Rolan gathered several men to explore the Dark Lands. He intended to extend his realm, and to do so, he needed to explore them first. The place and its surroundings were part of a vast forest, left untouched for many years.
They set up tents, and Rolan unrolled his map of the Dark Lands. This region had once belonged to the kingdom of humanity, but now it was either inhabited by demons or overrun by monsters. Sentries stood guard around the corners of the camp, and soon the crickets began their nightly chorus, echoing through the dense, misty trees.
Their current location was where they would settle for now. Establishing a safe point for the supply chain was a sound investment for the future.
Rolan began planning his next actions. There was an old castle nearby, one that scouts reported was infested with goblins. The castle had once belonged to the Tribes—Rolan recalled Elder Frederick mentioning how the Tribes were persecuted by both the Holy Empire and the Demon Empire alike.
Those who survived had fled to the Great Forest of Altemera, or so the old man had said. The Demon Empire had labeled them enemies, while the Holy Empire saw them as threats and kin to demons. The rulers of the Tribes were now either dead or missing, and the few survivors had been enslaved by monsters deep within the forest. The proud lands of the Tribes had fallen into ruin, now crawling with monstrosities.
He made a mental note to dispatch a scout team to the castle. As for their immediate goals, they needed to establish either an outpost or a fort—something more secure than tents. Securing the region was now a top priority.
By morning, the workers began chopping trees and erected several logging tents, along with a hunter's cabin to provide meat and hides.
After several days, Rolan personally sketched designs for wooden walls. They weren't perfect, but they would suffice for the time being.
They raised barracks and a garrison shortly after. Soldiers trained on the fields under the watchful eyes of experienced veterans. Rolan sent scouts to investigate the nearby castle and bid them safe travels, hoping they would return in one piece. Then, he resumed managing the camp.
Little by little, they expanded—houses built from the logs they harvested now dotted the perimeter. The wooden walls rose steadily, and soon a small fortified base took form. Though incomplete, it had the core structures in place.
Resources were slowly depleting, but hunters kept the food supply steady. They also supplied leather, processed in the newly established tannery. The blacksmith's forge, however, remained idle—they had yet to locate an iron vein.
Rolan dispatched a group of miners with a few guards at dawn to scout the nearby mountains. The team left with bright eyes and chatter, as if off on a grand adventure.
However, construction ground to a halt when a violent storm struck their camp. Heavy winds and unrelenting rain battered the area for an entire day. The men huddled inside shelters, waiting for the tempest to pass.
Once the skies cleared, they completed the walls, which now looked quite imposing from up close. The tips were sharpened into crude spikes, and the structure held sturdy. The gates were thick and reinforced with iron bracing. Around the perimeter, they dug canals lined with thorns and wooden stakes.
The base began to feel more established—still far from perfect, but now functional. Then the scouts returned, bruised and exhausted, reporting that the castle was indeed overrun by goblins. They'd nearly been surrounded but escaped thanks to sheer luck and quick thinking. Their tale would soon become campfire legend.
A few days later, the miners returned, brimming with good news: they had discovered iron veins up north in the mountains. It was a promising find. The ore could be used not only for weapons but also for tools and construction.
At sunrise, they established mining tents, and the miners began their work. Raw ore was delivered daily to the blacksmiths, who grinned with excitement as they stoked their furnaces and began crafting once again.
Rolan knew that as their activity increased, they would eventually draw attention. So far, no monsters had been sighted, but that wouldn't last. He had to be ready.
Towers were soon built, manned by sentries and archers. Plans were drawn for additional watchtowers to improve visibility. Each tower was equipped with a bell and crude telescopes for early warnings.
Meanwhile, peasants were drilled day in and day out in the training fields. A strict trainer worked them to exhaustion, forging them into militias. In time, they would become disciplined soldiers and eventually evolve into advanced units.
Rolan prepared to conquer the goblin-infested castle. It would serve as a better stronghold than the camp, though the task would be dangerous. Word had it that ogre camps existed further north—clearing the area would be a long and grueling endeavor.
That would be a mission for the future. For now, preparation was key.
More houses were built, the militia continued their training, and the tannery produced steady supplies of leather armor. Blacksmiths forged iron swords, and hardwood artisans crafted sturdy wooden shields. Bows and arrows were also in production. Torches were added to their inventory, in case they needed to delve into dark places.
In total, they trained and equipped 14 militia members—5 light infantry, 3 archers, and 2 scouts to lead the way. The rest were support and reserve forces.
[Project Lists Updated]
Defenses & militia drills: +1 security, +1 militia recruits/day
Housing: +1 population growth, +1 prosperity – construction materials
Woodcutter's Hut: +1 construction materials/day
Irrigation: +1 food production, +1 nutrition
Food Distribution: +1 morale, +1 loyalty, +1 wellbeing –1 food
Hunter's Hut: +1 food/day, +1 nutrition
Farming: +1 food/day, +1 nutrition, +1 wellbeing
[Bloodsworn Village – Subordinate List] (Population: 74)
Defenses & Drills (15 trainees)
Housing (10 workers)
Woodcutters (10 workers)
Irrigation (10 workers)
Hunter's Hut (14 workers)
Farming (15 workers)
The Barracks bustled with noise, and the Training Grounds echoed with the clashing of weapons. The Garrison was packed and would soon need expansion. Watchers stood vigilant in the Keep.
The Cellars and Storages, once empty, slowly filled with grain and supplies. The Stables now held a few tamed wild horses. The Well had been cleaned, providing fresh water to the camp.
From the Blacksmith Tent came the rhythmic clanging of hammers, and the Hardwood Crafting Tent churned out shields, pikes, bows, and arrows. The Armory and Weaponry buildings filled with an ever-growing stockpile.
The Farm had already begun planting crops. The Messenger Outpost was operational. A Healing Tent stood nearby, ready to treat wounded men.
Further expansions included the Research Tent, Alchemy Tent, and an Enchanting Tent. Knowledge, medicine, and magic would all have their place in this growing settlement.
With everything finally in place, Rolan took a rare moment of rest. He sat by a window, sipping warm tea. The air outside was foggy, and steam curled from his breath as he exhaled.
The silence was brief—but peaceful.