The tavernkeeper asks:
“What can I get you folks?”
“[N] stouts.”
“Some information!”
“Beer for everybody!”
The tavernkeeper fills some tankards with the beer you ordered and puts it down in front of you with a hearty “Cheers!”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks, and uhm…”
The tavernkeeper doesn’t give you another look but turns to the other customers at the bar. Every now and then, he shoots you an inquiring, but guarded, look. Some time later he returns: “Same again?”
The tavernkeeper doesn’t wait for an answer. He’s already back at the far end of the bar, filling tankards. Shortly afterwards, there’s a fresh tankard of beer in front of each of you.
“Yes, please!”
“Yes, and…”
“Yes, but this time for everybody in the house!”
You wait.
“Hey, another stout!” you shout.
“Hold your horses, I’m coming.”
a short time later there’s a fresh mug of stout in front of each of you.
“Wait a moment, let’s talk.”
Before [NAME] has so much as got a word out, the tavernkeeper is gone again. You drink your beer.
“Tavernkeeper, beer for everybody!”
Right away, the other guests perk up.
“Hey, weren’t you listening? Those travelers just bought a round!” someone calls. Immediately, the tavernkeeper comes up and gestures to the waitress, who starts filling up the tankards.
“That’ll be [N] bits, then.” the tavernkeeper says.
“Ooh! That much? Hmm…make it just the [N] stouts.”
“Don’t worry, here’s your money.”
“Plus one for yourself, good fellow.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate paying customers like yourselves!”
the tavernkeeper pockets the money, raises a tankard and shouts:
“All hail the honorable benefactors!” the other customers join in, and those around you pat you on your backs and tap tankards with you.
“Well I never! First a big announcement and then they back out!”
suddenly, the tavern is quiet. All the customers are looking at you. The grim faces of those surrounding you bode ill indeed.
do you
Get out while you still can?
Try to talk your way out of it?
“Get them!” somebody cries.
“Ye’re in for it now, ya bleedin’ vagabonds!” you hear from another corner. Some of the customers try to block your way, but you manage to get out with no more than a few bruises.
That won’t help you now! Slowly, the atmosphere gets more and more violent, the tension building as each moment passes. Some of the customers are rolling up their sleeves, others are coming at you snorting and swearing. You just manage to get out beneath a violent hail of blows.
Pay the amount after all?
“Right! That’s more like it.” one of the other customers says. The tavernkeeper pockets the money.
“Cheers then!” he breaks the silence.
The other customers lift their tankards to tap them with yours’.
“Hail the providers!” one of them calls out, and the others join in.
The tavernkeeper knocks on the bar with an empty wooden mug.
“Has everybody heard that? The travelers here are buying a round for everyone!” the waitress immediately runs behind the bar to fill up tankards and mugs.
“That’ll be [N] bits then,” the tavernkeeper tells you.
A short while later, some freshly filled tankards are standing in front of you.
The tavernkeeper gets you the beer you ordered.
“Was there something else…?”
“No, no. Everything’s fine.”
“Yes, you know your way around here, don’t you?”
“I must have misunderstood then, beg pardon!” the tavernkeeper goes back to the far end of the bar to talk to one of his customers.
“Why, of course. What would you like to know?”
“Oh, nothing in particular.”
“Do you happen to know [NAME]?”
“Well, I know a lot of stuff.
for instance, [NAME]
but I don’t know whether that’s any help to you, of course?!”
“Yes, it is!”
“Hmm… no, not much use to us, I’m afraid.”
“Well, I’m glad I could help,” the tavernkeeper says and turns away.
“I might be able to help you out with some other information,” the tavernkeeper says, “But I have to take care of my other customers first…”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more of a help,” the tavernkeeper says and turns his attention to another customer about to order a tankard of ale.
“Well, let’s see:
[NAME]
what else might interest you?… ah, yes!
[NAME]
I’d say, that’s about all I know that might interest you.” he shrugs his shoulders and points to the far end of the bar.
“Besides, I’m wanted by my regulars’, as you can see for yourselves!”
hastily he disappears to fill an order.
Not long afterwards, there’s a freshly filled tankard of stout in front of each of you.
“Maybe later,” the tavernkeeper says.
“As you can see for yourselves, I’m very busy right now, excuse me…” he can’t finish his sentence as someone on the far end of the bar shouts: “Any chance of another porter, or have you run dry, mate?”
The tavernkeeper is obviously fully occupied with serving beer to his customers and has no time to talk to you.
The tavernkeeper, who had already turned to leave, stops and comes back. He looks at you quizzically. “Anything else?”
“How about some nice beer first?”
“That’s what I like - no beating about the bush!” the tavernkeeper smiles and leaves to fill [N] tankards, after a while he returns to put them on the bar in front of you.
“Here, have these first! On the house.”
“No, no, we’re not thirsty!”
“Why, sure!”
“Just us?! I’m sure, the others are thirsty, too!”
A short time later, the stouts you ordered are standing on the bar in front of you.
“Now, what do you want to know?”
