On the continent of Glimmerhollowdanderynth there lay a wasteland devoid of life, a rocky desert landscape that sat between two large empires. The true origin of this wasteland remained unknown, many ideas of what could've caused such a wasteland to be birthed had been discussed but it was unknown. What was known however was that it had once been a verdant landscape full of natures beauty, rolling hills, grass plains and many creatures and was now a place without life or magic energy.
Within this wasteland however stood a city, an oasis in this dead land. It had been founded by two powerful wizards, the identity of which was unknown however somehow they had cultivated a prosperous and fertile land in the middle of the wasteland and built a large city upon it which would come to act as a means to travel between these two countries which had been virtually impossible. The city was a beautiful city bustling with life, surrounded by tall stone walls and filled well crafted wooden buildings that served as shops and homes and in the middle of the city stood a beautiful marble building towering over the rest of the city, it was the seat of the cities council, a select group of people who guided and protected the city.
Within the inner wall of the city on the outskirts lay a humble tavern. it lay between two houses on a long street that led from the gate of the inner wall and after some turns to the seat of the council. it was well maintained and had a cosy rustic look, the heavy wooden door however could be seen to be quite worn. Outside of the tavern hung a sign upon which was an image of a tankard with froth spilling down the side and a chicken wing beside it, the sign read 'Gumbo's grub and grog'. This tavern was known by some locals but it was not well known in the city, and often hosted travellers rather than those living around the city ,the food was good but it did not stand out but the alcohol was known to be quite incredible by the small clientele, who would often enquire where it came from, something that the owner of the tavern, a man by the name Gumbo. Gumbo had been running this bar for a long time, when it had opened was unknown, he was a man who looked to be middle aged with bright green eyes and medium length brown hair that showed signs of greying, his beard was short and also showed some grey hairs. He was rather skinny but his muscularity showed that he was by no means weak, he often carried barrels through the tavern after all. Gumbo stood at his bar most days serving drinks and listening to the tavern goers' gossip and stories receiving them with his characteristic smile never seeming to bore of them.
Gumbo took a deep breath, the cool autumn air entering his lungs, winter was not far off. The sun had begun to peak from the horizon engulfing the city in its soft light, the street was quiet though it would be bustling before long as the city woke from its slumber. He looked around taking in the refreshing air and noticing the few people who were already up making their way up and down the street, in the distance he could see the beautiful marble structure of the council bathed in the suns soft morning glow, a truly beautiful sight. a few meters away a wooden door opened and Gumbo turned his head to see a short old woman step out with a brush in hand, her hair all grey and her back slightly hunched.
"Nessa! Another beautiful morning eh?" Gumbo remarked cheerfully, smiling warmly at his neighbour. Nessa, a woman he had known for years, stopped and took a look around
"It is indeed" she replied, beginning to sweep the road in front of her house "You should get out and enjoy it before the winter, you are always shut in behind that bar, it isn't good for you"
"perhaps ill make some time today to go out" he chuckled "ill be making a nice beef and vegetable stew today, i managed to get my hands on some ginger and chilli so it will be extra special, ill bring you some to try this evening." He often stuck to the same menu and ingredients for the food he served but he thought perhaps he should try to diversify his Taverns meals hoping that perhaps some visitors might compliment his food some day.
As he stood chatting with Nessa the streets began to fill and the sun rose from its spot nestled behind the horizon, an artifact shop across the wide street from his tavern began to open, the man unlocking the door and opening the curtains to the front of the shop revealing many old artifacts and oddities sitting densely around the store before taking a seat behind his counter. Gumbo turned and went inside his Tavern opening the heavy door with a slight creak and a ring from the small bell above, inside there were a few round tables with chairs sat with them, it was empty at this time although it was not too rare to see a regular or someone renting one of the rooms upstairs sitting down with a drink waiting for breakfast to start cooking. On the right of the room was a large dark wooden bar with stools lined in front of it, Gumbo walked behind the bar and through a door door that leading to his kitchen. The door swung back and forth on its hinges before eventually coming to a stop while he began to prepare his stew getting out carrots, potatoes and a few other ingredients including his new chillies and ginger. He chopped the potatoes into small squares chucking them into a large pot before doing the same for the carrots, onions, parsnips, sweet potato and some garlic, he then ground the ginger down to a paste before throwing it in with the others. He then filled the pan with water adding some flour for thickness and stirred it in finally adding a couple large beef shanks, herbs and some ale to it before putting it over a stove to cook for a few hours.
Outside the kitchen he heard a soft ringing sound and a melodic voice shout "I'm here!",
coming out of the kitchen Gumbo saw the barmaid he hired to work at the tavern, her name was Belle, a young woman with brown hair that went just past her shoulders and brown eyes. she was a beautiful woman, which he had hired hoping it would draw in more customers and money which fortunately it had, she wore a bodice of deep burgundy that cinched tightly at her waist and was laced up the front with twine that showed off a rather large chest, in her hand she held a basket Gumbo had not seen before.
"Ah Belle! you seem happy this morning!" he remarked, leaning on the bar, noticing her bright smile as she practically skipped up to the bar
"Mr Gumbo, i have great news! i am engaged! in just a few months i will be Mrs pipkin!" Belle had mentioned that she had a partner named Pindle and he had even met the boy once though he didn't know him well but as far as he could tell Pindle was a kind honest man, the boy spent most of his days working at his father's smithy.
"I'm glad to hear it Belle! have you two set a date?" he asked joyfully
"we havent made any plans for where or when just yet, it was only a couple of days ago he asked me but i have some ideas! Will you come to the wedding?"
"i wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"good! now then i suppose i should get to work" and with that they both readied the tavern for the days clientele.
by the afternoon the smell of the stew and the smell of the few breakfasts he had cooked some patrons began to spread and some of the afternoon crowd started to wander in, one of them was a farmer who frequented his tavern named Bert who sat on a stool at the bar, a stout farmer with short hair a heavy northern accent that Gumbo found charmingly unique as not many around this city came from the same area as Bert.
Taking a sip of his Ale Bert let out a heavy sigh putting the tankard down heavily on the bar "This ale of yours is incredible!" he said, no matter how many times he heard it it always brought a smile to Gumbos face, what his patrons didn't know was that he brewed all of his alcohol himself, it had been something he picked up in his travels and enjoyed so whenever he found himself in a different place he would find out their brewing methods and use it to enhance his own eventually leading to his magnum opus of Ales and mead's.
"How is the family Bert?" Gumbo inquired wiping the bar with a cloth before leaning an elbow on it
"Ah , the wife says i should be more careful with working so hard when my leg only jus healed from the injury with the plow not long ago but cant have Alric coming over all the time to help me out, he has a hard enough time tending his own farm and with winter coming he cant always be helpin! And I've said to her I've said its well healed and the healer has said himself that its ready to be used so ill work in the field all day if i must but she worries ya see so -"
Just as Bert begins his long winded story the door to the Tavern opens suddenly, and four figures enter the room, clearly not local and wearing outfits likely to be worn by adventurers, the one at the head of their group wearing heavy plate armour with a sword at his waist and his helmet in his hand, his blond hair was messy and his eyes showed weariness as he scanned the tavern before looking towards the bar.