The Eel That Rang at Noon
The pub takes its name from an incident outsiders invariably get wrong. During a fogbound noon tide, an eel hauled up in a fisherman's net struck the landing bell with its tail. The bell rang once, the fishmongers fled, and the keeper's grandmother claimed the eel had been warning them of a squall. Travelers retell the story as an attack by a giant sea serpent, or insist it happened at midnight. The building has since survived two floods, several changes of ownership, and one memorable attempt to turn its landing into a customs post.
The Eel That Rang at Noon
Overview
History
The pub takes its name from an incident outsiders invariably get wrong. During a fogbound noon tide, an eel hauled up in a fisherman's net struck the landing bell with its tail. The bell rang once, the fishmongers fled, and the keeper's grandmother claimed the eel had been warning them of a squall. Travelers retell the story as an attack by a giant sea serpent, or insist it happened at midnight. The building has since survived two floods, several changes of ownership, and one memorable attempt to turn its landing into a customs post.
Quirks
The keeper insists that the name's eel was no larger than a boot, while every telling by a visiting sailor makes it bigger. Anyone who rings the landing bell for a joke must buy a round for the room. The regulars tap their cups twice before drinking during heavy fog.
Rooms and services6
- Tide LandingDock accessA stout timber landing lets crews unload directly into the pub. A handbell at the end summons a ferryman after dark, for a modest fee.
- Upper BerthsLodgingSix narrow rooms have salt-washed floors, iron latches, and shutters that can be barred from within. The attic loft is cheaper but shared.
- Net YardStable and storageA fenced yard holds four mounts and a rack for drying nets. The stablehand can watch a small boat's mooring line for an extra copper.
- The Stake TableGamblingA scarred table in the back room hosts dice and knucklebones. The house keeps stakes low, but disputes are settled by the keeper, not by blades.
- The Low StageEntertainmentA plank stage fits one musician or storyteller. Performers may earn supper, though the regulars expect a song about the sea creature in the tavern's name.
- WashroomBathingA screened corner has a washbasin, clean towels, and a copper tub warmed by the kitchen. Hot water is limited on busy nights.
People
The keeper and 4 patronsKeeperShess Human fighter, level 4
Human net-mender and part-time lookout, roughly equivalent to a level 1 commonerShessa A watchful, soft-spoken regular who listens more than she talks and remembers every ship's colors.
Dwarf veteran sailor, roughly equivalent to a level 3 fighterBrask Veld Blunt and competitive, but scrupulous about paying his debts. He hates being called a hero.
Half-elf traveling healer, roughly equivalent to a level 2 clericOruvai Warm, patient, and fond of long stories, though she changes the subject whenever anyone asks about her former crew.
Halfling courier and occasional smuggler, roughly equivalent to a level 2 rogueKrzec Restless and sharp-eyed, with a habit of tapping rhythms on the table when anxious.
Keeper's Species
Human
Intrigue
What locals say
The Eel That Rang at Noon is a modest working pub on a busy medieval waterfront, frequented by sailors, net-menders, porters, and travelers waiting for passage. Its stories are local rather than grand, but the landing gives it a view of every vessel entering the harbor. The trembling bell is a custom feature of the tavern, not a known magical property.
Plot hooks
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