Broken Dagger (Inn)

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The Broken Dagger is an inn on the edge of Myrkentown.

Location

Tucked behind a shield of forestry sits a welcoming two-story inn and tavern. Its originator, having planned for expansion, had claimed the property surrounding the site where he would build the most popular establishment in Myrken Wood. A quick ride up a narrow path from the town's common shops and buildings, The Broken Dagger stands as a welcoming retreat.

Having changed many hands since its beginning, the entire inn has fallen under neglect. Gone are some of the more memorable decorations from the tavern as many a bar room brawl has ruined them. The house stables are left to the hands of passers by who offer work in exchange for a room and meal. The original garden, no longer suffers. Finer crops, rich in color and flavor, are being produced on premesis. Expert grounds keepers have turned the flimsy patch of soil into a garden that blooms the finest. A number of beautifully scaped, yet simple, planting areas are now part of the property.

The natural beauty of a fresh water lake and stream grace the property of the inn, providing more than enough water for consumption and activity. Delicate grasses span meadows behind and beside the original tavern, which is surrounded by small clusters of fruiting trees. It is the perfect setting for creatures and humans alike.

The Inn

Across the front of the tavern, the porch is a place for patrons to rest and enjoy the fresh air. A weatherworn swing seat takes up one end of the porch, and a long bench beneath the front windows provides further seating.

On passing through the heavy oaken doors one finds oneself in the common room - the heart of the tavern, the double-height ceiling supported by a single stout beam in the centre of the room with rafters branching off to each side. Much of the floorspace below is taken up by sturdy tables and chairs.

The common room boasts two fireplaces - on the left lies the main hearth, kept lit throughout the year and surrounded by a half-circle of well-upholstered furniture; on the right is the secondary hearth, only used in the depths of winter when additional warmth is needed.

Ahead, the bar stretches across most of the south wall of the room, open at the east end, behind which is a door leading to the kitchens and stores. The teak countertop displays the marks and scars of a long and often violent history. Behind the bar are shelves bearing row upon row of bottles, vials and decanters, an extensive array of exotic spirits and liqueurs.

In the far right corner a flight of stairs leads up to a gallery overlooking the taproom and gives access to the inn's guest rooms.

Construction

The building remains in its original form, but some renovation has been done to make accommodations for guests. You are welcomed to explore the tavern at your leisure.

Lodging

Eleven rooms are provided for the comfort of weary travelers. Guests are provided with fresh water and towels, a single pallet bed with a feather mattress, a trunk for storage, and a sizeable mirror. Housekeeping is done twice each day (once in the morning, once in the evening) to supply fresh water and linens to occupants.

Food and Drink

Guests at the inn are provided with a complimentary full breakfast as part of their board; other meals can be ordered at the bar.

Stable

To the left of the Dagger, and some 150 feet behind, lies the stable and pasture area. From the outside, the barn appears in excellent condition, made primarily of very large logs; it looks much like a log cabin. There are two large double doors, which open out and a barn loft door above them. Inside, the floor is a very smooth stone, well worn by horses' hooves. To the left of the entrance lies the hay pile, used mainly for the bedding of the stalls, and kept inside so that dampness and fungus doesn't begin to grow there.

To the right are large ale barrels that now hold only the best of grain and some higher quality hay. There is a small door, off to the right here, and once inside, one finds the room scattered with the necessary equipment used for riding. There are shelves and shelves of brushes, ointments, hoof picks, bits, and ropes on one wall. The other three walls are filled with saddles, blankets, bridles, and harnesses in many shapes and sizes. The barn contains six stalls on each side, making twelve altogether. To the back of the barn is another door that leads out towards the fenced in pasture area.

Gardens

There are a number of gardens kept on the property. A pleasure garden exists for guests who wish to stroll among boxwoods and cultivated wildflowers, though it too often suffers weeds and overgrowth; the kitchen garden lives behind the main building, supplying the tavern cooks with needed herbs and vegetables. Likewise, field crops that require serious tending may be found in nearby plots, and an overgrown orchard exists on the slope of a large hill leading away from the tavern.

Kitchen Garden

Scullery maids are the most familiar with and know their way around this small, cramped space. What would look to many like a chaos of brush and bramble is to all cooks a treasure trove. The kitchen garden is weakly fenced by briars and thistle and gated by a small, iron door. The lock is rusted and no longer works, and the hinges of the small gate are loose, making it impossible to close the thing. Within the small patch, the maids are free to roam and pick from what gardeners have sewn into foot-high beds for the season. Pulled vegetables are fresh, though a wider variety is purchased at Myrkentown during regular market hours. Herbs serve dual purpose as they can provide food flavors and medicinal cures.

Field Crops

Unlike the plantings in the kitchen garden, there are crops that require regular tending, pruning, pulling and well-spaced plotting in richer soil. Nearly an acre of the tavern's property is dedicated to this land space. The majority of growth shows up in rows of golden wheat. This forms a backdrop for the garden of barley, beans, peas, sperage, grey pea, spinage and gourds. Columns of tall sunflowers border this easily accessible field.

Pleasure Garden

What started as a footpath from the stables has been turned into a quaint field of scattered flowers in sunken beds. Tall, boxwood shrubs stand protective over these plantings. A beaten path wends through these in an eventual round-trip of the garden. It is this space which beckons visitors that are prone to wander. Along the trail there are seats made of stacked turf. The pleasure garden's path is of crude design in that its former grasses have been removed and the dirt later stamped along the way. On rainy days, the trail is full of muddy puddles and sees very little traffic, but the garden is as breathtaking.

The Orchard

Trees that give off fruit and other tender perennials are arranged in untidy rows beyond the rear of the Broken Dagger. There are several olive trees, pines, and cypress. The sloping ground supports twelve apple, three cherry and four pear trees. The fruited branches provide sweet aromas and agreeable shade. A section for grapevines is frozen in perpetual half-construction, the ribs of wooden arbors never finished by the hands of a deceased craftsman.

Soul Garden

The Soul Garden sits behind a nearby hill, hidden from the tavern's daily life. Visitors are welcomed to pay homage to the great men and women who were buried among the remembrance stones. Cemetery caretakers are often employees of the tavern; however, loved ones are also seen tending to the graves of the dearly departed. This spot for privacy is respite for mourners, but it is also known that this place is used for secret meetings between visitors with even shadier personalities.

Currency

The Broken Dagger's staff deal in Trae Kelsan Shillings.

Current Staff