Civilization Rise

Ethan Drake digested the information Sam had told him and slowly raised his head. As he did, he realized he was surrounded by a group of barbarians clad in animal skins.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Ethan thought, his heart racing as he took in the scene. "I'm surrounded by barbarians from the start?!"

"What do I do? What do I do?" His mind spun in panic, and his face turned pale. Were the barbarians staring at him...hungrily? Their eyes seemed to gleam with a predatory light.

"They're not...cannibals, are they?" The thought made his stomach churn. If these barbarians were man-eaters, then his story was about to have a very abrupt, grisly end.

Before his imagination could spiral further, an older barbarian with a wooden staff and a tangled beard shuffled toward him. His voice was rough but commanding. "Patriarch, everyone's waiting for your decision."

Ethan froze, his brain momentarily blank. Then the words registered, and he pointed to himself, incredulous. "Patriarch? Me?"

The realization hit him a moment later. The system's setup—it all made sense now. He was the leader of this small tribe, thrust into a role of survival. Their tribe had barely survived a blizzard, forcing them to seek a new home. "Alright, I get it. This is like the start of a survival game."

Ethan scanned the faces of the barbarians. What had seemed like predatory stares were actually looks of reverence, tinged with desperation and weariness. Their clothes were ragged, and their eyes carried the weight of displacement and uncertainty.

He exhaled, standing slowly. Every movement drew their attention, their hope resting squarely on him. It was unnerving, but as he realized these people weren't a threat, the tension in his shoulders eased.

Glancing down, Ethan noted his attire—a crude hide wrapped around his body. The icy wind bit at his exposed skin, explaining why he'd been freezing since he woke up.

"Focus, Ethan. First things first: shelter." His mind shifted to survival mode. They needed a settlement, and location was everything. His gaming instincts kicked in. "Food and water are priorities. A river and some fertile land would be perfect. Resources like wood are great, but in this snow, we'll freeze to death before we can use them."

He glanced at his tribe: about 30 people, including elders, women, and a few children. Among them were four burly men gripping large wooden clubs. "Warriors," he realized, likening them to the melee units from his games.

Surveying the area, Ethan noted the forest surrounding them. Wood wouldn't be an issue, but food? In this frozen landscape, he had no idea where to start.

"Wait...water." His thoughts crystallized. Without food, they could last a while, but without water, they wouldn't survive long.

"Is there a river nearby?" he asked aloud, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest.

A young barbarian stepped forward, thin but wiry. "Patriarch, I scouted ahead earlier. There's a river not far in that direction." He pointed confidently.

The old barbarian, who had been silent until now, whirled on the young man, his face stormy. "You fool! Running off without the patriarch's command? What if a wolf had gotten you? With your scrawny frame, you wouldn't stand a chance!"

The young man recoiled under the elder's fury, his head hanging low in shame.

Ethan raised a hand, diffusing the tension. "It's fine," he said firmly. The elder's anger was clearly rooted in concern. For such a small tribe, every life was precious, and the youth represented their future.

But Ethan's mind was racing for a different reason. "A scout! This kid's got the instincts for it. Someone who can map the terrain and gather intel is invaluable at this stage."

He waved the youth over. "Alright, lead the way. Show me this river you found."

The young barbarian's head shot up, surprise flashing across his face. Then, with a quick nod, he strode to the front of the group. The tribe began to follow, Ethan walking just behind.

As they moved, Ethan asked, "What made you decide to scout without being told?"

The youth hesitated, scratching his head before answering softly, "I just thought...if I knew what was out there, everyone would be safer."

"That's some serious scout mentality right there," Ethan thought, impressed. Between the warriors and this budding scout, the tribe had some potential.