Act I /Into the Unknown

The morning air was crisp as Tyrell and his scouts prepared to depart. The sun had barely crested the horizon, casting long shadows over Emberhold. A thin mist clung to the ground, curling around the reinforced palisades like restless spirits.

Alexander stood near the gates, watching as the scouting party made their final checks. Tyrell had chosen six of his best men, all seasoned in tracking and survival. They were lightly armed—daggers, short swords, and bows. Speed and stealth were their advantage.

Tyrell pulled the strap of his quiver tighter across his shoulder before turning to Alexander. "We'll scout the ruins first, no unnecessary risks. If there's something worth taking, we'll mark it and return with more men."

Alexander nodded. "No heroics. If you see anything that feels off, you turn back. We don't know what's inside those tunnels or why they were abandoned."

"Understood," Tyrell said. "If all goes well, we'll be back before nightfall."

Alexander watched as the team slipped into the wilderness, their figures quickly vanishing between the trees and jagged rocks.

As soon as they were gone, he turned back toward the camp. There was no time to waste.

Establishing Order

The settlement was already awake and moving. Men and women sorted through salvage, repaired what little remained of their homes, and reinforced the outer walls. The sounds of hammering and saws echoed from Gareth's makeshift forge, where his team was struggling to produce even the most basic tools.

Elias approached, wiping dirt from his hands. "We started assigning work groups. Smithing, construction, guard duty, and ration distribution. It's rough, but it'll hold for now."

Alexander glanced around. The people of Emberhold were survivors, but they lacked structure. If this place was going to thrive, they needed a system—a governing body that could maintain order even without his constant oversight.

"We need more than temporary work groups," Alexander said. "We need leadership in each area. Someone responsible for every major function—food, security, industry, scouting."

Elias nodded. "You're thinking of assigning roles permanently?"

"Not yet," Alexander said. "But we need a chain of command. If we wait too long, chaos will set in."

Elias rubbed the back of his neck. "Silas might be the best person to help with that. He's got experience with administration."

Alexander agreed. He would speak with Silas later, but first, there were more immediate concerns.

The First Trade Attempt

A small group of settlers had gathered near the center of the camp, speaking in hushed voices. As Alexander approached, they turned to him with expressions of uncertainty.

One of them, a man named Owen—the carpenter—stepped forward. "We've been talking. Some of us think it's time we send someone out to trade."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "With who?"

"The nearest villages. Before the Baron took over the region, there were independent settlements. If they're still around, they might have food."

Alexander considered it. Sending traders out was a risk. If word got out that Emberhold was desperate, they could attract the wrong kind of attention.

But they had no choice.

"Who's willing to go?" he asked.

Owen gestured to two men behind him. "I used to trade timber before the war. These two worked as merchants in a past life. We know how to handle negotiations."

Alexander studied them. They were not warriors, but that was an advantage—armed men asking for food would look like raiders. Merchants would at least have a chance.

"Take a small escort, nothing that looks threatening. If anyone asks, tell them Emberhold is a neutral settlement looking for trade, nothing more."

Owen nodded. "And what do we offer?"

Alexander glanced toward Gareth's forge, where a few crude iron tools were being hammered into shape. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"Take what we've made so far," Alexander said. "Basic tools, whatever we can spare. See if anyone's willing to deal."

Owen nodded, and with that, the first attempt at trade began.

The Ruins

Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, and work continued in the camp.

By mid-afternoon, the scouts returned.

Tyrell led the way, his face grim.

Alexander met him at the gate. "What did you find?"

Tyrell hesitated before answering. "The ruins are bigger than we thought. Stone structures, overgrown, but mostly intact. And the tunnels..."

Alexander narrowed his eyes. "What about them?"

"They go deep. We didn't explore much, but something's down there. The air felt... wrong."

Alexander frowned. He trusted Tyrell's instincts.

"Any sign of people?"

"No bodies, no markings. Just silence."

Silas, who had approached during the exchange, folded his arms. "That kind of place either holds something valuable or something dangerous. Maybe both."

Alexander exhaled. "We'll need to go back with a proper team. If there's anything useful, we take it. If there's a threat, we deal with it."

Tyrell nodded. "Just say the word, and I'll be ready."

Alexander glanced toward the horizon. The ruins had been left untouched for a reason.

But Emberhold needed resources.

And risks had to be taken.