Jane looked skeptically at the grounds the inn sits on, pausing to rest a bit on the road in front. "Well, I suppose it can't be that rough inside. And it's better than sleeping in a barn, maybe." Her left hand rests on the new helmet tied to her belt. Why she decided to attune to it she still didn't know exactly, but it felt comforting in a way. Would she need it here? She had been in a back country tavern before, but this one... her finger twitches near the knot as she waits to see what the others decide.
"They prolly got some ale in there. Let's go get drunk and pass out. Maybe we can find someone to punch while we're at it." Hoghead goes to take a pull from his flask but comes up empty. He grumbles and shoves it back in his bag. With that, he flings open the door to the in and strides to the bar.
As you open the front doors of the tavern, your eyes are immediately drawn to the expansive wall of windows that make up the seaward-facing side of the building. Ornate iron scroll work frames large panes of crystal clear glass, giving you a near-perfect view of the beauty and the power of the Sea of Swords.
'Benvenuto and willkommen, comrades!' The voice booms out from a Goliath who towers over the room, his head nearly scraping the low ceilings. The volume of and the strangely affected accent of the greeting are overshadowed by the sheer .... well incongruous nature of the greeter. The hulking half-giant stands just over 7 feet tall and must way close to 400 pounds, his wide-spread arms covering almost the full length of the long polished mahogany bar. He is dressed in what appears to be a custom made velvet tuxedo - but one that has seen hard wear, covered in beer stains, small burns from floating ashes and all the insults you would expect to find on the day-to-day uniform of a barkeep.
"I am Breaker himself, and welcome to the world-famous Breakers Bar!' a flourish and an elaborate hand waving welcome, wave, salute. 'Come, come. Sit, eat a bit. You will stay the night, yes? My quiche is not to be missed, the best meal you could want before another day traveling the High Road. Come, come.'
You all are ushered into a large booth along the southern wall - the booth is reserved for honored guests Breaker tells you - and the massive Goliath begins piling pitchers of ale, steaming pots of tea, crusty loaves of bread, hard cheeses, delicate pastries, roast meats and strangely burbling bowls of either sauce or soup on the table without waiting to be asked.
He's a whirlwind of activity, chatting you up and stacking plates and mugs at an alarming speed. 'You've just beat the evening crowd, you are very lucky. We are normally much much busier this time of day. How fortunate you must be.' A quick glance about the tavern shows two other lone travelers, each sitting in their own booths, their tables similarly plied with food.
Hog chugs a pitcher of ale and lets out a sigh. Yeah, Z, guy’s real weird. Then again, look at us. I just wonder what kind of scam he’s running. He thinks this guy is full of it but is trying to figure out if he’s shady or just weird. Insight 8
Celeste snorts awake, lifting her head abruptly from behind Z the moment Hog flings the tavern door open. Her nose raises high, huffing away at the air as she stretches up from her perch on his back. Slowly and groggily she rubs the sleep out of her eyes, opening one at a time as she tries to get used to the lighting. Blue hues then ping wide at the barkeeps sudden booming welcome.
The blonde’s mouth hangs agape as she watches as he greets them. “I want to climb him.” She blurts. “Can I climb him?” He was so big and tall! ”Sir, can I climb you?” His presence and hospitality made her feel safe and welcomed. Then a low soft gasp of awe escapes her. Z could feel her hips wiggle. Celeste’s pupils dilate and her eyes grow even larger as he ushers them to a delightful spread of many of her favourite things. Was she dreaming!? This was almost to good to be true right? The young woman was practically clamouring over the monk at this point to get her hands on some snacks.
Plopping herself comfortably in Z’s lap, Celeste helps herself to sniffing at his bread and cheese between her own choices. “The quiche! Grab the quiche.” Of course she’d make a little pile hoard in front of them. “We staying, yes?” She says between sniffing at and inspecting her picks to line them up with what she wanted to try first and save for last.