A short time later, the stouts you ordered are standing on the bar in front of you.
“I’d like to help you, but I’ve got my hands full the way it is at the moment. Maybe you want to come back later, when there’s less of a crowd?” with that, he’s gone again.
“What do you want here then?” the tavernkeeper turns away to wait on some other customers.
After a while he’s back.
“Well, did you change your mind?”
“About what?”
“Yes, yes, we’ll have [N] stouts.”
A short time later, the stouts you ordered are standing on the bar in front of you.
“All right, if you want it that way! Get out of my tavern, and don’t show your faces around here again!” some of the customers are looking over at you and frowning.
do you
Wait and see what happens.
The tavernkeeper and some of his regulars get hold of you and kick you out.
“Sure, [NAME].” a customer is waving his empty tankard at the bar.
“…uhm, excuse me, I’m wanted over there.” with that, the tavernkeeper goes away to take care of his other customers. You drink your stout.
“That name doesn’t ring a bell, but maybe I can help you some other way?”
“Thanks, but that’s all we wanted to know.”
“All right! Sorry, I couldn’t help you.” he turns away, shrugging his shoulders, and starts filling up some tankards.
The tavernkeeper shrugs his shoulders. Before [NAME] can ask another question, he has turned away to wait on some other customers.
After you’ve all taken a good long swig, the tavernkeeper looks at you quizzically.
“Now… what do you want to know?”
The tavernkeeper comes up to you with [N] tankards.
“I’ll have some time for you in a moment. Just hold on.”
you drink your beer and wait…
About half an hour later, the tavernkeeper is back.
“Now - you wanted to ask me something?”
After you’ve been standing by the bar for quite a while, the tavernkeeper finally comes over.
“Stout?”
“Yes, and we wanted to talk to you…”
Some time later, your tankards are empty.
“Hey, we wanted to talk…”
The tavernkeeper disappears and returns soon with [N] tankards.
“Sorry, but you’ll have to wait - you can see for yourselves how busy I am. Come back later.”
“But we haven’t got all day!”
“All right, we’ll wait.”
Your patience is not rewarded. The tavernkeeper really is extremely busy. Maybe you should try again later when there’s less of a crowd.
“Well, I can’t help you, then - you’ll just have to go somewhere else!” the tavernkeeper disappears. Looks like you’ll have to make do with your stout for now.
The tavernkeeper brings up [N] tankards.
“We talked just a while ago. Can’t you see I’m busy?” faster than you can reply, he’s back at the far end of the bar.
Immediately, the tavernkeeper is back.
“Stout, is it?”
The tavernkeeper puts a full tankard of stout down for each if you.
“Now what? Have you thought of something else?”
“Well, maybe you know some more…”
“Could be, what about?”
A short time later, there’s a full tankard of stout for each of you.
The tavernkeeper disappears and returns with [N] tankards.
“You had a question?”
“Sure! What do you want to know?”
“Possibly, but I’m busy!” the tavernkeeper says and turns to another customer at the bar.
You check your purses and note that the few coppers you have left won’t buy another round.
you’re forced to leave the tavern!
You pay for your beer and leave.
As you leave the tavern, the keeper bids you a safe journey home.
[NAME] seems to have had one too many. Walking a straight line is quite a task for [NAME], and [NAME] stomach is distinctly queasy.
“What do you want! Being thrown out once wasn’t enough for you, was it?” some of the regulars gather at the door to help the tavernkeeper. Before you know what’s going on, you’re back on the street.
You enter the tavern. There aren’t many customers around. The tavernkeeper looks over at you, then turns back to sorting his tankards, mugs and tumblers. You sit down.
The tavern is well frequented. There are only a few stools empty at the bar. The tavernkeeper is busy serving his customers. You sit down.
After closing the door you have trouble getting any further. The tavern is bursting at the seams with people. You hear loud talking and the sound of tankards tapping from various corners. It’s quite muggy and uncomfortable. The tavernkeeper can hardly keep up with the orders of the customers at the bar. Since there is no stool available, you stand up by the bar.
The tavernkeeper calls for last orders. Most customers empty their tankards and get ready to leave. Some order a final beer.
do you
Leave?
Order one last stout?
The tavernkeeper brings you another stout. After emptying your tankards, it is time to leave. The tavernkeeper is starting to get impatient.
There is nothing much happening. During the last hour, a single customer turned up and sat down at the bar.
do you
The place is filling up. [N] [NAME] just came and sat down at the bar. The tavernkeeper has better things to do than sort tankards now, and is busy serving customers.
do you
More and more customers leave the tavern. You look around and see that there are only a few customers left at the tables. The tavernkeeper is gathering up empty mugs and helping a very drunken customer to the door with a strong grip.
do you
You look around. Nothing much has happened. Some customers may have left the tavern, but others must have come in and taken their places.
do you
More customers have gathered in the tavern. The place is bursting at the seams now and you can hardly understand a word you’re saying over the din of drinking and revelry. The tavernkeeper is constantly filling new tankards and slamming them on the bar. Sometimes their contents spills over and they reach their destination half empty, but none of the drunken customers seem to care.
do you
It is finally calming down as the first customers start to leave. You can see the tavernkeeper sigh with relief.
do you
It is still busy as market day inside the tavern. Maybe some customers have left, but some more have probably come in just the same. It’s hard to tell with all the hustle and bustle.
do you
Have another drink at the bar?
