Wild Bison

(name) blinked his eyes against the stinging smoke as he made his way toward the back of the tavern. Wood smoke, burning fat, body odor, sour beer, and a hint of piss assaulted his nose.
I hate the Bison, he thought.
He prised his boots from the sticky floor with each step as he navigated around the closely-placed tables and dodged over-exuberant drunks wildly gesticulating to each other.
He worked his way to a secondary, dimly-lit room filled with large booths and slid into the one at the end where half the crew sat drinking.
"We have any new jobs?" Dara asked, tossing back the rest of her beer.
"A few small jobs. Some might not be worth it." (name) shrugged.
A server set an empty mug and another pitcher of beer on the table, and (name) deliberately took his time pouring himself some.
Shouts arose from the main room, and they heard the unmistakeble thud of a body slamming against one of the sturdy, wooden tables. Taking advantage of the commotion, (name) leaned over the table.
"I did hear about one..."

Glass by rus-burkhanov from Pixabay

Cheap beer that does its job, dice, beds, the occasional bar fight, what more could one need?

— Regular patron of the Wild Bison

The Wild Bison is an old, sprawling inn and tavern that has a reputation for being rowdy and dangerous.

Patrons

Located in a small village nestled in the foothills of the Northern Mountain range, the Wild Bison is far removed from any large cities. Despite this, the inn and the bar are often busy.

Locals frequent the pub for food, drink, and entertainment

Farmers, artisans, and craftsmen from nearby settlements and rural areas visit the village to sell goods and often stay at the inn

Travelers avoiding public transportation, especially those traveling in and out of the neighboring countries of Rhovan and Necros

Adventurers and even scholars headed into the inner and western parts of Salaris in search of ruins, treasures, etc.

A Shadier Element

Various Harvesters and Harvester groups are rumored to frequent the Wild Bison. Some assume it to be a sort of headquarters for many of these infamous criminals - a place to fence illegal goods and to sollicit or accept contracts.
Local authorities have had little luck catching these criminals in the act, though some suspect that they lack the motivation to apprehend those who bring business to the area. The village is too remote for other officials to get involved.

Food & Drink

Nothing fancy. Big portions. Surprisingly good.

— Local villager

By far, the most popular meal ordered at the Wild Bison is a beer, rustic hearth bread, and Wild Stew - a hearty stew consisting of chunks of random meats, vegetables, and kitchen scraps. Overall, the tavern serves filling, meat-heavy meals and mostly locally-sourced foods.

Beer by DesignDrawArtes from Pixabay

Bread by Couleur from Pixabay

Dish by zweifelsfreimitb from Pixabay

The Wild Bison primarily serves beer on tap and only domestic beers. Some cheap table wines are also available and a small selection of hard liquors served neat. The bartender refuses to make cocktails.

Starters

Deep-fried Potato Wedges
Potato wedges fried in lard. Served with mustard.
Cheese Plates
A selection of local cheeses, ranging from soft farmer's cheese and goat cheese to aged, hard cheeses.
Bean Dip
Local beans boiled, smashed, and served with crisps and raw vegetables.
Hearth Bread
A crusty, rustic bread cooked over a stone in the fire. Served with butter.

Soups

The Wild Stew
This hearty stew varies from day to day and includes chunks of different meats, potatoes, and vegetables. Meats often include beef, venison, and/or rabbit, but can also include pieces of duck, chicken, lamb, pork, or boar. Vegetables often include carrots, onions, and peas, but can also include asparagus, turnips, leafy greens, mushrooms, and more.
The Wild Stew is available every day. The soup of the day may vary between the others listed below.
Freshwater Fish Soup
A savory soup with hearty chunks of fish, barley, and onions. *Catch of the day – may contain trout or other freshwater fish
Ham Stew
A hearty stew with cubes of ham, potatoes, and peas.
Rabbit Soup
A thick soup with small chunks of rabbit, turnips, carrot, and onions.
Onion Soup
A savory soup made from beef bone broth, onions, and served with hard, crusty bread.

Entrees

Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie-cooked chicken in a thick gravy served with roasted purple potatoes and asparagus.
Pan-fried Venison
Pan-fried chunks of venison in a thick gravy served with mashed potatoes and leafy greens.
Grilled Rabbit
Grilled chunks of rabbit in a butter sauce served with pearl barley and caramelized onions.
Seared Duck Breast
Pan-seared duck breast cooked to medium with sautéed mushrooms and corn-flour griddle cakes.
Seasonal Side: dandelion greens

Breakfast

Oatmeal
Stone-ground oats served with dried fruits and walnuts.
Toast and Preserves
House-made hearth bread with a small jar of preserves - choose from blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, huckleberry, or cranberry.
Mix and Match

Bacon
Eggs
Sausage

Biscuits
Griddle cakes
Cornmeal porridge

Snack Shop

A little shop near the inn's reception area that sells snack and travel foods from nearby stores and farms. Great for in your room or on the trail. Includes:

- Jerky: beef, duck, trout, turkey, venison, wild boar, mushroom
- Preserves (small jar): blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, huckleberry, cranberry

Occasionally arctic berry preserves from Rhovan

Springtime: dandelion jelly

Nuts: walnuts, pecans

- Granola bites
- Hard cheeses

Founding Date

c. 360 DE

Alternative Names

The Bison

Type

Bar

Owning Organization

Salaris

When frost and snow
And cold winds blow
We’ll warm up at the Bison.
With meats and ale
And tonics on sale,
Go Wild at the Bison!
Where friend and foe
And brethren go,
Let's meet up at the Bison.

Location

A small village in Northern Salaris

Near the borders of Rhovan and Necros

Surrounded by hilly grazing land, farms, and forest

Salaris

Open full size

Salaris, the largest and most powerful nation in Imbria.

Famous Patrons

While many notorious and perhaps infamous figures have visited the Wild Bison, the only famous person (rumored) to visit was Hapless Jack.

A scrawny teenager, too scared to be in the Bison, let alone the wilds.

— Late 800s / early 900s DE

Entertainment

Darts / dice / card games / other forms of gambling

Fight nights - unsanctioned boxing - no magic!

Low-level to midrange illusion guides - usually those travelling through the area

Singers - locals and amateurs

Weekend afternoon family-friendly activities (despite all appearences to the contrary, the owner has a soft spot for children, and so sometimes hosts events, like picnics and scavenger hunts, on the grounds of the inn for villagers)