The Black Lion
I actually wrote this up for use in a city-based campaign in my own homebrew, figuring to make it a home base for the PC's. I didn't use it in the end, but did start the PC's here at one point. Warning - it's a little long!
The Black Lion
The Black Lion Inn is the premier lodging house in the Empire. Founded in 727 A.E. it has maintained a standard of excellence that has yet to be surpassed. Besides providing lodging, it has become a hub for all sorts, from those wishing to hire mercenaries to the Guild of Moneylenders and Usurers favoured drinking spot. Owen Priestley owns it. It attracts a vast clientele, from those wishing to spend a night in the expansive common room to the very rich, who can afford one of the two Imperial suites, named such due to an Emperor staying the night in one.
Upon entering the Black Lion Inn proper, one will see the entrance hall, which is about six inches elevated from the courtyard, to keep rain and water from getting in. The floor in this room is paving stones, the walls and ceiling are stout, dark oak, and a large mahogany counter takes up most of the far half, behind which a small brazier usually burns. On each wall there is a door, the first to the courtyard, then clockwise, the common room, the main staircase, and the dining hall. There are usually two clerks on duty, and six work here in total, Jacob, Ethan, Sandra, Evian, Raymond and Charles. Sandra and Ethan are the first watch. Sandra is Owen’s niece, and Ethan is a young man who has finished a tour with the legion. Sandra is a petite brunette with a ready smile and a quick wit (often unappreciated by hung-over merchants) and Ethan is a quiet, handsome young Liturgikan. Jacob is a thin man, short and full of nervous energy, but is quick and efficient, easily dealing with the evening’s rush. He has been part of the Black Lion staff for sixteen years. Evian is a pretty, auburn haired half-elf, who is brisk and seemingly uninterested in all but business. Raymond and Charles are the third watch (midnight to eight o’clock), and are both ex-mercenaries. They are strong and fit, though somewhat battle-scarred and grim, with Charles missing an ear, and Raymond wearing a large scar on his temple. After midnight the front door is locked and barred (DC 30 to pick, DC 25 to break), and anyone attempting to enter is viewed through a small shutter in the door. A large lantern is hung from the ceiling, and a sconce with a torch in it is kept lit during the night. The room keys are kept in a small chest (DC 25 to pick) though it is kept unlocked nearly all of the time. Lastly, under the counter are a heavy crossbow, a stout cudgel, and a sap. Raymond and Charles usually wear short swords.
The door on the left leads to the common room, a large hall used for meetings by many associations, guilds, brotherhoods, and orders. It’s a point of pride with the Inn’s staff that there has never been bloodshed in the hall, despite the loud and boisterous arguments often heard. There is a fireplace on both the right and left oaken walls as one enters, though usually only one is lit. Otherwise, the dominant feature of this room is the stage on the far wall. Though when it is used for meetings, long tables are set up, the common room is usually full of pallets, laid out on the hardwood floor by travellers who cannot afford a room. Candelabras on stands are placed throughout the common room, and are lit at sundown, and extinguished at around nine o’clock. Renting the long hall costs thirty imperial marks per hour. Food costs depending on what is ordered, but is the same price as the dining hall, plus an additional copper piece to every meal.
The staircase leads up the second and third floors, where the rooms of the inn are rented. Generally, the third floor rooms are the premium suites, while the second floor rooms are more like those found in other inns. There are over fifty rooms in the Black Lion. Twenty-two have a front view; there are eight corner rooms (four are suites, one an imperial suite) and twenty-two rooms look out the back of the inn (three are suites, and one is an imperial suite). All the hallways are wide and carpeted with a thick grey carpet, which muffles footsteps. The rooms vary in size, but most have four beds, a chest at the end of each, a fireplace, and two armchairs in the corner, both of which have small tables next to them. Suites have two double beds, another room with a desk, table, four chairs, and a dumbwaiter. Suites also have their own distinctive décor. (The Captain’s Suite, the Rose suite, the Old Imperial Suite, the New Imperial suite, the General’s suite, the Newlywed’s suite, and the Lady’s suite.) The prices for the rooms are fairly standard, about two to three gold marks, though it certainly costs more during the holiday season. The suites are more expensive. The two imperial suites cost the most, both being around twenty marks a night!
