As I mentally surveyed my inventory, I came across a weathered book, bound in leather, titled 'The Book of Basics'. Eagerly, I retrieved it and settled myself closer to the crackling fire for warmth.
Upon opening the book, my eyes were drawn to what seemed to be a map. It depicted a marked location named 'Recommended Settlement Area'. This left me perplexed, as I couldn't understand why such a detail was considered part of the basics. Curiosity piqued, I carefully turned to the next page, still adjusting to using my sharp claws delicately. To my embarrassment, the following page explained the concept of a settlement seed, which made my initial confusion seem rather foolish.
A settlement seed serves as a marker for an occupied settlement, growing when certain conditions are met. While not the only method for establishing a territory, it offers the easiest path by providing engrams for building structures and advancing one's domain. The more resources provided to the seed, the faster it grows, granting access to rare engrams and unique buildings.
The one who plants the seed would become the territory lord, responsible for managing all territorial affairs. This was an incredible concept, as it eliminated tedious steps. I found the building process reminiscent of civilization-building games, which was a pleasant surprise. It turned out that this implementation came after the arrival of new worlders.
According to the book, my old world was not the only one transitioned into Astrarah. We needed to act swiftly and establish our territory to avoid falling behind other settlements. I refused to believe that I was some specially chosen individual, the sole tribe chief in a world that currently consisted only of tribes.
Eager to delve into the book's contents, I continued reading, captivated by its thickness and wealth of information.
“"Chief, your meal is here," Kali said as she entered my tent, looking just as robust as when we first met.
"Thank you," I replied, realizing that I hadn't eaten anything since my rebirth. The grilled meat before me had a peculiar sour taste. Honestly, it wasn't particularly appetizing—devoid of spices—but I had to eat something. Rejecting it could be seen as disrespectful to the Hummoths.
"What kind of meat is this?" I asked, intrigued by the wildlife and the unique texture of the meat I had consumed.
"Oh, it's from a frost bison. We have plenty of them around here," she replied. We continued conversing about various topics until I remembered something important.
"Do you know where this location is?" I asked, pointing to the marked spot within my book of basics.
"No, but the surrounding area resembles the rumoured forests to the west of our current location," Kali replied. I was overjoyed by this revelation, eager for the tribe to relocate and establish our settlement as soon as possible.
"How many fighters do we have?" I inquired. As per the book of the basics, the inhabitants of this world were blessed with Classes once they reached a certain age. Now, the acquisition of a Class involved constructing an altar in the settlement, granting us the ability to choose our Class instead of a random bestowal.
According to book, the world of Astrarah always underwent a significant transformation with the arrival of newcomers.
"We have approximately 185 combatants remaining: 50 Tier 3 warriors, 30 Tier 3 hunters, 30 Tier 3 beast tamers, 17 Tier 3 mages, 13 Tier 3 Shield bearers, 11 Tier 3 Shamans, 20 Tier 3 healers, and 14 Tier 3 scouts. There are a bit more but any combat class below tier 3 in our tribe are considered apprentices and will not be of much help outside" Kali disclosed. The numbers were staggering, considering the trials they had faced.
Prior to the ongoing transition, classes were classified into tiers ranging from one to five. Proficiency within a class would increase as skills were honed. However, with the recent changes, the tier system has been expanded to include tiers up to seven. It is important to note that switching classes will result in the reset of all progress and accumulated abilities.
Every two tiers granted a unique ability, resulting in a minimum of three distinct abilities currently available. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the progression and difficulty of tiers become more gradual and challenging as one advances to higher tiers.
Despite the multitude of tier three classes, the Black-furred Hummoth tribe still suffered defeat. This made me wonder about the strength of the other tribes. Nevertheless, it was reassuring to know that the Black-furred Hummoths were not at the bottom of the food chain.
"Do you think it's possible for us to relocate here, despite the ongoing winter?" I questioned, proceeding to explain the significance of the seed and the urgency to move swiftly.
"I'm uncertain, but we should seek counsel from the elders. Relocating would be challenging, yet not impossible. What concerns me most is the potential wrath of nature during this time, and the risk of further losses for our already small tribe," she replied. I realized that I had been overly hasty and inconsiderate towards their situation. I made the decision to heed the wisdom of the elders and explore the possibility of relocating, if it was deemed practical.
"I deeply regret my thoughtless conduct regarding your situation," I confessed before politely sending her away. "We should arrange a meeting with the elders tomorrow morning to evaluate the practicality of the concept," I suggested as she departed from my tent.
Having the rest of the day ahead of me, I made the decision to dive into the book of basics to stave off any hint of boredom. It seemed as though there were an infinite number of hours at my disposal, and I was eager to seize the opportunity. The concept of a day containing approximately 50 hours disrupted my perception of time.
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With the arrival of morning, I awakened, brimming with energy and a burning curiosity to explore the depths of my own innate abilities. These extraordinary talents were intricately woven into the fabric of specific species, unyielding to alteration. Moreover, I finally comprehended the reason behind my listed age of 70. It signified the age of adulthood for both Dragmmoth’s and Hummoth’s, prompting me to ponder the extent of their true lifespan.
I also learned about my statistics and the significance of grades. Each individual started with a base stat of 5, and every grade level provided a bonus to these base stats at level 0. Ranging from F to SSS, the grades multiplied by the base stats of 5, granting a maximum stat of 45 at level 0. As an A grade, I was granted 30 points at level 0.
