Category: Chiaroscuro

Lightholder Tavern <Palace District>

It is said – primarily by the proprietor, a jovial merchant-classer named Solas Creek – that all roads in Fastheld lead to the Lightholder Tavern. On any given night, it’s not hard to see why he might justify such a claim.

The pub, which started centuries ago as a small refreshment wagon for laborers building Fastheld Keep atop Caryas Hill, sees boisterous crowds filling its rafters with laughter and pipe smoke at all hours of the day and night as travelers make their way through the realm.

About three dozen tables are arranged among the polished wooden columns on which hang the wrought-iron lanterns that help give the tavern its name. Solas or one of his assistants can usually be found working behind a wide C-shaped counter, serving mugs of keg-tapped ale to thirsty patrons who stand at the bar.

The floor is strewn with amber rushes, except in a circle of about twenty feet in diameter, where the stone fireplace and chimney rise toward the ceiling.

Solas Creek is behind the counter, pouring another mug of ale from a wooden keg. He slides the battered cup across the counter to the waiting customer.

Ezirith enters the tavern, looking around. Ezi seems to be going to lengths to stay out of the way of anyone who’s higher class than her…which is pretty much everyone within eyesight and then some.

Into the tavern march a couple of the Emperor’s Blades, accompanied by a fist-faced man – a scowling man whose features all seem to squeeze in toward his blunt nose – wearing a simple brown cloak and bearing the signature wooden staff of a priest in the Church of True Light.

Ezirith cringes back from both the Blades and the priest – although since she’s a peasant, she probably has good reason for trying to avoid the Blades at least; peasants don’t get trials.

The crowd hushes and parts like the high grass before a surging wildcat as the priest and his escorts approach the counter. They pay little heed to the peasant girl. The priest gets to the counter and scowls at the bear-like barkeep: “Solas, we have heard that one touched with the Shadow was seen at the crossroads this day. Did you bear witness?”

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