Finally, the door on the left of the entrance hall leads out to an eight-foot space, covered by a roof. Across from the entrance hall door is another building, which has a large double door on the facing side. This is the dining hall. Lit after sundown by lanterns on the walls, the dining hall has many round tables scattered around. The corners are lit with candelabras, and there are no booths. In the middle of the tables is the fireplace. Open on two sides, the chimney comes straight up through the room. There are usually six or seven overstuffed armchairs sitting on bearskin rugs around the fireplace, though they must be claimed early in the evening! During evening hours, the wait for a table can often be upwards of half an hour, since the Black Lion is popular both with the inn patrons, and locals as a restaurant. On the far wall, a long bar dominates. Made of dark oak, it is polished and smooth. On the front of it is a long brass pole at foot height, and stools made of the same oak are place along its’ length. Besides food, coal braziers are available for rental, for four pennies a night, and are placed under the table for added warmth. Lastly, Jason Glenwheat, the resident bard, will play at the request of patrons (two silvers a tune). Naming a tune that he cannot play* is worth two marks, though most people have to request about thirty or more before stumping him. He mainly plays the mandolin, but has been known to play almost any other instrument, and his voice is the toast of the north city. Jason is about fifty, with a mane of silver hair, which he wears loose. He dresses flamboyantly, in deep black and rich gold, like the inn’s colours. He also carries a fine, old longsword on his back, and has been known to take part in quelling fights. There are six waitresses, Jeanine, Anna, Jessica, Francesca (a Navaini girl) Lucy, and Sarah. Sarah and Jessica work mornings, the rest work nights. They are all hired for their skill at serving food and drink, Owen maintains, though most patrons believe looks are a prerequisite. There are usually four bartenders, with Owen sometimes taking a hand. Peter, Anderson, Samuel, and Erich (a Silean) usually come on duty at lunchtime onward, for the bar closes at midnight. Erich and Samuel usually open, while Peter and Anderson usually stay late and close.
(* Music Knowledge + 15. You must beat his check with one of your own. This represents your knowledge of music versus his.)
I actually wrote this up for use in a city-based campaign in my own homebrew, figuring to make it a home base for the PC's. I didn't use it in the end, but did start the PC's here at one point. Warning - it's a little long!
The Black Lion
The Black Lion Inn is the premier lodging house in the Empire. Founded in 727 A.E. it has maintained a standard of excellence that has yet to be surpassed. Besides providing lodging, it has become a hub for all sorts, from those wishing to hire mercenaries to the Guild of Moneylenders and Usurers favoured drinking spot. Owen Priestley owns it. It attracts a vast clientele, from those wishing to spend a night in the expansive common room to the very rich, who can afford one of the two Imperial suites, named such due to an Emperor staying the night in one.
Upon entering the Black Lion Inn proper, one will see the entrance hall, which is about six inches elevated from the courtyard, to keep rain and water from getting in. The floor in this room is paving stones, the walls and ceiling are stout, dark oak, and a large mahogany counter takes up most of the far half, behind which a small brazier usually burns. On each wall there is a door, the first to the courtyard, then clockwise, the common room, the main staircase, and the dining hall. There are usually two clerks on duty, and six work here in total, Jacob, Ethan, Sandra, Evian, Raymond and Charles. Sandra and Ethan are the first watch. Sandra is Owen’s niece, and Ethan is a young man who has finished a tour with the legion. Sandra is a petite brunette with a ready smile and a quick wit (often unappreciated by hung-over merchants) and Ethan is a quiet, handsome young Liturgikan. Jacob is a thin man, short and full of nervous energy, but is quick and efficient, easily dealing with the evening’s rush. He has been part of the Black Lion staff for sixteen years. Evian is a pretty, auburn haired half-elf, who is brisk and seemingly uninterested in all but business. Raymond and Charles are the third watch (midnight to eight o’clock), and are both ex-mercenaries. They are strong and fit, though somewhat battle-scarred and grim, with Charles missing an ear, and Raymond wearing a large scar on his temple. After midnight the front door is locked and barred (DC 30 to pick, DC 25 to break), and anyone attempting to enter is viewed through a small shutter in the door. A large lantern is hung from the ceiling, and a sconce with a torch in it is kept lit during the night. The room keys are kept in a small chest (DC 25 to pick) though it is kept unlocked nearly all of the time. Lastly, under the counter are a heavy crossbow, a stout cudgel, and a sap. Raymond and Charles usually wear short swords.