Jane lets the featureless mask/helmet stay tied to her belt for now as she moves with the group into the bar. Now that all the food and drinks are loaded onto the table she thinks how hard it probably would have been to try and eat or drink anything with the mask on. Holding up a hand to try and get the goliath's attention she says "Excuse me, this all looks amazing- and I can't wait to try the quiche, for sure- but I have a small question about the payment. Not trying to be rude or anything, but I'm also not trying to rack up a bill I can't pay neither."
Hoghead recognizes Breaker - or at least he recognizes the type. In your years of working the underbelly of the city you've run across folks who tried to 'go straight' and leave their old ways behind them. You also recognize the desperation of a small business owner who's poured their life savings into an enterprise - only to watch it slowly fall apart.
Small clues tip you off - the tuxedo is dirty and tattered from constant wear - but it's a relatively new garment. You notice Breaker's hands - calloused in a way that anyone who makes their living with a sword instantly recognizes.
As the plates and mugs pile up on the table and Celeste cries for quiche, a smile creeps across the goliath's face 'Yes, yes! You all will stay! I have three beautiful rooms looking out over the Sea' another big sweeping arm gesture indicating the magnificant view out over the water. 'Quiche in the morning. Fresh eggs, lovely vegetables, herbs from my own garden. You'll be thrilled'
Three keys are plopped on the table as Breaker turns to greet another group of weary travelers entering the bar - maybe you have beat the nightly rush after all.
'We are a ..ummmm... it's ah ummmm...' you can virtually see the wheels turning deep somewhere behind his eyes 'We ummm....it's all one price! It's all together! We ummm.... it's a pay what you want....'
As the half-giant continues to fumble about in an attempt to answer your question - and ask for money - a small, young gnome clambers up from behind the bar and speaks up in a clear, feminine voice 'What Breaker is trying to say, is it's an all-inclusive concept with a suggested charge of 2 gp per night, per person! That includes dinner tonight, the house ale, house wine and of course, our world-famous quiche for breakfast in the morning.'
The chipper young gnome has her hair pulled back in a business-li bun, covered in turn by a practical scarf, wrapping it up and keeping it out of the way. Her cheeks are ruddy - whether from exertion or something else you're unsure. Her hands are covered in massive, oversized leather gloves that match an equally sturdy leather apron - the leather is in good repair, but has noticeable scorch marks and signs of hard use.
'You all are welcome to pay more of course! We happily take tips for our extraordinary service!'
Going over to the gnome he places 30 gp on the bar. "This should cover everything for.my group then?" Looking up at the Goliath. " it's OK I sort of sprung that question on you from out of the blue. My apologies"
The gnome practically beams with delight. Her face is lit from ear to ear with a wide toothy grin 'We certainly do appreciate your patronage! You all let us know if you need anything at all during your stay here - anything, really!'
Breaker looks thoroughly confused by the interchange - but begins smiling when the diminutive figure behind the bar does. 'The best rooms - we've reserved our absolute best rooms for you all! Come, come I'll show you to them!' The massive, lumbering behemoth clamps a meaty hand on Z's shoulder and practically shoves him up the stairs. You get to the top, turn a corner and see a long hallway with two sets of double doors at the end. The goliath's long legs make quick work of the hallway and he throws open the first set of doors.
The sight is remarkable. A lavish sitting parlor with overstuffed couches, leather club chairs and a long low table are arranged to allow guest to drink in the panoramic view of the Sea of Swords. This room appears to be built out from the rest of the establishment, literally hanging out over the rock face to provide an unobstructed view. Two equally lavish bedrooms frame the room - one to your left and one to your right.
Breaker babbles the entire time, recounting the provenance of the furniture, pointing out the fully stocked bar and array of fresh pastries on the sideboard before turning you back into the hallway towards the other set of double doors. Swinging those open you see the twin of the suite you were just in - same massive windows, another two bedrooms on either side of an impossibly large parlor.
'I'm afraid we don't have private baths or privies in these yet, Alicia is still working on the last little bits - but these 're the best of the best rooms we've got they 're'. Breaker is bursting with pride, clearly waiting for you to be impressed by the rooms, their furnishings and the view.
