The Wanderer's Watchpost

Welcome to the Wanderer's Watchpost my friends. I see you are well armed, and given the lack of uniforms, you are not city law enforcement, nor military. That is well and good. You are welcome here, and amongst like minded folk. Get comfortable, order a meal, a drink. We can talk business, should you be seeking some, at your convenience, there is no rush. What kind of business? Well that depends entirely on what you and your companions are in the market for. I know your kind, oh yes. Once many moons ago, I was your kind, though my day is long past. Valerick always has need of those bold and foolhardy enough to live as adventuring sorts, those whom would one day hope to be remembered as Exemplari. So I welcome you all with open arms. But be warned, I also keep a loaded Emburley Shardgun behind the bar, to dissuade any activities of an overly rambunctious sort.

Vel'rin Tol'vargis, Wylde Elf well into his 4th century, retired priest of Feyheart, sole proprietor of the Wanderer's Watchpost

Located in: Kelethan, Soilside Districts, Coalside avenue and Willow Boulevard.

Construction Date: 3-19-1473

Proprietor: Vel'rin Tol'vargis, a Wylde Elf, a retired Priest of Feyheart, and a recognized Exemplaris in his own right, last surviving member of the Exemplari Group remembered as the Wildhearts.

The Wanderer's Watchpost is in some circles, the most talked about and well known structure in all of Kelethan. Perhaps not the most visually iconic or obvious, but its reputation arguably exceeds even that of the Arcanum or the Eternal Grove. It is a reputed location for such an urban center for being almost a law unto its own. Though wandering the city writ large armed to the teeth is very much against the law, there seems to be unwritten rules of exception for the Western Quarter of the Soilside Districts, and that has a lot to do with the Watchpost. There is a level of self governance here, the Kelethan Police content to often let things settle themselves oft times, unless directly requested to intervene from Vel'rin himself. It is a favorite amongst rambunctious adventuring sorts for this very reason, as those whom live such a life generally do not appreciate the feeling of having to be disarmed.

It also has a strong reputation of being a hub of sorts in this region of Depenwood, a place where one can hear all manner of rumor, job offer and contracting opportunity that would be right up the alley of adventuring types. Vel'rin seems very well informed, and that likely comes from many connections he made during his own decades upon decades of adventuring, earning recognition as an Exemplaris. Now, in retirement, he houses others whom are on that path, provides food, shelter, and of course, information and guidance upon request, and for payment of course. He is a wise and well traveled elf, and can offer plenty of nuggets of wisdom to his patrons, though be it coin, deed, or story, they all know they must pay for any such wisdom.

The Watchpost itself is a large structure, looking a bit run down if seen from the outside. Three floors, build large and deep, the square of the building perhaps sixty feet by seventy feet. The property also includes a moderate stable and coach storage, a pair of other buildings of near similar size, allowing any vehicles, mounts or animal companions to have appropriate accomodations. He employs 3 cartwrights and their apprentices full time, so there is always someone on shift in case a group arrives whom need repairs. He similarly employs six well trained farriers, with three of them having unique training outside equine, to deal with more exotic beasts. Within the structure, the main floor is an open concept dining and commons area, with three tables of gambling run by a halfman business partner, Valerie Mossfoot. Hold'em, Death Dice, and a more complex card game known as Tactica all are run here. Besides this it has seating for easily a hundred people in the dining area, the kitchen built out the back of the main structure, to maximize dining and bar space. Vel'rin employs almost twenty serving staff, and at any given time there will be four to nine of them on shift at once. In the kitchen he employs another nine individuals, and there are never less than three of them, nor more than six of them, on shift at once.

The top two floors house the inn, along with a seperate apartment on the second floor only accessible through a stair case in the office tucked in the back of the bar. This cozy apartment is Vel'rin's own home. The inn itself, between the two floors, has a mixed combination of private rooms, dual beds, and communal accomdations meant for three to four people. In total the establishment has sleeping space for some seventy-eighty people, and whilst not always at full occupancy, it is unheard of for the Watchpost to be below half occupancy on any given night. This is likely in large part due to a pair of factors. Kelethan's size, and its many facilities, be they education, arcane, religous, economic, or otherwise, oft attract adventurous sorts in need of doing business, research or other tasks. Also, Kelethan is a safe haven that is also convienently close to a large draw of the bold and foolhardy sort that Vel'rin's marketing over the last century has targeted. That of course being the Forgotten Moors. With the gates of the city but two to three days travel on foot from the edges of the region, it is a convienent safe haven for groups intending to try to make their name exploring and delving into the Moors.

Within the Watchpost, one will find a style that can only be described as a nostalgic throwback. Lit with naught but simple candle lanterns, no oil lamps here. The woodwork rough and rustic, the walls not painted, but left their natural colors. The windows darkened glass. Large and long communal dining tables, five of them each easily able to seat fifteen to twenty people, instead of the more common smaller and more private dining tables and booths of the age. Though there are a smattering of smaller tables about the outer edges of the dining hall as well for smaller groups. Smoking is permitted within, even encouraged. The walls are decorated with all manner of trophy, strange object and paintings all of which have stories that Vel'rin is more than happy to share, stories of his own adventures. His pride and joy is the massive perserved eyeball, about a two feet in diameter, perfectly circular, that sits atop the common room's main fireplace mantle. The iris of it is a deep purple hue, seeming almost black as night in the right light. Those extremely well versed in matters far more esoteric and strange (Arcana for you 5e players, DC like 27) would recognize it as

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The core eye of an Ocularis, a terrifying and extremely rare aberration of a creature. For people just running vanilla 5e, you'd likely think beholder, which is fair and could be used. Ocularis does not yet have a bestiary entry, but when it does it shall be linked here.

There is also a small raised platform in the southwest corner, a performance stage for any travelling Entertainer whom wishes to do a little business, perhaps make a bit of coin. Vel'rin doesn't charge for use of the space, though he does expect and take a ten percent cut. In return though, the performer(s) will eat and drink for free that night.

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Vel'rin's establishment, like many of the....seedier places in Valerick also has a basement, the stairs to it hidden and only accessible if guided to them, and only if one can provide the appropriate password phrase. This is because below is a sand circle. One can enter all manner of bouts here, from bare knuckle affairs to full on death matches, though these are rare. Magick or Divine powers of any kind are against the rules however, for safety reasons mostly. The reasons this is kept so secretive are twofold. First, gladiator sports are illegal to run, organize or host. Boxing and the like are fine, but the blood sports with weapons and death? Criminal. Also the plethora of untaxed gambling being organized within.

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The cover image is meant to represent an art piece in the tavern itself. Donated to Velrin, hanging proudly above the bar, an amateur artist's painted depiction of their corner of the Watchpost when they were visiting. Artistic license and humor taken with some of the people and how they are depicted, purposely slightly distorting them here and there. Strange taste, but Vel'rin enjoys strange things.