Post by Aromancer on Nov 16, 2022 11:26:44 GMT -5
It was a dark day on Valdesh.
Clouds gathered overhead, not threatening to rain, merely bringing a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere to the island.
An infamous bounty hunter rose from his bed and headed out to train, chopping down trees with a wavy, seven-pronged sword. Becoming a woodsman hadn't been Lee's plan, but he needed some way to pay the bills what with the Reznikov brothers having monopolized the "bounty hunting" industry. Plus, it was a way to stay in shape.
It had been a slow few weeks. Evidently, Lee had disposed of most of the Reznikovs' minions, and they were holding the rest in reserve, deciding against hunting the boy down and prioritizing jobs that maintained their death grip on the island and it's inhabitants.
As Lee came into town to sell the wood he'd gathered, he noted a man lying on the ground, looking bruised and bloodied. Lee recognized him as the innkeeper at the inn he was staying at.
"Ah, Jeez." He bent down and helped the man up. "Sorry to get you caught up in all this, Max."
"You should see the other guys," Max replied with a weak smile. "I'm a grown man, I can take a licking or two." He coughed. "Besides, they didn't stick around too long. Soon as they heard you were finishing up, they got out of here before you could chase them down."
"Still, I feel bad," Lee replied. "I wish there was more I could do to help you out."
"Just don't give up the fight, you hear?" Max replied. "Not enough folks out there willing to stand up for what they know is right. The Reznikovs been beating our spirits down for so long, despair's become the norm."
Lee chuckled. "I'm n-n-not the most inspiring sort," he admitted, his stutter slipping out as he spoke. "Can't do m-m-much to boost morale." If only there were somebody who could change the mood around this place...
Clouds gathered overhead, not threatening to rain, merely bringing a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere to the island.
An infamous bounty hunter rose from his bed and headed out to train, chopping down trees with a wavy, seven-pronged sword. Becoming a woodsman hadn't been Lee's plan, but he needed some way to pay the bills what with the Reznikov brothers having monopolized the "bounty hunting" industry. Plus, it was a way to stay in shape.
It had been a slow few weeks. Evidently, Lee had disposed of most of the Reznikovs' minions, and they were holding the rest in reserve, deciding against hunting the boy down and prioritizing jobs that maintained their death grip on the island and it's inhabitants.
As Lee came into town to sell the wood he'd gathered, he noted a man lying on the ground, looking bruised and bloodied. Lee recognized him as the innkeeper at the inn he was staying at.
"Ah, Jeez." He bent down and helped the man up. "Sorry to get you caught up in all this, Max."
"You should see the other guys," Max replied with a weak smile. "I'm a grown man, I can take a licking or two." He coughed. "Besides, they didn't stick around too long. Soon as they heard you were finishing up, they got out of here before you could chase them down."
"Still, I feel bad," Lee replied. "I wish there was more I could do to help you out."
"Just don't give up the fight, you hear?" Max replied. "Not enough folks out there willing to stand up for what they know is right. The Reznikovs been beating our spirits down for so long, despair's become the norm."
Lee chuckled. "I'm n-n-not the most inspiring sort," he admitted, his stutter slipping out as he spoke. "Can't do m-m-much to boost morale." If only there were somebody who could change the mood around this place...