Hoghead hangs back to speak with the gnome after everyone is settled into the suites. He reaches out to shake the gnomes and slips a platinum into it. To the gnome, "You've got a weird little place here. I like it. I'm hoping you can do me a favor. I'd like access to your kitchen and larder after everyone leaves. I'm not going to try to find any shadiness. I know it's tough running a business and however you are making ends meet is none of my concern. I can tell that the big guy over there is working on a bit of a reinvention of himself. I've been doing some of the same for a while now. When I was at my lowest, a man names Grandol offered me a job washing dishes in his pub in Korvosa. He let me sleep in the basement. Over time, he taught me how to cook and how to pour my feelings into the food. I just need to watch out so it doesn't taste bitter!" Hoghead explodes with a barking laugh that turns into a cough. "I have no doubt that you guys do good food here but I'd really like to get in the kitchen and cook a breakfast meal for my... friends." He pauses briefly and says the last word softly, almost like he's embarrassed. Just as quickly, he snaps back and says with a smile, "Like I said, I'd appreciate a favor. I've found that favors can often be worth more than gold."
Rantel has had his nose in a book the entire day that culminates with the arrival at Breaker’s Bar. He nods and grunts perfunctorily as the conversation and presentation and meal unfolds, though the timing is off. It’s clear the wizard is not fully paying attention. Though he does eat plenty, and stows some for later. He barely takes in the view when led upstairs. (He moves Locate Object and Sleep to his spellbook, using 150gp worth of paper and ink he got in town.)
The gnome looks apprehensive as Hoghead approaches, but quickly softens as she realizes what the strange-looking dwarf wants. 'Oh, oh...why yes, of course. We'd be happy to have you..it's just ummm..well, here, let me show you.'
She opens a small door behind the bar - a door so small in fact you hadn't noticed it until she reached over to grab the handle. Pulling it open she waves to you to follow her back into the kitchen area. As you duck your head to get through the door, squeezing your broad frame through the gnome-sized doorway you see a strange room full of whirring gears, pulleys, pots and pans being moved by mechanical arms, steam blasting clean dirty dishes, and a conveyor belt pushing plated meals out towards the bar.
'You see, it's not really a kitchen in a traditional sense - but it's ummmm....well it's how Breaker and I can run this place the way we do. It's really quite simple actually, Breaker and I found some ..' she stops abruptly and looks back up at you. 'I don't want to bore you with all the silly details. We do have a small stove over here left over from the previous owners' she gestures to an old wood-fired stove near the roadside wall of the tavern. 'And the pantry has literally any ingredient you could possibly need' this time gesturing to a strange-looking metal box with a door on the front 'You simply ask it for what you want, then open the door and it's there!'
Looking back up at you she smiles 'You guys seem nice, and we've got nothing shady going on back here. Not saying we've got nothing to hide, but we're straight, Breaker and I. This is all ours and we're making a go at ... well a normal life. He's had it hard. Real hard. I mean you seen 'im - can you imagine what's it like growing up like that? Tiny compared to his brothers and the rest of his tribe, but a hulking giant everywhere else he goes.' She smiles at a memory 'He's a good one, he is. Saved me. Pulled me out and..well - you don't care about our silly story - but suffice it to say, he did what was right even when it was hard and that counts a lot in my book.'
She shows you around the space, pointing out what to avoid and how to use the handful of implements you might want to take advantage of. She does it with the enthusiasm of a parent showing off their children, the pride radiating off her tiny form the entire time. Once she's sure you know where everything is she assures you that coming in to the kitchen any time of the night will be fine and then shifts back over to helping Breaker run the tavern.
Re-emerging through the small Gnome-door you see the tavern has indeed picked up - the evening rush Breaker promised is in full swing. You see two larger groups - 5-6 in each sitting at booths, obviously travelers from their dirt and mud-encrusted boots and cloaks. The remainder of the tables are taken up by small groups of singles and doubles eating and drinking in relative quiet.
Once in the room Z gives Breaker a pat on the back. "This iss excellent. And the view is just absolutely wonderful. You are truly building something worthy of visiting and I shall spread the word of this place"
Hoghead follows the gnome back out into the tavern. "This may not mean much but I'm proud of you and the big guy for what you have done here. Actually gives me hope that we can leave things in the past and start over."
