The Hangman Inn

On the front of Southaven's harbour you can find a famous boozehouse and inn. The peculiarity of this place is that most of the timber used to build it were recovered from the "Blade", the galleon of the infamous pirate captain Blake "Kraken" Joshua.

Purpose / Function

As you may expect, the inn is mostly a mariner's boozehouse. Was originally built nearly two-hundred years ago by the Filip Chapelle, an ancestor of the present owner Adam Chapelle, who was an inventive businessman and, when the Blade was attacked and sank by two galleon of Saythian's Navy close to Cape Storm, claimed the relic and its content to build the inn.

Design

The design of the building reflects the configuration of the ship that provided the timber for its construction, therefore the rooms are elliptical and irregular.

Sensory & Appearance

The odour of the building is peculiarly marine, probably because the Blade remained partially submerged and covered by the waters of the bay for several weeks before being claimed by the founder of the tavern. Mixed with it is the smell of beer, liquor and typical Southaven dishes.

Denizens

At the Hangman Inn you are most likely to find William, the innkeeper, that has been employed here for over thirty years and, at least according to him, is a descendant of a member of the crew of the vessel. Often close to the fireplace can be found Penny, a black cat, that protects the inn from rats and mice, when she's not busy collecting small fishes from the sailors of the harbour.

Contents & Furnishings

The legend has it that most of the furniture was originally stored on the Blade although more likely it was recovered from more shipwrecks scattered in the depths of the bay. The fireplace was part of the original building used to support the inn, but it is decorated with objects recovered from the shipwreck as a tattered black flag with a skull and two crossed tentacles (supposedly Kraken's Jolly roger flag) and two rapiers. Beside it on the wall is held on display the original rudder wheel of the galleon. The furniture of the master bedroom is almost certainly original from the ship, since is decorated with the symbol of Captain Joshua, a stylized kraken. All the tavern equipment, such as tuns, kegs and the counter are recent additions, although care has been taken to maintain the seafaring atmosphere.

Alterations

A few expansion were added during the centuries to accomodate better the customers, the most significant are the extesion of the cellar and the stable that have been create respectively one-hundred and ten and fifty-four years ago. The cellar was expanded acquiring the cellar of a nearby building and removing the walls to create a communicating room. When this other building was eventually removed Adam's grand-father Ron, bought the land and built the stable.

Architecture

Whoever enters the building can realize how the original structure of the galleon has been kept and integrated were possible to maintain a strong pirate flavour. The balconies of the two master rooms are made from the stern-castle and his bulkheads and the room itself was the room of the captain with his original furniture. The spiral staircase originally would lead to the hold, but to renew it a bit a crimson carpet has been fitted on the steps. The tables in the common room are original and retain engravings from the pirates, and more recent ones.

Tourism

The inn serves mostly bypassing mariners, that want to get their fill, before leaving for the next travel. Enjoying a better reputation in compare with most of the other taverns in the surroundings, occasionally some richer traveller will stop at the inn renting the master rooms.

Founding Date

2248

Type

Inn