[NR] What Makes A Clearing - Chapter 534 (Patreon)

Callen Stalfos points towards the lake near the middle of the map. “Now I probably don’t need to warn you, but avoid the lake. Sort of a hot spot for the beasts that don’t plan to attack right away.”

Courtney nods, “I would say not just the lake, but the entire area between the lake and the settlement. Though I suspect the best place is actually near there. It is just that instead of between the left and middle routes, we will want to settle between the middle and right.”

Callen, “Good eye. Many who have seen this decide to settle in the far side of the right route. Except that area is actually less safe. Though if you wouldn’t mind, what brought you to that conclusion?”

Courtney gestures, “The left and middle routes could almost be called one as they’re connected by the lake. So, it will funnel most giant animals in that area into them. In fact, at the edge of the middle routes, it does that weird curve.

“Any giant beasts traveling towards the town between the middle and right routes will end up on the middle route, presumably to get a drink of water or a bite to eat. This protects the area between the middle and right routes. On the other hand, the far side of the right route has nothing to gather those beasts.”

Callen smiles, “Pretty spot on. The middle path does that curve, as giant beasts coming from that direction will want a drink. This centralizes them on the lake and even if some stray from the path, it will be them going straight from the lake to the settlement.

“The right path, on the other hand, has that giant lake where the monsters can get a drink. After that, they are still far enough away that they’ll spread out. Oh, and don’t expect to settle any of the marked clearings.

“The map’s scaling is a little wonky. Kind of comes with the territory when you’re dealing with the Deep Wilds. What you see are the big clearings that we’ve managed to stabilize or were special enough to be stable from the start. For smaller clearings? As long as someone isn’t keeping an eye on them, they can appear and disappear at a moment’s notice.

“You’ll want to set up in one of those and before leaving, put up something permanent. That way, even if it might shift a little, you’ll always end up back there. Maybe the three of you will even manage to truly claim it from the forest. Be nice to add a new clearing to the map.”

Courtney, “We don’t need a big space, it’s just the three of us. Why would we rate being marked on the map?”

Callen laughs, “Never dealt with a Wild clearing before? Guess you all do seem a bit young, though it's hard to tell with you travellers. Now, normally to get as powerful as you three seem to be, you’re going to have been around a couple years.

“Dungeons and such require a bit of work to clear without a ringer to carry you. From how I hear it, the dungeon bottleneck is supposed to be a skill check. Course, the rich young masters just have a twinked out dungeon breaker to take care of things.

“Though that’s a bit of an aside. Why will you end up on the map? A big clearing in the Deep Wilds comes from one of two reasons. The kind you’re most likely to find, a resource that pushes the forest back.

“Then there is the kind of clearing you’ll end up with. A claimed clearing. When anything manages to claim a section of the Deep Wilds that is surrounded by said Wilds, that section will grow as a visible projection of power.”

Courtney frowns, “Why didn’t I know this? That seems like important information to know.”

Callen shrugs, “Because it isn’t true.”

Courtney blinks, “What? Why tell me that then? If you want to spin a story, I’m sure you can find a place in some tavern’s corner for people to throw pennies at if they enjoy it.”

Callen, “Ah, but there is more to this than just that!”

Courtney snorts, “Get to the point. There is obviously more to what you said or else you truly are a fool. Stop wasting our time or there will be official complaints.”

Callen gestures for her to calm down, “The point, yes, we can get to the point. Now, while that tale isn’t true, it also isn’t false, at least not entirely. You need to actually claim a spot and not just live there.”

Courtney slaps the table, “Do not play with me! I know about claiming land from the Wilds. We might be new, but we did not come into the situation blind.”

Callen nods, “And it isn’t like I would reveal some deeply hidden secret right off the bat. Better to say that we are dealing with a local variable. The kingdom brought in scholars and even managed to interest a True Philosopher!

“While anything that deals with the Deep Wilds has a large margin of error around any ‘facts’ you might learn, they had an educated guess. Those giant beasts are to blame of course and yet at the same time this is a blessing. While not proper Kaiju, those giant beasts have warped the area to provide them territory.

“However, not being Kaijus, this localized warping of the rules applies to everything. That giant lake? The center is the domain of a prolific lotus. It isn’t dangerous and the flowers and such aren’t any bigger.

“The lotus simply managed to grow in a small pond, coming back year after year until the pond was recognized as the lotus pond. Then the longer it managed to hold that body of water, the larger it grew until now some suspect the lotus might have gained sentience.

“So no, in general, this isn’t the case. Here? It very much is. You claim a clearing and the more power you project, the larger that clearing will get.”