The door on the left leads to the common room, a large hall used for meetings by many associations, guilds, brotherhoods, and orders. It’s a point of pride with the Inn’s staff that there has never been bloodshed in the hall, despite the loud and boisterous arguments often heard. There is a fireplace on both the right and left oaken walls as one enters, though usually only one is lit. Otherwise, the dominant feature of this room is the stage on the far wall. Though when it is used for meetings, long tables are set up, the common room is usually full of pallets, laid out on the hardwood floor by travellers who cannot afford a room. Candelabras on stands are placed throughout the common room, and are lit at sundown, and extinguished at around nine o’clock. Renting the long hall costs thirty imperial marks per hour. Food costs depending on what is ordered, but is the same price as the dining hall, plus an additional copper piece to every meal.
The staircase leads up the second and third floors, where the rooms of the inn are rented. Generally, the third floor rooms are the premium suites, while the second floor rooms are more like those found in other inns. There are over fifty rooms in the Black Lion. Twenty-two have a front view; there are eight corner rooms (four are suites, one an imperial suite) and twenty-two rooms look out the back of the inn (three are suites, and one is an imperial suite). All the hallways are wide and carpeted with a thick grey carpet, which muffles footsteps. The rooms vary in size, but most have four beds, a chest at the end of each, a fireplace, and two armchairs in the corner, both of which have small tables next to them. Suites have two double beds, another room with a desk, table, four chairs, and a dumbwaiter. Suites also have their own distinctive décor. (The Captain’s Suite, the Rose suite, the Old Imperial Suite, the New Imperial suite, the General’s suite, the Newlywed’s suite, and the Lady’s suite.) The prices for the rooms are fairly standard, about two to three gold marks, though it certainly costs more during the holiday season. The suites are more expensive. The two imperial suites cost the most, both being around twenty marks a night!
Finally, the door on the left of the entrance hall leads out to an eight-foot space, covered by a roof. Across from the entrance hall door is another building, which has a large double door on the facing side. This is the dining hall. Lit after sundown by lanterns on the walls, the dining hall has many round tables scattered around. The corners are lit with candelabras, and there are no booths. In the middle of the tables is the fireplace. Open on two sides, the chimney comes straight up through the room. There are usually six or seven overstuffed armchairs sitting on bearskin rugs around the fireplace, though they must be claimed early in the evening! During evening hours, the wait for a table can often be upwards of half an hour, since the Black Lion is popular both with the inn patrons, and locals as a restaurant. On the far wall, a long bar dominates. Made of dark oak, it is polished and smooth. On the front of it is a long brass pole at foot height, and stools made of the same oak are place along its’ length. Besides food, coal braziers are available for rental, for four pennies a night, and are placed under the table for added warmth. Lastly, Jason Glenwheat, the resident bard, will play at the request of patrons (two silvers a tune). Naming a tune that he cannot play* is worth two marks, though most people have to request about thirty or more before stumping him. He mainly plays the mandolin, but has been known to play almost any other instrument, and his voice is the toast of the north city. Jason is about fifty, with a mane of silver hair, which he wears loose. He dresses flamboyantly, in deep black and rich gold, like the inn’s colours. He also carries a fine, old longsword on his back, and has been known to take part in quelling fights. There are six waitresses, Jeanine, Anna, Jessica, Francesca (a Navaini girl) Lucy, and Sarah. Sarah and Jessica work mornings, the rest work nights. They are all hired for their skill at serving food and drink, Owen maintains, though most patrons believe looks are a prerequisite. There are usually four bartenders, with Owen sometimes taking a hand. Peter, Anderson, Samuel, and Erich (a Silean) usually come on duty at lunchtime onward, for the bar closes at midnight. Erich and Samuel usually open, while Peter and Anderson usually stay late and close.
(* Music Knowledge + 15. You must beat his check with one of your own. This represents your knowledge of music versus his.)
