Hearth and Horn Tavern

Overview

History

The Hearth and Horn began as a cookshop beside a drover's yard, then took over the yard's drinking license when the two businesses were joined in a merger neither owner wanted. The sign still shows a cooking flame beside a cracked drinking horn. Its present keeper has added rooms upstairs and kept the old kitchen's reputation for generous portions.

Quirks

The taproom's floor slopes toward the hearth, so spilled beer and dropped dice slowly roll to the same soot-dark corner. A brass horn hangs above the bar; when the room gets loud enough, it rattles against its hook like a tiny bell.

Rooms and services4

Upstairs LodgingsLodging
Six narrow rooms sit above the taproom. Their doors swell in damp weather, and the thin walls carry every argument, snore, and burst of laughter from below.
Back StableStable
A low-roofed stable holds eight horses and two stubborn mules. The stablehand keeps the straw fresh and the water trough scrubbed, though the animals hear every tavern brawl.
Common Gaming TableGambling
A long scarred table and a scattering of stools serve as the district's unofficial gaming corner. Dice and cards are welcome, but disputes are settled outside unless Sef intervenes.
Main HearthDining
The open hearth fills the room with woodsmoke, roasting fat, and the steady hiss of iron pots. Guests may warm their hands here while waiting for the kitchen's next batch.

Dusthallow Honey Beer4 copper
Drink
Dark, sweet local ale with a honeyed nose and a sharp finish. Usually served in a thick clay mug.
Hearth Beef Stew5 copper
Main Course
A bowl of barley, onions, and slow-cooked beef, thick enough to cling to a spoon.
Hearth Loaf2 copper
Food
Brown bread served warm with whipped butter and a pinch of coarse salt.
Pepper Cracklings3 copper
Appetizer
Crisped pork scraps tossed with pepper and served in a paper twist, ideal for eating between dice throws.
Mutton and Leek Pie6 copper
Main Course
A thick hand pie filled with minced mutton, leek, and gravy, baked until its crust blisters.
Commoner's Board5 copper
Food
A wedge of sharp local cheese with pickled onions and yesterday's bread, offered as a simple board for sharing.
Honey Cakes3 copper
Dessert
Small honey cakes with a toasted edge and a sticky center, served two to a plate.
Spiced Cider3 copper
Drink
A bowl of hot cider steeped with bruised apples and cloves. The kitchen makes it strongest on cold, wet nights.

People

The keeper and 1 patron

KeeperSef Ninth-Roll
Human commoner, level 2
Laundress and neighborhood regularThessa Eleventh-Roll
A sharp-eyed laundress who hears more than she lets on. She speaks softly until someone insults the district, then makes herself heard across the room.

Keeper's Species

Human

Intrigue

Intrigue · GM only

What locals say

The Hearth and Horn is a Dusthallow District dive where common laborers, haulers, and neighborhood families crowd shoulder to shoulder. Its honey beer is brewed nearby and poured generously, while the kitchen keeps a reliable pot simmering even late in the evening. Visitors with coin may find a room or a stable stall, but the locals set the room's rhythm, and newcomers are expected to respect the shared tables.

Plot hooks

3

1A guest's rented room has been entered without disturbing the lock. The only thing missing is a small brass token stamped with a district tally.

2A stable mule refuses to be led out after sunset, braying and stamping whenever its handler approaches the rear gate.

3A dice game erupts into a brawl when a regular accuses a stranger of using loaded bones. The stranger insists the dice were planted, and asks the party to find who did it.

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