Location The Wretched Rumor

[Tapestry]

The people say the Wretched Rumor was an establishment of necessity. Washed up mercenaries passing out of Kenash and Syliras found their way on merchant ships to Alvadas shores. It isn't clear exactly when the location was built, but so long as there have been spies, thieves, and sellswords in Alvadas, there has been the Wretched Rumor. Some say you can only find the tavern if you've spilled blood before, that the scent of it draws you to the doors. Certainly there is truth to it. The Wretched Rumor does not appear to exist in Alvadas at all. Those who found it claim it appears to be alone in a dark forest that somehow grew up from the streets and buildings. That said, one need only take twenty steps from the location to find themselves in the city again. The Wretched Rumor exists to give purpose to some of those aimless mercenaries and soldiers down on their luck. Dark things prowl Alvadian streets, and more dangerous beasts run wild in the mountains surrounding the city. Although Alvadas cannot boast a criminal enterprise like Sunberth, there is always work for those who don't mind leaving bodies or broken limbs behind. Two people appear to run it, and always have since the inn first appeared. The Keeper of the Wretched Rumor, Ravion, is a mysterious figure who has run the inn for centuries. Some believe he is Ethaeful, but as none have seen him during the day, it exists only as a rumor. As the Keeper, Ravion often has information on jobs for sellswords and mercenaries. The requests come from merchants, rich benefactors, even down-on-their-luck vagrants. If you have the coin to put in a request, Ravion will hear it. The other man is always a information gatherer of some sort. He or she holds the market on secrets, willing to share if the correct price is paid. Some caution that he or she is always a Listener for the Womiyu, but often the desire for information overrides caution. One always arrives at the Wretched Rumor during the evening, regardless of what time of day they started. Time seems to pass normally while inside, but somehow the inn always exists in an illusion of night. Fights in the bar are tolerated, however one must pay for any damages they cause. Those who are unruly will be thrown out. Those who persist will be taken into the Back Room. No one has come out from the Back Room. This location can be used without moderation, including the use of both NPC's. However, for information of a severely important nature, consult your local Storyteller for moderation.   Ravion Roma Intelligence 76, Negotiation 67, Projection 58, Hypnotism 52, Unarmed 45 Gnosis Unknown Languages Strangely, Ravion seems to be able to understand most languages that pass through his doors. Ravion's origin is unclear. He seems to have existed in the Wretched Rumor from when it first appeared in Alvadas. Ravion is a confident and manipulative man, focusing on an air of perpetual charm and threat that keeps his customers placated and wary. His humor could be considered dark, and he seems to have a genuine soft spot for the men and women who trade blood for coin. No one has ever seen him sleep and only a few whisper that the only room he retreats to is the Back Room. The tall, black door lies behind the bar and has only been accessed a few times...usually when someone didn't heed Ravion's warning to simply leave. Ravion warns people twice, and the third time simply takes them with him to the Back Room. Ravion has never been seen outside his establishment, but somehow maintains a strong finger on the pulse of information that flows around Alvadas. Always an interesting man to talk to, there are few that don't come away from a discussion with Ravion feeling poorly.   Cecil Jerris Intelligence 62, Stealth 59, Crossbow 52, Auristics 38, Unarmed 26 Gnosis 1 Cordas, 1 Night Stalking Languages Common, Fratava Cecil started working in the Wretched Rumor eight years ago. As a Listener for the Womiyu, it was his job to follow the secrets that flowed through Alvadas. A devotee of Akajia, his loyalty to Ionu has sometimes been questioned, though he maintains that he has a great appreciation for the Lord of Illusions. Cecil volunteered for the job in the Wretched Rumor. The Womiyu have a long standing agreement with Ravion to keep an agent in the inn at all times in order to monitor the more violent population of Alvadas. That said, Cecil was not given specific instructions besides observation. Cecil loves puzzles and mysterious, often taking measures to an extreme to solve them. Although hesitant to relinquish secrets, he seems more at ease to do so at the price he names. Not always content with coin, usually he'll ask someone perform him a task to discover some other secret before he trades them one that he already has. Somewhat mischievous, eccentric, and uncomfortably nosy...Cecil has a mixed reputation in the inn. But his information is reliable...and in a city of Illusions, the truth is often worth its weight in gold.   Prices Inn/Tavern Prices Chunk of Meat 3 sm Loaf of Bread 2 cm Mug of Ale 4 cm Bottle of Wine (Fine) 10 gm Bottle of Wine (Common) 5 gm Stay for a day 5 sm Secrets Cecil sets the price