Dry Toad Inn

(known as the Once Dry Toad locally)

Overview

The location and atmosphere of the Dry Toad has lent itself to frequent visits by many bards. The weather, being mostly rainy, always brought a huddling audience to the main room. Most bards are local but some travel great distances to bring their versions of great tales and songs to the Inn. Aeschela, Lweyla and Phydeon are known to have entertained here on many occasions. The audience has been filled with noble and commoner alike as no one is turned out when the rains fall in sheets and the winds howl an unanswered song. Many patrons have said that there are inns that can warm the body but the Dry Toad will warm your soul.

The Inn’s front entrance has a cloak room with benches and many hooks. On one end is a cistern pump that pours over a grate for cleaning muddy boots. The cloak room opens into the main room through double swinging doors in the middle of the main room. The main room is very large with a stage at the far end. The sides of the open area are flanked by several alcoves filled with benches and tables. To the immediate right is a large alcove that is filled with a long bar backed by many kegs and casks. A door from the side of the bar leads into the kitchen and eventually to the storerooms. Immediately to the left of the entrance is a hall to some of the guest rooms and stairs that lead to the second floor. A rear entrance to this hallway leads from the stables. The center of the main room has several rows of benches in front of the stage and more tables for dining away from the stage.

The storerooms line the back wall of the inn with the owner’s quarters just above them and the stables are at the back of the building. The second floor has a balcony that surrounds the entertainment area and also provides access to additional guest quarters. The balcony area has some small tables and chairs that are moved out of the way when large crowds are in attendance.

Everburning torch lanterns mounted on the exterior walls just under the eaves are the how guests know they are approaching the Inn because little light escapes the soot covered windows. All the windows of the Inn are small, keeping most of the warmth inside and the cold, wet weather outside.

History

The Dry Toad Inn derives its name from an enormous petrified toad the size of a small dog that has been unceremoniously pierced by a short sword thus impaling it upon an old flat board that has been mounted above the bar. The locals call it the Once Dry Toad because, although the toad itself is quite dry and well preserved, this area rarely ever sees a dry day with rains and heavy fog being the norm. It is rumored that this spot was selected for the Inn when its original founders happened across an unusually sunny and dry spot on their travels into the mountains of Alaron. It is said that the sunny weather lasted just nineteen days before the rains again lashed the region. The rumor follows that it was a priest of Malar that blessed the Inn on that day as the perfect lodge for his followers on their way to hunt in the mountains.

The Inn sits at a well traveled crossroad in a steep, mountainous region of Alaron that offers little open ground that isn’t used for its main building and stables. It is a welcome respite from the hard travels of the road and is relatively safe from harm as it is a commonly used passage into the mountains. Drainage from the constant rains easily flow away from the gravelly roads and the Inns foundation, keeping its clientele high and dry while within. The larder is fully stocked with meats and cheeses from near and abroad as merchants bring their goods through here constantly. Hunters in the mountains regularly bring fresh game down to sell to the Innkeeper. The Inns regular guests include many Bards and Entertainers that are always sharing some of the most fascinating stories of their travels.

Seamus Duffee and his wife Ailern graciously greet and serve guests with the help of their large family. The Duffee daughters (5) help with chores around the Inn. Seamus’ cousin Coulm runs the livery stables with his son Ches. The grandmother, Ma Shaer, takes care of the household on the second floor above the stables. The cook, Harold Wornson, remains as the only legacy of the previous owner. The Duffee family were given the Inn by the previous owner while migrating south after a devastating landslide destroyed their ancestral home.

The previous owner was Nethrin Arnor, an adventurer whose own story of how he came upon the Dry Toad could fill a small tome. Nethrin saw opportunity in the Duffees arrival, an opportunity for freedom to fulfill an old promise. Shocked at their good fortune after such bad circumstance, the proud Duffees first refused, for such an opportunity could not be real. Still, Nethrin announced to a stunned crowd that night that he would be leaving and the Duffees would be taking over. Accompanying Nethrin was his stabler, barkeep and two beautiful serving wenches that willingly joined him on the road to where-ever. They have not been heard from since that day two and a half years ago.

The Duffees were angry at first as the other guests asked them for this and for that as if they were running the Inn. The realization of the situation settled in quickly as they took to running the Dry Toad naturally. Having a good cook in Harold Wornson helped them immensely. They were a large family that took care of each other, so how difficult could it be if they just added a few more members (guests). The concept of family is what has made them a success from the start. The guests always feel at home away from home while staying at the Toad, and not just comfortable but well fed, entertained, and dry. It seemed that whatever they needed to run the Inn, whether it be food, supplies or entertainers, always came passing through at the right time. They became happy with the Dry Toad being thrown at them.