Chapter 5: The First Trade Route
The sun rose slowly over Blackhollow, casting golden light on a land that was finally beginning to stir.
For the first time since my exile, I felt a pulse—faint, yes, but steady. The kind that spoke of progress.
[Daily Report: +6 Wood | +3 Food | Morale Holding]
[Granary Construction: 45% Complete]
[Agriculture Research: Completed] – Crop Yield Bonus +10%
More importantly, a new alert blinked in the corner of my vision:
[Trade Potential Detected: Abandoned Road to Windmere Village]
[Activate Trade Route? Requirements: Cart (0/1), Goods (25 Units), Escort Recommended]
I turned to Ray, who was already fully armored. "We need to establish a trade route. There's an old road that leads to a village called Windmere."
He nodded. "I've heard rumors of it. Abandoned, but the land was fertile, and the people friendly. If they still live."
I opened the Structure Build Menu and found a new option:
[Crafting: Trade Cart – Requires 20 Wood, 2 Iron]
Damn. We had the wood, but not the iron. My mind turned to the maps we found in the cellar.
"The mine," I muttered. "We'll need to secure it."
Ray's expression tightened. "It won't be unguarded. Mines never are."
[New Quest: Reclaim the Iron Mine]
Sub-objective: Secure enough iron to craft Trade Cart]
We set out with Ray, myself, and Bran the builder—armed with an axe—along with Lena, who insisted on joining. She claimed she "knew herbs," but I suspected there was more to her.
The Mine – Two Hours Later
What we found wasn't a beast.
It was worse.
A group of desperate men—armed with rusted blades and makeshift armor—stood guard at the mine entrance. Bandits. Maybe former soldiers, or exiles like me, but far less lucky.
Ray didn't hesitate.
"Step aside," he ordered, his voice like iron. "This land belongs to Lord Ray of Blackhollow."
The leader scoffed. "A boy? You're no lord. And this mine's ours now."
I stepped forward, surprising even myself. "You're squatting on my land. But I'll give you a choice: work for me and earn a place… or fight and be buried in the mine you stole."
They laughed.
Ray didn't.
Steel rang. The clash was swift. In less than five minutes, two were disarmed, one wounded, and the rest fled into the forest.
[Mine Secured – Iron Vein Reopened]
[Loot Acquired: 11 Iron, 9 Gold, Old Ledger]
Back in Blackhollow, we crafted the Trade Cart.
Three Days Later – The Road to Windmere
Mike drove the cart. Toma sat beside him with sacks of dried herbs, some bundles of lumber, and the extra grain we could afford to trade.
Ray led the escort, sword gleaming.
I walked alongside, wondering what Windmere would be like. Friendly? Suspicious?
The path was rough, broken by time, but eventually, we saw smoke—and rooftops.
They were alive.
The people of Windmere were gaunt but wary. When they saw our goods—and saw that we came not with swords, but with food and trade—they listened.
[Trade Agreement Established: Blackhollow ↔ Windmere]
Blackhollow Export: Wood, Herbs, Grain (Limited)
Windmere Export: Cloth, Chickens, Ale (Limited)
[Economic Tier Upgraded: Barter-Driven Trade Route Created]
[Reputation +10 | Diplomacy Tree Unlocked]
That night, we returned with chickens squawking in the cart, a barrel of ale, and the first woven cloth Blackhollow had seen in years.
Ray placed a hand on my shoulder. "This was more than a victory, my Lord."
I nodded.
It was a beginning.
A business had formed.
A road had reopened.
And for the first time in decades, Blackhollow was part of the world again.
Chapter 5: The First Trade Route
The sun rose slowly over Blackhollow, casting golden light on a land that was finally beginning to stir.
For the first time since my exile, I felt a pulse—faint, yes, but steady. The kind that spoke of progress.
[Daily Report: +6 Wood | +3 Food | Morale Holding]
[Granary Construction: 45% Complete]
[Agriculture Research: Completed] – Crop Yield Bonus +10%
More importantly, a new alert blinked in the corner of my vision:
[Trade Potential Detected: Abandoned Road to Windmere Village]
[Activate Trade Route? Requirements: Cart (0/1), Goods (25 Units), Escort Recommended]
I turned to Ray, who was already fully armored. "We need to establish a trade route. There's an old road that leads to a village called Windmere."
He nodded. "I've heard rumors of it. Abandoned, but the land was fertile, and the people friendly. If they still live."
I opened the Structure Build Menu and found a new option:
[Crafting: Trade Cart – Requires 20 Wood, 2 Iron]
Damn. We had the wood, but not the iron. My mind turned to the maps we found in the cellar.
"The mine," I muttered. "We'll need to secure it."
Ray's expression tightened. "It won't be unguarded. Mines never are."
[New Quest: Reclaim the Iron Mine]
Sub-objective: Secure enough iron to craft Trade Cart]
We set out with Ray, myself, and Bran the builder—armed with an axe—along with Lena, who insisted on joining. She claimed she "knew herbs," but I suspected there was more to her.
The Mine – Two Hours Later
What we found wasn't a beast.
It was worse.
A group of desperate men—armed with rusted blades and makeshift armor—stood guard at the mine entrance. Bandits. Maybe former soldiers, or exiles like me, but far less lucky.
Ray didn't hesitate.
"Step aside," he ordered, his voice like iron. "This land belongs to Lord Ray of Blackhollow."
The leader scoffed. "A boy? You're no lord. And this mine's ours now."
I stepped forward, surprising even myself. "You're squatting on my land. But I'll give you a choice: work for me and earn a place… or fight and be buried in the mine you stole."
They laughed.
Ray didn't.
Steel rang. The clash was swift. In less than five minutes, two were disarmed, one wounded, and the rest fled into the forest.
[Mine Secured – Iron Vein Reopened]
[Loot Acquired: 11 Iron, 9 Gold, Old Ledger]
Back in Blackhollow, we crafted the Trade Cart.
Three Days Later – The Road to Windmere
Mike drove the cart. Toma sat beside him with sacks of dried herbs, some bundles of lumber, and the extra grain we could afford to trade.
Ray led the escort, sword gleaming.
I walked alongside, wondering what Windmere would be like. Friendly? Suspicious?
The path was rough, broken by time, but eventually, we saw smoke—and rooftops.
They were alive.
The people of Windmere were gaunt but wary. When they saw our goods—and saw that we came not with swords, but with food and trade—they listened.
[Trade Agreement Established: Blackhollow ↔ Windmere]
Blackhollow Export: Wood, Herbs, Grain (Limited)
Windmere Export: Cloth, Chickens, Ale (Limited)
[Economic Tier Upgraded: Barter-Driven Trade Route Created]
[Reputation +10 | Diplomacy Tree Unlocked]
That night, we returned with chickens squawking in the cart, a barrel of ale, and the first woven cloth Blackhollow had seen in years.
Ray placed a hand on my shoulder. "This was more than a victory, my Lord."
I nodded.
It was a beginning.
A business had formed.
A road had reopened.
And for the first time in decades, Blackhollow was part of the world again.