Ash rose with the pale morning light filtering through the cave's narrow mouth. Muscles sore, mind alert, heart steady.
The temporary shelter had kept him safe through the night. But it wouldn't last. He needed something more permanent. A home in the wild. A place where he could rest, craft, plan—and fight back if needed.
[Objective: Construct Tier 1 Shelter – Fortified Primitive Structure]
• Requirements: Foundation, Cover, Barrier
• Bonus if includes: Water Source, Concealment, Defensive Features
[Location: Echo Cave – Expandable Base Zone]
Laying the Foundation
Ash stepped out cautiously and found a flat clearing near the cave mouth, bordered by two thick trees and a natural stone rise. It was defensible and partially hidden. Perfect.
He cleared the ground of leaves and debris using a bone scraper and began collecting materials.
[Gathered: Heavy Timber x12, Stone Slabs x6, Vine Ropes x10, Bark Sheets x5]
[Time Elapsed: 4 hours]
[Skill Progression: Survival Construction +18 XP]
[Passive Bonus: Shelter Instinct – Construction +5% speed]
Using the trees as support beams, Ash created a wide triangular frame with cross-tied vine rope. Each knot was reinforced three times—he wasn't risking collapse again.
He drove sharpened branches into the ground for perimeter spikes.
[Upgrade Option Available: Wall Tier – Primitive Wood or Stoneblend]
➤ Chosen: Stoneblend (Mixed Timber + Stone Slabs)
• +Durability
• -Build Speed
He layered stone slabs along the back wall and packed mud and bark between timber for insulation.
The front was slanted and partially open to monitor threats. A thin tarp made from woven bark would cover the entrance.
[Progress: 82% | Time Elapsed: 7.5 hours] Stamina Dropping – Hunger Rising.
He built a small firepit near the center with a stone ring and a raised chimney tunnel to guide smoke out discreetly.
The water trickle from the cave was rerouted slightly using stone grooves to flow into a hollowed-out bowl near the doorway.
[Feature Added: Passive Water Supply – +5 Hydration/hr while inside]
[Interior Buff: Slow Health Regen while Resting]
Using hide scraps and bark, he made a raised platform to keep his body off the cold ground. No more sleeping in dirt.
He crafted two simple spike traps near the perimeter—one near the slope entry, the other beside the stream path.
[Basic Trap x2 Deployed]
• Tier: E
• Trigger Type: Pressure Snap
[Concealment Bonus Applied – Low Visibility to Beasts]
[Shelter Score: 62/100 – Tier 1 Achieved]
[Upgradable with: Metal Components, Echo Circuits, Warding Glyphs]
Ash stood back and looked at what he had built.
It wasn't beautiful—but it was strong. Silent. Defended. His first true base.
[Base Established: Stonewood Hollow – Tier 1]
• Echo Storage Capable
• Spin Wheel Safe Zone: Active
• Crafting Table Slot: Available
Inventory & Workbench
Ash hauled his supplies inside.
Near the flat wall, he made a crude workbench from stone and bark.
[Workbench Installed – Primitive Tier]
• New Crafting Options Unlocked:
– Bone Spear (Tier D) – Barklight Lantern – Reinforced Cloak (Tier D) – Stone Hatchet (Improved) – Basic Storage Box (20 Slots)
He stored the Shadow Maw fang and Echo Core in a hidden compartment beneath his sleeping platform.
The Wheel Stirs
As night approached, the Primordian Wheel flickered into view—its presence now more at peace.
It seemed to approve of this progress.
Ash sat at the edge of his new home, firelight dancing across the stone walls.
He felt the quiet comfort of stability.
For now.
But he knew peace wouldn't last. This world didn't allow it.
Echo Log: Shelter Construction Complete–
Tier 1 Structure: ✔–
Concealed Entry: ✔–
Passive Water: ✔–
Trap Defenses: ✔–
Spin Wheel Access Enabled: ✔
[Reward: +35 XP | +1 Talent XP | Blueprint Unlocked: Tier 1 Storage Cache]