The sun shines over Lunatia, a town of light woods and heavy stone. There are two circles of buildings surrounding the great mansion on top of the hill, closely packed behind the short stone walls. Unlike Benanda, and most towns in the area, here they raise sheep. Lots of sheep. Thousands of them roam the hilly meadows to the south, separated into pastures and guarded by dogs. Overall, the effect is that of a layer cake, with the town a decoration above the coat of icing that is the sheep.
Atalon is enjoying it.. after all, he's only been in town a few days.
"That should be it for today." The hunter says, dropping off another body at the bounty office. "Dayne still in town?" he asks, over the dark, stained countertop.
"Think so. He's still drinking off that golden wolf. Hell of a kill, that."
"We can't all be so lucky, I'm afraid. I'll stick to the small ones, just as deadly to the sheep, but much less chance of getting your face eaten."
"Yeah, but still. Big one and you're in the money for a month."
"True, but I remember the lesson of Old Dondos."
"Whose that?"
"Old hunter. Made it to retirement at level 25. Saw three continents and a thousand towns. Had a rule that's always stuck with me. 'Son, when you're old, all you got to keep are your memories. Glory, fame, wealth.. well, that don't stick with you.'"
"Bah. Way I see it is that if you want it safe you stay at home. If you're going to go out, you might as well go big. Same risk either way."
"Yeah, but he had stories of a hundred guys who didn't make it. A hundred guys nobody remembers. Did great things, made some great kills, did great deeds.. and ended up dead for it, at some point along the road. And there was Old Dondos, still alive, still remembering."
"So you're gonna settle down somewhere?"
"Eh.. I mean, Dondos would suggest that, but.. well, I've got the wandering blood. I might play it safe, but I don't want to stare at sheep forever. No offense."
"None taken. You guys just pass through anyway. Hunt out all the monsters and head out. Then they come back, we put up some bounties, and you guys come flowing back in. Like the tide. Not the life for me, all that coming and going."
The chatter continues for a while, and Atalon takes his money, trotting down the street to the bathhouse, past the normal citizens and the weaver stalls. Caravan came in today, so there should be some good offerings. Fresh vegetables, flour, butter, metal goods, tools.. all the stuff from the north. And the cheap wool, cloth and textiles that keep this town alive. And a few gembirds flitting about the stalls. Bold, for being in town like this, usually they're more afraid.
There's a little commotion. The noble's got a couple guards walking about the marketplace. Must have been some thieves or something. Or maybe they're just here for the caravan. Atalon looks around for a servant doing shopping or something, but it's just the guards. Hmm. Gotta check out the bounty board tomorrow, there might be some important news. Maybe there's some hero type doing recruiting. Best to stay away from that, but heroes.. well, they tend to have more money than sense, so if you can sell them something, it's a good way to get rich.
Still, it's calm and easy inside the bathhouse, a really quality place for a small town, good tiles, nice, clean water, and a great steamroom, and after a long soak Atalon heads home to the boarding house, getting back a little early for the fresh, hot food. Dayne's still out drinking, so it's quiet at this early hour, just a few other itinerants around. A good meal, a little flirting with the other hunters, a little banter to keep things light, and a good evening bring things home, refreshing him for the next day of stalking. Hopefully tomorrow will be as good as today. Wandering blood or no, this is a fine town and there's a lot of nice people here, for all that it is calm.
The sun shines over Lunatia, a town of light woods and heavy stone. There are two circles of buildings surrounding the great mansion on top of the hill, closely packed behind the short stone walls. Unlike Benanda, and most towns in the area, here they raise sheep. Lots of sheep. Thousands of them roam the hilly meadows to the south, separated into pastures and guarded by dogs. Overall, the effect is that of a layer cake, with the town a decoration above the coat of icing that is the sheep.
Atalon is enjoying it.. after all, he's only been in town a few days.
"That should be it for today." The hunter says, dropping off another body at the bounty office. "Dayne still in town?" he asks, over the dark, stained countertop.
"Think so. He's still drinking off that golden wolf. Hell of a kill, that."
"We can't all be so lucky, I'm afraid. I'll stick to the small ones, just as deadly to the sheep, but much less chance of getting your face eaten."
"Yeah, but still. Big one and you're in the money for a month."
"True, but I remember the lesson of Old Dondos."
"Whose that?"
"Old hunter. Made it to retirement at level 25. Saw three continents and a thousand towns. Had a rule that's always stuck with me. 'Son, when you're old, all you got to keep are your memories. Glory, fame, wealth.. well, that don't stick with you.'"
"Bah. Way I see it is that if you want it safe you stay at home. If you're going to go out, you might as well go big. Same risk either way."
"Yeah, but he had stories of a hundred guys who didn't make it. A hundred guys nobody remembers. Did great things, made some great kills, did great deeds.. and ended up dead for it, at some point along the road. And there was Old Dondos, still alive, still remembering."
"So you're gonna settle down somewhere?"
"Eh.. I mean, Dondos would suggest that, but.. well, I've got the wandering blood. I might play it safe, but I don't want to stare at sheep forever. No offense."
"None taken. You guys just pass through anyway. Hunt out all the monsters and head out. Then they come back, we put up some bounties, and you guys come flowing back in. Like the tide. Not the life for me, all that coming and going."
The chatter continues for a while, and Atalon takes his money, trotting down the street to the bathhouse, past the normal citizens and the weaver stalls. Caravan came in today, so there should be some good offerings. Fresh vegetables, flour, butter, metal goods, tools.. all the stuff from the north. And the cheap wool, cloth and textiles that keep this town alive. And a few gembirds flitting about the stalls. Bold, for being in town like this, usually they're more afraid.
There's a little commotion. The noble's got a couple guards walking about the marketplace. Must have been some thieves or something. Or maybe they're just here for the caravan. Atalon looks around for a servant doing shopping or something, but it's just the guards. Hmm. Gotta check out the bounty board tomorrow, there might be some important news. Maybe there's some hero type doing recruiting. Best to stay away from that, but heroes.. well, they tend to have more money than sense, so if you can sell them something, it's a good way to get rich.
Still, it's calm and easy inside the bathhouse, a really quality place for a small town, good tiles, nice, clean water, and a great steamroom, and after a long soak Atalon heads home to the boarding house, getting back a little early for the fresh, hot food. Dayne's still out drinking, so it's quiet at this early hour, just a few other itinerants around. A good meal, a little flirting with the other hunters, a little banter to keep things light, and a good evening bring things home, refreshing him for the next day of stalking. Hopefully tomorrow will be as good as today. Wandering blood or no, this is a fine town and there's a lot of nice people here, for all that it is calm.
