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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pdzoch" data-source="post: 6884032" data-attributes="member: 80982">The Black BaldricName: The Black Baldric (Tavern sign depicts a white shield with a black diagonal stripe)Description Exterior:  A long grey brick building looks imposing as its entrance is through the door at the base of a square tower in the center of the building. The ground floor is devoid of any windows.  Square windows line the second floor and additional windows are at each end of the building below the steep pitched slate roof. The tower provides a covered entryway to the heavy wooden door decorated with a large iron handle.  Two stools sit in the corners of the tower entryway; burnt and loose tobacco have gathered beneath the stools.Description Interior: The door opens to a stone archway that quickly opens into the tavern. Stone buttresses support several walls, while square wooden beams dot the floorplan to support the upper floors.  The wooden crossbeams in the ceiling support the wooden floor on the second level.  An assortment of tin plates and mugs supported by iron nails decorate the rafters.  Various small painting, mostly rustic scenery, decorate the walls.  Lanterns mounted on the wall and set upon the tables illuminate the round tables filling the room, while mismatched chairs surround the tables. Several barstools sit alongside the short bar to the right, behind while are three tapped casks, and several divided boxes sporting a collection of bottled spirits. Many mugs and delicate glasses hand from the rafter hooks above the bar. A hallway beside the bar presumable leads to a kitchen where serving staff come and go with plates of food.  A black slate marked in chalks announces specials for the day.  A stairway in the hallway leads upstairs. The crowded inn has a cozy feel and is often crowded with hungry and thirsty patrons.Proprietor: Clodomir and his wife Adda run this establishment with their small serving staff (and several cooks).  Clodomir used to work in one of the breweries nearby that supplied this tavern.  When the previous owner put it up for sale, Clodomir and his wife jumped at the opportunity and bought the establishment.  Since then, Clodomir has expanded the wine and ale selection, hired additional cooking staff, and expanded the menu to appeal to the taste of the far traveled guests.  Clodomir runs a fine establishment, but he maintains a tight budget, so he can not afford any mistakes or mishaps. Clodomir has so far had the good fortune of well-behaved patrons, but he always worries about what he will do if a patron or two gets out of hand – Clodomir is not a fighter and is wise enough to know when he will be outmatched (which is often).  Clodomir dreads the day when he may have to hire someone to keep the peace in his tavern.Other details:  The quality of the service, accommodations, and food keep most patrons happy, and the appropriate yet reasonable prices keep most riff raff out of the tavern.  The menu offers a variety of meats, grains, vegetables, fruits, breads and cheeses accommodating all but the exotic tastes.  Several ales are available, including a fine dwarven ale called SaltPick.  Many wines are available, all are good, but none are exceptional. Clodomir may know his ales, but he does not know his wines. He relies on Adda for wine choices, but she admits she is not an expert and just buys what tastes good to her.  The second floor maintains eight semi-private rooms, each with two comfortable beds, a small table and chair, and a wardrobe. Two private rooms are also available, each with a comfortable double bed, full desk and highback chair, and large wardrobe. These rooms each have a window, an oil lantern, and a scenic painting hanging from the wall. Notable Patron: Wandregisel spends most of his evenings here having dinner.  During the day, Wandregisel serves as the high cleric in the local cathedral.  Clodomir suspects that the patrons’ good behavior may be a result of Wandregisel’s presence, so Clodomir discounts Wandregisel’s meal, which Wandregisel gladly accepts as donations to the church.  Wandregisel helps keep an eye on patrons and has been known to help walk a drunk patron or two safely home.  Despite Wandregisel’s elder age, his is still young enough, fit enough, and skilled enough to take care of himself and any challenges that come his way.  Wandregisel spent many years on the trails, adventuring, ministering, and defending. He is not above making special trips to those in need in the countryside, and he has been gone for more than a week on more than one occasion, much to the discomfort of his acolytes.  One suspects that Wandregisel has a special relationship with his deity.Story Hook: 1) A druid/ranger/woodsman in the countryside has been acting erratically lately.  The initial unpredictability, unusual claims, and impulsive actions soon gave way irrational fears, threats and unprovoked attacks. Some claim he has gone insane, but can it be cured before he hurts someone? 2) A local ruin has long hosted a ne’er-do-well band of misfits who occasionally preyed on passersby.  As they were never violent, the locals accepted that they were something to simply be endured.  Lately the band seems to have disappeared only to be replaced by something more fearful.  Locals now report seeing strange shadows moving about the ruins.  Claims of undead run rampant, and local wonder if something unfortunate (though probably deserved) happened to the band of misfits in the ruins.  3) A new church is being built in a nearby town. The pride of the new church is a holy relic secured and mounted to the altar.  However, Wandregisel (or local high priest) suspects that the relic may be a forgery.  He fears that the forgery, if discovered, would discredit the church and the faith.  Wandregisel (or local high priest) would inspect personally, but he does not want to raise suspicions about the relic, especially if it turns out the relic is genuine, nor does he want to offend the new cleric. He is looking for someone to investigate the authenticity of the relic for him as “patrons” of the new church.</blockquote>

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