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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 6353349" data-attributes="member: 20323">Area 1: Esplanade of the Divine AlewivesEsplanade of the Divine AlewivesRunning like a vast indoor market from Ironridge Gate to the Wanderer's Gate, the Esplanade of the Divine Alewives has no equal in the planes. Dwarven ales, brewed by individual family recipes passed down since time immemorial, are offered from market stalls under colored canopies extending from rockcut households and breweries. Impromptu beer gardens spring up in every nook and cranny, alongside merchants trading in superb dwarven arm & armor, gemstones the size of a halfling's head, and stranger goods. Dice and card games, tavern tricks, and skulduggery are common here, though mostly for low stakes.Lining the bounds of the esplanade are astoundingly detailed marble statues of dwarven alewives, supposedly the most devout of dwarven hostesses who unwittingly served Vergadain-in-disguise well receiving this honor as their eternal reward. Under rare circumstances, one of these divine alewives may come to life as a caryatid column to share some wisdom, welcome a relative who has joined the ranks of Vergadain's petitioners, or defend dwarves from intruders. [sblock=art inspiration]<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VSuNIeQNIhQ/TbVvxcvZikI/AAAAAAAABAc/Rvl6jgkGoPE/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /><img src="http://dotd.com/planescape/sab_037_01.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />[/sblock] Besides the sea of dwarves, a traveler may notice dusky metallic-skinned men and women with ridges along their foreheads (rilmani plumarch) trading, pale blue skinned giants haggling over magic items (arcane), human gamblers obsessively rolling dice, or silvery spheres engraved with the vague likeness of a dwarven face zipping thru the air above (translators).All common equipment listed in the Basic D&D rules can be purchased here, as can rarer dwarven goods like the Urgosh or Dwarven Plate. Rarely, a magic item may be offered for trade, such as a Belt of Dwarvenkind or a Flagon of Everflowing Ale, but the prices for such things always transcend gold alone. Ale can be found in copious varieties here, as eveyr family seems to have their own still, nd it's common practice for a visitor to bring a personal tankard to sample the splendid varieties. Dwarven rogues wait on either end of the esplanade to steal from the bubbled up fools after their drinking leaves them easy targets. Among the more well-known brews are:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mossbeard's Ale - A cheap and potent ale looked down upon as a poor dwarf's drink, it is brewed of moss in a family tradition. Recently, however, a bad batch of moss was slipped into the recipe, and this moss was obliviax (memory moss) which causes those who imbibe it to alternately lose memories or gain memories that aren't their own. Degsa Mossbeard is held captive by the psychic power of the moss monster dwelling in her home now, compelling her its secret and to keep brewing.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Eye of the Beholder Stout - Rumored to be distilled from the pressed juice of a beholder's eye, this stout is bitter and dark. Sometimes it bestows the ability to detect magic upon the imbiber, though half the time it has an unpredictable effect, like causing temporary blindness, stripping away Darkvision, or granting a disorienting form of all-around vision. Brewmaster Hürm Stoutmace won't tell his secret, but he does pay well for adventurers to brave Gzemnid's Realm and bring back dead beholders.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gemstone Porter Reserve - On Prime worlds, gem-distilled ale is mythical and if ever found is reserved for only Merchant Prines and Dwarven Lords. This bold ale is made from gems which are eroded with enchanted water over decades, and thus it is exceedingly costly and usually reserved for dwarven proxies and other high-ups, special celebrations, or those with coffers as deep as the Abyss. Only dwarves have any real tolerance for this stuff, other races becoming inebriated with a single pint, and it seems to duplicate the effects of a friends spell, making the imbiber more charismatic and affable. The Brewmasters who make the gemstone porter do so under pseudonyms to protect their identities and their secret.</li> </ul>Alewives' Song-Riddle: Dispersed throughout Strongale Hall are three song-riddles which Vergadain disseminated to warn the dwarves of the coming dangers (and opportunities) of the Rift. One of these song-riddles is held by Divine Alewife Ingrimar, known by the dwarves for her singing voice on those rare times she awakens, though getting her to recite it will require figuring out how to awaken the caryatid column.Ingrimar's song?</blockquote>

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