Location Durak's Tavern

[Limey]

"Yeah, not exactly the best spot in the world for a boozer... but hey, by this point, it's home..." The eponymous owner of Durak's Tavern Every city in Mizahar has emigre populations. Clusters of races foreign to that particular region or settlement who seem to band together against what could be outside pressure. They come with their problems, but always add a wonderful flavor to any civilized society, a diversity that is unusual in such a harsh and unforgiving world. That is, apart from Taloba. Isolated and almost-homicidally suspicious of "barbarians" (meaning, "everyone that's not a Myrian"), there's barely one foreigner in a hundred within the high walls of Myri's capital city. But they are there, from Akalaks to Isurians to Kelvics... and generally, Durak's is where they end up. The man himself is an aged Akalak whose size alone would give a Myrian pause: nearly eight-foot-tall, and built like the proverbial brick outhouse. Fortunately (for him, and the surrounding architecture), he's learned to... temper his Akalak pride among the female-dominated Myrians. For many, many years he has lived in Taloba. He built the Tavern with his own two hands, with Myrians scowling and mocking him the whole time. Then he finished it ahead of schedule, and opened it up to everyone. Downstairs is a small but intimate bar, stocked with all manner of local Myrian concoctions and rare, rare vintages and liqours from across Mizahar (which probably had to run the gauntlet of pirates, bandits, Myrians, Dhani and the jungle to get there, so expect a steep mark-up). Durak is usually there, reading quietly, sipping a brew, serving as bartender, manager and bouncer, all in one. Upstairs are a dozen rooms for rent, and there's just three rules. It's the same as the one for the bar, actually: don't cause trouble, treat the other guests and the Tavern with respect, and pay your debts. NPCs : Durak Skills: Halberd - 80; Brawling - 50; Organization - 55 Most often found in the dining and drinking portion of the Tavern, Durak is the epitome of "firm but fair". He's the former because, nothing for nothing, he's living among Myrians, and more than once has he had to assert himself as a "lesser" male among a whole race of alpha-females. He's the second because he's outnumbered and trying to run a business, which teaches one the benefit of compromise. He may look like a bruiser, but there's a keen and surprisingly detail-oriented mind at work in his skull. Probably because he has to juggle guests and clientele from most of the races in Mizahar, his own Myrian staff and the rigors of maintaining a bar and hotel with "foreign flavor" in a city that is almost-totally self-contained. Rumors abound about how the Akalak came to be in Taloba. Some say he was a sellsword who came to sack the city, then fell in love with a beautiful Myrian warrior, but lost her in a tragic duel. Some say he was a criminal in his own land whose crime so great that only by vanishing into the brutal jungle could he hope to escape. Some even say that he was invited into the city by more progressive Myrians who wanted their race to sample more of the outside world. And some say that some should shut the petch up and stop gossiping like maids at the market. But generally only Durak himself says that. ---------- A trio of brothers serve as Durak's staff in the Tavern, taking care of everything from bedding and cleaning to cooking and deliveries. Their names are Beral, Cukar and Isha, but no-one really knows which is which. They generally enjoy their work, as being among barbarians, they can forget partially that they're the "weaker sex" among their own kind. Durak treats his staff well, too, and any insult or injury done to them will be answered by The Man and his eight-foot halberd. Not that they can't take care of themselves, of course... Menu : Food Riverfall Stew (3gm) Durak's celebrated special, considering he's the only one for a thousand miles that knows how to make it. A combination of beef, deer, peppers and a complex blend of spices, it's usually served over rice and can feed two. Akalak's are big eaters, and Durak doesn't skimp on portions. Eypharian Bread (5gm) A desert dish comprising long, crusty loaf of bread stuffed with olives, white cheese and lamb. Where Durak finds olives in Falyndar, Myri alone knows... Hundir's Lament (2gm) Try to ignore the depressing name, this truly is a rare dish. Taught to Durak by an Isurian, it's slow-roasted pork marinated in snake blood and served on long skewers. The only thing the Isurian didn't explain was the unfortunate name. Sea's Bounty (8gm) An (unsurprisingly) fish recipe from the Suvan Sea, "the bounty" is a medley of shrimp, trout, catfish and oysters served with crackers and a fine wine of Durak's selection. Easily capable of feeding a group for a night or an individual for several. Naturally, Durak's Myrian employees can cook up any local dish requested and there's a lot of a la carte choices for the discerning and picky customer. Drink Ale (weak): 2cm Ale (strong): 2sm Grog (a fearsome and demonic brew distilled from palm leaves): 1gm Wine (choices of red and white): 5sm