262 - 263 AC
Two days later I felt reacquaintanced enough with my magic and called for a meeting.
In the training yard of Winterfell stood every man and women who accompanied me across the North, since my fateful discussion with Lord Rickard Stark.
„Friends. Lord Stark enobled me to found a masterly house. I am now Thomas Lordaeron of the Stoney Shore. Will you come with me? To build something future generation will remember us by? To bring safety and prosperity to the Stoney Shore?" They cheered and so I began to make the necessary preparations.
„Lord Stark. It has been an honor to work for your House. Thank you." I bowed deep.
Rickard spoke with his deep voice: „Thank you, Master Lordaeron. May the Old Gods be with you. I hope to see your endeavor bears fruit."
„As do I, my Lord." My entourage and me left Winterfell just after sunrise. We would travel west for two weeks, until we arrived at Deepwood Motte. From there we went by boat. We build a temporary shelter near the Fishing Village. Despite us traveling for a time, everyone was still motivated. The people of the fishing village welcomed us warmly.
After our shelter had been built, we gathered the whole village to discuss the future. I told them of my plans for the expansion of the village. I emphasized how I wanted to end the threat of the iron born. To defeat them and rebuilt the Fishing Village I needed everyone to work together. They listened. Feuds between us were meaningless, if we could not protect us from the Ironborn. After my rising speech the smallfolk were onboard.
The rest of the day we surveyed the land and at night I checked the place with magic.
The next three moons I travelled further across the land and met with many farmers and trappers. My followers did stay behind in the fishing village to work with the plan I drew up. They would build a sawmill with a waterwheel and start processing lumber. They would start to repair the small port and lay the foundation of the village I had envisioned.
I travelled to the nearby hills and mountains and started to work my magic.
No one was here to spy on me, so I had no fright to use my powers anymore.
I used Nevilles favorite spells he himself created and started to plant trees on mass with a growth quickening charm. I used geomancy on the stones and ground to bring the metal nodes to the surface and mage the soil more acceptable for the plant-life.
I used my magic to gather resources I needed for several projects and animated tools to assemble several carts full of building materials.
I lured wild horses, oxen, bisons, as well as sheep and goats to me, thanks to Luna. They would be put in front of the carts and transport the building resources. Half of the supply-train made its way to the future location of Stratholme. The other half I went back with to the fishing village. My presence was not required, so I went towards Stratholme.
As my people had a plan to work from I knew they needed about three moons to build the foundations. That would enable us to truly transform the fishing village into the prosperous port town I envisioned it to become. Inwards they would start the road towards the hills were I uncovered the deposits of ore and coal. I had written Lord Manderly several letters and knew he would send the materials via caravan and ship. The last harvest festival in Winterfell gave me the chance to gather the Lords under Lord Stark. He and I had spoken of different methods to increase wealth and I had asked about the fleet. Stories of „Bran the Burner" were told in the North, but I could not imagine that there were no ships at all. We came up with a plan. Ships would travel from White Harbor to Bear Island around Westeros. We believed that more traders would follow the „substantial" force, as the chance of raiders and Ironborn to attack a big fleet would be lower. We calculated, they would need about a year to reach Bear Island, as they would dock on every bigger port on the east and southern coast. This would not only attract followers and spread the word, but also bring much profit from a diversified trade.
We had analyzed the market and agreed on several key products, like fur, Ice and lumber.
Additionally I send several letters to Lannisport and Casterly Rock and got the affirmative they would send ships, too with needed materials.
Stratholme would be build far south-east of the Fishing Village near a big river, at the edge of the Rills as Lord Stark granted me the Stoney Shore and a part of the northern Rills to govern. Thankfully many third sons and daughters were willing to move.
My plan was to use every place to farm, where it was possible, plant forests, or woods in between the farms and the hills and mine the hills. Villages in between Seadragonpoint and Stratholme at a healthy distance and along rivers to house the people.
As I was alone and stood where the future Stratholme was to be, I got to work and worked my magical muscles to the bone. I outlined the future-city with help of magic and occlumency. I used geomancy to harden the earth and placed several pre made wardstones On top of the stones I planted small weir wood saplings.
Canals were being dug by magically animated tools. It was a bit like in the sorcerers apprentice, but without the bad ending.
I stood near the the river, which connected the twin lakes and the sunset sea.
Envisioning how it could be a route to bring ores downstream, I pulled several sheets of parchment out of my bag. The „main" river would go through a part of the city, near the docks. Or maybe I could make simple docking points as part of the wall? Day turned to night and I had no idea how to go on with my thought. In the end I divided the river upstream into several smaller streams and let them into the just finished sewer line across the city and pre made canals. The smaller stream would flow through the entrance I made, similar to how the entrance of Stormwind held a giant pond. As I created a pond/lake like feature the answer to my docking problem came to me. The the water rushed into the city and canals. To ensure better water quality, I used runes on several big metal gratings to cleanse the water of filth and such on its entrance and end. No one would be able to infiltrate my city through sewers. I never visited Kingslanding, but I heard of the stink and wanted nothing to do with it. To solve the river problem I changed the banks.
