A half-hour after the blinding arrival, the makeshift clearing had already taken on the air of a tiny, disciplined military camp.
Lia, the Herbalist, was moving methodically around the perimeter, her eyes trained on the unfamiliar flora. She would gently touch a leaf or crush a berry between her fingers, her brow furrowed in concentration—her medical reconnaissance was underway.
Meanwhile, Sirius (Carpenter), Dixon (Tanner), Kael (Hunter), and Old Lao (Farmer) were already utilizing the skills of their resurrection. Without a single specialized tool, they were using sharp stones and brute strength to cut and lash together sturdy lengths of wood, building a makeshift rickshaw to transport Gaia and their few supplies that Kael scavenge. Sirius, the Legionnaire carpenter, was truly a talent; the framework was already halfway done, exhibiting startling structural integrity.
As the sun began to filter through the canopy in thin, grey beams, a whisper of disturbed moss announced the return of the Lord Marshal. Bai Qi rematerialized from the shadows as silently as he had left, his cold eyes instantly locking onto Cao Cao, who stood with his back to the great tree, tending to the rapidly fading presence of Gaia.
"Report, Marshal," Cao Cao commanded, without preamble.
"The immediate area is clear and resource-rich," Bai Qi stated in his gravelly monotone. "There are signs of large game, meaning food will not be an immediate problem. South of our location, the geography rapidly becomes damp and marshy. The density of vegetation suggests a high probability of water—likely a river or large tributary."
Cao Cao frowned, his hand tracing an invisible line on the ground. "Water is life, but dampness is death in the early stages," he noted. "The downside of going south is the certainty of unknown insects and tropical diseases. We risk incurring debilitating sickness this early, wasting the efforts of our Herbalist. A slow death is unacceptable."
Gaia, leaning heavily against the tree, was visibly weak, her light dim. "I agree with the Chief Minister," she whispered, her voice strained. "We cannot risk disease. What of the other directions?"
Bai Qi continued his report. "Farther west, beyond the forest, I saw clear markings—scrapes and deep tracks—of a massive beast. It is marking the area as its hunting territory. We risk an engagement we are not yet prepared to win."
"Then the West is dismissed," Cao Cao stated, his tactical decision swift. "Fighting without knowing the strength, speed, or vulnerability of the beast is foolish. That leaves North or East to find a suitable location. North will take us deeper into the unpredictable forest."
"The East is the most viable option," Bai Qi suggested, projecting his choice with cold precision. "The immense mountain range provides a geographical wall that eliminates any flank attack from that direction. We can use the mountains as a defensive spine, reducing our security footprint and directing any potential incursions into predictable choke points."
Gaia gave a weary nod of approval. "The mountains offer protection that no man-made wall can yet provide."
Just as the decision was finalized, Sirius approached, his Roman discipline evident. "Chief Minister," he reported, wiping sweat from his brow. "The rickshaw is complete. It is simple, but sturdy enough for the terrain."
Cao Cao acknowledged the carpenter with a nod. He then moved to assist Gaia, carefully helping the weakened Goddess onto the newly constructed rickshaw. The time for discussion was over.
Cao Cao organized the column. Kael, his fear of the gods now overridden by the ingrained habit of military service, was asked to move ahead of the group, utilizing his reconnaissance training to ensure the way was safe. Sirius and Dixon, the two strongest, took the front shafts of the rickshaw. Lia and Old Lao walked on either side, their eyes scanning the terrain—Lia noting the vegetations for medical value, and Lao observing soil and drainage potential for the future farm.
The column advanced with the stealth and purpose of a seasoned military unit. Kael, the Hunter, moved silently twenty paces ahead. From time to time, he would crouch low, raising his hand to signal the group—a subtle shift of his body indicating a winding route or a soft whistle prompting a detour to ensure the group remained completely stealthy and off any potential paths.
Behind him, the rest of the vanguard settled into the march.
Dixon and Sirius pulled the rickshaw. The two men, one from the early Roman Empire and the other from the Akkadian dawn, found common ground in the shared experience of harsh, state-building labor.
"It's strange," Sirius muttered, sweat beading on his brow as he pulled. "Building siege engines for the Legions gave me a purpose. You did the same, making armor for a King of Sumer?"
Dixon grunted, his gaze fixed forward. "We made the best leather for the best soldiers. The Akkadians needed their empire. We needed their trade. It was a good, honest life. It's the only way to survive, I learned—be the best at what no one else wants to touch." Their dialogue, sharing the raw, hard history of two distant empires, was a low counterpoint that served to lessen the tension of their bewildering journey.
Meanwhile, Lia and Old Lao walked alongside the cart, their eyes trained to the ground.
"See that fruit, mister Lao?" Lia pointed to a small, deep purple cluster hanging low. "In my time, any fruit that deep a color was often a violent purge. Too strong. Maybe toxic. We must isolate every new thing we find until we confirm its safety. Too much risk."
Old Lao, whose hands instinctively reached for the soil, plucked a handful of the strange, red earth. "The richness here is astonishing, Lia. But the composition is alien. This soil is dense, almost agonized, just as the generals described. It will require heavy tilling. We can grow our basic grains, yes, but we must find a species that consumes this magic-rich soil efficiently. We can't waste our single daily spawn on a second farmer if this land requires a dedicated tiller."
They continued their hushed discussion, meticulously weighing the viability of growing the new plants against the immediate dangers of consumption.
After several hours, the terrain began to rise steeply toward the mountain range. Kael suddenly dropped low and signaled for a full stop, pointing ahead.
The group found a geographical boon. Tucked right at the foot of the mountain was a sprawling basin. It was a secluded area where the steep, rocky mountain base surrounded three-quarters of the valley floor. Crucially, the only entrance was through a narrow passage to the South. Even better, a dense, low hill stood a few hundred meters in front of this southern entrance, completely hiding the basin from view from a distance.
"This," Cao Cao declared, looking at the hidden, naturally fortified location, "is where the Foundation will rise."
They decided instantly. The basin was the perfect location. The Vanguard Kingdom would rise from this secluded, stone-walled cradle.