3. The Sign of the Broken Head

The sun is fast approaching the horizon and your shadows are long when you finally arrive at the Broken Head. The origin of the inn’s unusual name is immediately apparent. Mounted on a beam across the front door is a huge (6’ diameter) stone representation of Arden the Defender. She is depicted clad in a Corinthian helmet and has rather disconcerting oval staring eyes.

The inn itself is a fort-like structure with no windows on the stone ground story, and only a few narrow windows set into the wooden second floor. It resembles, in short, a blockhouse. A stable abuts one side of the main building and several less-fortified outbuildings are scattered nearby.



---
7:30 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Grim waddles towards the inn. Then, upon customary dwarven Hmph, he enters the inn.

Zach wearily stumbles in, lets his pack down on a seat, and checks his coin pouch. Enough for a drink or three. He looks around for a proprietor, bartender, or anyone else interesting in alchemically converting coin into alcohol.

Ella admired the massive sculpture over the entrance with interest. How many people must it have taken to drag this mammoth head from out of the ruins to affix it here?

Seeing no one out to greet the party’s arrival, Ellagel followed the others into the structure, glad for the promise of a meal and rest under relatively safe conditions.

Jacky's first order of business is not through the front door. Instead the halfling leads Billie over to the stables to find him a spot for the evening.

Vasco looked around the inn, trying to gauge what kind of patrons and people visited here. Then he entered and tried to find a dark secluded corner to sit.

"Strong house. Good for keeping bad things out. And keeping beer safe!"

Thrudmarr's first order of business upon entering will be obtaining a drink.

Whilst Jacky leads Billie around the side of the inn to the stables, the rest of you enter beneath the stone head of Arden. You find yourselves in a smoky common room with a large fireplace and numerous sturdy wooden tables and chairs. In the absence of any windows, the place is illuminated only by the fire and a single bright light source at either end of the room. Judging by its dimensions, it seems that this common room takes up the entirety of the inn’s first floor. There is, however, a flight of stairs leading to the upper storey.

As your senses adjust to your new surroundings, a booming voice calls out "Ah new arrivals! Welcome to the Sign of the Broken Head - a home from home amongst the perils of Arden Vul!". The source of this greeting is a portly Thorcin with a bushy beard - no doubt the "Kettle-Belly" referred to by the guards at the northern gate. He looks you up and down appraisingly before continuing. "You’ve had a long and eventful day I’ll wager. Come, take the weight off your feet. First drink is on the house."

He gestures towards an empty table close to the fire.
There are only two other occupied tables in the common room. At one, a bespectacled middle-aged Wiskin woman with a weathered face and short greying hair is poring over a ledger. At the other are three men who all look somewhat out of place in that they are all wearing the smart, fashionable clothing of townsmen.

---
7:30 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

On the house is the best place for drinks, Zacharius replied. Do you have any highly-hopped ales?

"Free drink! Big beard man very nice!" Thrudmarr plops himself down at the offered table near the fire, looking around the room. When he spots the Wiskin woman, he waves excitedly.

After a few moments of sipping on whatever drink is offered, Thrudd strides over to the Wiskin woman's table, beaming proudly. "Hello! You Wiskin like Thrudmarr. We fight angry tree today! Want hear story?"

"I’ve got one so hoppy it will blow your socks off! Coming right up!"
The Wiskin woman looks up from her work, peers at Thrud over the rims of her spectacles and smiles. "Pleased to meet you Thrudmarr. I’m Dagmar. If you or your friends need any equipment or other goods whilst you’re here, let me know. I arrived yesterday from Gosterwick with fresh stock."
Two Thorcin boys meet you at the stable and begin unloading Billie and preparing him for the night. They seem capable and confident when handling the mule, although somewhat shy of Jacky.

There are a few other horses and mules in the stable, but there’s comfortably enough room for one more.

---
7:40 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Our dwarven fellow waddles up to the bar. It’s like the start of a horrible joke!

Well now, I best be havin’ one o’ yer strongest ales, den! What’ve got fer ta quench a mighty dwarven thirst?!

Ella scanned the taproom in silence from the doorway as her companions moved in. She tarried somewhat, caring first for her longbow: unstringing it swiftly, storing the string and the bow carefully before joining her boisterous adventuring partners. She would not say it, but being under a roof with no windows, surrounded by sturdy stone walls was an uncomfortable experience for the elf. But she’d need getting used to it, in her line of business.

She approached the innkeeper and asked in a soft voice: "Your offer is generous, and I gladly accept and thank you. Would you have any drink made of fermented fruits or flowers? A wine, perhaps? If not, fresh water would be most welcome."

And as the man busied himself with her order, she added "Many explorers coming this way recently?

Zach puts his feet up on the stool near his chair, and settles in to enjoy his beer.

Jacky makes small talk with the stable boys, asking about the owners of the other animals inside. "The inn seems rather quiet this evening," he remarks. Whether they've got any interesting gossip to share or not, Jacky will flip a silver coin to each of the boys before heading inside to join the others.

Vasco listened to all the talk everyone was making as he asked for whatever food was available including the price. His own stash of coins were dwindling and he had no wish to spend more than necessary. "I would like to have that free ale. Also what do you have for tonight? Might I inquire the price as well?"

"Hmmm Thrudmarr not need anything now. You staying long? Thrudmarr and friends go back to broken city, find riches, become heroes! Maybe need to buy things after. You been to broken city? See anything exciting there? We fight angry tree! Tree go BOOM! And WOOSH!" Thrudmarr makes sweeping gestures with his arms, demonstrating the tree's movements.

Over at the stables, the two lads explain to Jacky that the other horses belong to "them merchants from Gosterwick who pay for statues", whilst the other mules belong to the "pedlar lady". They are extremely grateful for Jacky’s tip, and he leaves the stables to a chorus of "Thank you, mister".

Meanwhile, whilst Kettlebelly fixes Grim’s "strong" ale (which seems, rather suspiciously, to come from the same barrel as Zach’s "hoppy" ale) and Ella’s wine (she’s tasted worse, but it's nothing special) he chats away to you.

"Now, forgive me. We didn’t do the proper introductions. The name’s Kronos and I run this here inn with my better half, Estelle. If you need anything during your stay, just let me know and we’ll do our best to oblige. Food if you require it is two silver a head for a basic meal. A bed in the bunkroom is ten silver. Of course, if you're after anything more luxurious, we can accommodate that as well for a fair price. I’ll open a tab for you and you can settle when you next leave."

To Ella’s question about other explorers: "Aye, we have other groups in and out of here all the time. Some we only see once. Others are regular visitors. We had Dalton’s crew in here a couple of days ago - I’d be cautious if you run into them - they’re very full of themselves. And the group that calls themselves the 'Five Fingers of Destiny' were here last week - a serious bunch, but decent enough."

---
7:40 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Jacky comes into the main room just as the innkeeper lists down his prices. "One hot dinner for me please! And I'll have a mug of the same ale that they're enjoying," the halfling says, waving a hand toward his companions.

He nods along as Kronos tells the group about the other adventurers plying their trade around Arden Vul. The name 'Five Fingers' makes him grin. Surely this present group can come up with a better title than that for themselves.

"Do you have any spare rooms?" he asks the innkeeper. "That is, if the rest of you don't mind sharing!"