Dust, a name that used to mean nothing to all but a few select people. To those that settled down in these barren lands, the current state of Dust has grown beyond their imagination, but the Wishing Star boom brought more than just growth to the city.

The morning sun shone brightly down on the wooden town as the people of dust walked the streets, their steps on the unpaved roads flicking dust onto their shoes. People emerged from the inns and hotels and went on their way. A loud whistle heralded the coming of the Iron Tom, a great machine of transport built by Yaroi ingenuity, as it thundered on its tracks. Steam billowed from its metal chimney as it pulled into Dust Station. The hulking locomotive drew to a stop at the platform and dozens of people swarmed into the station. Shop fronts opened their doors for strangers and citizens alike, with store clerks adding the last bit of polish to their store. Street vendors opened their carts, spreading the tantalising smell of local treats through the air. The street vendors began hollering at the new arrivals and Dust’s day officially begun.

The streets got busier as people arrived from elsewhere. Some arrived into the town on horseback, some on foot. Some came in groups, though many came alone. There were many famous faces, though if one looked closely there were also many infamous ones. The Wishing Star attracted the desperate, particularly criminals who had nowhere else to turn to. Many sought the frontier to escape from their pasts, believing that they could find a fresh start. Many of those people would not be caught as the frontier belongs to no one. Settlements in the frontier fall under the laws of the countries they are owned by, and those countries typically create bounties for certain individuals or groups. Dust itself has a fully functioning bounty hall which lies under the jurisdiction of the Sola kingdom, and some Solan bounty hunters stay in Dust just to catch their country’s criminals before they can make it out of town. 

But criminals and bounty hunters weren’t the only people to enter Dust. There were many kinds of people that went there; tourists, explorers, wealthy and poor alike. Merchants often used Dust as a resting point on their way to Ironsong, eating at small roadside eateries and buying supplies from stores dealing in general goods. People who wanted to buy specialty goods moved away from the main street, into the rest of the town. Some merchants went to the bounty hall as it doubled as an area for mercenaries to find work.

On this particular morning, there were many people navigating Dust, all of whom had their own stories. In particular, an oddly upbeat old man accompanied by a rather young man exited the Sleeping Bear, the single hotel of the town ([@LordVoldemort], that’s you and me buddy). Their clothes showed the wear of their travels but the aging explorer was spirited and bright, his steps brimming with zeal from a good night’s sleep.
[b]“Top of the morning, Gabriel, my boy!”[/b] He said jubilantly. [b]“I trust you’ve had a rather satisfactory sleep after our recent misfortunes.”[/b]

The old man stretched his thin arms over his head, yawning as he did. His grey moustache twitched as he wrinkled his nose and his mouth formed a triumphant smile.
[b]“I suppose it would be wise to secure some provisions in light of our, ah… more unfortunate escapades…”[/b] The old man said to his companion.
The pair had used up a large portion of their provisions to ward off a pack of wolves. The frontier roads were dangerous, after all, and it’d been a harrowing trip with just the 2 of them.
[b]“But perhaps a good breakfast is in order.”[/b] The old man said. [b]“What say you, my boy? Shall we grab a bite first or get to business?”[/b]