Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna sat in the council hall, his mind already set on his next goal. "Vorgrim, Noctis," he called. His voice echoed off the grand stone walls. Moments later, the hulking figure of Vorgrim, the Voragon, and the dark, sleek form of Noctis, the owl leader of Canna's intelligence network, materialized in front of him.

"Vorgrim, I need something from you," Canna began, his voice steady but authoritative. "Deploy shock troops to three locations. First, head to Dot's village—let them know we're forming a clan and that they're invited to join. Dot will definitely want in, so make sure she's safe; she's not at shock troop level just yet. Second, send an envoy to Clan Varran with the same invitation. Lastly, here in Timberborn, we're dealing with a trade that's supposed to lead us to the sea. Assign the shock troops who found it to handle negotiations. Offer compensation to those involved in the trade and ask them to expedite the process—we have big plans and can't afford to wait for a month."[

Vorgrim, always efficient and direct, bowed deeply. "As you wish, my liege," he said before turning to carry out his orders.

Canna then shifted his attention to Noctis. The owl's sharp eyes gleamed with mischief as if he was already anticipating the next task. "Noctis, this is a priority. We're starting a clan, and for that, we'll need a stronghold. Find me the perfect location."

Before Canna could finish, Noctis puffed up his chest, a smirk spreading across his beak. "Already done, master!" Noctis proclaimed proudly.

Canna raised an eyebrow, curious. "You've already found a location?"

Noctis nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I stumbled upon it during my reconnaissance missions. It's a little… unconventional, but perfect for what you're planning." With a wave of his wings, Noctis projected a glowing image of a vast and dangerous-looking landscape onto the council chamber walls.

"Master, this is the place," Noctis said. "Not only is it hard to reach, but it's also a forbidden zone."

Canna's interest piqued further. "A forbidden zone?" he repeated, glancing toward Mortem, who had silently manifested from his shadows.

Mortem crossed his arms, his skeletal form imposing as always. "Forbidden zones are exactly as the name implies, master," Mortem explained, his voice deep and resonant. "There are three main reasons a land would be declared forbidden. The first is due to frequent natural disasters—typhoons, earthquakes, wildfires—making it nearly uninhabitable. The second reason is political; powerful empires or factions claim the land and declare it off-limits, usually as part of a war strategy or because of the land's hidden resources. The third, and most common, reason is that the area is overrun by extraordinarily powerful monsters, beasts far stronger than what you'd find in typical regions."

"Exactly!" Noctis chimed in. "This place fits the third reason perfectly. If we establish our base in the heart of this forbidden zone, we'll have minimal trespassers. No one will dare to approach without an army. Plus, master, the resources there are abundant—rare materials, endless mana cores from the monsters—it's a treasure trove waiting for us."
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Canna examined the projection of the land, watching the massive, towering beasts roam freely across the rugged terrain. "It looks promising," he admitted, nodding in approval. "But we need to know if it's feasible to build a base there."

He looked toward Vorgrim, but then a thought struck him. "Call the head of the dwarves. I want his input on this."

Minutes later, a portal opened with a swirl of crimson light, and Thrain, the head of the dwarves, stepped into the room. The broad-shouldered, stocky dwarf kneeled in respect, his face marked with a combination of excitement and wariness.

"Stand, Thrain," Canna said. "Take a look at this."

Thrain strode forward and studied the projection closely. His eyes widened as he recognized the massive creatures and rough landscape. "That's bad news, Canna-sama. A lot of strong monsters there," he muttered.

"It's a forbidden zone," Canna said with a slight grin. "I wanted to know if it's possible to build a base there. I'm forming a clan, and I need the best location."

Thrain's bushy eyebrows furrowed in concentration before he nodded. "If you will it, master, we can build anything. But I'll need to assess the ground and resources firsthand. Before we can begin construction, I'll also need input from Cynthia. Her research team has been working on barrier technologies that we might need."

Canna nodded in understanding. "Noctis, bring Cynthia here."

Moments later, Cynthia, the head of the sanctuary's research team, entered. The elf woman with long silver hair wore thick goggles on her head and a long white coat covered in the sanctuary's symbols. She bowed respectfully as soon as she stepped inside the room.

Thrain turned to Cynthia with his usual gruffness. "Lass, we're going to need your expertise. Canna-sama wants a base built in a forbidden zone—place swarming with monsters. Can we get those barriers you were working on up and running for the project?"

Cynthia adjusted her goggles, her eyes gleaming with excitement at the challenge. "Of course, Thrain. We've already completed several prototypes of mana-powered barriers. They should hold up even against the monsters of a forbidden zone. We'll need to install several layers of defense, but it's doable."

Thrain grunted in approval. "We'll need to inspect the area first. Make sure the foundation is solid and the terrain stable enough for building."

Cynthia smiled, adjusting the notepad in her hands. "Leave that to me. I'll have the research team ready to assist with the analysis."

Canna watched them both, satisfied with their confidence. "Good," he said, standing up. "I trust you two to handle the details. Build the best base imaginable, using all the resources the sanctuary has to offer."

Thrain and Cynthia both bowed again. "Leave it to us, Canna-sama," they said in unison.

As they left to begin planning, Noctis flapped his wings and landed beside Canna. "Master, one more thing. Before we start the clan, we'll need to visit the Adventurer's Guild. There's a fee to register a clan, and they'll explain the inner workings of how clans operate in this region."

Canna nodded, his expression determined. "Alright. Summon a portal. Let's get this done."

A red portal swirled open before him, and without hesitation, Canna stepped through, ready to take the next step in building a clan that would shape the future of Sepra.