Hoghead hangs out with the group drinking and eating until everyone goes off to bed. He will then crawl back through the door into the kitchen. He moves over to the "magic box" and asks, "Can I please have five pounds of pork shoulder?" He waits a second and opens the door to find a top quality pork shoulder that is trimmed well. He carefully lifts it and smells it. It's very fresh. "OK, I'm going to need some fennel, garlic, onion, smoked paprika" He opens the door and it's all sitting there. A broad smile crosses the dwarf's face. "Now I need an enchanted warhammer that causes lightning damage." He waits a moment and opens the door again. Nothing. Hoghead chuckles to himself.
All through the night, the dwarf works. He tests the box some more and finds that he can ask it for, not just ingredients, but actual food. He ends up eating an entire cake by himself as he works. It's delicious but he doesn't want to cheat. Anything he serves will be made with his hands.
In the morning, when everyone wakes and comes down, the table is set with a large spread of food. There are tarts with lemon creme and raspberries, 3 kinds of sausages and potatoes, a tray of smoked fishes with capers and creme fraiche, beautiful thick cut bacon that smells of maple and pepper, a bowl of fresh berries topped with a sauce that is rich and creamy but not normal whipped cream, it tastes of fortified wine and is much lighter that whipped cream. There are also scrambled, poached, and boiled eggs. It's all delicious.
Hoghead looks nervous and exhausted but also proud as he watches his companions come in for the meal he poured his heart into.
Jane comes down fairly early and is surprised to see Hoghead setting out the breakfast. "Well, this sure does rival dinner last night. Did you get any sleep at all? It looks delicious!"
While Z, and any others, leave to go for a tour of the facility, this means Celeste is left pretty much unsupervised. "So, that wasn't a no..." She says mostly to herself when the charming goliath doesn't answer her question. He was much too busy engaged with sharing his story. She proceeds to stuff her pockets with to-go snacks, and bites into one to free her hands. Then when the moment was right, she'd slink and then pounce to cling onto the goliath's back. He'd be able to feel the reverberation as if she were purring, and her nuzzling at his neck or cheek a bit affectionately.
Should Breaker allow her to maintain her perch, Celeste would be along for the ride, hanging onto his every word, and very interested in his usual tasks about the place. She'd of course snack as she'd observe, brushing away any crumbs or dirt from his shoulder or head when appropriate. He was a generous host! This made the young woman extra considerate, it did.
"Is there anything we can help you with?" Celeste asks Beaker with a mouth full of food, from his shoulders. She'd pick a spat crumb off him and flick it. Each time he'd feel her groom him in some way, he could feel some old stains get lifted from his attire. A spectral hand would even manifest from time to time to assist him with things at any point along her ride. Whether that be serving, moving, stacking of dishes etc. Anything she could 'lend a hand' with, almost a bit inconspicuously, yet intuitively.
Celeste would have literally kept herself attached to Breaker for as long as acceptable. She'd even fall asleep at her new perch, be carried around, and eventually could be passed on to someone else, or placed in her own bed if his privacy and personal space was preferred at that point. Soft purring, low whistling snores would come from her.
Having slept with a full belly, in the comfort of safety, and surrounded by good company, Celeste would wake bright-eyed and bushy tailed as usual. Of course, at the sight of the morning spread, lovingly prepared by Hog, the young woman's eyes ping as wide as ever. "Am I still dreaming?" She blinks, then rubs the sleep out of her eyes. "I feel so spoiled!" She chimes, tossing her hands into the air and making it rain a rainbow of (edible) flower petals. "Thank you!" Celeste blushes as she bounces over to Hog with excitement, planting a kiss on his forehead. She then scampers off to the food.
Hovering over the amazing buffet, Celeste hums happily, mews and coos as she makes her selections. She nods enthusiastically in agreement to Jane's words.
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just an unstable unicorn.
