Lyon's Den

While the profession is not highly regarded, one cannot argue its results. Incursion into any other country, especially Vad, would create international conflict, and so it falls to bounty hunters to bring criminals to justice. Hemlock Bastille, being the only inescapable prison in Vault, is home to prisoners regardless of country of origin; such is Highcroft's dedication to keeping peace. If that means Highcroft must suffer a profession filled with those looking to enact violence within the confines of the law, so be it.

Lyon's Den acts as a hub for bounty hunters from all over the world. It has special safeguards in place to ensure the identity of all those brought in. Its coffers are filled to brimming so hunters can hand off their prisoners, get paid, and move on to the next. There is a constant train of armored wagons and carts traveling between Lyon's Den and Hemlock Bastille, as the Den acts as a safe place to deliver prisoners from around the world without having to brave the Farewave Ocean and its many dangers.

City Landmarks

The Ivory Throne: where the statue of Ivory Lyons sits near the entrance of the town, when a bounty hunter enters with a prisoner, they are meant to kiss the feet of the statue in reverence

The Court of Manes: to ensure the prisoner being brought in is the actual bounty, a court of magic users with the means to accurately identify others is kept in constant session. Attempting to cheat the Court of Manes usually ends poorly for a bounty hunter

Ailment Eden: a restaurant which caters exclusively to the prisoner heading out to Hemlock Bastille. While this isn't their last meal, the Ailment Eden takes pride in preparing the last distinguished and savory meal most prisoners will ever get. They take any request and often send hunters out to gather rare and exotic ingredients in order to fulfill meal plans

Poor Huck's Rookery: choosing to trust in their ravens more than couriers, the rookery has a time honored tradition of maintaining these beautiful and skilled birds

Dead Man Walking: the tavern most frequented by hunters their first night back from a hunt, it's tradition to hand off one's bounty and then head to Dead Man's so the other hunters in town can buy the latest arrival a few rounds

Estonteco Malliberulo: meaning "those soon to lose their freedom" in the Giant tongue, the 'Esto Mal' is a giant wall in the city with hundreds of parchments nailed to the stones, each one displaying the face, name, and crime of a person who has fled from their homeland and must be brought to justice. It is here bounty hunters meet, discuss strategies, exchange information, spread lies to throw others off track, and play the game of bounty hunting much like noble in a court.

People of Note

Smudge: Male Goblin, one of the most feared bounty hunters in Lyon's Den, Smudge's best days are behind him, but he serves as an inspiration to the younger hunters who come through

Justice Taz Granhold: Female Goliath, current head of the Court of Manes - mute and severe, she has a record of never having sent the wrong person to their imprisonment

Master Kaya: Female Halfling, keeper of the birds in the Rookery and personal message runner for the denizens of Lyon's Den

Gunnar Radelof: Male Owlin, current record holder for number of bounties captured, Gunnar's return to the Den is usually cause for a multi-night celebration in the Dead Man

Pai Finley: Female Human, a bounty hunter known for bringing back corpses despite the lack of payment

Armando Lambado: Non-Binary Half-Elf, the keeper of the records and the master of the Esto Mal, they ensure all bounties are kept up to date with a precise and ruthless efficiency