Location
Primarily the Fire & Stone Trade Company is located in a large area within the western section of Alliria's Outer City closest to the Allir shore but the company owns large areas of land in Allir that include farms, orchards, and vineyards. The company owns a large number ships including cogs, caravels, hoy, and small fishing boats. They also own a small number of carracks and a number of fisheries scattered across the southern coast of Allir.Most of the common people know only that the Fire & Stone is a tavern and inn located in the Outer City. In the vicinity are a number of other well constructed warehouses and buildings closer to the docks. Among the warehouses owned by the company is a distillery and a winery. The brewery is attached to the tavern which is in turn attached to a large inn.
Drinks
Aberlour - A quadruple distilled single malt whiskey aged in an oak cask in the fashion of the Allir people. Its production started in 359. This whiskey is served in a small glazed goblet. It is a limited bulk product depending on the year of production.Solana Spiked Mulled Cider - A spiced apple cider, commonly served hot and flavored with ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, star anise pods, and steeped orange peel and roasted solana peppers imported from Vel Anir. It is spiked with the thick dark rum, Sarain also made by Fire & Stone. The cider is often served in a glazed mug. It can't be bought in large bulk as it is a mixed drink and requires immediate preparation.
Spiced Mulled Cider - A simple spiced apple cider served warm or cool and flavored with ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, star anise pods, and steeped orange peel. It's a non-alcoholic drink and often served in a glazed mug. It can't be bought in large bulk as it is a drink that requires immediate preparation.
Food
Elf Ears (Stuffed Solana Peppers) - Not actually the ears of an elf. This dish is split and fried solana peppers imported from Vel Anir stuffed with ground beef, rice, caramelized onion, and garlic with a thick tomato and cream sauce. It is served with belrand bread with honey and salted butter.Credit: Douglas Haley
Dwarven Blood Sausage (Blood Pudding) - Not made of dwarves. This dish is often called blood pudding or sometimes black pudding by those humans living in Alliria. It normally includes snow oats or highland barley as a filler. These are mountain ram intestines filled with goat, ram, and beef blood that are cooked or dried and mixed with the filler until they are thick enough to solidify when cooled. It is served with a local in season vegetable and belrand bread with honey and salted butter.
Credit: Eilasandree Ival
Vel Anirian Pan Grouse - Sliced grouse breast or grouse quarters sprinkled with salt and pepper. Fried in a large skillet over high heat in olive oil until browned. The bird is then bathed in a reduction of Vel Anirian pears and apples in a white wine, light cream and thyme sauce. The wide shallow bowl is garnished with a reduction of cranberry and a sprig of thyme. It is served with belrand bread with honey and salted butter.
Credit: Nidraak
Characters
Gnosis - A very large and sociable black and gray tom cat. Characterized by a prominent ruff along its chest, robust bone structure, rectangular body shape, an uneven two layered coat with longer guard hairs with a silky satin under layer undercoat, and a long, bushy tail.References
A Plea For Help Credit: Edmund Adelard | Aegand | Bronmaen GreatbeltDarking, Second Annenday, Peridot, 369, Dwarven Calendar
The Fire & Stone Tavern, Outer City, Alliria
This is the Fire and Stone Tavern, not another dull hangout in a nameless province. This place lay in the outer city of Alliria, at the very center of both Epressa and Liadain. It is but another span of time between the challenges of true adventuring for one such as you. That is what drew you here, now seated in some dark corner or otherwise occupied within these walls. This place is like the crossroads of adventure.The Fire & Stone Tavern, Outer City, Alliria
Outside the tavern, a fog lies over the town this evening. The damp, cobbled pavement glistens as the lights of street lanterns dance across the slick stones. The fog chills the bones and shivers the soul of anyone outside . Yet inside these tavern walls the food is hearty, and the ale is warm and frothy. A fire blazes in the hearth, and the tavern is alive with the tumbling voices of country folk.
Suddenly, the main door swings open, and riotous merry making does quiet slightly as some turn to look. Framed by the lamp-lit fog, a form strides through the doorway. Her light footfalls pad across the floor, trailed by the jingling of many small silver bells strung along her waist. The rattle of coins upon the bar top causes a palatable hush to fall over the place.
