Blinking, I turn around and see that the sky is indeed getting dark. We were teleported right next to the edge of the territory.

I see that everyone is with me. I received a slew of prompts that demanded my attention.

- Quest Completed: The Lost and Found

You and your party have entered an area that has displaced you throughout this small region. Find them.

Task: Find your party members (4/4)

Reward:

1 X Race Specific Population Summoning Scroll per party member found.

Special Note: Rewards have been sent to the Lord's Chest. -

- Quest Completed: Treasure Hunt

You have gone into the fog thinking there will be monsters, know while that is correct you forget with danger comes opportunity. As you are exploring the vast plains keep your eyes out for valuable loot.

Task: Find Treasure (12/?) (Three Treasures of the Fog Chests, one goblin settlement extermination, two groups of herbs, one Forest of Druidic Transformation, one Tower of Arcane Knowledge, four spell books)

Kill a minimum of 2 groups of enemies (3/2)

Reward:

1 X Class Experience Bag

1 X Class Equipment Box

1 X Companion Experience Bag

1 X Profession Tool Box

You will receive four additional chests with the option to pick what type they are out of four options.

Special Note: You have completed the quest with a 450% completion rate. You will receive four additional chests with the option to pick what type they are out of four options. Rewards have been sent to the Lord's Chest. -

- Quest Completed: Emergency Quest

You have found one of your party members who is in grave danger.

Task:

Clear out the encampment of goblins (1/1)

Heal your party member (1/1)

Reward:

1 X Wooden Blueprint Box

1 X Random Resource Box

Special Note: Rewards have been sent to the Lord's Chest. -

- Settlement Buildings have been completed:

Basic Arrow Tower

Small Mine

Basic Scribes Hut -

With those out of the way, I started to follow behind everyone else as they had gone ahead since I received more prompts than them.

Catching up to the group quickly, I informed everyone that we had the scrolls to summon some more people into the settlement. Also, there are a lot of chests to open and receive the rewards from.

Uxa grabs my arm and tries to increase the pace. Moving faster, I tell him. "Uxa, I know you are itching to get more of your people here. I want that as well. We have to do this one step at a time so those who arrive have a place to come to."

"Also," I mention. "I have a lot of things that I need to discuss with everyone once we get back. Also, let's see if there are things that we can do with the items we have on hand. Since there is a huge influx of potential with getting our profession tools."

Heaving a heavy sigh, Uxa let go of me. We resumed our standard pace the rest of the way to the settlement.

Upon arriving, I saw a tall arrow tower standing where I put it. The fence has some dead monsters around it as well.

Going over to loot the mobs, I don't receive anything from them. I ask Ritotorous if he knows why.

"You don't get any loot from monsters that your defenses kill unless you are actively a part of the defense at that time."

Since that has been cleared up, I take the monsters that have died and bring them a distance away so others might not come due to the smell of blood.

By the time I am done with that. It is about 8 p.m., and the sun is about to set on our little settlement. I get everyone's attention and ask. "Would we like to meet first thing in the morning to discuss the loot we have gotten from the boxes?"

Laxreal is the first to speak up. "I would like that, but can I ask that we get the rest of the profession buildings up?"

Strauvana nods in agreement. "I would like to say that would be the best idea since we aren't using the buildings until tomorrow. We are down three profession buildings currently."

Zul'Zara intones her stance as well. "I be agreeing with her. I be hoping to do some alchemy tomorrow. Since we have the tools now."

I glance at Uxa to see if he has anything to say. I know he is antsy for the next day since one more of his people will be in the settlement.

Thinking on that note, I take a look at the settlement menu. Seeing that we have completed the requirements for it to be leveled up.

- Settlement Tasks:

Tasks: Have a population of 5 or more. (5/5)

Make at least two excursions past the edge of your territory. (2/2)

Would you like to level up your settlement? Yes/No -

"I would like everyone to know that we have completed the next set of tasks. We can level up the settlement again," I informed them.

"What are you waiting for? Do it now!" Laxreal exclaims in excitement. The higher we get the settlement, the faster we can claim unique buildings like the Tower of Arcane Knowledge.

The other three look at Laxreal, confused about the last part of his statement.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"What do you mean you can claim unique buildings? What would count as a unique building?" Uxa asks out loud.

