When Mark woke up, he went to the two stands of trees and checked the traps. He saw Abigail putting the saddle on her horse. She was heading back today; her plan was to follow the stream going up from their camp. Mark was eager to see what her trip back revealed on the map because she would pass by them. It would be important to know if anything upstream was useful.
In his traps, he found a brush grouse and two hares. When he passed by the orchard, he could already see growth in most of the trees. One of them looked to be struggling, and Fiona was tending to it. Passing the garden plot, he realized that was another thing they needed to finish. Every day they delayed planting pushed the first harvest further away.
When he got back, breakfast was being made. It seemed that Callum had decided to try his hand at cooking. When they sat down to eat, the whole group was there. They had previously decided that breakfast would be their unofficial planning meeting each day.
Mark said, “I was thinking today I would like to work some on my skills. I would like to see if I can start understanding all the skills that we have to teach those that will be coming soon, and learning the skills myself will help me prepare to teach them later.”
Malcolm said, “Before we make plans, I want to talk about preparation. We have new people coming, and as a Quartermaster, I am good at preparing for future needs. But right now I am lacking the tools I need to accomplish it.”
Callum said, “If you need tools, I have lots I can share, any that you might need.”
Malcolm said, “Thanks, but not that type of tool. For me, the tool I need is the outpost. Or more specifically, Outpost Level 2. That will give us the contribution store and the ability to earn and trade in contributions. But more important is the settlement task tracking.”
Fiona said, “I understand contributions but am not sure what you mean by settlement task tracking.”
Malcolm said, “I am sure you used it before but never knew how it really worked. What I am talking about is the tasks you can get from the settlement that earn you XP, contribution points, or both depending on the settings you choose.”
Callum said, “Wait, you can adjust what type of rewards you get? I always thought the System just put in lists of what was needed. I have always checked the list, built things on it, and then put it in storage, and the System somehow got it to whoever needed it.”
Malcolm said, “On the rewards there is a setting in the interface; you can change it to all XP, all contributions, or somewhere in between. As for the tasks, the System does not add them. Someone like me adds them. Anyone with rights on the outpost or village can add or change tasks. They can be System-generated, but normally that is some big project or something the System really wants done. Normal tasks are added by the admins of the task process. In my last village I was the one that created and maintained all tasks.”
Mark said, “I had almost forgotten all about that. I delegated that job so long ago that I don't think about it anymore. When I first was building Forest’s Rest, my first outpost, I put tasks in to build a path from my outpost to a nearby cave. Later I added tasks to build roads. Our cook would add tasks for items he needed, food, water delivered, and new pots if that was his need that day.”
Fiona said, “Okay, that makes sense, so I can put in tasks for herbs needed or other items, and they will just show up?”
Malcolm said, “They will not show up, but they will be listed. Other members of the outpost or people visiting that outpost can complete the task and receive rewards.”
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Fiona said, “Okay, I will make a task for collecting herbs, collect them, and get more XP so I can hit my next level.”
Malcolm said, “Yes and no on that. You can do that, and you can get XP, but that XP comes from somewhere; it's not just a gift of the System. When you contribute to the settlement, items become available for trade or use through Settlement Storage. That use could be you buying the item for System credits, just like when you give the item, you gain System credits. The System takes items that are in that settlement's storage and converts those items to credits or XP when that is the reward for the task.”
Callum said, “Oh, I always thought the System gave the credits and XP out of thin air.”
Mark said, “This is why trade is important. The System does not let you pick the items it converts to credits. You can reserve certain items as not available for settlement storage. But you can't say, I want you to convert my excess rabbit hides to credits but save the rabbit meat.”
Malcolm said, “Exactly, the System manages transactions, but it takes its share in the process for the rewards it gives. Speaking to Mark’s rabbit hides, if the settlement store has only ten rabbit hides, it will give a decent amount of credits for a new one. If it has one hundred hides, it will give you almost nothing for the hides. So no gaming the System, picking grass, tossing it in, and getting diamonds out. You can only get items out that are available from things that were put in. Which leads to trade, but I guess I am getting ahead of myself.”
Mark pulled up the outpost interface to give everyone rights to add tasks and contribute to the settlement store when he realized the option was not available on it anyway and got a message saying it was an Outpost Level 2 benefit.
Mark said, “I just figured out what you're really asking. Those interfaces are not available because we are only a Level 1 outpost.”
Malcolm said, “Exactly. We really need to upgrade to get it. I have never done that process, so I don't know what it takes.”
Mark went into the outpost interface and gave the three of them rights to see and use the current functions, which basically gave them the ability to add people to the outpost. Then he looked up the upgrade requirements. They had everything except the dedicated cooking structure and defensive measures.
Mark said, “I just gave you all access to the admin menus for the outpost. Requirements needed are a dedicated cooking structure and defensive measures. When Garrick, my friend from my village, was around, he would just build a fence around the settlement, make a watchtower, and build a kitchen that could feed fifty. I am not really sure where the System draws the line.”
Callum said, “That one I know. Defense is easy when you're small; it just wants you to have the impression of defense. A small watchtower works for that, and that is what I would recommend for us. For cooking, a box with all your tools in it will work, but I can build a movable kitchen that would have a wash area and a small prep counter with some cupboards that you can close the doors on and move away; that is what I would recommend, and with the lumber we made yesterday and a few of Mark’s nails, I can get that done in just a few hours. So maybe four hours for both, a little less with some help.”
Mark said, “I am game for that. More hands make faster work. We could upgrade by this afternoon. Would that work for you, Malcolm?”
Malcolm said, “I am helping too, so yes.”
They were just wrapping up their conversation when they heard a sound, and they all turned toward it. They saw a man walking in from the southeast.
“Hello all, glad I finally found someone. I knew someone had to be out here building something. Been wandering around the last few days trying to find a group. My name is Kevin.”
Mark said, “Nice to meet you, Kevin. Glad to have you. If you're looking for a place to live, we have room. If you want to travel more, there is also one other outpost northeast of here, though I would guess it's a day or maybe even a two-day walk on foot.”
Kevin said, “My only question is, do you need a Leatherworker? If you do, I would love to stay; this is a beautiful area you picked. If you already have a Leatherworker, I can head to the other outpost.”
Fiona said, “Oh, I think we could make room for a Leatherworker.” She looked around and then back at him. “Did you bring your own tent? We have not yet gotten to the shelter-building point but should be starting on it soon.”
Kevin said, “Indeed, I do have a tent. It was even made by my own hands. I think I could stay in it a few days.”
The group spent the next hour getting Kevin up to speed, inviting him to the guild so he could see the Guild Map, and going over all their classes and the projects they had planned to work on today.