Chương 73: Expansion Pressure

Mark was looking at his regional management screen again. This time he was less in shock from the battle and the loss of life. It was time to start planning. His biggest need was places for people to live, and after they lived there, he needed specialization so that the economy of the zone was not based on just one single thing, and that being the cave. Right now his population was all at the cave and across the river from it. He needed to spread that out. Make camps less temporary and more permanent.

He identified 3 places he could create outposts to spread out the people, and then he needed to work on building up classes and specializations in the zone 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 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 to the marshlands, allowing maybe for specialization in plants, herbs, and the water-based animals. The last would be to create an outpost where the tents were on the east side of the stream across from the cave, which some people were calling Eastwatch. Mark went and found Garrick and explained to him his plan to build 3 outposts. 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 interested." Mark pulled out his Skill book for Structural Reinforcement Techniques and also 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 continued to lay out his plan. He had gone into the system and prioritized construction and gathering for construction at the two current outposts.

He went in and set the payout priority to 4 times normal until construction is done. Meaning all construction tasks that you create for the projects will pay out huge. And with any luck, train up skills and eventually offer classes in the skills we need. Garrick picked up the two books and started to thumb through them. He was surprised by the suggestions it had to improve both areas. With just a few minutes thumbing through it, he already had ideas forming in his head on how to cut production time in half.

Mark then took Garrick on a tour of where he planned to build. The first headed west to where he wanted to build a crossroads. On the way there, he recruited 3 people to be the founding members while Garrick looked for his foreman for the projects. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. When they got to the crossroads, Garrick looked around. Then he looked across the stream and then at the other side of the road. Then back to where Mark had suggested.

Then Garrick spoke.

"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." 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 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. 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 river 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 then dickered over the exact layout of the outpost. It would have 4 bunkhouses and a cookhouse and crafting hall. Nothing fancy, just a place to sleep while traveling between settlements. But it would solve their issues with population in the meantime. Mark rounded up three people sitting around the campfire in the center of the area.

Gave them the same instructions as last to 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 will be the eastern border of the zone and be a waypoint into this zone. Also, it will be close to the marsh and a great place for alchemy and others that 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 3 people to found the outpost and get the required material. 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. He had three stakes in when he heard Garrick as he walked back.

"No, not there numskull move it a foot to the left." Mark then returned to his outpost after delegating out the tasks to build the new outposts. He was told the full build-out will take 3 weeks to a month. But Mark was fine with that. They had people to find, recruit, and train to do the work needed. Back in camp Mark overheard two men he did not recognize talking at the food table. First guy.

"Did you hear the news of what the last team found in the level 12 version of the cave last run?" Second guy.

"You won't believe it; they found…"