The Woodpecker's tail

Twice-Blessed

Written by Altorion

I don't believe I've ever been as comfortable anywhere as I was at the Woodpecker's Tail. There aren't many things I've missed, but the smell and songs of this place, I would give a lot to feel this, if only one more time. It is there that I met her, remember ? No, no, I'm not getting sentimental, but even you have to admit : these are fond memories. No, don't worry I know I cannot return. But remembering this place, these days... It makes feel a lot of things. It's good. I tend to forget that I am only human, after all...

-Unknown

Purpose / Function

This building was born as a simple rest stop for miners, guards and travelers of FeatherRoost, its city. Today, with the cultural popularity of the city, it has become the main trade center of the city, being as much a market as it is an inn. Every self-respectable merchant knows of the Woodpecker's Tail.

Design

The Interior of the main room of the Tail is made to make the clients forget the origins of the place as much as it can. The grey walls are covered with tapestries, the stone floor has been covered with pine wooden planks, a huge hearth has been dug up on the northern wall, and the huge bar at the end of the room covers the walls. Surrounding the bar are two stairs leading to a terrace overlooking the main hall. Hundreds of candles on the tables, the walls, the supporting beams and the ceiling make up for the inevitable lack of daylight. On the southern wall, a stage has been set up, fully equipped with curtains and back lodges, expanding outside the main room.

Entries

The main door is on the western wall, facing the bar, with the chimney on its left and the stage on its right. It is surrounded by small closed windows, mostly there for decoration, as the daylight only rarely reach the inn. Behind the bar, a door leads to the kitchen, which itself leads to a back exit. Up the stairs, and beyond the terrace are the many rooms and dormitories, each equipped with their own closed windows, and some with emergency exits leading outside. Of course, the chimney leads to an opening to the roof, and the lodges behind the stage lead to an artist entry on the southern side of the building.

Sensory & Appearance

The first thing that hits most whoever enters the inn is the pleasant heat, compared to the usual cold of the valley. The sound of laughter, banter and other expressions of joy fills the ears at the same time as the music played by one or many minstrels on the stage. The smell could be more pleasant, as it mixes sweat, food and alcohol, but is quickly forgotten thanks to the welcoming sights. The place should be dark, considering how far from daylight it is, but somehow, the candles and the fireplace manage to give the place the atmosphere of an everlasting evening.

Denizens

Permanently residing in the inn are the Sanders couple, owners of the inn, but also their staff : bartenders, waiters, cooks and everything connected to it. Then, the greatest diversity can be found in the evening, when the citizens have finished their day. The inn is first and foremost the rendez-vous of most citizens and guards of FeatherRoost. It is not strange in this place for a thief and a soldier who have been fighting and chasing each other for an entire day to share beer and laugh about it at the Tail. Then, there are the passerby : travelers of all over the kingdom, and sometimes the entire crescent, singers, actors, minstrels and other artists who wish to perform on the stage and all sorts of shady individuals who enjoy their short immunity. As is inevitable in such a place, a few rats have decided to try and reach the food stores, and, of course, a few birds and bats might be flying around the place, hoping for some crumbs to fall on the floor, or simply warming themselves.

Contents & Furnishings

Beyond the aforementioned bar, fireplace, and stage, equipped with every piece of equipment necessary to their functioning, dozens of tables, chairs, rugs, mugs, dishes and other rubbish litter the floor and the walls. Sometimes, a few theater props and instruments can also be found at the end of the stage when the artists and performers forget themselves.

Special Properties

It is said that the Woodpecker's Tail inn has been twice-blessed by the Universali. Once by the Universalis Economia, ruler of everything related to finance and production in the kingdom, and once by the Universalis Artemis, responsible for everything related to culture and the arts. Although both of those who blessed the inn are now dead or have fallen from grace, and have been replaced, it is still highly considered by most people, and rare are those who would dare try to harm the place, or trouble its tranquility.

Alterations

Once, the Tail was a simple building constructed against the eastern cliff of the Roost, lost among the many homes of the miners. This original building remains the center of the inn, but it is now equipped with a wide external court overlooking the Valley and the Archon . In this court, there are stables, merchant stalls, and slots for caravans to park in.

On the roof, a perch has been built for the many birds to nest in. Thus, if the entire city is constantly invaded by myriads of birds, the Woodpecker's Tail remains the center of their activity. Rare are those who actually know the original color of the inn's roof, as the rare spots where birds are not standing are covered in their droppings.

A direct protected stairwell to the eastern barracks above the city has been built to arrive directly in the court, next to the stables. That way, the tired soldiers can simply go up the stairs, and almost directly into their dormitory to cure their inevitable hangovers. Although an official walk way has been built for them, most tend to use the stairs as their main access to the city.

Architecture

The Woodpecker's Tail has been built directly within the cliff. As such, it takes on its gray and mossy colors. The walls and two stories are supported by wooden and stony beams, and frame the glass windows and the heavy and sculpted wooden entryway. Most additions to the structure, like the stairs, court, or perch, are made of pinewood, just like the most external neighborhoods of the city.

History

John Sanders, a young merchant of the First City, came to FeatherRoost in 16UA, when it was but a simple mining camp, firmly believing in Ultherion's ideals of unity and brotherhood. He had heard of the quickly developing camp, and had decided to come and lend a hand, not as a miner, as he simply did not have the skills required, but as a merchant. There, he saw a very chaotic place, where people toiled thanklessly day and night, and merchants who exploited the little means these people had to enrich themselves. He quickly decided that he did not wish to be a simple cog in the machine, and decided that he would use his talent to help and support them rather than take advantage of them.

He bought a small space and some brewing supplies, and started serving them beers, food, and beds for those without them. For those most in need, he lent them, and had them swear that they would repay the favor. Most were grateful, and accepted. It is said that during this time, Irma, who was then Universalis Economia, in charge of everything financial in the kingdom, noticed his effort and gave him her blessing, and some help. In a few years, the rest stop had become an integral part of the city, and both entities developed in symbiosis. John was soon able to establish himself into an old mining hub, which had been abandoned as the miners had progressed further inside the cliff. John could now offer warmth, and even more people flocked to his inn.

Then came the days of seeds of 19UA, later nicknamed the days of birds. When thousands of birds occupied the city, most occupied the roof of John's Inn, as it was one of the culminating points. It is said that the regretted Universalis Artemis, Lana, wrote her famous poem, Where The Feathers Roost, inside of the inn. It had now been twice blessed by the Universali, and it gained its name when one morning, a particularly insistent woodpecker woke up all its residents by knocking on the door. It gave way to a day long-chase, where the entire city stopped its daily activities just to catch the woodpecker. When at the end of the day, all they could show for their efforts was one feather of the Woodpecker's Tail, the Inn was born. This day, the 24th of the Days of Seeds, was marked as a tradition : The Woodpecker's Chase.

The Inn was passed down to John's son, then to his grandson, until it became a family trade. Today, the inn is run by Percival and Milly Sanders, a highly popular couple in the streets of FeatherRoost, and during the years, many improvement and expansions where brought to the original building.

Alternative Names

The Tail, The Woodpecker

Type

Inn

Parent Location

FeatherRoost

Owner

Percival Sanders

Barkeep Concept by Martinpazromero