Chương 139: Chapter 150 — Gathering Storm

Preparation Period Remaining: 3 Days Mark woke up rested. The last two days had been busy, with the orchard now fully planted and the last-minute additions to his supplies complete. Word had arrived that a couple of people were on the roads heading their way, looking for Beaver Crossing and the Frontier Gate. When he went to bed the night before, no one had arrived yet, so Mark was looking forward to seeing who else might be going with them.

Garrick was still speculating that they would go together, but Mark was not so sure the System would work like that. Once dressed, he looked over the supplies packed and ready for his horse. There was a pack, a large bag he would wear, and all the items that still needed to go into his inventory stacked nearby. He opened the System message again and saw that it was still there and still counting down. The System was not changing its mind. He was going somewhere and only had a little time left.

Mark walked into the inn and looked around. He saw one face he did not recognize eating as if no one had ever fed him before. It was a sign that they were new and this was their first experience of Dale's cooking. Dale still had people that would travel a day just to come eat at his inn before heading home. Mark really lucked out when a Chef showed up in his camp, and he would never forget the food, either. Mark walked over to the man and said, "Hello, my name is Mark. Are you new around here?"

The man looked down at his plate as if someone might steal it if he stopped eating, then finally said, "Yes, I got in really late last night and stayed at the inn. I am here for the Frontier Gate. I am Declan." Mark said, "Nice to meet you, Declan. Where are you from?" Declan said, "I am from Lakeside. I think I saw you once before; you look familiar." Mark said, "Ah yes, I was there a week or so back and was looking for the Timber Consortium."

Declan said, "I was working on that before I was told to report to the gate. I am a riverman and was working on moving logs down the river to the new sawmill. It's pretty interesting someone talked them into using the water to transport rather than a wagon, so the loggers are cutting the trees and stripping them down and tossing them in the lake, and my crew is dragging them over to the river and floating them down." Mark said, "That was a good idea someone had. It makes sense."

Mark laughed to himself since he had been the one to suggest it. Mark sat down at the table with him and ordered breakfast, and they had a chat about things going on in Silvermere, which interested Mark a lot. When he was done with breakfast, he excused himself and went to visit the orchard. Looking at the long rows of trees, he was still impressed that he had gotten the work all done. Once he picked up the Forestry skill it had sped his work up some, which amazed him. Otherwise, he might have still been planting.

He went over and touched the ground, making sure it was not too moist or too dry. Someone had been assigned to take care of it, but Mark still wondered what it might look like when he returned. Leaving the orchard, he went to the stables and got his horse and went for a ride around the grain fields. He was still amazed at the changes since the first day he was here. He could see cabins and fields of various different things growing.

He could see some new fields that could not be more than a day old, and he wondered if they were planted with some of the vegetable seeds that were sent up. He was almost to Southgate when he came across a man walking along the road who flagged him down. Mark stopped and got off his horse to speak with him.

"Hello, how are you? My name is Malcolm, and I'm trying to find Beaver Crossing. Have you ever heard of the place?" Mark chuckled.

"You could say I have heard of it. I was one of its founders. Are you here about the Frontier Gate?" Malcolm said, "Yes, I am. But I am somewhat lost. Without local maps, I am struggling to make sure I am going the right way. The System has a general pointer but not which road to take." Mark said, "Oh, I can fix your map issue. Here, accept this invite." Malcolm said, "What the heck is an Adventurers Guild? I accepted the invite, but how does that fix my map issue?"

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Mark said, "Okay, now open the guild tab in your interface and select the maps." Malcolm said, "Wow, that is crazy. It shows eleven different zones, but for some reason it does not show my home zone." Mark said, "Now that you're in the guild, as guild members explore, the Guild Map updates for everyone. Trails appear as they're traveled, and confirmed points of interest become visible once someone identifies them.

Here on the Grainfields map you can see all the outposts and villages along with the other interesting things we have." Malcolm said, "That would have helped me a few days ago when all I got was 'go south or west,' but not where south or where west. Anyway, thanks so much. I don't think I caught your name. What was it?" Mark said, "Oh, sorry about that. I'm Mark. I will also be going through the Frontier Gate, but I am a local; I have a cabin near the inn.