"Well," I start. "When I was about to leave the tower, I said out loud that I wanted to claim it. Well, the system took it seriously and gave me a response that we needed a higher settlement level to even get to that point."

Still a bit confused about the situation, Uxa relents as he doesn't have the attention span to continue with this conversation.

"What level does the settlement have to be for the tower you were in?" Strauvana asks.

"Well, I was told we need to get to Small Town Level 5. And from what Rito has told me, we are quite a ways off that point." I respond.

Gasping at the sudden revelation, Zul'Zara speaks up. "We be not trying that in those woods you be finding me in. Could be that we might claim it as well?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I know what they are called now. The Forest of Druid Transformation. That explains the different statues of animals that we saw on our way in."

"Are we okay with leveling up the settlement now? I will be able to complete one more quest if we do." I state.

"From what I can hear from everyone. We all seem to be ready for an upgrade." Strauvana says.

With nods from everyone else at that affirmation. I select "Yes" on the prompt. A golden hue then encompasses the territory border.

With the fading of the light, I receive a prompt informing me that the territory has been upgraded.

I checked on the status of the settlement.

- Settlement Information:

Name: Caelnova

Tier: Roadside Hovel

Level: 3

Experience: 0/50

Territory Size: 1.2Km X 1.2Km

Buildings:

Basic Hut Level 1 X 3

Small Dock Level 1

Small Garden Level 1

Wooden Fence Level 1 X 1

Basic Tomb Level 1 X 2

Small-Cemetary Level 1 X 1

Basic Blacksmith Hut Level 1 X 1

Wood Arrow Tower Level 1 X 1

Small Mine Level 1 X 1

Basic Scribes Hut Level 1 X 1

Outposts:

Tiny Mining Outpost X 1 (Tier 1 Stone 10 per day with no workers, 20 with workers) -

With the buildings being displayed, it gives a feeling of accomplishment. Four days since my arrival at Corenthia, the amount of work that's been done is incredible.

I continue from where we left the conversation. "Looking at the settlement status screen has given me a good idea of where we are with buildings. There are a lot of options that we need to consider for our future. To start, I will get the three profession huts built for enchanting, formations, and alchemy."

Going to the building menu, I select the Small Enchanters Hut, Small Formation Masters Hut, and the Small Alchemy Hut building near their respective people.

- Building Menu:

Small Enchanters Hut: 30 units of Tier 1 Wood. And 30 units of Tier 1 Stone.

Small Formation Masters Hut: 30 units of Tier 1 Wood. And 30 units of Tier 1 Stone.

Small Alchemy Hut: 30 units of Tier 1 Wood. And 30 units of Tier 1 Stone. -

I asked everyone to come and grab some building materials. We move them to start the building process. Once that’s done, I bid everyone goodnight. I receive one more prompt before I get into my hut.

- Quest Completed:

Skeletons, Slimes, and Goblins! Oh, My!:

Having found yourself surrounded on all sides either by water or by the monsters of the land a choice has come to you. Do you clear out some of the areas of more of the monsters, or do you let them continue to grow more in number until you can't handle them anymore?

While in the immediate area, you can't find any place that would allow these creatures to have a place to stay not all locations have been investigated as to what threats might be there.

Tasks:

Enter the fog and clear out 1 group of enemies (4/1)

Level up your settlement to Roadside Hovel Level 3 (1/1)

Rewards: ???

Special Note: Since you have exterminated a goblin encampment. You have put off an attack for three nights. You have also completed the quest with a 300% completion rate. The rewards will be generated now. -

- Rewards:

2 X Tiny Wooden Token Box

1 X Large Specific Population Box -

With my mind trying to recall how many boxes I have to open tonight. Stepping inside my hut, I find out that they are stacked inside. I see the three boxes I received by the door. Two bags that are lying on their sides on my bed. One medium-sized wooden resource chest, a tiny wooden blueprint box, my professions toolbox, and my class equipment box. Four scrolls have a special symbol on them. There are four boxes with question marks on their sides. There is one large-sized wooden resource box. Finally, three more boxes have fog swirling around them.

Thinking about that, I remember that I have four tomes that I need to learn as well. They must be inside my Lord's Chest since I don't see them in my hut.

