The Open Fire Inn


The Open Fire Inn
is a thriving location
not a World in and of itself,
many of its guests and pilgrims 
have been heard telling it otherwise. 

The Open Fire Inn is an ancient respite
for weary travellers, adventurers, sailors,
simple, humble farm and fish folk,
woodsmen, warriors, wizards, 
crafters, henchkin, hirelings, 
exotic strangers, familiar faces, 
the wise, the wonderous, the weird,
any with an ember in their heart
or a tale worthy of recounting
in one way or another. 

It is a place to find acceptance,
employment, enjoyment, enchantment.  

As a storytelling device
the great purpose of the Open Fire Inn
is to provide a likely establishment 
central to the lives of many,
both for One-Shot Adventures and Campaigns alike. 

The Inn is located where it need be;
at a crossroads, in a city, by the coast, near a forest, 
close to an active Portal. 
In the collective imagination
and perhaps, in your memory. 




Running A Popular Medieval Fantasy Inn 


Rule number one : what to expect 


Everyone talks over everyone. 

Everyone interrupts everyone. 


Rule number two : in practise  


Regulars have adapted to the environment of rule number one. There are two modes of adaptation. 


First and most common is to shout louder than everyone else and never stop mid-way through saying a sentence. People who allow themselves to be interrupted are recognised as inferiors who often nurture resentment for those who dominate the conversation. 


Second and rare adaptation is to talk more quietly than everyone else. Contrary to common sense that such a voice would be drowned out in the noise, what actually happens is the quiet speech occupies an otherwise relatively empty audio spectrum and becomes the only voice ears can distinctly hear against the background speech. Strangely the people who use this effective method are often criticised for being creepy by the people who never thought of it. 


Rule number three : business as usual


Everyone accepts that for the landlord, bar workers, kitchen staff, bedroom staff, it is a business, it is their work, while mostly everyone else is there for recreational purposes. 


The exception are those whose income relies on gambling which may be allowed on the premises and whatever other business deals occur. There are booths and tables available specifically for this. 


Rule number four : zipped lips 


Under no circumstances is anybody to discuss any illicit dealings witnessed on the premises with any law enforcement authorities, especially when it is the law enforcement authorities themselves conducting illicit dealings. 


Rule number five : No Fighting 


The Inn has levels of protection including the biggest, hardest, nastiest bouncers you would ever want to imagine, who are the loveliest people in the world most of the time until you cross them. 


There is also the magical protection including ancient curses and such. The dynamically posed stone statues in the street outside lining the front of the building are examples, according to local legend.