Chapter 2 travel timer

Once you start the free roaming section of the Chapter 2 there is a hidden timer counting the number of days you have taken to arrive at the cutscene at the Feroholm region after you have both rescued Varia and dealt with The Impaler. Certain events will add to this timer.



Unmissable events

 * Simply by leaving Yhilin Outskirts to visit the Stineford region adds 5 days.
 * Going from the Stineford region to the Feroholm region adds 5 days.
 * Entering the Bounty Hunter camp to go after Varia adds 5 days.

Optional

 * The first time you travel back to the Stineford region adds 1 day.
 * Going back to the Feroholm region is 1 day.
 * Going back to explore Devil's Pass adds 2 days just for looking for new tunnels.
 * Going back to the cache adds 5 days.
 * Going back to the optional dungeon area adds 10 days.
 * Entering the slime infested merchant camp adds 10 days.
 * Retrieving the baggage in Rebel's pass adds 5 days.
 * Exploring the temple for Stark's head adds 2 days.
 * Going to the Withered Mountain to recruit them adds 5 days.

Free actions

 * Stay at an inn or in camp, also he can magically enter camp without traversing any distance in Stineford.
 * Exploring any map area not listed above including the succubus tower, Feroholm or Stineford themselves, additional maps within areas that already cost you days to enter.
 * Any action taken after rescuing Varia and stopping The Impaler.
 * Exiting Feroholm to start the Impaler showdown.

Recommendations

 * 1) If you want 5000 Sx you might want to spend the extra time finishing the lost baggage quest.
 * 2) If you need the improvements to your army and future battle results, you will want to spend the 5 days to do Withered Mountain. Also you get the first optional harem member.
 * 3) If you want the improvement to your army's synergy score you'll need Stark's head.
 * 4) You should skip going back to any other area if you can, or going back to anything in general that doesn't meet the above suggestions.

Results
We can check on how we did by seeing what Simon says after: "The first stage of preparations is complete." Exact mechanical spoilers:

Special notes
Outside of the secret stat gains for Simon, on Simon's path the succubi stuck planning a caravan route will react positively to any score less than or equal to 24.