Mark woke up for the first time in a long time without knowing what was on the agenda for the day. He had slept restlessly, thinking about what was going to happen. He had already started considering the possibilities. What he knew was that he was one of thirty Frontier Representatives expected to report to a gate in ten days. He still had no details about where he would be going or what, if anything, he needed to bring. At least this time he had some warning.
When he had shown up in this world, he had nothing with him, and he had to figure out how to survive. He now had some skills and, in principle, knew how to survive. But wherever he was going, there would be ten of them to build something that impressed the System more than the failed grade they had earned so far; those were big shoes to fill.
Mark finally crawled out of bed and started writing lists. He created four of them: things he could build there, things he needed to bring, things he could make later, and finally, things he could not replace. That first day trying to cook on a rock, start a fire, and get water was the worst. Those items were high on his list as irreplaceable. He thought about the waterskin Tom had made for him, the one that held more than it should. Even the tent he now used. Those were on that can't-replace list.
Mark added a pan, some cooking utensils, a good knife, a shovel, an axe, and a hammer. This list was going to be long. Mark finally got dressed, gathered up his list, and headed to the inn for breakfast. He sat down at a table, ordered breakfast, spread out his lists, and started adding items to each one. While he was making another note, Garrick dropped into a chair at his table, moved one of Mark's lists aside, and set several notebooks down.
Garrick said, “You planning too?”
Mark looked over to him and nodded, finishing his item on one list, then shuffling to another page and writing three more. He was about to speak when they received the System message they had been waiting for. Before he could even read the first one, a few more showed up right behind it. With a sigh he started reading them.
[World Announcement]Regional Expansion Phase OnePreparation Period Remaining: 9 DaysFrontier Representatives may now review expedition regulations
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[Expedition Regulations]
Mission Objective
Establish a permanent System-recognized regional civilization capable of supporting continued Integration.
Pioneer Candidates will begin arriving following the establishment of a recognized frontier outpost
Projected arrivals will continue over the first forty-five days
Each Frontier Region is expected to support approximately one hundred fifty new Pioneer Candidates during Phase One
Failure to establish a successful regional civilization may result in termination of this Survival Trial
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[Expedition Rules]
Each Frontier Representative may transport one personally owned domesticated animal
Each Frontier Representative may transport one bonded companion
All transported equipment must be carried by the Frontier Representative or their approved animal
Inventory remains available. Encumbrance restrictions remain in effect
Personal tools, equipment, seeds, saplings, books, notes, food, clothing, and personal supplies are permitted
Wagons, carts, draft teams, prefabricated structures, and bulk construction materials are prohibited
Frontier Gates will remain open for Frontier Representative departure only until the end of the preparation period
Regional maps, settlement maps, project interfaces, territory management interfaces, and regional administrative functions from previous regions will remain inaccessible for the duration of the expedition
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Personal skills, professions, inventory, and achievements remain available
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[Preparation Advisory]
Recommended Equipment
Seven days of foodDurable hand toolsMedical suppliesSeeds and cultivation materialsReference materialsShelter equipmentFire-starting equipment
Each Frontier Representative is responsible for their own preparation
Additional assignment details will be provided tomorrow
Preparation Period Remaining: 9 Days
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Mark noticed that there were a few in the inn looking in Garrick’s and his direction. Word had already started to spread that they were Frontier Representatives. Mark was just about to read the full list a second time when Garrick started to complain.
“I can’t bring my tool chest.” Garrick whined.
Mark blinked. “What?”
Garrick said, “My good tool chest.”
Mark said, “The big one?”
Garrick said, “The only one worth bringing.”
Mark started to laugh and then said, "Garrick, that thing takes two wagons and half your crew to move.”
Garrick said, “I know.” After a long pause he continued. “I was hoping the System would make an exception.”
Mark said, “I don’t think the System likes exceptions.”
Garrick said, “Now I have to decide which hammer.”
Mark laughed even harder. “You own seven of them.”
Garrick said, “Exactly.”
At the table next to them, Sarah started to laugh at their conversation. Before he even had time to reread the list, the council had started to gather again. This time they went into the back room and talked. Mark and Garrick shared the System messages they had each received and started talking about things to bring. Someone suggested they divide the items between them, but Garrick stopped that idea. Knowing the System, they might not end up in the same place, or even in the same region.
Then the lists started. Mark wanted fruit tree saplings from Brightwater, vegetable seeds of all varieties, including those only Brightwater had at the time, and herb seeds. The normal items like tents, hammers, axes, knives, bows and arrows, spears, and fishing supplies were added to the list. Garrick started listing about fifty different construction tools, and the council finally told him that was not going on the main list. He could make his own construction list and figure out what he and his mount could reasonably pack, though.
The council decided to send the needed teams of runners out to all other outposts and villages they knew and find out who else might be going and might need help gathering resources. They also wanted to find out whether any more Frontier Gates had appeared in the known areas. Then Sarah brought up a relevant point: that if there were going to be one hundred or more new arrivals, they would need teachers.
Garrick pointed out that they could not choose who to bring, then finally realized what Sarah was getting at. Mark and Garrick would both need to learn the Teaching skill so that wherever they created their new outpost, they could immediately start a school so that those new people had a jumpstart on getting valuable skills. As Sarah pointed out, Teaching was not just another skill. It might be the most valuable skill they could take on the expedition, and since they could not guarantee they would end up in the same place, they both needed to learn it.
At that point, the group divided up, made lists of runners they needed to send and places they needed to visit, such as Brightwater, and split the work between them. Mark, Garrick, and Sarah split off to figure out the Teaching skill.
They left the room and headed back into the main room of the inn. After picking a quiet table in the corner and sitting down, Sarah looked at both of them.
Sarah said, “Okay, it's time. Garrick, I know your guys have been sent here to register for the school, but you have not yet, so we will start with you.” She sent him the student invite and walked him through the steps to select Teaching. Then Garrick shared his screen with them.
[Lesson Generated]Teaching Level 1
RequirementsDemonstrate three practical construction techniques to different studentsSupervise one student while they successfully complete a basic construction taskAssist a certified teacher during one complete lesson
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Then Sarah turned to Mark and said, “Okay, it's your turn. Show us your requirements.”
Mark said, “Uh, I already have three skills, and I am not sure if I should drop them or finish them.”
Sarah said, “Depends. Can you finish at least one of them in the next couple of days?”
Mark said, “One is riding; I should be able to finish that today or tomorrow.”
Sarah then turned back to Garrick. “Speaking of other skills, you should pick two more. I am sure you want to look first at building, but maybe you should learn some of the basic skills like Cooking, Fire Starting, and maybe Riding if you have the time.”
As Garrick started looking through the skills, Mark stood and excused himself. He needed to go finish his Riding lesson.