Tarn's Rest
Nestled among the hills at the eastern end of the mountain pass to Fortunebound, Tarn's Rest plays host to almost every traveler coming to or from Fortunebound. At least for one night. This consistent, yet entirely transitory, population of merchants and adventurers provides most of the residents of the village with a rather comfortable income. Further, with so many of the adventuring-type traveling through, any potentially big problems tend to be solved rather quickly for just a few coin. Goblin raiders stealing cattle? No problem, just wait for the evening when a few eager and helpful adventurers are sure to stop by the inn for a night. The result is a completely idyllic community free from danger, hunger, or poverty, and surrounded by a gorgeous natural landscape.
While the people of Tarn's Rest are only too happy to put a traveler up for the night, they are hesitant to welcome anyone new to the more permanent community. Everyone who actually lives in town knows everyone else, and they like it that way. New arrivals disrupt the balance and are often only there to take advantage of what the people of Tarn's Rest have built for themselves, without putting in any new work or effort. As such, any new resident of Tarn's Rest may find themselves marginalized, if not outright shunned, and given the worst of community tasks for well more than a year before they are gradually welcomed into the community.
The center of activity of Tarn's Rest is at the inn, the first and oldest building in the village. Originally, the inn carried the same name as the village now does. In an early attempt to draw attention and mark his inn as a business establishment instead of a farmhouse, Tarn (the original owner) hung his old adventuring helm out as a signpost above the door. Over time, travelers started referring to the inn not as Tarn's Rest, but as The Rusty Helm. Those who knew better would respond by saying, "You mean, Tarn's Rest?" ... to which the traveler would respond "Yeah, The Rusty Helm in Tarn's Rest." And that is how the village became Tarn's Rest, and Tarn's Rest Inn became, instead, The Rusty Helm.
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