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Zerxius looking at the road ahead. "Well if this is indeed the last inn maybe we should make use of it and forgo camping for at least one more night"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Jane looked skeptically at the grounds the inn sits on, pausing to rest a bit on the road in front. "Well, I suppose it can't be that rough inside. And it's better than sleeping in a barn, maybe." Her left hand rests on the new helmet tied to her belt. Why she decided to attune to it she still didn't know exactly, but it felt comforting in a way. Would she need it here? She had been in a back country tavern before, but this one... her finger twitches near the knot as she waits to see what the others decide.
"They prolly got some ale in there. Let's go get drunk and pass out. Maybe we can find someone to punch while we're at it." Hoghead goes to take a pull from his flask but comes up empty. He grumbles and shoves it back in his bag. With that, he flings open the door to the in and strides to the bar.
As you open the front doors of the tavern, your eyes are immediately drawn to the expansive wall of windows that make up the seaward-facing side of the building. Ornate iron scroll work frames large panes of crystal clear glass, giving you a near-perfect view of the beauty and the power of the Sea of Swords.
'Benvenuto and willkommen, comrades!' The voice booms out from a Goliath who towers over the room, his head nearly scraping the low ceilings. The volume of and the strangely affected accent of the greeting are overshadowed by the sheer .... well incongruous nature of the greeter. The hulking half-giant stands just over 7 feet tall and must way close to 400 pounds, his wide-spread arms covering almost the full length of the long polished mahogany bar. He is dressed in what appears to be a custom made velvet tuxedo - but one that has seen hard wear, covered in beer stains, small burns from floating ashes and all the insults you would expect to find on the day-to-day uniform of a barkeep.
"I am Breaker himself, and welcome to the world-famous Breakers Bar!' a flourish and an elaborate hand waving welcome, wave, salute. 'Come, come. Sit, eat a bit. You will stay the night, yes? My quiche is not to be missed, the best meal you could want before another day traveling the High Road. Come, come.'
You all are ushered into a large booth along the southern wall - the booth is reserved for honored guests Breaker tells you - and the massive Goliath begins piling pitchers of ale, steaming pots of tea, crusty loaves of bread, hard cheeses, delicate pastries, roast meats and strangely burbling bowls of either sauce or soup on the table without waiting to be asked.
He's a whirlwind of activity, chatting you up and stacking plates and mugs at an alarming speed. 'You've just beat the evening crowd, you are very lucky. We are normally much much busier this time of day. How fortunate you must be.' A quick glance about the tavern shows two other lone travelers, each sitting in their own booths, their tables similarly plied with food.
Zerxius helps himself to some bread and cheese and some tea
"He seems to be an interesting fellow" indicating the Goliath
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Hog chugs a pitcher of ale and lets out a sigh. Yeah, Z, guy’s real weird. Then again, look at us. I just wonder what kind of scam he’s running. He thinks this guy is full of it but is trying to figure out if he’s shady or just weird. Insight 8
Celeste snorts awake, lifting her head abruptly from behind Z the moment Hog flings the tavern door open. Her nose raises high, huffing away at the air as she stretches up from her perch on his back. Slowly and groggily she rubs the sleep out of her eyes, opening one at a time as she tries to get used to the lighting. Blue hues then ping wide at the barkeeps sudden booming welcome.
The blonde’s mouth hangs agape as she watches as he greets them. “I want to climb him.” She blurts. “Can I climb him?” He was so big and tall! ”Sir, can I climb you?” His presence and hospitality made her feel safe and welcomed. Then a low soft gasp of awe escapes her. Z could feel her hips wiggle. Celeste’s pupils dilate and her eyes grow even larger as he ushers them to a delightful spread of many of her favourite things. Was she dreaming!? This was almost to good to be true right? The young woman was practically clamouring over the monk at this point to get her hands on some snacks.
Plopping herself comfortably in Z’s lap, Celeste helps herself to sniffing at his bread and cheese between her own choices. “The quiche! Grab the quiche.” Of course she’d make a little pile hoard in front of them. “We staying, yes?” She says between sniffing at and inspecting her picks to line them up with what she wanted to try first and save for last.
just an unstable unicorn.
