A Letter to the Eastern Road Brigands


    To My Fellow Brigands of the Eastern Road,


    Brothers, we need to talk about Duskwatch.


    I don’t know what’s going on in that cursed town, but it has become an absolute nightmare for our profession.


    I rode in expecting easy pickings. A tax-free, lawless wasteland should be a bandit’s paradise.


    Instead, I found organized markets, well-armed merchants, and a militia that actually knows what it’s doing.


    Let me paint you a picture.


    <hr>


    The Merchant Who Fought Back


    A week ago, I tried to rob a spice trader on the main road.


    Simple job. Easy coin.


    Except instead of panicking, the man sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and punched me in the face.


    I barely had time to recover before his apprentices joined in.


    I don’t know what kind of training these merchants receive, but I was nearly beaten to death by a bunch of people who sell cinnamon for a living.


    They even had the audacity to offer me a trade deal afterward.


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    "You clearly need a better source of income, mate. Ever consider the spice business?"


    I limped away in shame.


    <hr>


    The "Militia" That Shouldn’t Exist


    Thinking I just had bad luck, I waited for nightfall and tried a proper break-in.


    Picked a nice-looking shop, found a weak spot in the wall, and started sneaking inside.


    That’s when I heard a voice behind me.


    "You’re holding the crowbar wrong."


    I turned around.


    There was a woman in full armor, casually watching me.


    Elaine Stormcrest.


    The "militia captain." Former knight. Rumored to have taken down an entire gang single-handedly.


    And she just stood there, giving me criticism on my technique.


    "You’ll have an easier time if you go for the hinges instead of prying the frame."


    I thanked her. Out of pure instinct.


    Then I ran for my life.


    <hr>


    <h4>The Worst Part? The Lord Doesn’t Even Care.</h4>


    I figured, "Alright, let’s just bribe the local lord and get back to business."


    So I went to the town hall, prepared my best negotiation speech, and asked to see Lord Veilwood.


    I expected a corrupt noble. A greedy fool. Someone who would take a bribe and look the other way.


    Instead, I found a half-asleep man drinking tea, barely paying attention.


    I made my case.


    He yawned.


    Then he said: "Look, man, crime sounds exhausting. Just open a shop or something."


    That was it. That was his ruling.


    I left that office more confused than I had ever been in my life.


    <hr>


    Conclusion: Duskwatch Is A Lost Cause


    Brothers, we have two options.


    1?? We find a new territory. This place is ruined for us. The people actually like their ruler, the militia is effective, and the merchants are violent.


    2?? We adapt. I don’t like it, but after getting knocked out by a spice trader, I’m considering actual employment.


    There’s good money in tea exports, apparently.


    May the roads treat you better than Duskwatch did.


    - Black Tom, Former Highway King