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HC: Handyman | Ch. 79 - Bushcraft 2.0
🕑 Added 2024-08-16 15:30:41 +0000 UTCAs Jack approached the bush crafter’s shack, the NPC lifted his head, a warm, welcoming smile spreading across his weathered face. “Oh? A guest?”
"Hello, Mr. Erwind. My name is Jack, and I'm a bushcrafter too."
"Welcome, fellow bushcrafter. What brings you to this beautiful lake? Here to take in the view?"
"Actually," Jack replied, "I was hoping to learn some things from you. I’ve heard that you’re a very experienced bushcrafter."
Erwind waved his hand, dismissing the compliment. "I wouldn’t go so far as to claim I’m very experienced. But I’m more than happy to oblige. What can I teach you, friend?"
A system window appeared, and Jack hungrily went through the listings. After seeing several bushcrafters and their fancy camps on his way here, he was sure there was a lot to obtain from here, and he wasn’t wrong. One of the first listings was an upgraded version of a skill he already owned: [Kindle].
Kindle, lvl. 2
Skill description: You've mastered fire-making to the point where you can create mid-temperature fires by optimizing the environment around your fire.
Skill effects:
You can craft medium-temperature fires;
Fires last 25% longer and can withstand light rain.
Low-temperature fires empowered by his [Camping] skill had been enough to make his camps safe. However, this time around, he wasn’t just trying to fend off insects, porkies, and companies. There were giant dinosaurs all around the lake. Mid-temperature fires had to be what allowed the bushcrafters around the lake to look so carefree and unworried about the ornithopods and allosauruses.
This was just the first of many skills and recipes, though. The list went on and on. The more he read, the more excited he felt. There were recipes here to make better medicine, to make camps safer, or to improve the quality of food he made. The good thing about bushcrafters was that they could do a little of everything. But knowing that more recipes would close the gap somewhat left Jack excited.
However, that wasn’t all. Jack’s eyes landed on a skill that made him drool.
Sticksmithing, Lvl. 1
Skill description: You've developed the knack for turning simple sticks into rudimentary weapons, armor, and tools. With basic techniques, you can fashion essential items for survival and defense.
Skill effects:
Unlocks the ability to craft weapons, armor, and tools using sticks.
It sounded similar to rope weaving in that it unlocked several crafting techniques. It mentioned that it would allow him to craft weapons, armor, and tools. Wasn’t this what he sought to offset his handyman class’ deficiencies? A profession that allowed him to make stuff he could wear?
His only pieces of equipment (apart from the pot hive and the ocarina) were his moss suit and cape. That was it. That was all he could craft and wear. Even though he was somewhat limited in his choice of items, he loved the moss suit and its bonuses to stealth. That’s how he’d made it to Red Lake unescorted. But there was more? He could also make armor and weapons. He just had to have this skill!
Jack considered what to buy first. He only had 20,000 bushcraft XP, and [Sticksmithing] cost 100,000. After some thought, Jack returned to the top of the list and purchased the upgrade to [Kindle]. He would hang out around the lake to grind for bushcraft XP and buy more skills and recipes. Without a more powerful fire, there would be no way of keeping the large dinosaurs at bay.
You’ve learned a new recipe: [Mid-Temperature Fire].
Sure! Here's the recipe for the Mid-Temperature Fire (Uncommon):
Mid-Temperature Fire (Uncommon)
Ingredients: 10x[Sticks], 1x[Log], 10x[Small Rocks]
Recipe: Arrange the sticks over the log in a cabin structure and light the fire. Surround the wood structure with small rocks to help retain and concentrate heat. Gradually add more logs to maintain a steady fire.
Requirements: [Kindle], lvl. 2.
Jack couldn’t wait to start a fire as glorious as the one Erwind kept before his shack. Jack stood up and got ready to leave.
“Leaving already, fellow bushcrafter?” Erwind asked as he took a skewer from over the fire and prodded the meat with his finger. Judging it not cooked enough, he put it back over the fire.
“Yes, Mr. Erwind. I need to gain more experience before I can learn more from you.”
"Feel free to come back anytime. We bushcrafters need to stick together. You never know when you might need a helping hand out in the wild. The wild is our mistress, but she's a cruel one."
"I guess you’re right. Thank you for everything," Jack replied.
Leaving, he thought about Erwind’s words. The wild is a cruel mistress. Thinking of how beautiful the lake looked, yet knowing how many deadly creatures lurked around it, he guessed it was true. The wild was a cruel mistress.
*
This wasn’t Jack's first time setting up camp, but he felt the most nervous he had ever been. Perhaps it was because he’d seen what he was up against. The lake was filled with other bushcrafters who already had a rapport with the local hunters and had purchased several new skills and recipes from Erwind. They had nicer camps and could provide better services to their customers.
Jack refused to accept defeat, though. The lake was crawling with players. Everywhere Jack looked, there were hunting parties battling dinosaurs. Yes, there was competition, but there were also plenty of customers to serve. He doubted that every one of them already had a bushcrafter catering to them.
Additionally, since the shores of the lake had little to impede one’s view, it was pretty easy to spot a camp from far away. From Jack’s position, he could spot at least five or six fires across the lake, signaling the presence of his competitors. Calling new customers' attention without trees obstructing the view was much easier. He wouldn’t need to hang plates around the forest this time.
