I planned on having the PCs room here when they first got to Cauldron, so I wrote up some details for their initial arrival. I lifted some of the menu details from another post on these boards from long ago (or possibly from something at RPGenuis) – I don’t have the name of the original poster, but my thanks to him/her, and apologies for not being able to credit the original author (since this was going to just be for my own use, I didn’t write down any names).
Another inspirational idea received from this forum was that of publishing a local newspaper. As the PCs approach the front door of the inn, they see a large wooden sign board under the overhanging roof eaves. Upon the board are several issues of the local newspaper, the Cauldron Herald, as well as various other notices. (I printed all this out and tacked it to a big piece of cardboard to simulate the sign board as closely as was practical, and pulled it out when the characters arrived at the inn). Most of what is printed in the newspaper is so heavily tailored to my own campaign that it wouldn’t do much good to share it, but one of the “older” issues has as its lead story the headline revealing the Stormblades recent clearing of a group of kobolds in some lava tubes (as mentioned in the HC), which was the PCs first introduction to their future nemeses (I’m happy to share that as well if anyone is interested).
Having spent some time looking over the signboard out front, the group finally enters the warm glow of the Drunken Morkoth. There is a large, lively common room, its great oaken beams stained from smoke, the dark flagstones on the floor polished smooth by years of traffic. They meet the innkeeper, a friendly human male with dwarfism who is only about four-and-a-half feet tall. He introduces himself as Rivek Mol, and seems ready and willing to make conversation. He doesn’t get too far however before he is interrupted by the shrill voice of a female dwarf from around the corner who tells him to stop boring the customers and get them their rooms. He yells back at her to mind her own business and a short, heated exchange takes place before dieing out as suddenly as it began. He explains that the dwarf is his co-proprietor, Nazwyg Stoneblood, though he refers to her as “Stoneheart.” They’ve been running the inn together for nearly twenty years. (See People below for more details).
Probably the most popular Inn in the city, the Drunken Morkoth is a regular stop for merchants, adventurers, visiting nobles and politicians. Offering comfortable beds, good food, and reasonable prices, the Morkoth is well known as far away as Sasserine.
Every room is decorated with a humorous painting of Cauldron's legendary lake monster, a large Morkoth. Each painting depicts the monster in a number of embarrassing situations and locations, and always very, very drunk. For example, in one of the PC’s rooms, a morkoth teeters on the top of the city wall, its eyes depicted as crazy spirals, a bottle of wine clutched between two of its feet. In another room is a morkoth wearing a jester’s hat and smoking a pipe, sitting on a bench, eyelids drooping, empty liquor bottles scattered all about.
People
Rivek Mol (co-proprietor) – expert 4, male human with dwarfism 4’6” 40-ish, dark hair going gray, short beard. Friendly to guests, willing to chat but usually doesn’t get to for long, and is usually being interrupted by Nazwyg. Knows more than he says, especially when he first meets PCs.
Nazwyg Stoneblood (co-proprietor) – expert 4, female dwarf, 4’2” tan skin, long gray hair. Personality is basically the same as Rivek, though nicer to females in general, a bit cold to male dwarves.
These two can’t speak without arguing. Always getting on each other and complaining about each other, but in truth they love each other. They have been together for 20+ years, though never got married due to racial differences and the controversy it might cause.
If made friendly, they will share some of the rumors in the HC (pp 14-15). Order: 9, 1, 19, 20, 21.
Meerthan Eliothlorn – aka Tyro Amberhelm (Page 370) – male dwarf 4’5” 160#, reddish-brown hair and beard, dresses in browns and blues, standard merchant-style clothes, likes to wear a blue ‘wizards-cap’ with a reddish-brown feather stuck in it.
Posing as a dwarven merchant, prefers to keep his business to himself. Someone else (inn keeper, etc.) may say they think he’s here to set up deals with some of the local dwarves: either he’s here to buy up local stone, or to hire dwarves, or he’s trying to sell tobacco and dwarven ale and/or the services of dwarves from elsewhere (any or all of these depending on who is spoken to).
Tramaine Garwood – cleric 2 (Corellean), male elf 5’2” 98#, long unkempt dark brown hair, yellow-green eyes; dressed in dirty, wrinkled clothes – cotton shirt and pants. Has a haunted, afraid look in his eyes.
Tramaine is the only surviving member of a group of adventurers who went into some lava tubes/caves and got beaten up by goblins a couple of weeks ago. He escaped but feels terribly guilty about it. He’s been drinking ever since. His group walked into a trap set up by the goblins and was surrounded all around and above, pummeled by javelins and spells and a swarm of rats. There was a tall, shadowy leader of some sort who appeared, struck, than disappeared in a puff of smoke. (This was Drakthar leading his goblins to the upper caves. Turning gaseous was seen as a puff of smoke to the terrified cleric). Tramaine was overcome by fear and fled, somehow escaping back to the city. He’s been drunk ever since. He’s totally broken and won’t ever adventure again.