One's species grade remained unchangeable, except for the rare instances when monsters could evolve or when the gods found someone fascinating and bestowed a blessing. Surprisingly, the Hummoths were considered a grade B race.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a youthful voice saying, "Chief, may I come in?" Unsure of the speaker's identity, I granted permission.
"Come in," I acknowledged.
"Good morning, Chief. I am Elaine, Kali's sister. I've been sent to deliver food and inform you that the meeting will commence in 30 minutes. Additionally, there will be an introduction to the tribe," Elaine stated, presenting a plate with frost bison meat.
"Thank you for both the delivery of the message and the food," I replied. We engaged in conversation for a while before I bid her farewell. Initially lacking proficiency in social interactions, I discovered an indescribable bond with the Black-furred Hummoths since my arrival. They felt like family, or at least that was the closest analogy I could come up with. It was an unusual yet comforting sensation.
Savouring the peculiar taste of the meat on my plate, I emerged from my tent, donning a luxurious looking fur coat that enveloped my body. I embraced the tranquility of nature as I attended to my morning affairs. Soon after, I entered the meeting room to find a circle of elders eagerly awaiting my presence, a plush fur rug adorning the space reserved for me.
"This wasn't here yesterday," I mused under my breath, catching the attention of Kali, who promptly responded, "As the newly appointed Tribe chief, preparations had to be made."
"Thank you," I acknowledged, expressing gratitude before proceeding to extend my greetings to the elders. Their support was crucial to my leadership.
"Gathered here today, I have news to share," I began, delving into the intricate details of the settlement seed and the divinely suggested location.
"Hmmm, this poses a challenge. The winter has kept away most wild beasts, but the few that remain are of at least B rank," Elder Yrliann remarked, his words met with unanimous agreement from the other elders.
"I understand your perspectives, but other tribes and species among the newcomers were also bestowed with similar gifts. If we wait until the end of winter, we will fall behind". I replied with hope, hoping that the elders had a solution.
Granting an additional five-month head start to the other tribes seemed like a significant disadvantage. Furthermore, I had no knowledge of the threat level associated with a B ranked monster. I planned to uncover this information later in my book of basics.
"Hmmm," Yrliann pondered, "let's call Gin, the head scout. He possesses more knowledge about these matters." I was grateful for the possibility. Soon, a robust man entered the room.
"Greetings, Chief. You summoned me," Gin spoke respectfully, bowing slightly despite it being our first meeting.
"Yes, thank you for coming. I wanted to discuss the possibility of relocating the tribe to this location," I said, presenting the book of basics to him.
"Hmmf, I recognize this place," Gin remarked, giving me a glimmer of hope.
"It is possible, but the journey would be arduously slow. There are numerous beast territories to avoid in this area," Gin explained, pointing towards the clusters of mountains and the forest before it.
"This as far as my scouts have explored. Beyond this area lies an enigmatic realm, where the mana density is unusually high. It is possible that a dungeon awaits," Gin observed, delicately tracing his fingers over the depiction of the forested area on the map. The trail guided him along a mountainous path, ultimately leading to the entrance of a grand valley, adorned with expansive plains stretching as far as the eye could see.
‘Tsk, yet another revelation unbeknownst to me. So, dungeons exist here as well. This increasingly resembles a game’ I pondered, absorbing Gin's words.
According to the map, the designated settlement location resided in the heart of a valley. To the east, not far from the valley, lay the bountiful sea, rendering the place an exceptionally prosperous site. Excitement and apprehension intertwined within me. Why would the gods bestow upon me such a resource-rich land while foretelling a challenging beginning?
"Ah, Chief, that's marvellous!" Kali exclaimed, her delight evident.
"Yes, indeed. What are your thoughts, elders?" I inquired, seeking consensus.
"Hmm, if it is feasible, we should seize this opportunity. Gin, how soon can we commence our departure?" Yrliann responded, expressing a pragmatic viewpoint.
"At the earliest, we can initiate the relocation within a week. If we promptly notify the beast tamers, we can load our possessions and arrange rides for the children and elderly. I also propose dispatching us scouts to forge a prime pathway ahead and assigning warriors to neutralize any potential threats along the way," Gin replied, offering a well-thought-out plan. His leadership qualities were becoming increasingly apparent.
"Then let us proceed," I said, and the council nodded in approval. Just as the meeting was about to end, Kali grabbed my arm, halting my exit.
"Chief, the tribe awaits your presence," she said. Elaine's words echoed in my memory.
"Very well, lead the way," I replied. Within moments, I found myself standing before the entire tribe. Their expectant gazes hinted at a desire for a speech, but I was unprepared. Drawing inspiration from Tribes XXVI, a civilization-building game from my previous world, I began to speak.
"Ahem, throughout the ages, the sky has shed tears of benevolence upon our people. Its unwavering presence imbues us with a sense of permanence, while its ever-changing countenance reminds us of life's unpredictability. My words mirror the steadfastness of the stars, illuminating the vast expanse of the universe before us. As your new chief, Demetrius Grey, I pledge to guide us towards a prosperous future. Just as I believe in each and every one of you, I ask that you believe in me," I concluded, concluding my speech.
The crowd remained hushed until suddenly bursting into a chorus of cheers and applause. Their exuberance filled me with an overwhelming sense of joy, serving as evidence that I had truly earned my place among the tribe. Though plagued by doubts and fears, these emotions now empowered me to believe in my ability to conquer any challenge that lay ahead.