I bet we can talk some time after you settle in later today or tomorrow. Anything else I can do before you go and finish your trip?" Just as the man started to walk off, Mark turned and asked one last question.

"I forgot to ask, where are you from?" Malcolm said, "I am from a village named Timber Hollow; it's in the Oakridge region." Mark thanked the man, and they parted ways. Mark spent the next couple hours taking the long route around the zone. He passed through Fisher's Point on his way to River Gate. When he finally got there, he saw that the outpost was already two-thirds complete. Both docks were done, and the two warehouses were completed.

No boats at the dock, but he could see that people were entering and exiting both of the longhouses, so maybe they had some actual residents now. Mark was almost disappointed that he would not be here when construction was complete and they started upgrading it from the current level-two outpost. He took the route east around the marshes on the east side of the lake and was pleased to see that someone had taken the time to make a real trail; there was work to make it stay at least partially dry.

It would never be a road you could take a wagon down, but Mark and his horse found it an easy trip around. It was mid-afternoon when he finally made it back to the inn. That was the last trip he planned to make before the countdown ended. When he arrived, Garrick invited him into the back room, where he had gathered everyone who had come for the Frontier Gate. Mark was the last to arrive. Garrick said, "Hello, thank you all for agreeing to meet. Let's go around the room and introduce ourselves.

Information that might help us as a group would be your name, where you're from, whether you have enough gear or are missing anything, and whether you're bringing an animal. Some of us will end up in the same region together, and if Beaver Crossing can be of any help, we have three days to do it."

"Hello, my name is Bennet. I am a beast handler, and I have a bonded badger with me. I am from Riverbend, a village in a region named Redbrook; it's south and east of here. I have enough gear to survive a week and can handle most anything. Oh, no other animal, even though it's allowed."

"Hello, my name is Mark. I live here in Beaver Crossing. I have a riding horse I am bringing that will be carrying a pack saddle full of gear."

"Hello, my name is Cassidy, from Orchard Grove in the zone south of here called Brightwater Valley. I think I am good gear-wise, but because of the rush, I did not have an animal I could bring."

"My name is Malcolm, from Timber Hollow, which is in Oakridge, somewhere northeast of here, about five zones away. My inventory is full of useful stuff, and I am pretty good at acquiring more. I could use more food, though, and any other useful supplies if there is anything extra you have and don't need. No animal with me."

"Naomi. I'm also from Orchard Grove in Brightwater Valley. I'm decent on goods and supplies. No animal. I was looking for one, but there was no time to get one in the rush here."

"Hello, nice to meet you all. I am Declan from Lakeside in Silvermere, one zone north and west from here for those that don't know. I have a workhorse that I use to help me. I'm a Riverman. I'm also a little light on gear but won't die if I don't have something." Garrick said, "Thanks, all. I'm Garrick, also from here—well, Beaver Crossing, I guess I should say. I have too much gear, and my horse can't hold it all.

If anyone wants to pack tools for me, I have a one in three chance you can give them to me on the other side." Everyone laughed at that. The group spent the rest of the evening talking about their individual plans and preparations. Malcolm brought up the Adventurers Guild that Mark had shared with him and sent invites to everyone who did not already have access. He thought it might be a huge help on the other side of the Frontier Gate and was already loving it after only having access for a few hours.

They found that three people in the group were interested in taking an animal but did not have one. Mark went and found David, who came back and suggested that they had several pregnant animals someone might want to take as possible breeding stock for their new area. Cassidy was excited and chose a pregnant goat that David said would be waiting at the gate the morning they left. Malcolm declined, saying that an animal would be too much hassle to take care of.

Bennet was fascinated by the idea and found out there was a pregnant Murder Pig. He was confused about the name until Mark explained the joke, which made him even more excited about taking it. Last of all, Naomi picked a pregnant sheep in hopes of eventually having a flock for wool. By the end of the evening, they were on good terms with each other and hoped to meet again on the other side. They planned to meet regularly during the few days leading up to their departure.