System Notification:
[Basic vehicle integration successful. Upgrade paths available. Material requirements pending.]
Joel sighed, glancing back toward the depot where Darren and Craig were still sorting supplies. The road ahead wasn’t just long—it was going to require more than just ingenuity. It was going to require the system’s help, and that meant digging deeper into whatever this new reality was trying to make him.
“Fort Saint John isn’t going to wait,” Joel muttered, stepping out of the truck and heading back to the depot. It was time to plan his next move.
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While Joel poured his energy into transforming the truck into a hybrid masterpiece, the depot became a hive of activity. The survivors, now numbering nearly forty, refused to waste the two days. The depot’s relative safety began to draw in stragglers—people who had been on the road or hiding in the nearby wilderness.
They arrived in small groups, faces haggard and steps weary, but their eyes carried a glimmer of hope. As they trickled into the depot’s yard, those who had already settled began to gather around. Someone started a fire in a makeshift barrel, its flickering light and warmth drawing people close. It wasn’t long before the quiet murmur of introductions turned into an exchange of stories—accounts of survival and the horrors that now plagued their world.
“There was a family,” a grizzled man began, his voice low and heavy. His name was Ron, an older tool push from the depot who had been missing since the chaos began. He sat on an overturned crate, the firelight catching the deep lines in his face. “Out near the edge of the woods, they’d holed up in a hunting cabin. They weren’t just hiding, though—they fought back.”
Heads turned to him, the weight of his words pulling everyone’s attention.
“They had heart cards,” Ron continued, his gaze distant. “The dad has an axe—he could swing it fast as lightning, split anything in two. The mom’s card was some kind of shield, strong enough to block the claws of one of those… things.” He paused, his jaw tightening.
“What did they fight?” Darren asked, leaning forward.
“A rabbit.”
The group exchanged confused glances, and someone laughed nervously.
“A rabbit?” Craig echoed. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
Ron shook his head, his expression grim. “Not just any rabbit. This thing was twisted—bloated, with fur black as oil and eyes that glowed red. Its teeth were as long as my hand, and it didn’t just bite—it tore. It came out of nowhere, too fast for the dad to react. Took their dog in one leap.”
The fire crackled as the group fell silent.
“They fought it off?” Joel asked, his voice steady but quiet.
Ron nodded. “The dad swung that axe and clipped its leg, slowing it down. The mom threw herself in front of the kids, using her shield to block its lunges. But it was their son who finished it.”
“A kid?” someone murmured, incredulous.
Ron’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Yeah. The boy had a card, too. Something small, like a slingshot. He loaded it with stones and hit the rabbit right between the eyes. The thing went down thrashing, and the dad finished it with the axe.”
“Damn,” Craig said, shaking his head.
“What happened to them?” another asked.
“They were alive when I passed through,” Ron said, his voice softening. “Still holed up in that cabin, but the dad told me they weren’t staying put much longer. Said the woods felt… wrong. Like that rabbit was just the start of something worse.”
The group shifted uneasily, the weight of the story settling over them. The fire popped, sending a stray ember floating upward, and for a moment, no one spoke.
“Well,” Craig muttered, breaking the silence. “Now I’m going to have nightmares about killer bunnies.”
A few chuckles broke the tension, but Joel’s gaze remained fixed on the fire, his mind turning over Ron’s story. The boy with the slingshot, the family fighting together—it reminded him of what people were capable of when pushed to the brink. A fierce, quiet determination stirred within him.
They’d all have their monsters to face. But they’d face them. Together or alone.
Darren, Craig, and Ortiz didn’t let the newcomers stand idle for long. Darren, as the settlement leader, took charge, organizing work crews and assigning tasks based on skills and experience. The depot’s level-up to Level 10 had unlocked new features and opportunities, and Darren wasn’t about to squander them.
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LOCATION CHARACTER SHEET: RIG SUPPLY DEPO (LEVEL 10)
Name: Rig Supply Depo
Level: 10
Type: Resource Hub / Defensive Outpost
Primary Function: Supply storage, crafting hub, and survivor shelter
General Description
The Rig Supply Depo is a fortified storage and crafting centre, originally designed to support offshore drilling operations. After the System Merge, it has adapted to the new game-like structure, gaining levels and features as it is used and defended. It serves as a safe haven for survivors and a central hub for accessing materials and crafting advanced gear.
Key Features
1. Crafting Hub:
* Workbench: Allows crafting of weapons, armour, consumables, and system-enhanced tools.
* Current Level: 3
* Enhancements Unlocked: Basic weapon upgrades, system-imbued gear, and repair kits.
* Next Level Upgrade: Adds the ability to disassemble system-enhanced items for crafting materials and blueprint creation.
2. Storage Facility:
* Organized by System-Linked Inventory, allowing survivors to categorize and retrieve items efficiently.
* Capacity: 1000 units of physical and system-designated items.
* Unique Feature: System preserves perishable items for 72 hours.
3. Defensive Perimeter:
* Basic Defenses:
* Reinforced steel walls (system-enhanced, moderate durability).
