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Eagerly watching the pot of stew, the two smaller hunters licked their lips hungrily as the third attempted to practice self-restraint –something that he failed to do when his chiseled abdomen began to growl. Only Ioannes knew how long these three had been hungry. Game had been scarce in the ruins (unless one liked orc meat) and supplies had been difficult to come by as well. No one, at least not anyone with a tidbit of common sense, dared to invest in Paxia given its current condition. After all, the seasons had already demonstrated that those bold enough to remain as entrepreneurs in the ruins were as poor as the three hunters around this fire by now.
The times hadn’t been kind.
The water had been drawn from a manmade well situated in the heart of the land of tents, and thus it was bitterly cold and would take some time to come to a boil. Subsequently, the hunters casually leaned back on their hands, watching the lid of the small pot and anxiously awaiting its rattle. The Rhargn, the largest of the hunters, looked again to the dark elf as he explained the multiple avenues of service that he could provide for the three men. “Sounds like somethin’ to look forward to then.” He said, flashing a surprisingly polished grin as he clapped his two comrades rather brutally upon the backsides.
“Yea, we’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout startin’ a huntin’ service.” one of the other hunters replied. Casually poking at the fire, he drew back one of his sleeves to avoid the touch of the dancing embers. His forearm displayed an incredible number of veins, indications that he, like the others, was accustomed to the rigorous lifestyle demanded by their profession. It hadn’t been easy for any of them, but at least those like the hunters, that is, those with useful trade skills, had been capable of surviving on their own and without as much trouble as less proficient citizens like the women or children.
“So what kinda business ya startin’?” the last of the hunters asked the Vysstichi. He seemed more trusting now that the dark elf had demonstrated how to conjure his special stew,
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