The news of the great lake and the gathering of tribes for trade settled into the village's consciousness, a distant but compelling possibility. It was a topic that came up frequently around the fire, during breaks from work, and in quiet conversations between villagers. The idea of a place where many different peoples met, bringing goods and knowledge from far-off lands, sparked imaginations and fueled discussions about what they might gain from such a journey.
For Elias, the concept of the lake meeting was a tangible link to the more complex societies he knew from Earth's history – early trade centers, marketplaces, the beginnings of interconnected economies. It represented a significant step beyond simple bartering with a single nomadic tribe. It was an opportunity to acquire a wider variety of resources, to learn about different cultures and technologies, and to establish relationships that could be vital for the village's future growth.
He spent hours thinking about the implications. Traveling to the lake would require preparation. They would need to know the route, the dangers along the way, and the time it would take. They would need goods to trade, items that would be valuable to tribes from different regions. They would need to send a delegation, people who were capable, trustworthy, and able to navigate interactions with unfamiliar groups.
Kaelen, too, was giving the matter serious thought. He discussed it at length with the elders, weighing the potential benefits against the significant risks. A journey of many days downstream was fraught with peril – unknown creatures, dangerous rapids on the river, potentially hostile tribes whose territories they might have to pass through. Sending a group away for an extended period would also leave the village with fewer defenders.
Despite the risks, the potential rewards were too great to ignore. Access to metals, to different types of stone, to knowledge and goods they couldn't acquire locally – these could accelerate the village's development in ways that their current resources couldn't. The decision was made to begin planning for a potential expedition to the lake, not immediately, but in the future, when they were better prepared.
Preparation began subtly, woven into the fabric of their daily lives. When Zarthus's tribe visited, Elias, with Kaelen's encouragement, asked more detailed questions about the route downstream. Zarthus described landmarks – a distinctive rock formation, a place where a smaller river joined the main one, a stretch of rapids that required careful navigation. He spoke of the time it took to travel, measuring it in cycles of the Sun-Eye and Moon-Twins. He also spoke of the tribes whose territories lay along the river, categorizing them (through gestures and simple descriptions) as generally peaceful or potentially hostile.
This information was invaluable. Elias mentally compiled it, trying to form a coherent picture of the journey. He drew rough maps in the dirt, incorporating the landmarks and the estimated travel times. He discussed with Kaelen the need for sturdy boats, capable of carrying goods and navigating the river's currents. Their current boats were simple dugouts, suitable for fishing near the village but not for long-distance travel on a potentially unpredictable river.
Borin, already skilled with wood, began to experiment with building larger, more stable boats. It was a new challenge, requiring different techniques for shaping and joining larger pieces of wood. Elias offered ideas based on Earth's historical boatbuilding – the concept of a keel, the importance of a symmetrical shape for stability, the use of pitch or resin to seal seams and make the boats watertight. Borin, with his innate understanding of materials and structure, absorbed these concepts, adapting them to the resources he had. Slowly, painstakingly, the shape of a larger, more capable boat began to emerge near the riverbank.
The village also began to focus on producing goods specifically for trade at the lake. The weavers increased their output of the finer textiles, creating larger pieces and more complex patterns. Potters worked to produce more durable and aesthetically pleasing pots and jars, items that might be valuable to tribes who didn't have access to their particular type of clay or firing technique. They also set aside a portion of their smoked meat and preserved grains, building up a surplus specifically for the journey.
Elias spent time with the children, teaching them about the concept of different goods having different values, using simple bartering games. He wanted them to understand the principles of trade, to be prepared for future interactions with other groups. He also continued to teach them about drawing maps, encouraging them to draw the village, the river, and the landmarks Zarthus had described, helping them to visualize the journey to the lake.
The planning for the expedition was a long-term project, woven into the daily life of the village. It required new skills, new knowledge, and a collective effort. The potential rewards were great, but the risks were also significant. The village was preparing to step further out into the wider world, a world that held both opportunity and danger in equal measure. The dark metal panel by the entrance stood as a silent witness to their growing ambition, a piece of a past civilization hinting at capabilities they could only dream of acquiring. The sounds of the village filled the air – the rhythmic work of building the new boat, the quiet hum of weaving, the laughter of children learning about distant places. They were a community preparing for a journey, their sights set on the distant lake and the possibilities it held.