* Automated floodlights with a chance to stagger or blind enemies (30-second cooldown).
* Active Turrets:
* Two turret mounts with oil-bolt projectiles, effective against medium-sized threats.
* Range: 100 metres.
* Damage: 20-30 physical damage + fire debuff over 5 seconds.
* Trap System:
* Spiked barricades and proximity mines around vulnerable entry points.
* Mines: 50 explosive damage in a 5-metre radius.
4. Energy Source:
* Small Steam Reactor:
* Powers all depot systems.
* Wood-Burning sustaining but vulnerable to sabotage or overuse.
* Provides surplus energy that can charge system-related items (e.g., heart cards, energy weapons).
5. Safe Zone Aura:
* Survivors inside the depo are protected by a Level 10 Aura of Fortification, granting +10% defense and stamina regeneration.
* Radius: 20 metres around the depo.
Resources Available
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
* Raw Materials: Scrap metal, wiring, basic oils, and polymer plastics.
* Medical Supplies: Bandages, antibiotics, low-level healing potions (system-enhanced).
* Food Storage: Emergency rations, water filters, and basic system-enhanced food (provides temporary buffs).
* Tools: Rigsaw, wrenches, welders and power drills (some system-imbued).
Notable Upgradable NPCs (if present):
* Depot AI Assistant: A system-integrated guide offering crafting recipes, inventory management, and depot upgrades.
* Unique Ability: Alerts survivors to nearby threats.
* Possible Upgrade: Gains limited combat capabilities (e.g., controlling defensive turrets more efficiently).
Potential Developments
1. Leveling Up (Level 15):
* Adds an Advanced Forge for high-tier crafting.
* Unlocks the ability to craft and charge Energy Cores, a versatile resource for powering advanced equipment.
* Increases storage capacity to 1500 units.
2. Defensive Enhancements:
* Auto-Repair Walls: System-enhanced walls that regenerate durability over time (requires Energy Cores).
* Upgraded Turrets: Converts oil-bolt projectiles into explosive rounds or adds tracking capabilities.
3. Expansion:
* New rooms for training facilities, medical bays, or even greenhouses to grow system-augmented plants.
4. Unique Resource Node:
* The depo gains a rare material generator that outputs small quantities of high-tier crafting materials (e.g., Void Shards, Lightning Ore).
5. Alliance Mechanism:
* Survivors can connect to nearby depots or safe zones, creating a network for communication and resource sharing.
System Threat Levels and Challenges:
* Weakness: While defensible, prolonged attacks or a breach of the fusion reactor could disable systems, leaving the depo vulnerable.
* Event Triggers: Eldritch creatures drawn to the depo's energy source might target it periodically.
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One of the most exciting developments was the greenhouse. The system had listed it as an option when the depot leveled up, complete with a blueprint and instructions for construction. A crew immediately got to work gathering materials, repurposing steel and glass panels from the depot’s storage areas. It was a start, but the thought of growing their own food gave everyone a sense of permanence—a belief that survival wasn’t just about scraping by anymore.
Other groups worked tirelessly on improving the fencing, transforming it from a patched-together barricade into a proper wall. Welders buzzed as metal beams were reinforced, and wooden panels were nailed into place. Some of the heart cards came into play as survivors began experimenting with their abilities, finding new and creative ways to fortify their home.
Craig, inspired by Joel’s efforts with the truck, gathered a small group of mechanically inclined survivors. Together, they scavenged parts to create a steam-powered generator. The idea was simple: if Joel could make steam work for a vehicle, why couldn’t they use it to power the depot? Old pipes, water heaters, and an abandoned boiler were repurposed into a makeshift power plant. By the end of the fourth day, they had managed to get a few lights working, something called a mana lamp, illuminating the depot with a warm, flickering glow that felt almost magical.
The levelling system itself became a source of fascination and debate. Darren had more options than ever for shaping the settlement’s future. Each new level seemed to bring additional benefits: blueprints, expanded storage, and even rudimentary defensive measures. But it also carried an underlying weight—the system didn’t give without expecting something in return. What that something was remained to be seen, but for now, they would take every advantage they could get.
As Joel stepped out of the shop on the morning of the third day, wiping grease from his hands, he couldn’t help but notice how much the depot had changed. The air was thick with the smell of welding and fresh-cut wood. Steam rose from the makeshift generator Craig and his team had built, and the greenhouse frame was already taking shape in the corner of the yard.
Joel took it all in with a quiet nod. They were building something here—something more than just a shelter. It wasn’t home, not for him, but for these people, it was becoming one.
Craig jogged over, grinning despite the grime smeared across his face. “Hey, Joel. You’ve got some competition.” He gestured toward the steaming generator with a mock bow. “Not as fancy as your truck, but we’re making progress.”
Joel smirked, patting him on the shoulder. “Good work. Keep it up.”
The depot was buzzing with life, and while Joel’s path still led away from this place, he couldn’t deny the satisfaction of seeing the people around him push forward, refusing to give up. They were survivors, every one of them, and their resilience was building something extraordinary.