Frontier
Dangerous
Poor prices
Half-Drawn Chalk
the tavern with a white line down the middle
You push through a low, swinging door and smell smoke, boiled meat, and the sour edge of wet wool. A streak of chalk runs the length of the wide plank floor — cleanly swept and jealously watched — dividing the room into two sides: blue-clad militiamen on the left, red-clad on the right. Conversation is tight and clipped; laughter stops when someone crosses that groove. Oil lamps hang low, throwing hard-edged pools of light and long shadows. The bar is scarred with notches for bets and blade tests; behind it, the keeper pours ale with an expression that says he has no patience for trouble, but a sharp eye that misses nothing.
A weathered rectangle of oak, split down the center by a hand-carved groove filled with white chalk dust; one half is painted deep blue, the other rust-red. No letters, just a single crossed lance beneath the groove.
Merriok Fenn
Human
Manner
Quirk
Stats
Linekeeper's Cup
4 cpA double-shot of roughhouse ale doused with black pepper and a splash of smoky cider; it steams and leaves a metallic aftertaste. One cup steadies the hands—once after you drink it, you gain advantage on a single Intimidation or Persuasion check while in the tavern but feel slightly sluggish (disadvantage on Dexterity checks) until you sleep.
Poor (5e lifestyle: about 2 sp a day)
Tess · barmaid
A wiry woman who moves faster than the eye and slides drinks to whichever side pays first without appearing to pick favorites.
Old Jurr · cook
A half-blind, scarred man who insists the stew has 'character' and spices it with a pinch of dried mushroom only he knows where to find.
Captain Nerris Holt
Leader of the blue militia, pragmatic and dangerous; he wants a reason to seize the border tower to the north.
Corporal Brand Wisk
A hot-headed sergeant of the red militia who bets money on knife tosses and will jump at a rumor that the river ferry is carrying contraband.
Maela 'Two-Pence' Grun
A fence and information broker who sits near the chalk line and listens; she wants safe passage for a named crate she claims is only 'farm tools.'
1
The old border tower at Keth's Point holds a sealed ledger naming every smuggler who used the river last summer — Maela says someone is offering coin to obtain it.
2
A ferryman named Orin Stone claims a milk crate bound for Redmar village is full of stolen weapons; Corporal Brand has vowed to waylay the next crossing.
3
A newly dug drain under the tavern was opened last week and a small, iron-bound chest was hauled through it toward the river; Merriok paid a visiting clerk named Elsund to catalog its papers before anyone else could see them.
Made with the free LoreKeeper Tavern Generator · Free to use at your table · Licence
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