Building a Library

//after building the cabin and getting the hang of creating cabin-like structures as the player orients on how to create such structures in the initial cabin scenes
//Scenes will be accessed via [Library] which will contain a button for each part of the build. The first one would be [Clear Site], and once that's used it will be grayed out and the next one should appear as [Draw Plans], and then the next until it's complete. This will make the whole experience much more organized and less confusing for players who do it in several parts. This method should be used for all subsequent builds and retrofitted to the cabin.
//Grayed out buttons should all say "You've already built this part of the project." or whatever fits the situation.


//Clearing library site
//tooltip [Clear Site] "Clear out the small things littering the site of your future library."
Mareth has so much to offer with its history and magic, yet there are only a select few people still trying to maintain it for [if (corruption >50) all the knowledge it offers|future generations]. With the large scale destruction of knowledge over the years due to demonic war and destruction, such an initiative becomes that much more important [if (children) for your children to grow up with]. With this in mind, you start to formulate a plan.

You've already proven capable of building adequate housing, and the same techniques can easily be applied to building a makeshift library. As more and more books molder and crumble away every day, it's important to have a place to offer as a home for the literature of the world. Setting your mind to it, you figure placing its foundation near the stream [if (Izma) would be appreciated by your book-loving shark girlfriend|is the safest if something were to ever catch fire].

First and foremost, the future site of the library has to be cleared of dead foliage and rocks to get a better idea of what you're working with. The brunt of the work is moving a handful of large boulders from the barren earth, [if (Phylla children >2) and you're thankful when your ant children appear and offer an easy helping hand in moving the pesky rocks|and you're glad when the work is done].
//+2h +50fatigue


//Drawing plans
//tooltip [draw Plans] "Draw up the plans for your library project to offer some necessary overview."
Taking the primitive bark-paper leftovers from your cabin planning, you start to draw up plans for what will eventually become the library. With what is now practiced ease and prior experience, you finish much quicker than you had hoped, and soon have a complete set of plans.
//+1h


//Foundation
//tooltip [Posts] "Dig in the wooden posts necessary for the foundation."
Considering that you're building closer to the stream this time, the foundation will need some extra support to not potentially sag in. Although it wont actually be next to the water, a pier foundation is the most appropriate one detailed in your manual. With the intent of preparing the posts first, you grab the longest wooden trunks you have around, with four thick ones for the corners and thinner poles for the rest. The first step in the process is to make sure they won't end up rotting when they're put in the ground, so after taking the tar from your toolbox you begin treating the wood with it.

Taking a break to let the posts soak it up, you take some wooden sticks and use them as markers for where the four corners will end up. As you carefully measure out the length and diameter of the floor, you make sure the diagonals are also calculated properly. With some quick math and adjustments, the corner markers are now in the ideal position, with string wound around them for a clear visual aid of your measurements.

All too soon the painful reality comes that you'll need to dig appropriately deep holes to anchor the tree trunks in. The idea of having to dig at least ten foot deep holes sets in, [if (Phylla children >2) but when your despair reaches its height, you hear Phylla's voice ring out from behind you. With some of your children in tow, she comes to your rescue, and before you know it, the holes have been dug out|and you begrudgingly begin to dig the many foundation holes required. The work is long, tiring, and takes up several hours at least. Eventually, you, as exhausted as you are, crawl your way out of the last hole, finally getting a good look at the progress you've made so far].

Reading further in your manual about pier foundations, it's possible to further prevent wood rot in your posts by adding a layer of sand or gravel under them. You gather up a good amount of sand and carefully put a layer at the bottom of each hole. What naturally follows the sand are the hefty, tar-treated tree trunks. Lowering them carefully into the holes proves to be quite the test of strength, [if (strength >60) but after putting your back into it you make quick work of the whole process|but gravity is more than willing to help you in your endeavor as long as you guide them correctly].

After packing in the sides of the posts with barren soil, the pier part of the foundation is finally done. You catch your breath and admire your handiwork so far. The posts are now firmly rooted, and with the countermeasures against rot, you're certain they'll stay that way for a long time.
//if Phylla req +4h +20fatigue, otherwise +8h +MAXfatigue


//Flooring
//tooltip [Flooring] "Lay down the bearers, joists, and decking."
Now that the floor posts are in place, you can begin laying down the groundwork for what will be the structure's floor. Taking some of the more solid wood you have, you begin to smooth it out with your hand plane. Placing the lengths of wood you picked for the bearers on the posts points out which still need some shaving down in length for the flooring to be perfectly horizontal everywhere. Once the bearers are in place, they can be affixed to the posts to form a rigid foundation for the joists and decking.

As the bearers near completion, you begin to preemptively measure out where the joists need to be laid. Skimming through the manual, you note down the specific spacing to lay them and mark it out on the bearers. Once the joists are the correct size, the process of laying them out in the specific standard spacing mentioned in the manual begins. As the flooring starts to take shape, it's obviously essential that it needs to stay that way, and the act of toenailing the joists onto the bearers proceeds carefully as to not shift anything out of place.

Finally, you get to decking the floor. The brunt of the work is cutting the planks to size. It's tedious but easy, and a task that requires little thought. As you start to nail them one by one to the joists, the whole foundation begins to truly come together. The elevated platform is soon finished. Proud of your work, you take a step back and admire a job well done. The posts upon which the platform rests are rigidly anchored into the ground, with a solid and secured decking on top of them. The flooring is elevated above the ground, on the off-chance the stream would ever overflow its banks, however unlikely with the region being a dried up wasteland and all.

The future library is panning out quite well. With your solid progress made, the structure is already halfway done.
//+8h +80fatigue