Inns and Taverns of Antioch

An Arth Post

In Antioch, the Inn and Tavern is an institution. You hit the corner or neighborhood tavern a couple of nights a week, if not every night. You go, eat, drink, socialize. There are no Bars here or Restaurants that are open MUCH after dark... every public house provides some degree of food, drink, and lodging. Many people head home within the hour (that 2 hour block) of sundown. Some bundle together in groups and escort each other down the blocks quickly to their homes. No one travels far at night in Antioch.

The streets are not that dangerous from what you expect. You see, the city was built on a StarStone mine. StarStone is a crystal that holds and actually generates and holds mana, that which empowers spells. It is highly prized by the Elventi (who all are magic users) and spell casters of all natures, worshiped by the Dwarventi, and eaten by Trolls and other mystic creatures. The mines are mostly played out. Going any deeper is dangerous because of the spontaneous magics generated by StarStones.

So the soil in Antioch and the biome about, is filled with StarStone dust. Most of the time, nothing happens. Every now and again, an elemental appears within the city limits. It manifests for a few marks and dissipates. Since this can only normally happen in abandoned or quiet places, the quieter or more out of the way the streets, the more likely it is that you will encounter one.

Now to hear the natives talk of it, this happens all the time... like the spotting of Elvis or some famous person. Everyone says they have seen one and 'it happened not that long ago'. To hear the Watch or their opposition tell it, it happens maybe once a week somewhere in the city. The elemental does some minor damage and goes. People are involved maybe once every year or two. No matter how good the story, the threat is actually minimal. (Though the later in the night, the more of a chance you might have.) However, the stories have shaped the nocturnal behaviors of all the good people.

So if you live close, you might scurry home if it is not too late. Most people go to their 'local' inn and tavern. Every tavern is minimally an inn. It is only polite to accommodate the people who don't want to encounter elementals on their way home. Every tavern has a room or three. They also can convert sections of the 'serving rooms' into sleeping spaces.

This has been the bane of travellers who see a ton of inn and taverns and discover that they have 'emergency rooms' only. Most real inns are on the second floor of several adjacent buildings (with linked hallways), over several businesses.

The Blue Dragon: This is notable because it is NOT a local hang out. It is in the Makers Ward where few live. Here Strangers, Travellers, and other odd folk can stay with little fuss. The food and drink are 'okay' It actually has a dozen or so rooms. They are small, but they are private.

Beer and Beef: Don't the people of Antioch have a way with names? This inn and tavern sells this common food item, as well as an above average brew. It is a rowdy place in the North Ward. In some ways it is quite typical of Antioch.

Gears: A new place in the Quiet Ward, it is frequented by Impressors and other young intellectual rebels.

The Corner Inn and Tavern: There are two dozen Corner Inns and Tavern in Antioch. They are each on a corner in a neighborhood. Each of them are Green Diamond Tied Houses. Each serves the same beer and spirits as the others, and servers the same basic fare. The Green Diamond Guild has one brewery outside the city proper that provides all their alcohol. They run kitchens for their carts out of the various Corner Inns and Taverns, which then convert over to serving the patrons of the Inn and Taverns after noon.
Note: This is as close to a McDonald's as you can get in Antioch, SecondLand and ThirdLand.

Emperor's Place: His image adorns all the wall, and there are several statues of him, though no Elventi has every graced these halls.

Gordonus's: This is a klah house that serves alcohol and more hardy food after hours (late afternoon on). It is a popular place in the Quiet Ward.

Some other named places

BrightStar Inn and Tavern: in the ArchStreet Ward
ClearEyes Inn and Tavern: in the ArchStreet Ward
Gold Arch Inn and Tavern: in the ArchStreet Ward
Blue Rose Inn and Tavern: in North Ward
Food and Brew Inn and Tavern: Several of them in the Dock Ward
Antioch Inn and Tavern: Two in the city - ArchStreet and North Wards. The two compete with each other in various silly contests every few months for the bragging rights.
Full Sails Inn and Tavern:
Kevinus's Place: This is the same as John's or Max's, a very common name in Antioch. Thus it is a common name for 'places'. So often it is Kevinus's place AT street name.