Chapter 49: Truly portable

Looking into my kitchen, you would see me tossing an oversized wok. Throwing rice into the air with obvious theatrical intent. I took a variety of nice smelling spices I found and infused them into the rice I cooked. A white rice variety, once infused with the spices I set to the side.

Adding oil to a smoking hot wok, I add onions, salt, and a little sugar. Quickly frying off the onions until half cooked, I add peppers and a few strips of cooked chicken. Once done, I add the flavorful rise, tossing to evenly combine them.

Once combined I threw in some finely diced spring onion, a couple leaves of mint, and a dash of some kind of hard liquor I bought; it smells nice so it goes in. When cooking always follow your nose.

With a final toss, the hard liquor ignites, burning off the alcohol and leaving a hint of a Smokey flavor. Serving up a nice big plate of tasty rice I quickly dig in. Finding it extremely flavorful and the sugar really did wonders. I had to resist the urge to add garlic, I eat far too much garlic.

I think some ginger would have improved it but… I’ll give it a six out of ten. A success in my book. Portioning up some rice for my pets to discover, surprisingly they didn’t find their way to my kitchen while I was cooking. I was beginning to think they are part bloodhound.

Whatever remains got thrown into my freezer for another day; waste not, want not. And I don’t always have the energy to make a full dinner.

Making a tasty dinner had the added side effect of allowing some extraterrestrial matter to build up. Walking over to my ‘Deep Mob Learning’ setup; mentally noting to build a specific room for this mod. Would make automation far easier.

Taking out the healthy handful, I combine it with emerald and diamond to make 6 nether stars. Taking 2 I craft 2 geochests, which required 1 nether star an iron chest, and a variety of emerald and diamonds. Resisting the compulsion to immediately test them, I combine with a further 2 nether stars and a golden chest each; resulting in a 5x5x5 size.

The next few sizes are 7x, 9x, and 11x. I noted it increases all the way up to 64x. obviously requiring a scary quantity of nether stars. If I recall correctly a special material was added for these chests, but it seems it was removed for some reason. I also create a geo-visualizer, which allows me to visualize how much a geochest will store.

I consider how I should test them out; I guess let us make sure they work I suppose. Heading outside, I create a small stone structure, placing the geochest and using the visualizer on it. It highlights the area around it. Pressing a big pink button on the chest I hear an extremely loud ‘whoosh;’ and it's gone.

Opening the chest resulted in a neatly arrayed group of blocks. Removing one, I press the pink button; materializing the items again. One notable exception, the item I removed didn’t reappear. As suspected, works exactly how I thought; although the pink gem being a button was a complete guess.

Having an idea, let's make a portable base. Something I can just place down for warmth, comfort, and convenience. I start the build, allowing the materials to build up so I can make even better geochests. Let's make a 40x40 home; that means one 64x chest will do all I need.

Heading off my island so I don’t accidentally absorb part of it by miscalculating. I flatten a massive area of land for the building. Taking a variety of woods, glass and stones I get to work. I plan to make the structure mostly stone, with a slightly evil vibe. I have a decent supply of nether brick, even though better dark materials exist; it's my first portable home so whatever.

I mark out the 40x40 with bricks on the floor. Just a guideline. First, I create large walls over the markings with nether brick, creating a 3 floored tower. On the outside, I create decorations using brick, stairs of both stone brick and nether brick neatly placed around. Adding depth and breaking up the dark tone.

After decorating the outside, I create a stone brick roof, pointed almost like a wizard's tower. It includes a large inset window with border decorations. So, in total, it's 3 floors and an attic. The floor is Netherwood, for its red color. With different woods creating decorations on the floor. On the outside, I replace the grass with stone brick, creating walkways around. I grow a few trees around it, witchery trees mostly. Adding some vines and Spanish moss to the sides for the atmosphere.

The door I took a special amount of time working on. I made it sharp almost like a mouth, jutting out the house. I was rather proud of it. Finally, I touch up the walls with small windows spaced around the first 2 floors.

Working on the inside, I divide the first floor into a guest bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen with a fully stocked pantry, and a living room. I included a bookshelf with some books. Installing the shower with little wiggle room was a creative challenge but I pulled it off.

The second floor is my room specifically. It includes my bedroom, a small study, armor stands, and storage. I also created a small personal living room and a second small guestroom. The first guestroom at a push could fit 3 people but this one can only fit 1.

Realizing I neglected something on the first floor, I head back down. Creating a backdoor; I add a small farm with a variety of foods, covered in a canopy. I used Glowstone to light the building up. I dotted obsidian between the walls, having made sure to make them 3 thick so it's very durable.

Back onto the second floor, I add a small crafting area and a full enchanting setup, along with a couple XP berry bushes.

Onto the third floor, which I took special care to seal off, so only I or people I let in can easily access it. I create a reinforced obsidian storage room with a couple obsidian chests. Aside from that, I set up some thermoelectric generators for power, making sure to remove the wood around it so I didn’t set my house alight. I add a basic pulverizer, alloy furnace, and smeltery area. I left most of the space open for me to update as I go along.

