A scrawny cow chews on some mushrooms distastefully.
0
stnd
4
"Jasmine and I are from Cotra, way south of here. Ever been? It's one of the six cities. Sort of out of the way, but a good place."
0
cotr@prob
3
"You should talk to Tor about it. He's looking to hire someone to get rid of them."
0
salam
3
"Sorry about that. It's just that we're having a problem with some salamanders. Never had problems like that in Cotra."
0
whiny
3
She smiles. "Thank you for helping us with those pests!"
"They're down in the larder, and they're dangerous. We can't get them out. You should talk to Tor about it."
4
1
sala
2
He sighs and looks embarrassed. "You probably think I'm being whiny."
"It's hard work! Bats fly down and munch on them. The fungus light is barely sufficient. Stray lizards eat them. And I have two patches to look after outside the farm. They're each a half mile long!"
0
mush@easy
3
"Those books are Carols. Don't know nothin' about 'em."
0
algebra
1
"I look after the mushroom patches. I bet you think it's easy."
He nods, not setting down the mushrooms. "I'm Nicholas."
You meet a pale young man. He wears a studious, harried expression, and carries a basket of mushrooms.
0
stnd
3
"This is the biggest homestead around here. Tor and Carol look after the other farms, organize, that sort of thing. Nicholas and I just work for them. They're good to work for. They've just been under a lot of strain because of the salamanders."
0
farm
2
She looks sadly at the scars on her hands. "It's sad work. The cows are always sickly and sad. And they're better than those lizards! Those nasty cretins will take your hand off if you let them! But where else can we get meat?"
0
livestock
2
"Nicholas looks after our mushroom patches. There's a bunch of them to the south. Growing mushrooms is a lot of work down here, even though there's no weeds!"
0
nich@mush
2
"Nicholas and I work for Tor and Carol. It's their farm. I watch the livestock, and he works the mushrooms."
"We don't get many visitors from far away! Welcome! My name is Jasmine."
A radiant, red-headed woman, maybe in her very early twenties, is running various farm errands. She has many small scars on her hands and arms, which show up well against the translucent white skin.
0
stnd
2
"Course, the Empire stopped sending people down. Fort Exile shut down, and I left the army. Oh well. What can ya' do?"
"I used to work at Fort Exile. I gave weapons and stuff to the new arrivals. Everyone who arrived from the surface world went by me. I gave 'em a knife, food, and directions. Without my stuff, nobody woulda' lived long."
0
fort
1
""
101
salam
1
"They haven't given us a moment's peace since they built that fort to the north."
0
nephilim
1
"Since I was a soldier, I was a natural to help the other farmers organize and stuff when the Nephilim attacks started. Haven't done it much lately, though, 'cause of those damned salamanders."
0
farmer
1
"Carol. She's the healer for these parts."
0
lady
1
"I run this place with my lady. I also help the other farmers, when I can. I used to work at the fort, but haven't done any of that for a long time."
He nods. "My name's Tor. Welcome to the Gunston homestead."
A dour, well-worn man sits at the end of the table, pondering. A heavy blade hangs at his side.
0
stnd
1
""
20
heal@help
0
"Oh, that! It's always been an interest of mine. Someone in Exile has to think of those things."
0
algebra
0
"We're still recovering from losing all the stuff the salamanders ate. We'll get over it, but it'll take time. Still, thank you for your help!"
"Two salamanders are holed up in our larder. Talk to Tor about it. He'll tell you how it happened."
4
1
farm@sala
0
"Tor. We run this farm together. It's been a lot of work because of the salamanders."
0
husband
0
"I and my husband watch out for our farm, and for the farms around here. I'm a healer, you see. I can help you too, if you like."
"I'm Carol, of the Hamer clan. Welcome to our humble household."
You meet a tall, striking woman with short, dark hair. She grinds something up with a mortar and pestle as she talks to you.
