The Queen Arelora Inn

Quivum is the seat of the Sherrif of Noreashire and is a convenient stopping place midway between Dyrisa and Heroth. The Queen Arelora Inn is the only inn in the settlement, although there is also a tavern, Tams Alehouse. The walls of the ground floor are stone, the floors wood. Two of the upper floor walls are wood, the other two are stone. There are nine permanent residents at the inn, all but three of whom are the family of the innkeeper. From spring to autumn during market days, which are held every five days (from the fourth of each month), the inn is extremely busy. At these times it can often be difficult to get accommodation. All of the inn staff know their regular customers well.

The stone walled ground floor of the inn is almost 100 years old. Over the years it has been much repaired and improved and is still in fairly good condition. The upper, wooden, floor is much more recent, only 20 years old. The inn was previously named Hox's Inn, after the innkeeper. It was re-named in the year 666.

The inns' name was changed to celebrate the fact that Queen Arelora, it is claimed, once stopped at the inn to ease her parched throat. This event is said to have taken place while the Queen was on her way to the Keep to sign the treaty of Quivum. A polished pewter tankard hanging over the bar is said to be the one she drank from. The brewer, Nichol, was young lad of nine at the time. He claims to remember the commotion in the inn when a courtier entered and demanded a drink for her majesty. Nichol, if questioned, will admit that he has told this story so many times that he is unsure if what he remembers is the event, or simply the story he has been telling. Whether the Queen drank the ale, or even knew of the request, is open to debate.

The inn sign is a woodcut of an armoured woman wearing a crown. The sign was once brightly painted, but the paint is now worn and faded.

Staff

Bream of Hox - Innkeeper

Bream is of average appearance, is 5' 7" tall and weighs about 12 st. He is in his midforties and has a round, cheerful face, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Bream is a quiet, industrious man. He will tolerate a reasonable amount of rowdiness, but will eject violent or abusive drunks and troublemakers. A devout Peonian, while Bream tolerates foul language, he will not accept blasphemy of any sort against either Larani or Peoni. He will warn blasphemers once, and then eject them from the inn. Bream is no fool and if a troublemaker looks too large or threatening he will look to the inns regular customers to give him a hand. They know a free drink is on offer for any assistance so he can usually count on several willing (though not all able) helpers.

Yrfa of Hox - Cook

Yrfa is three inches shorter than her husband and a year younger. Some 8 st. in weight, she has mid-brown hair and is of average appearance. She does all of the cooking at the inn and leaves her kitchen only to serve meals to guests and to clean the inn during quiet periods.

Rudd of Hox - Potman

Rudd is Bream's younger brother. He is a lack-wit, slow and clumsy but loved by his family. Two inches shorter than his brother he weighs some 10 st. He helps out by collecting tankards and jugs. Unfortunately, he does not always wait until they are finished with. The inn regulars know Rudd well, and hold onto their drinks when he is collecting tankards.

Bream is fascinated by stones and by colours. His main hobby is collecting and polishing pebbles, which he keeps in a tray, sorted by colours. Rudd is a harmless, if sometimes annoying, soul. Most regulars will weigh in to help Bream if some ignorant stranger begins abusing his brother.

Nichol of Hox - Brewer

Nichol is Bream's father, and the former landlord. He still supervises much of the brewing but is now crippled with arthritis. He is the same height and weight as his eldest son. At quiet times Nichol will sit in a corner of the common room, talking to old acquaintances from the village and reminiscing.

Tarkin of Hox - Barman

Tarkin is Bream's son, twenty years old, he has recently gained journeyman status and has returned home from Aleath to help his father. Tarkan is a good looking young man, 5'10" tall and about 11.5 st. in weight. Extremely self-confidant Tarkin will flirt with any attractive young women visiting the inn regardless of their social rank or marital status.

Grenya of Hox - Potgirl

Grenya is Bream's daughter. She is a plain, plump, ten year old. Grenya helps her uncle Rudd collect the pots and helps the barmaids deliver drinks and food when the inn is busy.

Daws of Crinyon - Ostler

Thirty-one year old Daws is bonded ostler to Bream. He has been bonded to the inn for over ten years now and is married to Bream's long serving barmaid, Ceryn. Daws is a tall (5'11") man of average build. The stable is separate from, but adjacent to, the inn. Daws and his wife sleep in a small room within the stable, but eat at the inn.

Ceryn of Crinyon - Barmaid

Ceryn is black haired and quite stocky, now 28 years old she has been a barmaid at the inn for 12 years. Ceryn is a quiet, gruff woman who says as little as possible to her customers. She is, however, extremely efficient. Ceryn married Daws a little over five years ago. She is about 5'8" tall.

Remee of Tuls - Barmaid

Remee is a plain, jovial and quick witted young woman. She has light brown hair and is only 4'10" tall. She has heard, and can tell, all the jokes about her lack of height. Remee is 23 years old and weighs over 8.5 st. She arrived with a merchant caravan over three years ago and took employment on a temporary basis. She told Bream that she would be off within the year, but she is still there after three years. Remee claims to be the daughter of a free farmer from Sarkum. She chats more and works less than Ceryn. For this reason she is more popular with the locals.

Food and Drink Prices

Drinks

Drink Jug (4pt)Tankard (or pint jug)Goblet
Queen Arelora's Ale1d1f-
Nichol's Beer1d1f-
Cider3d1d1f
Wine-3d1d

Food
(note that only two or three of the menu items will actually be available each day)

MealPriceMealPrice
Mutton Stew2fPork Stew2f
Pottage1fSoup1f
Bread (1/4 loaf)1fCheese (2oz.)1f

Upper Floor

There are six rooms on the upper floor of the inn, all are available for guests. The room at the stairhead is usually used by Rudd, Nichol and Tarkan but they vacate the room when demand is high. At these times they sleep in the kitchen. The room with the fireplace is the most expensive. None of the doors have locks or bars.

Room prices vary with demand, and Bream's assessment of the customers ability to pay. A bed in the larger common dormitory starts at 1d per night, or 2d2f for the room. The two smaller common rooms, the rooms with bunks start at 3f per bed. The other small room is 2d2f. The room with the fireplace costs at least 6d, the other large room with the large bed costs at least 5d. All prices are negotiable but Bream is extremely unlikely to reduce prices below this level. At busy times these prices will be double, or more. When the inn is very crowded Bream will sell floorspace in the bar.

Ground Floor

A This is the common room of the Inn. It is at its busiest and most crowded at lunchtimes on market days and in the evenings before the market. The majority of Bream's customers are freemen or farmers. Bream often accepts payment in kind from his customers and most of the inns food is provided by the farmers among the inn's regulars.

B The kitchen. Yrfa, Breams wife, rules this room. The barmaid Remee sleeps here. There is a trapdoor in the floor leading down to the cellar where Nichol and Bream do their brewing. Nichol is having increasing difficulty with the cellar ladder. He must often content himself with shouting instructions down to his son.

C Bream & Yrfa's room, they share it with their daughter Grenya.

Neil Thompson