Greyvine Hollow was no longer just a name. It was becoming a place.
The air felt lighter now that the Lurkhound threat had been fended off. The perimeter traps were reset, and while the village was still not exactly safe, it no longer felt like the constant tension was about to snap. For the first time since their arrival, Kail allowed himself a small breath of relief. No longer were they on the edge of complete panic. That, at least, was enough.
Kail stood at the center of the makeshift camp, looking over the remains of the fire pit. His hands rested on his hips, the smoke of the dying embers lingering in the crisp air. He could see it all in his mind—Greyvine Hollow growing from this small, tentative village into something much larger, something real.
"We need a place to gather," Kail said, voice thoughtful but decisive. "Not just for sleeping, but for planning, eating, and resting. A hall. That's next."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the system pinged. Kail's fingers twitched, his excitement rising.
System Ping – Construction Milestone Available
Blueprint Unlocked: Communal Hall (Tier I)
Requires: Wood x20, Stone x10, Thatch x10
Size: 6m x 4m
Effects: → Enables centralized planning → +10 Morale when completed → Unlocks Village Ledger (Resource Tracking UI) → Enables Trade Post blueprint (conditional)
He couldn't help but grin as the message processed in his mind. The hall wasn't just another building; it was a symbol of growth, of stability. They could start to organize, make the village feel like more than a collection of huts. He quickly shared the news that evening.
Mira raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. "A hall? You're thinking big now."
Kail chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "We need somewhere to keep warm when it rains. And we can track everything—food, tools, people. That's how we grow."
Rin, standing close by, nodded her agreement. "Greyvine's first real structure."
The idea was met with quiet but eager approval. Even Elric gave a grunt of affirmation from the fire pit where he had been sharpening his knife. They were all ready for the next step, even if it meant more work.
Resource Mobilization
With the Lurkhound threat pushed to the back of their minds for now, the group shifted their focus. The trap setup had been effective, but more structures were needed. The work rotation was stable, so they had the manpower to spare. They worked quickly, setting the stage for the hall's construction.
Tobrin took on the task of gathering dry branches and wild reeds to craft thatch. The boy, still inexperienced but eager, went to work with fervor, his arms loaded with materials by midday. Elric, along with a few others, headed to a rocky outcrop a kilometer east to collect stone. Meanwhile, Rin and Mira began felling the nearby trees that would serve as the wooden frame for the hall. Kail, with his ever-focused mind, worked on the layout, using makeshift tools to measure out the hall's footprint and plan for the foundation.
The work progressed slowly, but steadily.
Construction Progress:
Stone Base: 100%
Wooden Frame: 40%
Thatch Roofing: 0%
As the sun began to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows over the village, Kail allowed himself a brief moment to appreciate the work done so far. They weren't just surviving anymore. They were building something. And that was something to be proud of.
A Stranger Approaches
But as the evening settled in, something shifted in the air.
A horn blew—a sharp, clear sound that echoed through the valley. Mira, who had been keeping watch, was the first to notice the movement beyond the southern brush.
Kail's hand instinctively went to the stone knife at his side, his body tensing. It wasn't a sound he was used to hearing in these woods. It was too controlled, too deliberate.
The group gathered around, weapons at the ready, as the figure slowly emerged. Wrapped in a patchwork cloak, the figure was leading a cart drawn by a creature that seemed a strange hybrid of a llama and a scaled goat. Kail's eyes narrowed as he watched the approach. He wasn't sure if this was friend or foe.
"Peace!" the figure called out in a gravelly voice. "No weapons! Just trades!"
Kail, still cautious, slowly lowered his blade, nodding for the others to do the same. The figure moved closer, and the details became clearer. The man was older, with silver-threaded hair and sharp green eyes that seemed to miss nothing. He wore a weathered cloak, the kind that had seen too many seasons, but there was something in his demeanor that suggested he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
"The name's Tullen," the man said, smiling wide as he approached. "I walk the old roads. Heard a fire, smelled smoke. Saw a hall in the making. Thought maybe someone was finally rebuilding."
Tullen's voice had an easy charm to it, but there was something in his words that made Kail pause. Rebuilding? Had the world truly fallen so far that rebuilding was a rarity?
First Trade Encounter
Tullen laid out his goods on a cloth spread out on the ground, his cart creaking softly as the strange creature pulled it to a stop.
Dried fish
Copper scraps
Wild dye packs
A cracked flint knife
A weathered book titled Beasts of the Southern Wilds
Kail stepped forward, exchanging a brief glance with Mira, who had a calculating look on her face. They had nothing of true value to offer, but they did have food, and that, it seemed, might be enough.
Kail offered up two smoked rabbits, some reed rope, a clean stone pick, and dried herbs from Mira's recent collection. They bartered, haggled, and laughed. By the end of the exchange, both parties seemed satisfied, though Kail had the distinct impression that Tullen was playing the role of the experienced trader well.
Trade Completed
Received:
Beasts of the Southern Wilds (Knowledge)
Flint Knife (Tool Tier I)
Given:
2 Smoked Rabbits
Stone Pick
Herbs
KP Gained: +4
"First Trade Completed"
"Outside Contact (Neutral)"
"New Knowledge Book"
The exchange wasn't just about goods—it was about information. The book Tullen gave them wasn't something they could have gotten anywhere else. It was a window into the world beyond their small camp. And the knowledge? That was priceless.
As the evening wore on, they shared a meal together. Tullen, ever the storyteller, regaled them with tales of far-off places, dangers, and forgotten kingdoms. But as the conversation shifted, his tone grew more serious.
"Be careful," Tullen warned, leaning in slightly, his voice low. "You're brave, starting here. Between two fallen keeps, and within scent-range of a lizard-witch's hunting path."
"A what?" Mira asked, her voice filled with confusion.
Tullen's lips twisted into a grim smile. "Forget it. You'll know when you see the bones."
Kail's heart sank slightly. He had never heard of a "lizard-witch," but something about the way Tullen said it made him uneasy. There was a weight to his words. It wasn't just a warning—it was a reminder of how precarious their position truly was.
Kail pressed on, trying to distract himself from the growing anxiety. "Do other settlements trade like this?" he asked, eager for more information.
Tullen's gaze darkened, just for a moment. "Few. Most are hiding or fallen. But word travels. Smoke brings watchers. If I found you, so can others. Some won't bring fish and books."
The warning in Tullen's words was clear. Not everyone out there was friendly. They couldn't afford to become complacent, not now. Not when they were starting to draw attention.
SYSTEM UPDATE – Village Integration
Feature Unlocked:
Village Ledger – Tracks all resources
Enables Storage Optimization (Bonus KP over time)
Blueprint Unlocked:
Basic Trade Post (Tent) – Allows bartering, visiting traders – Attracts attention (both good & bad)
KP Status: 35 – Next Major Unlock: 50 KP → "Agricultural Expansion Tree"
Communal Hall Progress
By evening, the walls of the communal hall were halfway finished. Kail stood at the frame of the building, looking out at the group working beneath the pale light of the setting sun. He could already imagine it—inside this hall, maps, books, tools, maybe even candles and paper. It would be more than a shelter. It would be a symbol of the village's progress.
"We laid the first stones of our hall today," Kail wrote in his journal later that evening. "It will be ugly. Crooked. Drafty. But it's ours. A traveler came. Not with swords, but trade. I gave him food, and he gave us knowledge. He told stories that frightened some of us—but me? I'm glad. Fear reminds us we're alive.
Greyvine is now on the map, even if no one's drawn it yet. And when they do, we'll be more than a footnote."