### The Ashen Flagon - **Atmosphere:** Loud, smoky, always full of laughter, dice games, and music. The air is thick with the smell of spiced stew and pipe smoke. It’s where mercenaries, Wardens, and caravan guards go to drink hard and brag louder. - **NPC Innkeep:** **Torrek Bramblejaw** – Stocky half-orc with a booming laugh and missing tusk. Retired Warden who lost his leg in the Deadwood; now runs the inn with a peg leg and a sharp tongue. Calls everyone “lad” or “lass” regardless of age. - **Hook:** Torrek still has Warden contacts. He may point adventurers toward dangerous jobs, or quietly hire them to deal with the “freeblades” who sometimes stir up trouble in his tavern. --- ### The Gilded Stag - **Atmosphere:** Polished wooden floors, chandeliers of stag horns, and a refined menu. Wealthy merchants and emissaries from Coalveil or South Angoria prefer it here, where they can drink fine wine instead of ale. The inn doubles as a neutral ground for business deals. - **NPC Proprietor:** **Maeren Yselle** – Tall, graceful human woman with raven-black hair and a merchant’s smile. Known for her impeccable discretion and ability to provide “quiet rooms” where guild leaders can meet in secrecy. Rumored to have ties to both Coalveil nobles and South Angoria traders. - **Hook:** Maeren is a political operator. She might offer adventurers coin to discreetly _escort certain guests_ through Duskwatch… or spy on meetings taking place in her own establishment. # The Gilded Stag and Maeren Yselle’s Dilemma ## Overview The **Gilded Stag** is one of Duskwatch’s most prestigious inns, located at the heart of Ember Square. Owned by **Maeren Yselle**, a shrewd and graceful innkeeper, it caters to wealthy merchants, emissaries, and guild officials. The inn’s reputation for discretion has made it a hub for political dealings and clandestine meetings. Recently, whispers have spread that Maeren is considering selling the inn. The two factions vying for control are the **Black Cloaks**—an infamous organization seeking to expand their influence—and the **Naked Maidens**, Queen [[Krynvia]]’s seductive and secretive network of succubi and spies. --- ## Maeren Yselle - **Appearance:** Tall, graceful human woman with raven-black hair, striking green eyes, and an ever-measured smile. - **Personality:** Ambitious, pragmatic, and a skilled negotiator. Loyal to profit and survival more than to ideology. - **Motivation:** Maeren sees the Gilded Stag as more than a business—it is her leverage in Duskwatch politics. But maintaining it alone has grown increasingly dangerous. She seeks the protection and resources of a larger faction, fearing that otherwise, rivals may strip her of her power. --- ## Why She Considers Selling 1. **Pressure of Influence** – Both Coalveil and South Angoria merchants demand her loyalty. Selling to a powerful faction would free her from the exhausting tightrope of neutrality. 2. **Security Concerns** – The Gilded Stag attracts spies, smugglers, and dangerous guests. Maeren knows one mistake could ruin her. Aligning with the Naked Maidens promises safety through shadowed alliances. 3. **Profit and Prestige** – Partnering with Queen [[Krynvia]]’s network offers access to wealth beyond local trade, with ties stretching across South Angoria and beyond. --- ## Considering the Naked Maidens - **Appeal:** The Naked Maidens offer Maeren partnership rather than domination. They promise to keep the inn’s elegant reputation while quietly transforming parts of it into a discreet brothel and information hub. - **Conflict:** Some of Maeren’s clientele (particularly Laurel’s Concord members and older Duskwatch traditionalists) oppose the idea of succubi running an inn in Ember Square, fearing it will tarnish Duskwatch’s image. - **Temptation:** The allure of the Naked Maidens lies in their unmatched ability to entice and enthrall. The presence of **beautiful nude succubi courtesans** is whispered as both scandal and attraction—an intoxicating promise of desire that many influential patrons secretly crave. To