Order something to eat?
Leave?
You order a hearty meal. It’s [DESCRIPTION].
[NAME] comes up to you.
“May I treat you to a beer?”
“Why, sure, anytime, thanks!”
“No thanks, we’ll pay for it ourselves.”
“Hey, tavernkeeper, beer for my friends and me!”
You listen carefully and nod.
“Excuse us, but we need some rest!”
“You know, you could be more polite considering I bought you all a drink! Ah, forget it, I’ll find someone else to talk to!” [NAME] says good bye and moves down the bar.
“But why am I telling you all that, you’re probably not interested anyway.”
“No, no, do go on.”
“Quite right.”
“Well, pals, it’s getting late, I’ve got to get home now - nice meeting you, though!” [NAME] bids you all a very friendly good bye and leaves the tavern.
“Oh, yeah? Have it your way then!” [NAME] answers with a terse expression and moves down the bar without saying good bye.
“May I introduce myself, my name is [NAME].”
You introduce yourselves.
“What a coincidence, we were just looking for you!”
[NAME] tells you about this place. The most interesting thing [NAME] notes is:
[NAME]
“Really, why?”
you make some vague statements, but [NAME] perks up, when the name “Hyggelik” is mentioned.
“That’s an interesting subject, but I don’t think this tavern is the place to discuss it. Let’s go to my place.”
“Fine!”
“Why? This place is o.k., isn’t it?”
You leave the tavern together.
Excellent
Very good
Good
Quite good
Mediocre
Barely palatable
Abominable
A man
A woman
Peasants
Travellers
I know something I’m sure you’re interested in:
[HINT]
Lousy weather we’re having, isn’t it?
Pretty noisy here, don’t you think?
[NAME] is a nice place, really. You should stay here for a while.
Nice talking to you. You’ve come a long way, haven’t you?
Things should improve for us Thorwalians now with Tronde for hetman!
Did you see the finals three years ago, when the tempest gave those hawks a real beating? 17 points to 8 - I’ll never forget that!
How about this place? Grand, isn’t it?!
I want to go down to Grangor next year. They say, it’s the prettiest town in all of Arkania…
All right! All right! We Thorwalians know a lot about brandy!
Do you know the one about the dwarf who goes to see a healer…
Him there, yeah, the one with the long braid, watch out for him! He’s strong enough to deal with two men at a time!
Five crowns says the cavaliers’ll take the championship this year. Did you see them take apart the scorpions?
I knew we’d get along, as soon as I set me eyes on ya!
You can count on me, if you ever need something. I’ll tell you where to get it!
Would you believe some idiots say a cog is better than a dragon-ship!?
This ale is getting weaker all the time!
My neighbor always says: “Everything was better in the olden days!”
I’ve been in Havena once, those folk in the Central Empire haven’t the foggiest idea about proper cuisine. You couldn’t even get custard with your eel…
I guess, you don’t know much about this place, so listen up:
[HINT]
Jurge
Hjore
Ahren
Isleif
Beorn
Asgrimm
Thurbold
Olvir
Tiomar
Tronde
Hasgar
Torfin
Thinmar
Egil
Torstor
Laske
Eilif
Ingram
Orik
Olgard
Yasma
Oldrid
Ragna
Firunja
Hjalla
Gundrid
Swafnild
Algrid
Janda
Bryda
Askra
Frenja
Garhelt
Iskra
Islif
Kjaska
Svenna
Tjalva
Olverja
Lingard
Sson
Sdotter
Things are heating up at the next table. Apparently, a bearded sailor - with a wooden leg and an eye patch, of all things - is spinning some extremely tall tale.
“A ship of death, a ship of ghosts, I tell ye, manned by the undead from the bilges up to the rigging. I’m telling ye, it’s the curse o’Efferd! Or mayhaps ‘tis the ship of Marbo, Boron’s daughter, the lord of death’s own! I’ve heard tell a story years ago ‘bout Marbo taking a trip in human form on a vessel, and the sailors ganged up on her. It never reached it’s destination, it didn’t, and only the cretin cooky was saved!”
“Ah, bah, cheap talk, is all!”
“Tavernkeep, three more porters!”
A thorwalian with a warcoat, a heavy axe, and a signal horn at his belt enters the tavern.
“Hear ye! Hear ye! Hetman Tronde Torbensson is looking for heroes willing and able to take upon them a dangerous quest that may very well be the last they undertake, but which shall insure them immortal glory and good remuneration, should they succeed. To complete this quest, knowledge not only of swordsmanship but also of sorcery is needed.
whosoever believes they possess the skills and courage needed for this undertaking, see the hetman in Thorwal as soon as possible!”