Jane lets the featureless mask/helmet stay tied to her belt for now as she moves with the group into the bar. Now that all the food and drinks are loaded onto the table she thinks how hard it probably would have been to try and eat or drink anything with the mask on. Holding up a hand to try and get the goliath's attention she says "Excuse me, this all looks amazing- and I can't wait to try the quiche, for sure- but I have a small question about the payment. Not trying to be rude or anything, but I'm also not trying to rack up a bill I can't pay neither."
Hoghead recognizes Breaker - or at least he recognizes the type. In your years of working the underbelly of the city you've run across folks who tried to 'go straight' and leave their old ways behind them. You also recognize the desperation of a small business owner who's poured their life savings into an enterprise - only to watch it slowly fall apart.
Small clues tip you off - the tuxedo is dirty and tattered from constant wear - but it's a relatively new garment. You notice Breaker's hands - calloused in a way that anyone who makes their living with a sword instantly recognizes.
As the plates and mugs pile up on the table and Celeste cries for quiche, a smile creeps across the goliath's face 'Yes, yes! You all will stay! I have three beautiful rooms looking out over the Sea' another big sweeping arm gesture indicating the magnificant view out over the water. 'Quiche in the morning. Fresh eggs, lovely vegetables, herbs from my own garden. You'll be thrilled'
Three keys are plopped on the table as Breaker turns to greet another group of weary travelers entering the bar - maybe you have beat the nightly rush after all.
Zerxius gets up and goes.to the Goliath(away from the group)
"How.much for the spread and the rooms?
Laissez les bons temps rouler
'We are a ..ummmm... it's ah ummmm...' you can virtually see the wheels turning deep somewhere behind his eyes 'We ummm....it's all one price! It's all together! We ummm.... it's a pay what you want....'
As the half-giant continues to fumble about in an attempt to answer your question - and ask for money - a small, young gnome clambers up from behind the bar and speaks up in a clear, feminine voice 'What Breaker is trying to say, is it's an all-inclusive concept with a suggested charge of 2 gp per night, per person! That includes dinner tonight, the house ale, house wine and of course, our world-famous quiche for breakfast in the morning.'
The chipper young gnome has her hair pulled back in a business-li bun, covered in turn by a practical scarf, wrapping it up and keeping it out of the way. Her cheeks are ruddy - whether from exertion or something else you're unsure. Her hands are covered in massive, oversized leather gloves that match an equally sturdy leather apron - the leather is in good repair, but has noticeable scorch marks and signs of hard use.
'You all are welcome to pay more of course! We happily take tips for our extraordinary service!'
Going over to the gnome he places 30 gp on the bar. "This should cover everything for.my group then?" Looking up at the Goliath. " it's OK I sort of sprung that question on you from out of the blue. My apologies"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
The gnome practically beams with delight. Her face is lit from ear to ear with a wide toothy grin 'We certainly do appreciate your patronage! You all let us know if you need anything at all during your stay here - anything, really!'
Breaker looks thoroughly confused by the interchange - but begins smiling when the diminutive figure behind the bar does. 'The best rooms - we've reserved our absolute best rooms for you all! Come, come I'll show you to them!' The massive, lumbering behemoth clamps a meaty hand on Z's shoulder and practically shoves him up the stairs. You get to the top, turn a corner and see a long hallway with two sets of double doors at the end. The goliath's long legs make quick work of the hallway and he throws open the first set of doors.
The sight is remarkable. A lavish sitting parlor with overstuffed couches, leather club chairs and a long low table are arranged to allow guest to drink in the panoramic view of the Sea of Swords. This room appears to be built out from the rest of the establishment, literally hanging out over the rock face to provide an unobstructed view. Two equally lavish bedrooms frame the room - one to your left and one to your right.
Breaker babbles the entire time, recounting the provenance of the furniture, pointing out the fully stocked bar and array of fresh pastries on the sideboard before turning you back into the hallway towards the other set of double doors. Swinging those open you see the twin of the suite you were just in - same massive windows, another two bedrooms on either side of an impossibly large parlor.
'I'm afraid we don't have private baths or privies in these yet, Alicia is still working on the last little bits - but these 're the best of the best rooms we've got they 're'. Breaker is bursting with pride, clearly waiting for you to be impressed by the rooms, their furnishings and the view.