Jack scouted the lake shore for a few minutes, looking for a place that wasn’t too far from Erwind’s cabin but not too close to any of his competitors. There was a particularly rocky stretch with no other bushcrafter nearby and relatively close to Erwind. Jack settled on a camping site, gently took his pot hive from his back, and placed it gently on the ground. The bees seemed unperturbed, constantly leaving the colony searching for fresh nectar.
The first thing Jack had to do was to start a fire to ensure his and his camp’s safety. Jack followed the recipe of the mid-temperature fire. He approached the lake and selected stones that would go nicely with the firepit. Then, he walked over to the tree line, picking up dry sticks. He also grabbed a log from his inventory and started following the recipe. He used the log as the structure's foundation and then leaned the sticks one against the other, forming a little cone over the log.
He proceeded to distribute the stones around the fire, and once he was satisfied with the results, he grabbed one of his tinderboxes. Before he started the fire, he glanced over at his pot hive. He wasn’t sure about how bees would feel regarding fire. Therefore, he moved the pot a little farther from the fire to be at the edge of its protection while distant enough not to alarm the bees.
After hitting the flint against the firesteel, a shower of sparks hit the sticks, setting them ablaze. The log followed, and the fire picked up nicely.
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Mid-Temperature Fire].
+200xp in [Bushcraft]
Mid Temperature Fire (Uncommon)
Durability: 24
A cozy fire that will keep you warm and safe.
Aura effects:
+20% hp regeneration;
+20% stamina regeneration;
Keeps animals at bay.
Jack could instantly feel a difference from the fires he was used to. The flames were taller, and the heat was more noticeable even when he stepped away from the fire. The light of the fire also encompassed a larger area, showing him that the safe zone created by the fire had an extra 5-meter radius compared with the low-temperature fire. A small ornithopod nearby, seeing it, walked a few steps away from it, showing fear, and Jack nodded. He was going to be safe for now.
Jack proceeded to set up the tent. Jack glanced around the clearing, looking for the best spot within five meters of the fire. He wasn’t a seasoned expert in camping yet, but this wasn’t his first time either. He pulled out the bamboo frame from his inventory, handling it steadily.
Bamboo Tent Frame (Common)
Description: A basic structure made of bamboo that can support a tent cloth and protect you from the elements.
Crafting grade: B-
Durability: 18
The pieces came together smoothly in his hands—he no longer had to second-guess which part went where. He positioned the frame on level ground, five meters from the fire. The structure stood sturdy. Next, Jack retrieved the tent cloth and unfurled it over the frame.
Linen Tent Cloth (Common)
Description: A large linen cloth that can offer you shade.
Crafting grade: C
Durability: 14
The fabric settled into place without much fuss. He took a moment to ensure it was evenly spread, tugging the corners until he was satisfied with how it draped over the bamboo. The stakes were up next. He crouched down and carefully positioned the first one, driving it into the ground at the right angle with a few firm taps from a smooth stone he’d picked up earlier.
You nailed a stake down.
+10 bushcraft xp.
He repeated the process with the other three stakes, feeling quite satisfied each time one went in just right. There was still a bit of trial and error—one of the stakes wobbled more than he liked, but he adjusted it until it was secure. Jack tied the ropes quickly. The knots held firm, the ropes were taut, and the tent stood steady. He stepped back to take it all in.
You’ve set up camp.
+300 bushcraft xp.
Your fire is empowered by the [Camping] skill.
+300 bushcraft xp.
The tent looked solid. Jack allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. Setting up the tent had taken less time, and it felt less like a chore and more like a part of his routine. With the tent in place, Jack moved on to the fire, adding a few more sticks to keep it strong.
The bees in his pot hive buzzed contentedly nearby, unaffected by their proximity to the fire. Jack sighed in relief. That was good news. Bushcraft and beekeeping didn’t conflict with each other. He could keep his pot hive inside his camp.
Jack had just become another shiny point on the map where hunting parties could flock. He had to finish getting things ready for his patrons. He stood and started walking around the camp, looking for berries, mushrooms, and anything edible. He also filled one of his cooking pots with water from the lake and put it close to the fire so that he could cook a survival stew at a moment’s notice.
He cleared up the rest of the camp, picking up any leaf litter or sticks and putting them into the fire, and even dragged a nearby log, creating an area big enough to fit up to 10 people around his fire. He swept his hands, took a deep breath, and waited eagerly for his customers to arrive.
He sat in the log, throwing sticks into the fire. The only sound in the camp was the crackling of wood and the buzz of arriving bees. Fifty meters away, 8 players fought against a lone ornithopod. The fight ended, and the players walked toward him.
Jack stood up, put on a business smile, put the pot over the fire, and threw a few of the nearest ingredients in so the hunters could smell the delicious food. As the party approached, they looked at his camp, ignored Jack, and kept walking. Jack frowned. Didn’t they need to replenish their stamina and health after the fight? He followed them with his eyes. They had gone up to another bushcrafter further ahead. Jack’s expression sunk. So much for his first customers. They were already committed to one of his competitors.
He sat back on the log and waited for his opportunity.
Comments
Coleman
Stickcraft you say, that sounds at least 20% different enough to me. It’s not lost on me that the generalist is specializing in general skills. If you can’t be the best you can at least be the most well rounded.
Cássio Ferreira
True! Time to learn how to run a 'diner.'
ByLAWphoto
Aaawwwwwww. I'm glad he didn't immediately give up. I think he's in for a challenge to get started.