Within the reinforced area I add a basic supply of materials along with a handful of every ore seed I own, along with the resources to craft more.

The roof is a bit special, I dedicated it to magic books, structures, and a, odd sealed obsidian structure. Within this sealed structure are a clone constructor and storage. You can never be too careful.

With that, I now have a fully functional portable base, with power, basic amenities, and the resources for basic crafting. Now I just need those damned nether stars; sadly it's not a fast process so all I can do is wait.

Instead of sitting around doing nothing, I head into town; finding the same bustling streets I have grown used to. Walking along with the noisy marketplace, I actually spot 2 familiar faces. Jengals mother and Cassie. Finding the closest, who is Jengals mother, I say hello. We exchange greetings but she is obviously very busy; so I simply bid her good day and move on.

Moving on to Cassie, she seems a little less busy, idly browsing and sweeping her gaze across the everchanging market.

Crossing into her view not to startle her, I wave my hand. “Hey Cassie, how are you?”

Even with my attempts to not startle her, she is physically taken back in the shock of my sudden voice. She corrects herself quickly though, still, I notice a slight stutter as she speaks, although it's ironed out after a few words.

“Hey, A… Aeternum, right?”

Smiling lightly, keeping my tone cheery, “Yep, that’s me.”

She calms down notably “Hi, I am okay, how are you?”

Happy for the conversation, “I am good, just thought I’d browse the market, what you up to?”

She seems to find her stride, replying quickly and effectively. “Just looking, seeing if anything catches my eye. You would be surprised at what treasures pop up every now and then.”

Curiosity peaked, “What treasures have you spotted before?”

She seems happy to talk, quickly spilling her story. “Well, you know I was walking around just like this, right? Anyway, I spotted something shiny, turns out he was selling a middle-tier enchanted book for 8 bronze!”

She seems to realize she was speaking very openly, visible raining herself in before continuing. “Sadly, I was too poor at the time, I told my friend and they bought it, managing to resell it for a couple silvers. They gave me silver in thanks; best day ever.”

“That’s pretty cool, do you know what enchants?” I ask inquisitively.

“Yeah, I think it was fortune 2, unbreaking 2 and one other enchant I don’t recall.” Mentally adding they sold it for gold, fortune is a great enchant.

“That’s very cool, I hope I find something interesting someday, want to join me for some tea before I continue on?” I ask in a good mood.

She seems shocked by the thought someone would invite her to something, she seems apprehensive at first but accepted. “S… Sure I would love to, lead the w… way.”

Chuckling at the fact she assumes I know a tea house, still I walk around looking for a teapot sign; having spotted one or two previously.

Eventually finding one, we walk in; a waiter guides us to a private booth. The whole restaurant is divided into segments. We order a tea each, I order a fruit tea, Cassie orders a green tea.

She turns to me, starting the conversation for once, “Fruit tea, never pegged you for a sweet tooth.”

Sarcastically I replied, “And what did you peg me as?”

She thinks for a moment before replying, “Hard liquor kind of guy.”

I chuckle so hard I spit out my tea, having already removed my helmet I now have to clean the table.

“I have always enjoyed sweeter drinks; I find them less acidic and overpowering;” I say in a neutral tone.

She replies more dramatic than normal, “I know right! I only ordered green tea to keep up appearances.”

This time I stopped myself from spitting my tea on the table as I start chuckling. She seems a little miffed I am laughing but sees the humor in it.

We continue like this, exchange small talk. She is lovely to talk to, as long as you don’t scare her. She didn’t once mention the carnival island which was a nice break.

Bidding farewell, I make a beeline for the mayor's office; my most common destination. Finding the same clerk, I find out he has taken a short break to his ‘safe house’ to recuperate from the paperwork. I appreciate the sentiment but I am going to hit him when he gets back, I want that contact and information. I kept my end of the bargain. I am not afraid he will run; he runs a town. The worst he could do is pin some false charges and then I would wipe him and his estate off the map.

Shrugging off the pulse of bloodlust flowing through my chest, I head home. The night is approaching, so before heading home I quickly check the progress of the island. I find a bustling city of workers erecting structures, I even see some support beams expanding around the edge of the island. Looks like they are expanding the island for the structures they want to build.

Happy with the progress I use its hidden Telepad I head home. Finding clean plates, it seems the pets have eaten the food. Eerily and sneakily, when did they turn into ghosts?

I take the time to eat a bit of fruit and head to bed. Over the night I should gain enough nether stars for virtually everything I need.

I went to be relatively early today, not bothering to set an alarm. It's good fun playing with mods, maybe I should craft some lucky blocks. At the worst they would make some fun toys and pranks… as long as I make sure to stop the more ‘lethal’ results.

Dreaming of all the fun and silly mods I could use. I dream happy dreams.