Her brightly colored clothes are draped in loose folds about her, and her hat hangs askew, hiding her eyes in shadows. The dwarf, Bron stands behind the counter tending it. You know him well enough and know he owns this establishment. He eyes her suspiciously for a moment and then she speaks.
"I've come seeking those with honor and valiant hearts," she says in a heavy accent, clearly not from around here. Then she hesitates, looks around for a moment, and pushes the coin purse forward to the dwarf. Then she calls out so that all may hear. "Fill the glasses, one and all. Their throats are obviously parched!" A roaring cheer goes up and the merry making continues.
Fire & Stone Tavern Credit: CountofCristo | Gwaerendir | Formorta | Jason | Petros Brande | Khyros Amhran | Bronmaen Greatbelt
The first rays of light start to shine at the coming of the sun. Orange and purple streak the sky to the east. The storm rolls on, away and to the south. "Apologies lass. That should have been simple spiced apple cider," he exclaimed and smelled the jug the liquid had come from with his broad nose before placing the container back on the bar top and frowning.
Bronmaen would respond to Jack next. "Certainly," he said as he retrieved a glazed mug and into that poured a light colored ale. It was not the typical watered down swill that taverns and inns normally sold. This drink had a refreshing lager snap and a thick head. "This is a spring ale. I hope you enjoy it," he said and then bowed before turning to Jason. "Yes," he replied to the mercenary and passed a bronze key to him after digging for it in a deep pocket at the front of a black apron he wore. "You will find your room up the stairs and to the left on the second floor. The door is already open for you," he said and immediately bowed.
Lastly he addressed his good friend Khyros and the knight, Petros. "I have four rooms still available. Sadly one of them is not the attic suite. The attic has been rented, clear through to next week I am afraid. An old man rented it and paid up front. I think he is a wizard or something like that. I nearly choked on my ale when he came in the door the night before last. He was wearing a hat that had such a wide brim to it that it very nearly didn't fit through the front door. All you could see of him was a long white beard. It seemed like his whole head was inside his hat! I still wonder how he can see with it on but he never seems to have it off when I see him."
The dwarf continued on this tangent explaining about the odd visitor but eventually got back to answering their questions. "Two silver for a day and a night. I prefer Liria if possible." He preferred coins minted in Alliria. The price was on the high side of fair for what one could expect to pay for a room in the city. He then turned to glance back in the direction of the room where he had addressed the boy, Liam. It seemed the boy was taking his sweet time about waking up and getting to the cook fire.
Bronmaen would respond to Jack next. "Certainly," he said as he retrieved a glazed mug and into that poured a light colored ale. It was not the typical watered down swill that taverns and inns normally sold. This drink had a refreshing lager snap and a thick head. "This is a spring ale. I hope you enjoy it," he said and then bowed before turning to Jason. "Yes," he replied to the mercenary and passed a bronze key to him after digging for it in a deep pocket at the front of a black apron he wore. "You will find your room up the stairs and to the left on the second floor. The door is already open for you," he said and immediately bowed.
Lastly he addressed his good friend Khyros and the knight, Petros. "I have four rooms still available. Sadly one of them is not the attic suite. The attic has been rented, clear through to next week I am afraid. An old man rented it and paid up front. I think he is a wizard or something like that. I nearly choked on my ale when he came in the door the night before last. He was wearing a hat that had such a wide brim to it that it very nearly didn't fit through the front door. All you could see of him was a long white beard. It seemed like his whole head was inside his hat! I still wonder how he can see with it on but he never seems to have it off when I see him."
The dwarf continued on this tangent explaining about the odd visitor but eventually got back to answering their questions. "Two silver for a day and a night. I prefer Liria if possible." He preferred coins minted in Alliria. The price was on the high side of fair for what one could expect to pay for a room in the city. He then turned to glance back in the direction of the room where he had addressed the boy, Liam. It seemed the boy was taking his sweet time about waking up and getting to the cook fire.