Alright, this is the place boss told me about. What a dump, bunch of peasants living in holes in the ground. Never even bothered to dig deep enough to mine stone, ugh. And all they provide is horse cheese and meat, what a backbone of our society. Here's the plan: find this "Baud", get some info from him, write up a story and get back to reporting on nobles and their high life and parties, work i was born for. He might be not willing to cooperate, but that is what writer's talent (and creative imagination) is for. I don't know anyone here, guess i'll contact local law enforcement. Judging by the uniform and the arrogance in the eyes, i'd say this the sheriff.
So Baud is keeping a low profile, huh. Avoiding authorities. Guess i'll have to interview each and every one of those peons until i find him, luckily the place is quite small.
eventually:
Finally! Allow me to introduce myself properly — i'm a journalist from "Daily Sheget", largest newspaper of The Courageous Crafts by circulation. Even a backwards place like that probably heard of us. I was tasked to interview you, can you spare some time?
I guess, but why me? I'm but a simple farmer living here in hillocks on the outskirts of the civilization.
Oh, don't sell yourself short! You are a recent addition to Shovewhipped, if you don't mind me asking, where were you residing previously?
I was born in Paintedgleams and spent the majority of my life there, being a farmer, but last year i settled in Redlabored and worked as carpenter there.
What motivated you to change your life so drastically?
I always dreamed of mastering a skill, and while farming is a valuable and useful trade, there's nothing creative about it, no way to express yourself. As for Redlabored — dwarves there are trying out something quite interesting, they call it Kommunism, also my sister settled there before me and told me it was a worthy place.
What is this "komunizm" you speak of?
I'm not really the one you should ask that question, for i'm just a carpenter, not komissar or politruk, but to my understanding it's a system where no nobles are exploiting the fruits of dwarven labor, and every managerial position is held by an elected official. All dwarves can vote and thus all are equal.
What? No nobles?! Every dwarves can vote? Most of them can't even read, and you give them power to make vital decisions! That's ridiculous!
Sigh... Sorry, this is unprofessional. Say, you look like a veteran soldier rather than a carpenter, were you tortured to accept kommunistic ideals? Is that why you fled here?
No... That was done by a weregecko.
Y-you were bitten? B-but that means...
Relax, full moon is still weeks away. Let me tell you my story, for i know a thing or two about werebeasts. When i was only 9 years old i was attacked by on of them, but managed to escape unharmed.
But... Not everyone was so fortunate. My little sister... She was only 5...
I didn't save her. I was also a child but i should have done something. Anything. For decades after that i was living a simple life of a farmer, no beast attacks, memories started to fade a bit, but then only 6 month after the move to Redlabored the curse found me again. It was a vicious weregecko, and at the time Redlabored had no military force to speak of, no one to kill the beast or at least drive it away. I knew what to do, how to hide from that beast, all the childhood memories flooded me. But i just could not run. Not again. This time i was fighting, not hiding! I would protect those dear to me whatever the cost! And that is how i found myself in a loosing battle against a bloodthirsty hellspawn. I was not alone, though, Unib Shovestaves stood beside me with fire in her eyes. She was also protecting her loved ones. What followed was a blur, i mostly forgot it, but the beast eventually left without finishing me off, Unib was not as lucky — it beat her to death with a sock. Or maybe the unlucky one is me, for i'm left to bear the curse, transforming into a vicious killer every full moon. I knew i had to get away from Redlabored, so i moved here, where nobody knows me.
Holy shit! But your transformations, do you not attack local villagers?
No. I keep an eye on a calendar and go deep into the woods every full moon. The beast inside me cares not what blood it drinks, so it can satiate its thirst on rabbits.
That is fascinating, thank you for your time! I gotta submit the article to my editor, this might even make the cover story! Goodbye and take care, also please don't ever relocate to the capital.
Bye.