The High Table
The High Table began as a timber platform built by local woodcutters as a place to share meals after long shifts in the forest. The work crew's name for it was half a boast: the first platform was barely above the roots. As the fir grew and the platform was rebuilt around its fork, the name stuck. The woodcutting camp dwindled, but the table remained, and travelers gradually became its main trade.
The High Table
Overview
History
The High Table began as a timber platform built by local woodcutters as a place to share meals after long shifts in the forest. The work crew's name for it was half a boast: the first platform was barely above the roots. As the fir grew and the platform was rebuilt around its fork, the name stuck. The woodcutting camp dwindled, but the table remained, and travelers gradually became its main trade.
Quirks
Guests are welcomed so enthusiastically that leaving before finishing a story is considered rude. Staff will keep the kettle hot, offer a refill, and ask whether the traveler has reached the best part yet. Swing seats and chain-hung tables make meals pleasantly lively, but newcomers are advised to set down their cups before telling a dramatic tale.
Rooms and services6
- Forked-Fir Dining PlatformDining areaA broad platform wraps around the forked fir, with sturdy railings and enough room for crowded meals. The tree is living and carefully protected; guests are asked not to carve it.
- Swing Seats and Chain TablesSeatingSwing seats hang from stout overhead beams, while small tables are suspended on chains. The tables sway gently when someone climbs aboard or the wind shifts.
- Trail RackStable serviceA covered rack below the platform holds saddles, packs, and a few patient mounts. A groom can watch animals overnight for a modest fee.
- Guest LoftLodgingTravelers may sleep in simple shared loft bunks above the kitchen. There are no private rooms, but the keeper will find a dry corner for anyone arriving in a storm.
- Leaf-Screen NookSeatingA screened nook offers quiet seating for guests who want to drink tea or speak without the whole platform listening. It is not fully private, and the fir's branches carry sound.
- Tea HearthTea serviceA little hearth and kettle stand near the kitchen hatch, where staff prepare gentle mercy-leaf infusions. The tea is mild and offered as comfort, not as a cure or intoxicant.
People
The keeper and 4 patronsKeeperTamas Human commoner, level 3
Guide and regular travelerBrzena A sharp-eyed trail guide who listens more than she speaks. She knows the local paths well and is capable of defending herself, but prefers to avoid trouble.
Former woodcutterGogi A broad-shouldered sawyer with a quiet laugh. He takes every boast as a friendly challenge and remembers exactly who owes him a rematch at cards.
Traveling sellerLada A cheerful peddler who welcomes every newcomer with questions and an unsolicited snack. She is sociable, shrewd, and difficult to hurry.
CourierMirk A reserved courier with a wary gaze and a habit of checking the platform's chains. He is competent in a fight, though he would rather finish his delivery without drawing a blade.
Keeper's Species
Human
Intrigue
What locals say
Veyra's Ladder is known to travelers for its steep approaches and wooded paths. The High Table is a custom local establishment rather than a famous institution: its hospitality is earnest, its meals ordinary, and its mercy-leaf tea a gentle local comfort. The tea's effects are mild and vary from person to person. The house does not claim it has magical properties.
Plot hooks
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