Location The Scorched Skull

[Scarab]

The Scorched Skull The Scorched Skull tavern is the sordid cesspool of Ahnatep's underbelly, notorious for being frequented by some of the city's most depraved denizens. The tavern is hidden away in the Pillars of Dust, tucked into a crumbling building of unknown origin. Only one scanty step leads up to the entrance, as the remaining steps were buried long ago. The only exterior characteristic of note is a fading purple doorknob attached to a cracked, cheap-looking wooden door, which leads directly into the sandy, stone building. An observant eye might, after several visits, notice that while the door is frequently replaced, the doorknob always remains the same. Inside, the building becomes much more intriguing. Humanoid skulls line the tavern ceiling, viewable immediately upon entrance, and it is rumoured that more skulls are added every year. The main tavern is relatively large, but the poor lighting from subpar candles and torches makes it seem smaller and more intimate. On the far side of the room lies the hefty bar counter, a sturdy sandstone piece that looks as though it has existed in the tavern for hundreds of years - and will continue to exist for several hundred more. A line of barstools (usually occupied) rest in front of the counter, and behind it sits an assortment of mugs used to serve the establishment's only drinking option: beer. The only other door leading out of the room, aside from the entrance and the door leading to the chamber pots, lies behind this counter and is accessible exclusively by invitation. It leads to the kitchens and several private rooms behind. There is also speculation of a secret trap door leading to the building's basement in the main tavern, but none have been able to find it on their own (at least, none who have survived to tell the tale). Numerous benches, tables, and chairs are spread throughout the room, taking up every available edge and corner. The wooden and sandstone furniture is old, worn, and sometimes rickety, but it does the job. The establishment gave up on the comforts of soft fabrics and pillows long ago, though dark purple rugs, soaked with and smelling of beer, line the floor underneath most large tables. In the centre of the room lies a small bit of open space. There is usually a Lark or two found dancing on it in the hope of entertaining a particular Scorpion, but it is generally only completely filled when either all of the tables are taken or when a fight breaks out. Only the poorest or most desperate musicians frequent the tavern, and thus the music is generally not worth getting up for. Brawls and gambling (and brawls after gambling) are common occurrences. Sometimes the brawls will be forced to continue outside the tavern, and other times they'll be allowed to go on for quite a while. Scorpions are the sole group of people who bother to break up a fight (if they aren't involved in it themselves), as the Jackals rarely frequent this area of Ahnatep. They will usually only get involved, however, if a business interest is at stake or if they're feeling bored with the brawlers. Otherwise, the fights generally end only when one of the fighters is intimidated, knocked out, killed or interrupted by allies, or if the dhani barmaid takes it upon herself to kick the brawlers out. Services & Employment Goods Beer - 5 CM per mug; 2 SM per pitcher Small Meal (Bread & Bean Soup) - 2 SM Large Meal (Bread, Bean Soup, & Fish) - 5 SM Services Borrow A Set Of Pre-Used Cards - 1 GM (+5 more GM if cards are not returned) Employment The Scorched Skull hires new cooks, barmaids, and bartenders on a regular basis. Whether the potential hire is skilled or unskilled is mostly irrelevant, since new employees tend not to last very long. A tough skin is an implicit requirement. Since the tavern's owner is rarely around, the benshira bartender and dhani barmaid have been placed in charge of the hiring process. NPCs NPC Info : Name: Dra-Navra Title: Owner of The Scorched Skull Race: Half-Eypharian, Half-Symenestra Year of Birth: 455 AV Place of Birth: Ahnatep Skills: Stealth - 63 Leadership - 57 Interrogation - 48 Dagger - 43 Intimidation - 31 "Please, don't stand up. This is a sharp little knife, and I wouldn't want to see you bleed." Dra-Navra is a tall, thin woman with a peculiar knack for putting people off their supper. Her half-eypharian, half-symenestra background means she grew up scorned in both circles. Rumoured to be the bastard daughter of a gilded eypharian man and lowly symenestran slave, she has inherited her two-armed mother's pale skin, silvery hair, and fangs along with her father's impatience, his pitiless business sense, and his youthful