Skyview Tavern

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Excepts of "Tavern Scene" by Dutch painter Cornelis Dusart (1660 - 1704). Click picture for full painting)

Trudging up the worn mountain pass path, you curse to yourself as you slowly seek the soft snow. The main path has grown brown from the many travelers utilizing it, and the snow is packed down and an icy menace. Digging your boots into the snow, you walk up to the giant log structure. The strong smell of wood burning is a welcome smell after a whole week of travel in the cold winter weather, and interlaced is the smell of a good seasoned beef flank roasting over the flame.

Your stomach growls as you swallow to keep from salivating, and you approach the steps to the building. Stomping your boots, you kick off the snow off the heels and shake it off your cloak. You are greeting with the sound of soft laughter as you open the door and enter. As your eyes slowly adjust to the flickering light from the fireplace, you see several people watching an intense chess game being played out.

Glancing upstairs, you follow the source of the laughter. You walk up to a room full of boisterous patrons banging their mugs for refills, with a maid slapping away adventurous hands as she grabs the empty mugs. You chuckle to yourself, as you unbuckle your sword from your belt and lay it to rest by your chair, marveling at the joys of once again being in the midst of humanity.

Accepting a warm ale from the bar maid, you hand her several pieces of small gold coins, slipping the now lighter purse back into your backpack. As you close your eyes and sip your warm drink, you feel the warmth from the flame slowly creeping up your feet and your legs, restoring feeling that the cold had numbed. As a singer leaps on the table to sing a ballad, you slowly surrender yourself to the desire to sleep. You've finally found your home away from home, the Skyview Tavern.