Starting with the ones closest to the door, I open the last three boxes I got first.

- Items Received:

1 X Silver Instant Completion Token

1 X Silver Instant Level Up Token

1 X Iron Time Reduction Token

15 X Specific Population Scroll -

Examining the three items, I find the last one interesting.

- Silver Instant Completion Token: Can instantly complete any building that is level 4 and below.

Silver Instant Level Up Token: Select one building that is level 3 and level it instantly up to level 4.

Specific Population Scroll: Select one of the inhabitants of your settlement and summon one person from their respective planet. -

I noticed there is a difference in the names of these scrolls. Compared to the ones received from "The Lost and Found" quest. I examine those scrolls to see what they do.

- Race-Specific Population Scroll: A special award. Use these to summon one person of the user's choice from their specific planet. -

With the scrolls examined. Walking to the Lord's Chest, I store the received items. I grab the two experience bags to inspect them. They provide 80 class experience and 80 companion experience.

After storing those items, I walk up to my profession toolbox and open it.

- Items Received:

1 X Novice Enchanters Engraving Tool

1 X Novice Enchanters Guide

1 X Novice Enchanters Mortar and Pestle -

I put those into my Lord's Chest and open my equipment box next.

- Staff of the Initiate Mage: Increases Damage of spells by + 2. Increases Healing of spells by + 2. -

I continue this pattern of storing items and opening boxes.

- Resources Received:

120 Tier 1 Wood

120 Tier 1 Stone

120 Tier 1 Metal

50 Tier 1 Food

Blueprint Received:

Small Major's Manor Level 1-

I use the blueprint and look at the building menu again to see what it is.

- Small Major's Manor Level 1 - One Per Village; Houses the leader and their family. Has two floors. The first floor has a small meeting, a dining room, and a kitchen. The second floor has three bedrooms. 10m X 10m -

My next stop is the four chests with question marks on their sides. Upon reaching them, I hold one when a prompt appears.

- Please select what type of box you would like this to become:

1. Class Equipment Box

2. Profession Material Box

3. Class Spellbook Box

4. Merge (Unavailable) -

With shock in my eyes, I look over at Ritotorous and ask. "What does it mean by merge?" After asking the question, there is a ding inside of my head.

"Well, that means you can merge certain items to get a potentially higher quality item. Though they are rare and typically don't come in such large quantities as you see before you."

"It also says that it is unavailable. Why is that?" I continue, astonished at the option in front of me.

"Either you don't have enough of said item. Or you are too far away. Make note it takes at least 5 of a similar item to merge them." He says with finality.

Sighing, I pull myself away from thinking of the options for a higher-level box. I decided to put them all into the Lord's Chest.

I have finally arrived at the three swirling fog boxes. I decided to examine the first one.

- Treasure of the Fog: Upon touching this box, it will reveal itself as a random box with a random quality. Quality is determined by the tier of the settlement that has opened it. -

Figuring we are in the first stages of development, we are at either an iron quality or wooden quality. My thoughts are leaning toward the latter of the two options.

Risking it, I press my hand on the box. It indeed does become a wooden box. Touching all the boxes, I received another large-sized wooden resource box, a small building blueprint box, and a medium-sized population box.

I proceed to open them.

-Resources Received:

80 Tier 1 Wood

80 Tier 1 Stone

80 Tier 1 Metal

20 Tier 1 Food

12 X Random Population Scrolls

Blueprints Received:

Mobile Archer Tower Level 1

Earthen Bulwarks Level 1

Wooden Walls Level 1

Cobblestone Roads Level 1 -

I use the new blueprints again and look to see what they offer.

- Mobile Tower Level 1 - A small tower on a cart that can be hauled to give a mobile vantage point for ranged attackers. Increases the range of ranged attacks by 10m. Requires two work animals to move.

Earthen Bulwarks Level 1 - Basic defenses made of earth and wood. Durability can be increased by using stone or metal in place of wood. Use as an initial platform to build further defenses.

Wooden Palisades Level 1 - Wooden walls with a walkway to fire ranged attacks. Has moderate durability.

Cobblestone Roads Level 1 - Can be placed between two points and increases traveling speed by 5%. -

With all the rewards dealt with for today, I go to my bed and lie down for the night to see what arrives in the morning.