Burntburh: B1L - Bickerstith Inn

 

B1L - Bickerstith Inn

In the hillier shadow of wellspring peak is a stepped cliffs edge leading down into the Short Sea. This rugged stretch of land is more soot smeared than the rest of the Short Sea cliff faces, and somehow feels more foreboding and oppressive thanks to it. The shoreline along this section of the Short Sea is more pronounced than in others, and it is possible to beach comb around here.

[Warped perception - First time viewing the Short Sea causes d6 CLA loss]

[At night you can always smell smoke, and have a 50% chance of fog]

Bickerstith Inn - Location 

Nestled half way up the stepped cliff face is a sturdy two story inn made of large stone blocks. Its construction and location suggest that its foundations may have once belonged to a formidable watchtower, but the mixed composition clearly indicates considerable rebuilding and extensions have occurred. An old stone block pier sits below it with a long but easy path connecting the two. 

The inn is relatively small on the inside, thanks to its overly thick walls, and there is no courtyard or enclosure to keep horses. Its exterior is crowded with superstitious trinkets and markings on its walls. The threshold always has fresh lines of salt across it, and the inside has an unpleasant odour from the fish oil lamps used to light the interior. There are no other rooms available for guests, all must sleep in the common room, even knights.

The owner is an old woman named Rowena, she is highly superstitious and fearful of Burntburh, but has inherited the inn and intends to keep it running for the benefit it serves the community. The only real patrons of this inn are fishermen who have sailed the full breadth of the Short Sea to use different fishing spots or have been night fishing, or those who are venturing out to see the seer. She has a locked door policy once night falls, she’ll refuse to open them until first light no matter what may be occurring inside or outside.

Rowena trades many things back and forth between Brackenham, she uses special pots filled with eternal embers to boil off sea water to create salt, which she uses to preserve fish she is given or trades away. She also has an exclusive knowledge of how to prepare jellied darkeel to maintain its potency, meaning she often has batches she’s willing to trade.

Wants - Rowena always wants more supernatural protection for their inn. She also highly values peat which she stockpiles for fuel (believing it's unsafe to keep too much firewood). If it is breeding season for any of the cliff roosting birds she will ask you to collect eggs for her, as she is far too old to be clambering around to get them herself these days.

What can you find here?

1. Jellied darkeel - made from a unique type of eel which can only be found in the Short Sea at nighttime, when correctly prepared (as Rowena does) it grants those who eat it improved night vision - they may travel during the night phase without getting lost.

2. Crocks of salt - Rowena generally only half fills these so you can easily add your own meats for preservation.

3. Century egg - Rowena has a small stock of these long preserved eggs, collected from various cliff roosted birds. Few know how to make these properly, but Rowena is locally renowned for being the best source of them.

4. Cuttlebone - a rare find whilst beach combing, but sought after by those in the jewelry trade.

5. Soap kelp - kelp can often be collected along the rocky coast, it can be made into a good quality soap if burnt and prepared properly.

6. Mermaid’s purses - if in good condition these are used in a lot of superstitious practices.

Sparks

1. Burnt rubble

2. Rolling waves

3. Bird burrows

4. Disconcerting panoramas

5. Brooding nighttime

6. Driftwood totem