How to unlock grayed out lands

[verbal solar]

I am sure that I am just missing something that seems obvious to others, but I don't understand how to unlock the grayed out lands.

I don't recall seeing this covered in the tutorial, nothing pops up when I click on the grayed out areas, I have tried delivering goods to unlock them, but the lands remain grayed out. What am I missing?

Oh... wait, I just found it. So um,... that was not at all easy for me to find or intuitive or whatever. Spent a good ten minutes frustrated, looking here for answers, etc. . Perhaps add something to the tutorial or level start to clarify that function.

[tranquil forge]

Yes I spent several minutes wondering why those lands weren't unlocking. At first I thought I needed to deliver 30 cows to the city

This is something that should definitely be fixed. There was not a clear indication to hover over the flag icon from one of the other cities, in order to unlock it's surrounding land

[cloud knoll]

Same here

[silk bane]

I haven't any problem with that but it's a perfect thing to mention in the tutorial.

[odd rapids]

And we will explain it in the revised tutorial, thanks!

[lament canyon]

Did you end up revising the tutorial? I'm late to the demo, just tried it out, and I also cannot figure out how to unlock the grayed out areas.

[odd rapids]

Press the flag icon above the city's name.