Homesteading in a fantasy world

I started by finishing off all the pipe that I need, making it was quite simple. I just made a square cut between two different pieces of rock and then used the merging joint’s ability to combine them.

This finale got me a level in merging joints. It reaching level 2 is interesting. I think every skill, class and ability has different level up times some require more activity to level.

When I placed it, I made sure that the edge was at the bottom so the flow will be better. I didn’t have to make a long pipe, just a few feet that I support with several pillars.

At the end, I will place a bucket that will collect the tar. For the outer shell, I was doing a box design but at the top I made an oval like ceiling so that it could support it’s its own weight.

I also made a chimney so when I get enough metal, I could make a door that I could open and close, making it even more efficient. It didn't take long for me to finish it and it was time for the first trial run.

I had to split some of the wood into smaller pieces so I could pack it as tight as possible. I also had some birch bark and then it was time to place the lid and start the fire.

I wish I had some magic or something that I could start fires that is easier than using flint and steel every time. Luckily, the birch bark is an excellent tinder source.

It will take about five hours to finish cooking one batch. I will need about 5 to 6 of them to fill the barrel. I will need a bit more if I want to make a throwable tar Molotov cocktails.

For both barrel and the Molotov cocktails, I will need a good fuse. My current plan is to use oil and tar-soaked rags that cover a birch bark core.

Birch bark makes a lot of high heat quickly, making sure that everything will burn. While it burns, I think it would be best to go and get some clay.

A quick swim is always nice to get the sweat off, but I to wish that there was clay deposit that I didn’t have to swim to get. Perhaps it extends inland, but I don’t have time to excavate currently.

For the clay containers, I will use the pounding technique, that means I use flat pieces of clay and then connect them using wet clay.

They need to be thick enough that they will survive transport, but hopefully not when I throw them. If they don’t break, they will still start the fire. The expanding tar will crack it. It will just be a lot more localized fire.

I had to occasionally add wood to the tar fire and dump the collected tar into the barrel. Before I continue making the clay containers, I did make a small test.

I took some of the tar and went close to the river. I threw it onto the ground and went and brought a bit of poison sumac and put it on the tar.

I then lit it on fire using a burning stick as it caught fire. I quickly run away, and I was delighted to see a lot of smoke generated by the poison sumac.

Now I wasn’t going to test how well it worked. I don’t think I would like that, but at least the theory seemed to be plausible that I could generate enough smoke to kill anything living inside the hill.

I contemplated on also adding some of the poison sumac into the Molotov cocktail, but I deemed it too dangerous and it wouldn't give enough positives to make it worthwhile.

When the first batch of tar-wood finished, the barrel was about 1/5 full and there’s another positive side there is also a lot of charcoal, I get out of this.

Loading the second batch was a bit more difficult because everything was so hot, but I was still able to accomplish it. I just had to use a thick rag to get the lid off.

After that, it only took a little bit longer to finish the clay containers that I place near the tar maker. I didn’t want to put them too close, otherwise they might dry too quickly and crack, but a little bit of help wouldn’t be bad to make them dry faster.

Now it was time to get started making the ballista structure. I need to be able to aim it so a stand where I could rotate it 360 and point it up and down will be necessary.

It will need to be a simple design. I will need to make a pipe where I could fit as solid pipe inside that will give me the 360 turning circle. This will be connected to a base or onto the tower itself.

I will need to make two blocks that are connected with a shaft that will give me up and down motion. One of the blocks needs to be connected to a solid pipe.

The other block will be connected to the ballista. All of this will need to be quite large because I’m planning on making a large one.

Unfortunately, I can’t make it too big, otherwise I won’t be able to cock it quickly and the tower might not survive the shocks of firing it.

I will need to make a few pieces out of metal. The supporting straps for the front, where the bow limb will go. It will need to be made out of thick metal.

The sled needs to be made out of metal, so there will be a lot less friction while cocking as well the added strength it provides. Some of the parts for the cocking mechanism need to be made from metal as well.

The main block needs to be split in two so I can carve out this slide moving area. I will reattach them together using the merging joints ability, making it as strong as it would have been if it wasn't split.

But the regular wood I have here will not be the best choice, so going to the forest is needed to find an oak tree. Luckily, it doesn’t need to be too thick.

I get my gear ready and head off into the grassland forest. To find the correct oak tree, I had to go quite deep in. It was only about 12 inches at the base, but that was good enough for the main block.

Bringing it back was a pain in the ass, but my training was paying off and it was a lot easier than the earlier one. I stripped off the bark, but I didn’t start with the main block.

I started at the top where it was about 6 inches. I cut a 1 and half meter piece, it got to about 7 inches at the bottom.

I started by carving out the four-inch round hole that was going to need to extend the whole way through. This was going to be the base that the solid pipe will go into.

To carve this took until I finished the current tar load and the next one. Simply doing this with only a knife was an extremely slow and difficult process. I also had to smooth out the inside with a smoothing stone.

I start the 4th batch as well, even though it will finish when the sun is already gone down. Next, I start to carve out the solid pipe that will go inside the piece I just made.

Compared to the other one, this one only took a fraction of the time to make. At the top of the solid pipe, I left a wider area where the ballista will rest upon.

To make it move better, I will use the most ancient of ways of making anything move smoothly, lard. I will also use it on the shaft itself that I will insert, to ensure smooth operation.

On top of the solid pipe, I also carved out the block that will be connected to the other block with a shaft for vertical movement.

When that was done, I actually used the tar I was getting to coat everything to make it last a lot longer, so rain wasn’t going to be a problem for this ballista.

Upper block that will connect to the main block will be quite long because I also want to use the merging joints ability on this one as well. So, I carved male slots on both sides, 10 of them altogether.

They were quite thick to make sure that they will be able to hold. Next came the shaft, that will connect the two pieces. On both sides, I made a hole using a big nail.

I made the nails blunt to make sure it will not split the wood. Then I can put pieces of wood through the holes later to make sure that the shaft doesn’t come out during battle.

I also used tar on the shaft and the upper block, but I didn’t do the inside of the block to make sure that the male slot will fit together perfect.

I wouldn’t want some extra stuff messing up my joints. When that was done, it was starting to get too late to work on anything else today, so I just eat some jerky and monitor the fire.

When it was finished, I didn’t even take off the lid. There was no need to do this in the dark. I quenched the coals with some water.

I poured the last of the tar into the barrel, but I couldn’t even see how full it was. Too dark today, need to find out tomorrow. I went to sleep after that.