For All the Things
The Gilded Rose was the finest tavern East of the Onyx Spires. Not only was it known for its pure sweet ale served by beautiful barmaidens, but also for the atmosphere it generated. People didn't just come to the Gilded Rose to get drunk; they came for the experience. Walls of a deep rich scarlet color were adorned with detailed tapestries displaying local history and legend. The furniture was made of dark mahogany and inlaid with golden patterns with a rose theme. At the very center of the tavern was its namesake, a golden rose made with such expertise that it looked as though the pedestal upon which it stood gave bloom to a living metal flower.
The tavern was owned and tended by Eldimere Nolland, nicknamed Old Nol by the regulars and those friendly with him. He and his three daughters worked around the clock to help the Gilded Rose live up to its reputation. The Nolland girls themselves were another renowned attraction of the tavern. The three of them served drinks with such grace and fluidity that their dodges between tables and the outstretched hands of drunken patrons became a sultry dance to the eyes of onlookers. Those less knowledgeable would even go so far as to say that Old Nol had taken up with an elven wife. The few who had been around long enough to meet Mrs. Nolland in person knew better, but there was no denying that there was something magical in that bloodline.
You sat in your usual drinking spot, a small round table in the corner by a tall tinted window. The light was usually low at this end of the tavern, even after the sun releases its grip on the sky above and the lanterns are lit. Should curious folk and wandering eyes gaze in your direction from outside, the only sight to greet them would be shifting shadows like smoke in the darkness. You, on the other hand, could see clearly. Both the road and its pedestrians, as well as the entirety of the tavern, were under your careful watch. Most nights, there was no reason to keep such a vigil. Tonight seemed like it would be just like any other night as well. You motioned towards Saralee, the eldest of the Nolland girls. Without missing her cue, she whisked away only to return as quickly as she left, with a pint of your favorite ale in hand. She smiled as she set it on the table. "Hey Stranger, don't drink so much tonight. Remember what happened last time?" Seeing the perplexed look on your face, she laughed. "Exactly!" She left, with you wondering whether she was joking, or if something took place that you truly have no memory of.