Hoghead hangs back to speak with the gnome after everyone is settled into the suites. He reaches out to shake the gnomes and slips a platinum into it. To the gnome, "You've got a weird little place here. I like it. I'm hoping you can do me a favor. I'd like access to your kitchen and larder after everyone leaves. I'm not going to try to find any shadiness. I know it's tough running a business and however you are making ends meet is none of my concern. I can tell that the big guy over there is working on a bit of a reinvention of himself. I've been doing some of the same for a while now. When I was at my lowest, a man names Grandol offered me a job washing dishes in his pub in Korvosa. He let me sleep in the basement. Over time, he taught me how to cook and how to pour my feelings into the food. I just need to watch out so it doesn't taste bitter!" Hoghead explodes with a barking laugh that turns into a cough. "I have no doubt that you guys do good food here but I'd really like to get in the kitchen and cook a breakfast meal for my... friends." He pauses briefly and says the last word softly, almost like he's embarrassed. Just as quickly, he snaps back and says with a smile, "Like I said, I'd appreciate a favor. I've found that favors can often be worth more than gold."
Rantel has had his nose in a book the entire day that culminates with the arrival at Breaker’s Bar. He nods and grunts perfunctorily as the conversation and presentation and meal unfolds, though the timing is off. It’s clear the wizard is not fully paying attention. Though he does eat plenty, and stows some for later. He barely takes in the view when led upstairs. (He moves Locate Object and Sleep to his spellbook, using 150gp worth of paper and ink he got in town.)
The gnome looks apprehensive as Hoghead approaches, but quickly softens as she realizes what the strange-looking dwarf wants. 'Oh, oh...why yes, of course. We'd be happy to have you..it's just ummm..well, here, let me show you.'
She opens a small door behind the bar - a door so small in fact you hadn't noticed it until she reached over to grab the handle. Pulling it open she waves to you to follow her back into the kitchen area. As you duck your head to get through the door, squeezing your broad frame through the gnome-sized doorway you see a strange room full of whirring gears, pulleys, pots and pans being moved by mechanical arms, steam blasting clean dirty dishes, and a conveyor belt pushing plated meals out towards the bar.
'You see, it's not really a kitchen in a traditional sense - but it's ummmm....well it's how Breaker and I can run this place the way we do. It's really quite simple actually, Breaker and I found some ..' she stops abruptly and looks back up at you. 'I don't want to bore you with all the silly details. We do have a small stove over here left over from the previous owners' she gestures to an old wood-fired stove near the roadside wall of the tavern. 'And the pantry has literally any ingredient you could possibly need' this time gesturing to a strange-looking metal box with a door on the front 'You simply ask it for what you want, then open the door and it's there!'
Looking back up at you she smiles 'You guys seem nice, and we've got nothing shady going on back here. Not saying we've got nothing to hide, but we're straight, Breaker and I. This is all ours and we're making a go at ... well a normal life. He's had it hard. Real hard. I mean you seen 'im - can you imagine what's it like growing up like that? Tiny compared to his brothers and the rest of his tribe, but a hulking giant everywhere else he goes.' She smiles at a memory 'He's a good one, he is. Saved me. Pulled me out and..well - you don't care about our silly story - but suffice it to say, he did what was right even when it was hard and that counts a lot in my book.'
She shows you around the space, pointing out what to avoid and how to use the handful of implements you might want to take advantage of. She does it with the enthusiasm of a parent showing off their children, the pride radiating off her tiny form the entire time. Once she's sure you know where everything is she assures you that coming in to the kitchen any time of the night will be fine and then shifts back over to helping Breaker run the tavern.
Re-emerging through the small Gnome-door you see the tavern has indeed picked up - the evening rush Breaker promised is in full swing. You see two larger groups - 5-6 in each sitting at booths, obviously travelers from their dirt and mud-encrusted boots and cloaks. The remainder of the tables are taken up by small groups of singles and doubles eating and drinking in relative quiet.
