The Ebon Lily
The curious connoisseur in the World of Atkelem would do well to journey to the Free City of Longport. There one can find the restaurant known as The Ebon Lily. Catering to the somewhat affluent, the fare here runs from the meat-and-vegetable standards that can be found across the Field Lands, to the wildly exotic creations of the mysterious chef that commands his kitchen like a ghostly king of cuisine. Whatever the menu selection, the quality of the food is second to no other.
This dark flower is nevertheless the centerpiece of the bouquet of Longport; it holds a special place in the beating of my heart and even in the breath of this great city.
History
One of the more curious areas within the City of Longport is The Landing, a vast water plaza with a complex of floating docks where all sorts of items, foods, drinks, and experiences can be found. Several famous eateries rest on the docks; the most sedate of them is The Ebon Lily. Founded over two hundred years prior, the 'Lily' (locals call it) has weathered - in many cases, literally - many ups and downs over its lifetime. At its beginning, the Landing was a very different place. The worst of the waterfront was here; stolen goods, murder for hire, personal services of unmentionable descriptions - all could be found, and it seemed they were here to stay. Two things happened that began the transformation of the Landing; the first was the expansion of a small shrine to the water god Dinimeon into a large temple complex, and the second was the construction of a particularly long floating dock out into the water. At the end of the dock a platform was built, large enough to hold a big building. The end of the dock had very long pilings sunk into the seafloor below, and a restaurant was built on top of it all. Worth noting is the pilings only stabilize the location of the dock; the edges of the dock have large rings that encircle the pilings, allowing the end of the dock and the restaurant atop it to rise and fall with the tide. It has been noted by patrons of the restaurant over the years that the small waves give an ambiance to the establishment, while larger waves tend to be attenuated by the design of the ringed pilings.The Place
The building that houses the Ebon Lily was constructed with higher-quality materials; red oak from the Malinawk foothills to the north was used for the construction. The wood was strong enough to make a sturdy frame, and on the thinner external slats was able to take a stained varnish quite well. In addition, thin stone facing was artfully placed to create a signature look unlike anything else in the area. Inside, further use of thin planks over framing gives the illusion of solidity, while minimizing the weight of the overall structure. Thin metal rods are invisibly set inside wooden cross-pieces for further rigidity, especially in the stairs to the second floor. The tables are made from a lightweight southern pine, stained to complement the construction. The design within tends toward the dark, yet artistic. Ivory dinnerware, silver and obsidian flatware, and carved crystal stemware all rest atop sable-and-crimson brocaded satin tablecloths. Symmetric-patterned rugs woven from the wool of Westrange alpacas cover the floor, and artworks from around the globe adorn the otherwise austere walls. The light within all seems to be magical; no open flames or candles are to be found. Indeed; the light - a 'just-enough' amount - seems to only 'be there.' On the western side of the establishment, the sunsets are a particular treat - such seats on the second floor are reserved months in advance.The Clientele
The Lily opens just before midday; merchants, politicians, and administrators of noble houses comprise the typical guests during the light hours. After dark, the mood of the place turns to the romantic, and nobles both local and from afar come in with spouses, family, or lovers. The Lily is a popular haunt for the wealthy before their departure to the playground island of Renul Ramar, or upon their return. After the latest watch has started in the Landing, the place livens up, and a slightly louder (but no less disciplined) crowd of wealthy young people shows up. They often stay until nearly dawn, and though drinks become the standard request, the quality of the service never lessens. Notable and frequent visitors to the Lily include The Lord High Mayor of Longport, the Vicar of Dinimeon, the families of the Thirty Estates, royal families of nations far and wide, and even leaders from other continents. A story floats around the Landing of a pair of Chush from Dragonsweep, shapechanged as Tialdor, having an entire night with the chef and no other guests. The story goes that there could be heard laughter and languages no one could understand, as well as the occasional flash of colorful light from some spell or arcane device. The story remains because the menu of the Lily changed completely thereafter, and new never-heard-of entrees were available for visitors' plates.The Food
The menu at the Ebon Lily is arguably the most unique in all of Atkelem. This is in large part because the items come from all over the planet. The Lily takes advantage of Longport as the Trading Hub of the World, and ships leave from here to every port on the planet, and return from the same. In addition, Longport is the main trading port for commerce with Farhevash. Diners at the Ebon Lily have come to expect creative and surprising menu items. Chef Areskana seems to not only understand the flavor profile of everything edible, but also have a source for it. The Chef was the first to bring mushrooms and other dwarf produce from the Dayspring Delve and the Halflings that tend the gardens there far below the mountains of Imegolal. The Rainlands and the resultant spice trade provide the Chef with an almost unending variation of flavors; this is on top of the flavors available from the jungles of southern Otulkelm and the wild Tialdor that dwell therein. In addition, as Tarwollan is almost nine thousand edgelines wide, the flavors available to the chef are limitless. Seemingly impossible items can be made available to those with enough coin; the chef is consistently able to bring the soft-shelled crabs from the interior of the Sandseas to the restaurant. His preparation makes return customers out of everyone who can afford the dish. Not shying away from controversy, he also makes a melon cooler drink from the produce of Imegloal - this is the same melon that harbors the plagueworms that caused the pandemic of 2009GR. The chef has a method of making sure that the drink is not lethal, but few order it nonetheless. Those that are brave enough pay handsomely.The Chef
The chef is a Tialdor of unknown origin called Kamarach Areskana. When asked, he states that he is from Imegolal, but will not elaborate from which region or city in the southern continent. He appears as most Tialdor, except that his skin is a shade of pure gray, his hair is jet black, and his eyes are a striking violet. Many have surmised that he is some sort of advanced undead, like the vampires that are known to walk the Deadcauldron, but his friendship with the Vicar of Dinimeon calls that analysis into question. None have ever been able to scry information about him, but detection spells reveal no undeath, magic, or other arcane conditions. Further, although he is stern and serious about his food and the Ebon Lily, in general he is genial and outgoing. There have been instances, however, that call parts of his character into question. On more than one occasion, a prominent Tialdor has asked to speak with the chef. Obliging, in such cases he will emerge from the kitchen, and upon being seen, the customer will stand up quickly, as if readying themselves for combat. The chef will smile, say something calmly in a Tialdor dialect of Lachalben, and the customer will warily take a seat. When asked later, the customer will refuse conversation about it and leave the area quickly. It is rare, yet still happens to this day. In any case, the chef is well known to the police that patrol the docks as well as the shopowners he calls neighbors.
Brown Sailing Boat on the Sea During Sunset by Pixabay
The Experience
The mature epicure will dress in fine clothing, bring a lot of gold to the restaurant, and invariably have a wonderful evening. The more politically-minded will understand that subtlety and discretion carry a lot of weight in the daytime meetings. Disturbances are seemingly never a problem, as even though the police are close by, tense situations at the restaurant seem to work themselves out. In any event, the time spent there is never regretted, and the stories of good food and great service travel all around the globe, leading the adventurous gourmand ever back to the tables of the Ebon Lily.
Type
Pub / Tavern / Restaurant
2179 GR
Location
The Landing, Dock One, Longport
Proprietor
Kamarach Areskana
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