Blacks Tavern

Blacks Tavern is more than cozy, it is small and crowded. Built along the river wall in Ulrichstein this tavern is named not for its owner, but the fire-blackened stones of its foundation. Constructed originally in Y422 AE it was one of the few buildings still standing after the raid of 433. The tavern is frequented mostly by locals who ensure that any caravan men who wander in understand they are not welcomed.

The tavern is owned by Jóhanna Tinna Ólafsdóttir, who lives there along three orphaned children she brought into her house. Jóhanna is one of the Sisters of Eisha and so her white hair and pale skin mark her as an outsider. She arrived on a caravan in Y457 and bought the tavern from the elderly couple who owned it. Anyone that crosses her quickly understand that she is well capable of taking care of herself.

Jóhanna is a superb cook and she splurges what money she has available for spices and herbs brought in from the caravans. The few outsiders that find welcome within these walls are those that regularly bring her things from her homeland. Although she constantly complains about the fish and barely tolerable meat, her regulars know this is just opening her complaints about everything in general. There is always drinking at the end of these complaints.

She purchases most of her casks from households, but she distills a strong clove liquor that is the toast of the tavern. Tolerated only in small thimble-sized clay cups. It puts fire into the mouth and weakness into one's knees. Men complain it hurts even more when they piss the next day. Her yearly tax is typically paid with only a small cask of the liquor.

The L-shaped building is one and a half stories tall. Jóhanna had a some men build a covered patio out front where she strings out a hammock to sleep each night. During the day there are tables and chairs as the inside fills up during the night. The orphaned children she takes in to work sleep in the attic above the tavern. Originally she used hammocks like she prefers, but after one fell out she built a partial floor among the rafters.

She has a small crawlspace under the tavern that is a constant struggle to maintain. So close to the Aland River causes the ground to give way during the spring rains. She hired a dwarf passing through to secure the walls, but there is still standing water on the ground come spring.