The Way Inn

The Way Inn stands on the western side of the Trade Way two days’ hard ride (about a hundred miles) south of Daggerford. It was a walled compound atop a flat, grassy plateau about three acres in extent that overlooked a loop of road that leaves and rejoins the main trade road, giving caravans plenty of room to camp.

From the loop of road, steep cart-ways lead up to three gates. All of these cross wooden bridges. The bridges slope on central pivots when support timbers are retracted from inside the compound to dump attackers into large spike-filled pits.

The gatehouses are small stone keeps. Each is topped with a catapult. All firewood for the inn is under cover in these gatehouses, so fiery missiles can be hurled at attackers or an overrun gatehouse can be torched to prevent attackers from pouring in until the flames die down.

The inn itself is of stone, with a tile roof. Its windows look out over the road, and it is topped by a lookout tower equipped with several multiple-crossbow guns called airhurlers. Each of these is equipped with firing cords and shields for a person firing the gun, so that the airhurlers can be fired directly or aimed and fired from the room below.

The stables for the inn are in one corner of the plateau. Three fenced paddocks open out of them, and more airhurlers are located on the stable roof. The inn staff and attendant businesses (a wagon repair shop, a smith, a trading post, an apothecary, and a trail wares shop selling rope, skillets, tarpaulins, tents, sledges, harness, and the like) are housed in a row of stout stone cottages along the west wall of the plateau. A small orchard and hedged gardens provide fresh fruit and herbs for the inn's cooks.

From the walls of the inn, a new village of thatched and tile roofs spill outward and down along the slopes of the fortified hill, with log lined corduroy roads to provide traction when climbing the steep roads to the keep. A forest of new wooden buildings built upon the foundations of the old village destroyed during the Dragonspear War are steadily being replaced by stone buildings, providing booming business for stonemasons and architects from Daggerford and points beyond.

Abbey of the Watch (Temple)

Watchknight Terjon Prost, Cleric of Helm

(Sharp featured and dark eyed) The cleric of Helm and commander of the Abbey of the Watch at the Way Inn considers his charge to be the observation of the former Dragonspear lands.

Canoness Delenn, Prophet of Helm

(Aging and careworn prophetess) The aging and forlorn Delenn has seen the rise and fall of the evil of Dragonspear twice in her lifetime, communicated to her in visions by the Watchful One. She haunts the walls of the castle looking ever to the south.

Built against the inner keep wall of the Way Inn to serve spiritual counsel to the armies of the Lords' Alliance who have swept through the Open marches twice in the last century. The clergy and faithful of the Abbey have learned to respond to the visions of the Canoness Delenn and keep the faith of their charge against the rising of any evil in the southern lands.

Ashen Grove (Temple)

Kalgan Ashstaff, Druid of Eldath

(Tall, imposing human male) The aged and powerful Kalgan Ashstaff has long been a force of religious stability for those of the Old Faith.

The Ashen Grove is set some distance from the Way Inn between the hill and the verge of the Misty Forest. The small cluster of trees sits astride a brook and is often pervaded by the mists of the nearby wood. A feeling of watchful peace lays upon the grove.

Dawn Chantry of Lathander (Temple)

Yether the Keen, Cleric of Lathander

(Late 50s, ruddy-faced, short gray beard) Recently dispatched to the Way Inn by Lightlord Liam Sunmist to supervise the growing population of the small town.

This small chapel of Lathander is as new as the village upon the hill below. Built into the eastern facing tower of the Way Inn, the chapel's congregation is rapidly outstripping its small footprint. The clergy are considering building a new fortified chantry on the hill beyond the Inn's walls.

The First Facet (Moneychanger)

Nira Brightjewel, Banker

(Logical, precise gnome)

Operating out of a bunkhouse set against the foundation cliff of the Way Inn, the First Facet serves the growing community as both a bank and a money changer. Nira has a reputation for honesty and asking-no-questions, and charges a reasonable 10% on top of exchange value.

Hard Shield's Trade Depot (Shop)

Rannos Davl and Gremag Davl, Traders

(Slow, fat, clumsy, placid & tall, thin, fussy)

The brothers Davl run Hard Shield's trade depot, as they have for several years. Set against the interior wall of the Way Inn, the brothers Davl negotiate tough deals for everything from livestock (held in the nearby stable) to weapons and salvaged goods. They have also been known to hire out their groom and a man-at-arms to protect caravans traveling the Trade Way for a fee.

Spugnoir Potions & Elixirs (Shop)

Galem and Renne Spugnoir, Alchemists

(Middle aged balding male & braided brown haired girl)

The father/daughter team of Galem and Renne run the newly built Potion & Elixir shop in upon the hillside. Galem makes the potions and his precocious daughter serves as the shopkeeper and accountant.

The Way Inn

Dauravyn Redbeard, Ostler

A stolid and weathered ex-adventurer and town elder.

Rufus Burne, Mage

His Most Worshipful Mage of the Trade Way. Longtime companion of Dauravyn Redbeard and man about town.

The stone rooms of this new and solidly built stone inn are lined with tapestries and have fur rugs underfoot. Heavy draperies are provided to cut the chill and breezes from the eastward-facing windows, each of which opens onto a private balcony, when desired. The dimly lit halls are also carpeted with furs.

Beds are canopied for warmth, but remain simple. Each has a pull cord to summon service, which is efficient and attentive. Lighting is provided by brass-and-glass full-shuttered candle lamps. These can be unhooked easily and taken elsewhere in the event of battle.

The inn serves good, hearty fare, notably braised bustard on buns. This dish has a spreading reputation. It utilizes the stale leftovers of the large, oval loaves of hard-bread baked at the inn, toasted and spread with a gravy based on onions, chicken livers, and offal from slaughtered livestock. Onto this are laid the cooked fragments of meat from bustard (plentiful on the moorlands, with a taste similar to grouse) brought back by the patrols. It’s simple but good— - and is usually served hot enough to burn the mouth of an incautious diner badly.

Meals are often enlivened by a minstrel. Redbeard hires traveling singers for a tenday at 5 sp per day. If other minstrels Redbeard likes arrives in the midst of another performer'’s stint, they’'ll be given free room and board to stay on until they can begin their own tenday stretch.