Mark looked at the Regional Management screen again. The deaths from the Rootmaw hunt still weighed on him, but people needed places to live, and he had to plan. After housing came specialization, so the region’s economy would not depend entirely on the cave.
Right now, most of the population crowded around the cave and across the stream from it. Mark needed to spread them out and make the camps less temporary and more permanent. He identified three locations for new outposts, then turned his attention to developing the classes and specializations the region needed for growth.
The first outpost he would name Crossroads. It would be west of Forest’s Rest and next to the stream on the east-side bank. It was on the crossroads of the path heading west to Lakeside and east to Forest’s Rest and north to Cave Camp. The second would be east of Forest’s Rest about halfway between it and the zone to the east. This would be on the south side of the path and would be within close reach of the marshlands, possibly allowing specialization in plants, herbs, and water-based animals.
The last outpost would rise among the tents east of the stream across from the cave, where some people were already calling the camp Eastwatch. Mark found Garrick and explained the three-outpost plan.
Garrick said, “Mark, we are already working on your outpost; you really can’t expect me to build three more at the same time?”
Mark replied, “Well, not you by yourself. But supervising a team of others, I think it could be done. Plus, I have a bribe to loan you if you are interested.” Mark pulled out his Structural Reinforcement Techniques skill book and the Wilderness Resource Extraction skill book.
Garrick replied, “Is that something that multiple people can use?”
“Yes, and I would like you to read through and learn the material in these skill books to improve your own skills in construction, and then I want you to get three groups of three people. We need a construction foreman, a foundation foreman, and a resource-gathering foreman for each of our three projects.”
Mark had prioritized construction and resource gathering at the two current outposts and raised their payouts to four times normal until the work was complete. The rewards should attract labor, train useful skills, and eventually produce the classes they needed.
Garrick picked up the two manuals and started thumbing through them. He was surprised by the suggestions for improving construction and resource gathering. After only a few minutes, he was already forming ideas about how to cut production time in half.
Mark took Garrick on a tour of the proposed sites. On the way west to Crossroads, Mark recruited three founding members while Garrick considered possible foremen.
At Crossroads, Garrick studied the stream, both sides of the path, and Mark’s proposed location before speaking. “I have to admit you picked a nice spot. Nice, even, and level ground. High enough up that the stream will not flood. Plenty of wood around and access to water.”
Stolen story; please report.
Garrick continued, “Any issue if we build on both sides of the road? I am thinking on the south side of the road we build a traditional inn with a kitchen and dining areas and rooms for those coming and going, non-permanent residents. And then here on the north side of the road are two longhouses and a crafting hall and maybe a good firepit area where people can hang out and talk.”
Mark replied, “You said ‘road’ a couple of times there. This is a path.”
“Today it’s a path. When we get done, this will be a road and will be the crossroads to entering this area.”
Mark said, “You heard the man; the main center of camp will be there,” pointing at where Garrick said the campfire should be. “To create the outpost, you need 3 shelters, 3 members, reliable water, and a safe resting place. You three need to build a campfire for the marker for the outpost and then put up two shelters and create the outpost. Garrick here will be back later with a team to construct the other items we need. The name is Crossroads.”
Then they continued north up to the cave, staying on the right side of the stream. When they got to the spot already covered with tents, he looked at it and then across the stream at the overflowing Cave Camp. Mark then pointed to the pile of tents. “That is the second outpost spot.”
Garrick replied, “You realize that is just a terrible spot, right?”
Mark replied, “Yes, I do, but well, they are already here, and it’s close to the cave, and I don’t think we are going to convince any of these people to leave.”
They argued over the exact layout before settling on four bunkhouses, a cookhouse, and a crafting hall. Eastwatch would be nothing fancy, only a place to sleep while traveling between settlements, but it would relieve the immediate population pressure. Mark rounded up three people sitting around the campfire in the center of the area. He gave them the same instructions as the previous group: create the outpost and name it Eastwatch.
Mark then headed to his favorite place to build a new outpost. This one was east of Forest’s Rest on the new trail heading east. It would mark the eastern border of the zone and serve as a waypoint into the area. It would also be close to the marsh and a great place for alchemy and others who want to study or use the marsh environment. It might even end up being a great fishing spot in the zone.
Garrick again looked over the area. This time he hated the spot for the center of town and made the executive decision to place it on the other side of the road. Again, this place would have a traditional inn on one side of the road with the outpost on the other side. And they all agreed to name the place Wayrest. Again, Mark had recruited three people to found the outpost and gather the required materials.
Garrick said, “Out of all the places I like this one the best. I am going to start here today.” He waved over a couple guys of his that had been following along, taking notes. They pulled out some lines and stakes and started staking out the site for the inn. Mark had not gotten far when he heard Garrick behind him. “No, not there, numskull. Move it a foot to the left.”
Mark returned to Forest’s Rest after delegating the new outpost projects. Garrick estimated that the full build-out would take three weeks to a month, but Mark was fine with that. They still needed time to find, recruit, and train the workers required to complete everything. Back in camp, Mark overheard two men he did not recognize talking at the food table.
One man asked, “Did you hear what the last team found during their Level 12 cave run?”
The other replied, “You won’t believe it. They found…”