Ok everyone I am dearly needing some advice. I asked another question in another post and due to the help I received, I thought I would try again.

So in my book, it’s very much a fantasy world, with most of the continent being wild dangerous woodland. There isn’t race kinda simply to orcs but different along with other creatures. So here is the question I need help with. I have thought of massive walled city states, now I know this is an overdone trope but I enjoy it. Now the problem I wrote and wanted to have outposts between the cities, basically like smaller fortified settlements that serve as waypoints for caravans between the cities. What I’m struggling with is of massive walled cities are required for the populace to survive then how would smaller fortified places be believable. Any thoughts and inputs would be greatly appreciated.

Wrote on my phone so I apologize for any grammatical errors.