Hangs around for another week or two, then just disappears one day. (Maybe a Shackleborn who is taken away?)
Luceea Brandon – expert 4/sorcerer 2; female half-elf 4’10” 95#, long blonde hair in double french braid, burgundy silk shirt, gray cotton pants, leather boots.
A merchant from (Sasserine or some other locale in your campaign), here to try and secure a source of finished stone to export. In talks with various nobles – Taskerhill of course is number one, Aslaxin, maybe Navalant. Won’t say anything other than she’s a merchant from ____, just paying a visit. If made friendly, she’ll admit to true reason, and also admit she wants to secure her source before anyone from (some other location) can.
Udoo Arktaros – expert 5, male halfling from Ekbir – Owner of Udoo the Silkmonger on Lava Avenue (From the “Umber Hulk Attack” map), living in a rented room here at the inn. Mysterious, strange look to him, dark piercing eyes, more defined features than local halflings, longer nose, and a thin beard; wears golden earrings, bright silk clothes, speaks with an accent.
Will happily talk with PCs (enjoying conversations on the philosophical nature of good and evil especially), but won’t ever tell them anything of note about himself. Others will say he came here 7 or 8 years ago and just set up shop. Seems to enjoy life, engages with other guests, enjoys his food and wine (but not to excess), but otherwise keeps to himself. If pressed on why he came, may offer that “the Lady of Fate saw fit to put me here” and no more.
Doesn’t know too many rumors, all the same as others above (or roll randomly), except add that he heard #2 from someone if made friendly.
Has some kind of a connection to get silks from the northwest, but no one knows what it is or how he does it (friends with a djinni).
- Will eventually leave the city – play it by ear.
Lodging –
Shared room: 5sp/night (bunks up to four people)
Private room: 2gp/night (includes access to the Inn's bathing facility)
Lord Mayor’s Suite: 7gp/night (includes meals and hot bathing water for private bath)
Bath: 1sp (access to a private bathing room and hot water)
Meals –
Fast Breaking: 1sp (hunk of cheese, bread, and a mug of ale)
Lunch: 2sp (usually a hearty stew and bread, mug of ale)
Evening Meal: 2sp (variety of dishes, busiest hour, does not include drink)
Beer, Ale, Mead –
Thunderbrew Ale (dwarven brew): 5cp/mug
Hollowsky Stout: 4cp/mug
Kord's Blessing: 4cp/mug
First Watch Lager (watery): 3cp/mug
Morkoth's Mead - 4 cp/mug
Warm Honey Mead - 4 cp/mug
Wine List –
Wine, White (local) – 4cp/goblet, 2sp/bottle
Wine, Red (local) – 4cp/goblet, 2sp/bottle
Soldier’s Friend (local, watery mix red) – 2cp/goblet, 1sp in a skin
Sheldomar Red – 5gp (bottle)
Assassin Berry - 7 gp (bottle)
Elven White - 18 gp (bottle)
Liquor –
Grog - 5 cp
Miner’s Eye (local rock-gut) – 2cp/shot
Hookface Fire-brandy – 5cp/shot
Dragontooth (imported whiskey) – 1sp/shot
Taskerhill Reserve (cognac) – 2sp/shot
The Inn's game of choice is the dice game Drop Dead . Usually one table going in the evenings for fun, 1sp buy-in to play, table seats 8 players.
Playing Drop Dead: The game is a simple one where the player rolling adds up the total of the five dice thrown (5d6), unless there’s a two or five, in which case the total is zero and those dice are removed from play. The player keeps rolling until she has no more dice left. The one with the highest total after everyone rolls wins the pot.
Bravo! Excellent work, Findas. I also plan to have those in my group who are not from Cauldron rooming at the Drunken Morkoth, at least until they decide on finding permanent lodging.
So far, I have one player rooming there, as he was the only one not from Cauldron who had arrived with time enough to get a room before the beating in the alleyway. I introduced the longest-employed and most-loved serving girl, Darla (human expert 2), through whom the PC also booked his room after drinks and dinner.
I will be spending some more time fleshing out the location before the PCs return from the Malachite Fortress, since that and Skie's will likely be the first two stops for our group upon their return to the city above, and I expect both will be locations for fun role-play sessions.
Well done Finas. I like the description particularly of the common room and guests. I may have to use this next time my Stider characters visits Meerthan.
Delvesdeep
Love your work once again Findas. Keep em' coming!
Olaf the Stout