Turnpike's Lantern

Turnpike's Lantern

Type	Tavern
Location	Fairhaven, Joriah
Owner	Cornelius Chey

Staff

• Cinder
• Skipper
• Gareth

Services

• Food and Drink
• Accommodation
• Warm Bath
• Stabling
• Messaging Service

Location

Turnpike's Lantern is located towards the western entrance to Fairhaven, Joriah, easily spotted due to the large lanterns on each corner of this significantly larger building and is likely to be the first tavern located by those travelling from the west, from the town of Tarrinport.

Atmosphere and Appearance

This tavern and inn is a large, two story building constructed from natural stone with dark wooden shutters on every window. Its most distinctive feature is the roof, which extends well past the walls of the building, creating a deep overhang that shelters the building from Fairhaven's weather. From each corner of this extended roof hang large, ornate metal lanterns that are always lit and can be seen from several streets away. A large covered porch wraps around the front with some seating for patrons, including a few rocking chairs where there may be a few locals drinking and talking peacefully.

Inside the building is built for versatility and comfort, there's multiple seating areas including some booths along one wall, communal tables and bar stools, with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a stone hearth in one corner surrounded by lounges. One wall is almost exclusively glass cases full of curiosities and collected items from across the continent and potentially beyond, you can quickly recognise a unicorn horn, the enormous claw of a boneclaw and a framed charcoal sketch of a much younger Cornelius standing with a party of five outside a ruin. The atmosphere is quiet and relaxing, the lighting is warm and the food is filling; there is a general understanding that the Lantern is a place to unwind.

There is a heated stone bath in the basement of the tavern that is available for guests to use who have booked rooms for the night. The bath is built directly into the ground and paved with dark grey stone, large enough to comfortably fit up to eight humanoids. The water is warmed by natural geothermal vents beneath the building; a quirk of Aerilon's mountain geology that the original builder was wise enough to build over.

The available rooms are on the second floor, accessed by a sturdy wooden staircase beside the bar. They're modest but incredibly comfortable, including a wool blanket and feather pillows, the luxuries one might miss while on the road, and lit up by smaller versions of the namesake lanterns outside the establishment. Standard rooms are private and include single or double beds with a writing desk and chair by a large window with shutters and a view of the street or the distant mountain range. Shared rooms are cheaper, a large room with a bed in each of the four corners with heavy canvas privacy curtains on iron rings that can be drawn around each bed and a lockbox for valuables.

Staff

Cornelius Chey, a male dragonborn in his mid 30s, tall with with dark red scales and a deep, deep scar across a cloudy left eye. He has a long crest of spines that are loosely tied back and his remaining emerald green eye still manages a piercing look into newcomers. An adventurer who recently took over this tavern when the previous owner passed away, he ensures that all travelers get the best rest they can while passing through, but is still working on his people skills.

Cinder, a female fire genasi in her late 20s, she's tall with her bright orange hair kept in low space buns, but they flicker like there's embers caught within the bun. She runs the night shift as both security and handling late night arrivals and departures and she lives in the tavern, she's incredibly friendly and loves to chat and learn but can get serious very quickly if things go wrong or there is ill-intent.

Skipper, a male harengon with dull grey fur and long pointed ears that stand up tall, making him appear much taller than he really is. He's a very energetic humanoid, bright eyes with a knack for drinks and cocktails and is always looking for excuses to try new things. He doesn't work every night but he's popular when he is working, and will pretend to give children drinks that they think they shouldn't have.

Gareth, a human male in his late 50s, keeps his head shaved, and has many visible tattoos and a very gruff exterior. He's not one for talking or pleasantries and prefers to stay in the kitchen than face customers directly, he was a former army cook and is used to cooking large portions of hearty food without even breaking a sweat. He has a young daughter, Elle, that will sometimes visit and it's one of the few occasions you'll see him smile.

Stock

Kitchen

Meals are 2-6 copper pieces.

Lantern Stew: Slow cooked stew with meat and root vegetables, includes bread

Traveler's Pie: Meat pie with flaky crust, filling varies

Mountain Breakfast: Eggs and bacon or sausage with bread

Hearth Loaf: Freshly baked daily, served with butter

Fried Potatoes: Crispy, served with salt, can add gravy for 1 copper

Cheese & Crackers: Local cheese selection

Apple Cobbler: Warm spiced apples with crumble topping, served with cream if available

Gareth's Pudding: Steamed pudding with dried fruit and a pour of honey

Travel Rations: 2 silver per day's worth

Bar

Ale/Wine 3-6 copper pieces per mug, cocktails are 1 silver and warm drinks are 2-3 copper pieces.

Lantern Ale: The house brew. A smooth amber ale with a hint of mountain honey, brewed locally

Dark Stone Stout: Thick, dark, and bitter. Popular with the evening regulars

Mulled Cider: Warm spiced cider, served in a clay mug. Available in the colder months

Mead: Golden honey mead from the Joriah lowlands

Red Wine: A respectable red from the southern vineyards. Not the finest, but far from the worst

Cinder's Nightcap: A shot of something warm and spiced from a bottle Cinder keeps behind the bar. She will not say what is in it. It burns pleasantly and makes the cold nights feel very far away

Herbal Tea: Mint, chamomile, or a mountain blend. Served in a proper pot.

Skipper's Surprise: A cocktail of Skipper's own devising. Different every time. He asks what you like and builds something around it. Never the same drink twice

Services

Accommodation: 6 silver for a standard room, 3 silver for a shared room, includes bath access

Bath Access: 2 silver, only available when rooms are not fully booked

Stabling: 5 silver per horse, includes hay, water and oats, additional 2 silver for grooming

Messaging Service: 1 gold for a written message within Joriah and 3 gold for beyond Joriah, delivered by carrier pigeons kept by the Lantern