them. That is, if my intuition is correct.

  We're also waiting on a handful of other supplies, like roofing agent and more bargas. I've been gd to see that the felt has slowly been finding use, so getting our herds up to acceptable levels should be quite beneficial for us. As for the roofing agent, its mostly for more windmills. We don't hem yet, but having more automation will require a power source, and while we could attempt to jumpstart iricity, for most of what we hat would be overkill, and actually quite taxing on our current ey to develop. Instead, we rapidly i our produ using pin meical power for a while, until our ey is rge enough that it doesn't actually break the bank to try and master electricity.

  After six more days, a occurred that probably brought us the o extin on this isnd that we've experienced so far. Kao Ostark arrived with Shasta, three ships, and a meaningfully rge army which I estimated to be about ohousand dwarves in size. I was initially quite panicked. However, he simply marched up tates, and demao speak with me, so of course I obliged him.

  I barely got to ask him what was going on, when I received a demand, "Have all avaible dwarves brought out to him for questioning, no further information would be given until he's met with them."

  This was... frightening to say the least. So I hurriedly had every dwarf, to the child, brought out to Kao. He then hurriedly brought them off to the rear of the army, and for literal hours, that was the situation. Kao separated the dwarves o a time and discussed something in dwarvish while protected by an army of over ohousand, keeping me, and any of the dwarves he wasn't currently talking to from hearing anything directly.

  After he'd talked with all the dwarves, including the childreurned with them and Shasta to the city gates. What was said fused me.

  "You're being framed."

  "Being framed for what?" I asked. It was a simple reply, but I was fused. Framed for doing bad things to the dwarves on the isnd? Surely it would be an overrea t this many troops if that was the case. I suppose if Kao thought it vioted our military agreement in some way then it might make sense...

  "We 't talk about it in the open here, I'll send my troops back, save for the most trusted anders among them. Then we discuss matters."

  So, I waited as the dwarven army was anded and marched ba the road the way they came from until only Kao, Shasta, and four other dwarves remained.

  I offered for us to use the meeting room in city hall, and after a short debate, Kao agreed. I hurriedly fetched Zeb and Zaka, since whatever was happening seemed important.

  After we had gathered in the meeting room, Kao spoke, and Shasta transted, "Initially I thought meeting here would potentially be a problem in case information leaked, but giveuation, if information leaks here it probably won't matter, as you'll probably inform everyone on the isnd of the situation anyway. If you want us to move location after I tell you what is happening, simply say so, and we'll find somewhere more private."

  I simply nodded along, and then gave my assent to tinue.

  "As of about two months ago, a strange pirate ship has been raiding trade routes within the innd sea between the main tis. While it hasn't been particurly successful, it's mao avoid capture and has sunk a few vessels. Do you have any ideas as to why this would be relevant to the current situation?"

  As Shasta transtes, I notice Kao is ily studying our faces. So I try to drive my brain into overdrive, why would it be relevant? It doesn't seem like either Zeb or Zaka have any clue either...

  Not wanting the sileo go on for to long, I respond with my best guess, "Is it because it disrupts the trade routes and supply lines for both this isnd and your isnd?"

  Kao seems to rex, but also seems a little disappointed.

  "No, if that were the case, I wouldn't have the army over. That ship seems to be using steam ons, much like your own. Worse for your case, it seems that the ship is at least partially, if not pletely, manned by demons. I'm sure this is enough to give you an idea of what I meant when I said you're being framed. Additionally, merts have vouched that you've been buying roofing materials."

  Everything started to cli pbsp; If we were suddenly out itting piracy, of course someone who we're in a tentative military alliance would bee hostile, especially if we were potentially attag them directly. Why steam ons though, or rather, how would they know to use them?

  I sit for a few moments and mull over the information... Then I remember, it was a year ago now, when Rathnd's Baron was visiting, there was a shady figure looking over our steam ons at night. Although I suppose it could have been the elves as well, but I doubt that.

  "A year ago now, when Rathnd's representative was here, I noticed a shady figure our steam ons at night, but they escaped before I could see who it was."

  "Then things are being quite clear. Rathnd has also been trying to ihe a defensive pacts to rally other nations to gather their armies to march upon this isnd and wipe you out, using the piracy as a pretext. Word takes time to spread, and armies take even longer. I'm not sure how many nations will join their cause given the unusual circumstances, but you'll probably have until winter before they attabsp; Given our military agreement, we'll help in any way we ."

  Kao fihe statement with a grimabsp; It's obvious that he's also ed about the potential asymmetry in firepower. Every time we've fought in the past, it's been on short notibsp; This time, we have aire year to prepare for the potentiality of war with known assaints. This time, we'll be ready.