After a similar excursion in my home city today I wanted to explore the concept as either a setting or a hook for an adventure. I don’t want to waffle on too much but tonight’s brief snipped has spurred on some ideas for future adventures.
So let’s sit back, grab a beer and let’s check it out!
Festival of Ale
426SaFeAl
Inhaling deeply the man looked around the audience beyond the stand, with a stamp of the foot and a flourish of his fingers across the lute he belted out the next chorus of the song. It was moments like these that made his craft feel more worth while. The sun shone down upon those who were partaking in the festivities as they danced, laughed, sang, drank and ate as the Festival of Malt went into full swing.
Some of the best brewers of beer and ale could be found on the streets of Warfehergen this time of year and for a bad like himself, it was the best paying gig of the year. Several people threw coppers and silvers into his hat as they passed by him playing on stage. As he finished his last song he took a bow before picking up his hat filled with coins. Pocketing them in a pouch within his coat he strolled through the other merrymakers out enjoying the sun.
Several ate and drank exclusively on these days but there were other stores making the most out of slightly inebriated customers. Several stores had fine clothing, jewellery and fancy trinkets where people with more coin than sense would potentially purchase things while enjoying the rest that the festival had to offer for them. However, this also meant that there was an increased number of guards.
Any large gathering of people, especially when alcohol is involved, is prone to having pick pockets, thieves and thugs roaming the streets. After the first year they were more common than actual patrons but the cities guards quickly learnt that their presence wasn’t just requested, it was needed. As the bard walked past a bar and paid for a meal consisting of smoked meat, a strange steamed grain-based bread like substance and some pickled vegetables. It was delicious, spicy and sweet which danced upon his taste buds and as he gobbled up the morsel the vendor handed him a mug of ale.
Drinking the cold liquid deeply he savoured the malty notes, the bitter under currents that swirled within the mug and as he continued the depth of flavour and complexity of the ale satisfied his cravings. Passing the vendor an additional silver piece he finished his food and drink before continuing further into the festivities. As he passed the colourful tents of other vendors and watched the next bard prepare for a song he wondered what else he could get away with on a day like today.
Thanks for visiting tonight. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow night for more content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 