Once in the room Z gives Breaker a pat on the back. "This iss excellent. And the view is just absolutely wonderful. You are truly building something worthy of visiting and I shall spread the word of this place"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Hoghead follows the gnome back out into the tavern. "This may not mean much but I'm proud of you and the big guy for what you have done here. Actually gives me hope that we can leave things in the past and start over."
Hoghead hangs out with the group drinking and eating until everyone goes off to bed. He will then crawl back through the door into the kitchen. He moves over to the "magic box" and asks, "Can I please have five pounds of pork shoulder?" He waits a second and opens the door to find a top quality pork shoulder that is trimmed well. He carefully lifts it and smells it. It's very fresh. "OK, I'm going to need some fennel, garlic, onion, smoked paprika" He opens the door and it's all sitting there. A broad smile crosses the dwarf's face. "Now I need an enchanted warhammer that causes lightning damage." He waits a moment and opens the door again. Nothing. Hoghead chuckles to himself.
All through the night, the dwarf works. He tests the box some more and finds that he can ask it for, not just ingredients, but actual food. He ends up eating an entire cake by himself as he works. It's delicious but he doesn't want to cheat. Anything he serves will be made with his hands.
In the morning, when everyone wakes and comes down, the table is set with a large spread of food. There are tarts with lemon creme and raspberries, 3 kinds of sausages and potatoes, a tray of smoked fishes with capers and creme fraiche, beautiful thick cut bacon that smells of maple and pepper, a bowl of fresh berries topped with a sauce that is rich and creamy but not normal whipped cream, it tastes of fortified wine and is much lighter that whipped cream. There are also scrambled, poached, and boiled eggs. It's all delicious.
Hoghead looks nervous and exhausted but also proud as he watches his companions come in for the meal he poured his heart into.
Jane comes down fairly early and is surprised to see Hoghead setting out the breakfast. "Well, this sure does rival dinner last night. Did you get any sleep at all? It looks delicious!"
While Z, and any others, leave to go for a tour of the facility, this means Celeste is left pretty much unsupervised. "So, that wasn't a no..." She says mostly to herself when the charming goliath doesn't answer her question. He was much too busy engaged with sharing his story. She proceeds to stuff her pockets with to-go snacks, and bites into one to free her hands. Then when the moment was right, she'd slink and then pounce to cling onto the goliath's back. He'd be able to feel the reverberation as if she were purring, and her nuzzling at his neck or cheek a bit affectionately.
Should Breaker allow her to maintain her perch, Celeste would be along for the ride, hanging onto his every word, and very interested in his usual tasks about the place. She'd of course snack as she'd observe, brushing away any crumbs or dirt from his shoulder or head when appropriate. He was a generous host! This made the young woman extra considerate, it did.
"Is there anything we can help you with?" Celeste asks Beaker with a mouth full of food, from his shoulders. She'd pick a spat crumb off him and flick it. Each time he'd feel her groom him in some way, he could feel some old stains get lifted from his attire. A spectral hand would even manifest from time to time to assist him with things at any point along her ride. Whether that be serving, moving, stacking of dishes etc. Anything she could 'lend a hand' with, almost a bit inconspicuously, yet intuitively.
Celeste would have literally kept herself attached to Breaker for as long as acceptable. She'd even fall asleep at her new perch, be carried around, and eventually could be passed on to someone else, or placed in her own bed if his privacy and personal space was preferred at that point. Soft purring, low whistling snores would come from her.
Having slept with a full belly, in the comfort of safety, and surrounded by good company, Celeste would wake bright-eyed and bushy tailed as usual. Of course, at the sight of the morning spread, lovingly prepared by Hog, the young woman's eyes ping as wide as ever. "Am I still dreaming?" She blinks, then rubs the sleep out of her eyes. "I feel so spoiled!" She chimes, tossing her hands into the air and making it rain a rainbow of (edible) flower petals. "Thank you!" Celeste blushes as she bounces over to Hog with excitement, planting a kiss on his forehead. She then scampers off to the food.
Hovering over the amazing buffet, Celeste hums happily, mews and coos as she makes her selections. She nods enthusiastically in agreement to Jane's words.
just an unstable unicorn.