Moon Lake
Moon Lake sits south of Skatown, fed by the fast-paced river running through South Bridge. The lake is as round as its namesake, a massive body of water visible from the surrounding plains, and for half the year it is the best thing in Skatchen Land. Summer brings fishing and recreation. Skatown residents spend the warm months pulling fish from the lake and enjoying the rare luxury of a day that does not involve grain farming or preparing for the cold.
Autumn changes everything. Every year, raider tribes flock to Moon Lake in growing numbers, and no one knows why. Theories range from the scarcity of water sources elsewhere in Skatchen to something in the water itself that draws them. The raiders include Thrill Kills from both the town and outside sources, making the seasonal violence a blend of external threat and internal contagion.
Skatown has constructed hidden sniper nests around the lake perimeter and sets traps along the easier paths. The Moon Guard militia uses ranged weapons and pit traps rather than close combat, because meeting the raiders in the open is a fight they cannot win. Despite these defenses, the raider numbers grow each year, and the question facing Skatown is not whether the defenses will hold but how many more autumns they can hold before the numbers become overwhelming. The lake remains round and calm and beautiful. The violence around it is anything but.
Autumn changes everything. Every year, raider tribes flock to Moon Lake in growing numbers, and no one knows why. Theories range from the scarcity of water sources elsewhere in Skatchen to something in the water itself that draws them. The raiders include Thrill Kills from both the town and outside sources, making the seasonal violence a blend of external threat and internal contagion.
Skatown has constructed hidden sniper nests around the lake perimeter and sets traps along the easier paths. The Moon Guard militia uses ranged weapons and pit traps rather than close combat, because meeting the raiders in the open is a fight they cannot win. Despite these defenses, the raider numbers grow each year, and the question facing Skatown is not whether the defenses will hold but how many more autumns they can hold before the numbers become overwhelming. The lake remains round and calm and beautiful. The violence around it is anything but.
Geography
A large lake as round as the moon, located south of Skatown by following the river from South Bridge southward. The fast-paced river feeds the lake from the north. Water sources are scarce across the surrounding Skatchen plains, which may explain the lake's strategic significance. Hidden sniper nests ring the perimeter, constructed by the Moon Guard to defend against the annual autumn raider incursions. Traps line the easier approach paths.
