The Local Bar
The bar is always a place where every scum, foe, friend and honorary goes to take a break, have a drink or even take a rest. It can be noisy at times, but without it the Village would be very boring. Mostly passers through are the main clients, but local villagers also go there for a quick drink of ale.
Usually gossip can be heard if you mingle with the people long enough. Most people act with mistrust at giving information, but if someone becomes drunk enough they are usually quick to tell their 'tales'. Of course nothing can beat the power of gold in convincing hidden secrets to become open.
The bar should be used as a valuable place to find out about something when you cannot get it from ligit sources. However, beware of who you talk to and what you say, or you might end up having 'extra' company on your journey.
You can also find people for hire here. Some come to sulk in their sorrow of unemployment and are willing to take on difficult tasks for money. As anything else in these times it is difficult to prove just how 'skilled' a person is...
The Market
Many things can be bought at the market, not only 'things' per sey, but services too. Servants, horse handlers, beggars, mercenaries and many others gather to find people interested in them for hire. Artifacts from distant lands and the usual items of the day are also available. Usually poorer villagers bring a table or mat in the street and display their items, more expert sellers, also known as merchants tend to have a wagon, cart or established wooden frame or tent. Items needed for a typical adventure are viewed via the market page located here.
Markets are usually open durning the day from very early in the morning until sunset. You can always try to haggle with a market seller for an unusual item, but not for a usual item (those shown on the market page). Like every other market you must be aware of how you handle your money as one or two pick pockets run through looking for the unsuspecting victim.
Forests
They say forests provide the needed wood for houses and tools, but they also are the home of many beasts and strange creatures. Usually forests that are near populated areas are okay to pass through, but never the large unknown ones because they are considered to have bandits, druids and mystical creatures. To go into a large forest by night is considered to be suicide.
Rocky Mountains and Hills
No one dwells in these areas. Most likely you will only encounter certain kinds of bandits who make their abode in a nearby cave. Any kind of mountain makes a good look out.
Streams, Rivers, and Lakes
Most are drinkable and good places for rest except when there is heavy rain because the water becomes muddy. These places are good to refresh tired faces and clean wounds. They say that certain waters contain fishes that are able to devour a man in less than a minute.
Stars and Sky
Very rare is a moon not in the sky, so there is usually ome sort of light. Many use the stars for both direction and counsel.
Plains, grasslands and open areas
In travel these are the most used, but they also enable others to see you from a distance. If you travel in the open it is helpful to have something to protect your head from the scorching sun, such as a cap. The only creatures you may encounter in these areas are merchants and wild roaming beasts.
Vampire Bats
Old women always tell tales of these bats that were cursed by another evil creature called, 'Vampire'. The bats remain in their cave until night when they come out into the the open to bite any unsuspected victim and drink bits of their blood. The bat's bite can cause some sort of maddening disease.
Creatures of the Night
Most people can tell you that when the moons come out and the wolves begin to howl you just stay indoors, because only fools would venture out at night. Legends have been told of men that can change into animal form and back again while others believe in men who can fly like bats with fanged teeth like serpents. Of course no one has actually seen or fought one of these creatures so they are left only in the mouths of old hags gathering in the market. Hags are always quick to sell you a cure or 'protectant' (a charm or element said to protect the bearer from an evil) for anything and most people in the Village have trinkets in their home to protect them from this or that because of some Hag that sold it to them.
Lower Demons
Many in the Village have always spoken of frightening Demons from the lower levels of the earth trying to break free from the spell that holds them bound so they can reap havoc on the earth. As a child, you remember having dreams at night about these creatures with evil faces, long horns and wings.
Art by: Kimmo Makinen (used by permission). Black added for effect.
[Medieval] Legends & Heroes (Hover)