some, it would be the very height of Duskwatch’s decadence; to others, a dangerous corruption. --- ## The Black Cloaks’ Rival Bid While Maeren leans toward the Naked Maidens, the **Black Cloaks** are also pressing to purchase the inn. Their offer is heavy with coin and promises of mercenary protection, but Maeren fears their ruthless methods. Turning the Gilded Stag into a crude brothel under their banner risks destroying the prestige she has built. --- ## Maeren’s Dilemma Maeren Yselle is torn between: - **Profit and protection with the Naked Maidens,** risking moral backlash from parts of Duskwatch’s society but maintaining elegance and allure through the allure of succubi courtesans. - **Quick coin and brute force with the Black Cloaks,** risking her reputation and reducing the Gilded Stag to just another den of flesh. Her decision will likely shape the balance of power in Duskwatch’s Ember Square, determining whether the heart of the city leans toward shadowy seduction or ruthless control. # Emberwind Rest – Inn of Duskwatch ## Overview The **Emberwind Rest** is one of Duskwatch’s most beloved inns, located just south of the town proper where the roads converge into the greater part of Duskwatch. Known for its hearty meals, good drink, and welcoming atmosphere, the inn serves as a home-away-from-home for travelers, adventurers, and locals alike. It is one of the oldest inns in Duskwatch, dating back to the early days of settlement, and is considered a cornerstone of community life. --- ## Ownership - **Innkeep:** **[[Innkeep Varric Dolm|Varric Dolm]]** – A jovial and trustworthy dwarf, once a caravan guard. Varric is known for his booming laugh, easy conversation, and sharp eye for gossip. While he enjoys telling tall tales, he also serves as a discreet broker of information, often knowing far more than he lets on. - **Staff:** A small crew of local hires assist him in the kitchens and common room. One of them, **Lira**, a friendly young human woman, is particularly well liked by the regulars. --- ## Atmosphere The Emberwind Rest is famous for its: - **Gathering Place:** Situated at the point where roads meet into Duskwatch, it is the first stop for many travelers. - **Hospitality:** Guests are treated like family, whether mercenaries, merchants, or wandering adventurers. - **Gossip:** Varric and his staff often overhear conversations and rumors. Many locals stop by just to share news. --- ## Services - **Lodging:** Comfortable but modest rooms with sturdy beds and wool blankets. - **Food & Drink:** Hearty stews, fresh bread, and strong ale. Varric keeps a private reserve of dwarven whiskey for special guests. - **Information:** For the right price—or trust—Varric will share whispers about suspicious travelers, guild intrigues, or events in the Deadwood Glade. --- ## Menu & Prices _(All prices in gold/silver pieces, D&D 5e standard)_ **Meals** - Traveler’s Stew (rabbit, potato, carrots, herbs) – 5 sp - Hearth Bread with Goat Cheese – 3 sp - Salted Pork and Beans – 6 sp - Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables – 1 gp - Sweetberry Tart (local favorite) – 4 sp **Drinks** - House Ale (pint) – 4 cp - Spiced Cider – 2 sp - Red Table Wine (glass) – 5 sp - Dwarven Stout (imported, pint) – 1 gp - Varric’s Reserve Whiskey (shot) – 2 gp **Lodging** - Common Room Cot – 5 sp per night - Private Room (single bed) – 8 sp per night - Private Room (double bed) – 1 gp per night --- ## Role in Duskwatch The Emberwind Rest is more than an inn; it is a hub of **community and continuity** in a town often shaken by political rivalries and the dangers of the nearby Deadwood Glades. While other inns like the Ashen Flagon or Gilded Stag cater to mercenaries or wealthy merchants, the Emberwind Rest remains the heart of Duskwatch hospitality, trusted by common folk and adventurers alike. Varric has no intention of selling or allowing outsiders to claim his establishment. To him, the Emberwind Rest is a legacy—both of his days as a caravan guard and of Duskwatch’s spirit of survival and welcome.