genetics. Despite being owner of The Scorched Skull, Dra-Navra is rarely seen within or around the tavern. When she does visit, she moves like a shadow; even the most hardened Scorpion might be given a scare when she appears behind him. Those who have met her say that she offers a silky exterior which hints at something dangerous lurking just below the surface. She is elegant, enigmatic and composed, if not somewhat stiff, but her severe amethyst-coloured eyes betray the depths of her trials. Moderator's Note: This NPC may only be used by mods or with permission. Name: Jaben Title: Head Bartender Race: Benshira Year of Birth: 480 AV Place of Birth: Yahebah Skills: Observation - 58 Leadership - 51 Brawling - 46 Khopesh - 34 Cooking - 32 "No." Jaben is an average-sized benshira whose frosty blue eyes seem to follow others at every turn. The tanned, black-haired bartender is named after one of the sons of Abiyram, but he refuses to share his surname with any who ask because of the painful memories it illicits. He is a man trying to forget his heritage, and thus shuns traditional benshira dress in favour of an eypharian-style red linen kilt, a cheap bandolier, and simple leather sandals. He is deeply loyal to Dra-Navra and feels indebted to her for liberating him from the life of an enslaved street fighter in the Pillars of Dust. Dra-Navra thinks of Jaben as her eyes and ears when she is unavailable, and Jaben takes the role very seriously. His job as head bartender is not particularly demanding since he avoids engaging with customers at the bar, which ultimately means he has plenty of time to observe while he pours drinks. Jaben has a tendency to be apathetic and removed when interacting with others, but he can also be incredibly stubborn when the situation calls for it. Of note, he is extremely wary of magic users and, if he had it his way, would ban all mages from the tavern. He believes they are too dangerous and not to be trusted. Jaben comes across as silent and gruff most of the time. He is very protective and loyal toward the few individuals he cares for (figures of note being Dra-Navra, Rasarenissahnya, and a young benshira street rat he's taken under his wing). His closest confidante is Ssahnya. The two frequently exchange knowing looks and whispers on the job, and collaborate in perfect harmony when it comes to running the tavern. Name: Rasarenissahnya Title: Head Barmaid Race: Dhani (Viper) Year of Birth: 385 AV Place of Birth: Ahnatep Skills: Seduction - 55 Persuasion - 53 Wrestling - 47 Intimidation - 42 Storytelling - 30 "Perhapsss I can persssuade you to have another drink..." Ssahnya is built small and slender, as most vipers are. She stands just over 5 feet tall and has thick blonde, waist-length hair that she keeps coiled in dreadlocks atop her head. She wears heavy black kohl around her eyes, keeping the rest of her skin bare. Her apparel of choice is a thin, sleeveless linen robe in either white or cobalt, paired with thin leather sandals - or no shoes at all, when she can get away with it. In snake form, she is 7 feet long with a kaleidoscope of black, yellow, and white scales. Her dhani shape is 10 feet long, and dangerously quick. She usually remains in her human form at the tavern, but has been known to shift into dhani form during particularly pugnacious evenings. Like Jaben, Ssahnya has feelings of intense loyalty towards the owner of The Scorched Skull. She was rescued by Dra-Navra in 505 AV from years of working as a Lark under a cruel Scorpion master. Her exoticism as a dhani, and the element of danger that came with it, drew clients in, and her master was loathe to let her go. She knows not whether he is dead or alive, but in more recent years his existence has nearly slipped her mind completely. She has put her skills as a Lark to work as head barmaid at the tavern, where she seduces customers out of their money and then threatens them out of the establishment when she's had enough of their belligerence. The dhani barmaid can hardly be described as friendly, but she has a convincing allure that persuades tavern-goers to part with their coin. She speaks in a soft, slithery voice that often reminds patrons of a one-time lover's seductive whispers. When she is particularly busy or stressed, however, Ssahnya has a tendency to be rude, snappish, and eye-rolling with customers - excluding any dhani who enter. She always makes time to mingle with her own race. Ssahnya will always refuse to dance for customers - her years of being forced to be someone else's visual entertainment are finished - but she can tell an entertaining story when properly coerced. Moderator's Note: This location does not require moderation.