I reinforced the ground again with help of magic. Ships should be able to dock easier now. For safeties sake, I needed to redesign this part of the city. Big gates needed to be built later on, to bar enemies from sailing upstream. For a better defense in case of a siege I planned to build underground passages to cellars and basements in strategically important positions. I had already laid the foundation for the city wall and towers.
The last part of my plan was to reinforce the seafloor around the harbor. This was a delicate process, as I did not want to destroy the plant-life and corals down there. The water was rather shallow at the beach, so I needed to work on that.
To finish my project I planted several trees along where I envisioned the roads to be in the future. This would generate shade and divide the lines.
The „park" was outlined and trees planted. Behind the gardens of the future Cathedral of Light in the Bastion of Light I planted a transferred Hearthtree to establish a godswood.
Then I went northwards along the river. Every ten kilometers I build the foundations for a stonebridge. Everything would be in the Lordaeron style which warmed my heart.
The biggest thing I found with my magic was a lava stream underneath the earth I sensed with geomancy. This stream was deep in the earth in the mountains around twinlakes.
It was like the one beneath Winterfell and I used magic to coax it to travel in a specific pattern until it reached New-Stratholme. This stunt did cost me time and power. After a week doing nothing but coax the lava, I was magically exhausted, worn out and felt raw.
My escapades for Stratholme and the hills around it took me three weeks with only minimal sleep and food. My magic tent and food reserves were godsend for me. I had build three structures out of the city that came in handy. First I build stables for the caravan animals. A smithy for the building tools like nails and railings and what not. The last building was a barn for the foodstuff and to store fragile building materials. Outside I stored the stones and other materials not affected by weather.
As I had planted several trees to make the city beautiful I also remade my plans for the gardens Stratholme had before the culling. Later I would build several glassgardens to not only bring in exotic spices, but also in case of a siege. I revised the plan later.
Grass was sown around the outskirts of Stratholme and the riverbanks. To secure the riverbanks I planted several trees near it and forests worth of trees in the area around the hills. This would give the people enough building material and the animals enough food to graze upon, as well as hinder earth slides and other accidents during springflooding.
The last thing I did before leaving was adding befuddlement wards. I did the work, hundreds of workers needed to do for months in a single month alone. This would raise flags upon flags. Thank you, but no. The befuddlement ward would „make it look normal". On my way back towards the Fishing Village I rode on a horse and waved my wand to strengthen the dirt path in front of me. In the future, the dirt road would be the foundation of the brick road. When I set up camp I connected several enforced dirt roads to future farming locations I had marked on my map.
Sitting on the coacher seat on my newly build coaches, American Style, The caravan followed behind me with new building materials I had gathered along the way.
Still 263 AC
Three moons after we first arrived at the fishing village, you could not recognize it anymore. My people did really well. The old, ruinous buildings were gone and several knew buildings made of stone and wood were in their place. The roads were doubled in size and several trees were planted across the village. The puny docks were gone, too and big strong docks were in place with a small shipwright being build.
The fields were irrigated correctly and were full of crops. To the north and south hundreds of trees were planted and twenty people were working on a road to the hills were another twenty build the entrances of the new mines. Already people from the surrounding villages and holdfasts had come for a better live.
The dock area was encaspuled with a wooden palisade and two big wooden towers.
This had to change to stone later on. Luckily we had the materials with the caravan to correct it. As I came near the village from the dirt road two people spotted me and came near me. They were armed. Good! Just as one guard wanted to patronize me the other recognized me and spoke loud and clear.
„Welcome back, m'lord!"
„Thank you! It is good to be back and I bring gifts." Both perked up and I waved my arms. „Nothing fancy, just building materials". Later that night I placed several wardstones.
The next day I got a report from my trusted aid Liam. He was a former blacksmith from White Harbor who could no longer works one. He had injured his arm in a skirmish.
After I healed him, he swore to follow me. He could swing his hammer accurately, again to work on weapons or armor, but right now he was making tools and building supplies.
As he was literate and trustworthy, he was the person responsible to help and play guide.
The summer lasted for two years, so the winter should not go longer than two.
The false winter brought harsh weather with it and after six moons winter hit for real.
We had just finished the road to a coal mine as the snow came. With it came high waves and the occasional blizzard. I got several shipments worth of food, clothing and tools from the Riverlands and Westerlands before the weather took a turn and no one wanted to sail „this far north" anymore. The people here were warm, fed and full of hope.