>>6116174<span class="mu-g">You’ve been hearing a lot of juicy, drool-worthy rumours, but none so delicious and delectable as the clinking of coins (and the more literal treats they can be exchanged for).
“I heard somethin’ ‘bout a sea-monster in Sunset Lake,” you suggest.
Yeb-Uit quietly arches a bushy salt-and-pepper brow, while An-Yii just looks skeptical.
“A sea-monster?” asks the nurse.
“Lake-monster,” ZZ corrects, playing with a lock of her hair and wearing a thoughtful expression. “Shit, they’re loaded down that way. We could clean up!”
“We don’t have any nets,” An-Yii points out.
“I can shoot it from the shore,” the archer replies, notching an arrow with a grim smiel for emphasis.
“Put it away, big man,” ZZ snorts.
“We could buy a net?” you suggest innocently.
Your big sister shoots you a brief glare, and you clam up quickly. You realize belatedly that Zith-Zi probably doesn’t want the others gobs in your newly-formed party to know how much coin you do or don’t have on you—or to commit to any expenses until she’s evaluated the situation. It’s funny, really, how she’s so easily slid into the role of ‘big sister’ and leader… You’re really the same age, when you think about it.
(Hells Below, you might actually be OLDER, since you have The Dream and—to your knowledge—she doesn’t. Does remembering snippets of your own conception count towards your age?)
As much as you envy ZZ her leadership chops, you’re in no hurry to challenge her placement. All those eyes on you—scrutinizing, judging, hating, fearing… It’s an exciting idea to fantasize about, but in practice you’ve found you don’t like the sensation of disgust that so often radiates from those who properly perceive you, and with your memory so choppy…
(And The Dream so WEIRD last time…)
Well, maybe one day you can be more like your ‘big sis’.
Sunset Lake is a few days’ hike from New Goblintown, further than most of the other options. That, and the lake’s location are why it can serve so easily as a commercial hub. All the goods of the mountainous western baronies make their way there before reaching the fertile farmlands and well-established trade-roads of Hawksong—the greatest city in all the northwest, if not the world!
“Do you ever miss the big city?” you ask ZZ.
She gives you a look, all wide eyes and flared nostrils, and you remember the ‘situation’ with her boyfriend, Jimmy, and wince.
“Sorry, dumb question,” you say, even though you still find yourself wondering.
For your part, the city is a double-edged sword: there’s more people to perceive you, but also so much more to see, and hear, and do, and LEARN!
“Hawksong ain’t no place for a ‘demogoblin’,” she reminds you in a low voice of warning, after a moment. “That hellfire up in ya’ will ping a Paladin’s <Detect Evil>. Don’t forget.”</span>
