Durnan
Durnan is the owner and barkeep of the Yawning Portal, a legendary tavern built atop the entrance to Undermountain. He is known for his stoic demeanor, powerful build, and a glare that can quiet a room. Though most patrons only know him as the gruff innkeeper with a greatsword behind the bar, whispers among adventurers suggest he once delved into Undermountain himself—and came back rich enough to buy the tavern.
The party first met Durnan during a fight at the Yawning Portal involving a half-orc named Yarga Stonefist and some tattooed ruffians. While he let the brawl unfold longer than some barkeeps might, Durnan ultimately threw the attackers out and helped tend to Yarga. Moments later, when a troll erupted from the portal’s chasm, he fought it directly, holding it off until Yarga stepped in to finish the job.
In the early days of their adventuring, the party passed through the Yawning Portal frequently. Durnan allowed them a degree of presence without favoritism. He didn’t engage them directly unless needed but tolerated Jonnie's antics, even when the halfling tried to upstage his resident bard, Threestrings. On another occasion, when they had helped Bonnie out of a scrap, Durnan offered Jonnie and Grayson a comped room for the night.
Despite his aloofness, Durnan keeps a close watch on everything in his tavern. Whether it’s trolls from below or rival bards trying to steal a spotlight, nothing escapes his notice. He doesn’t waste words, but his presence alone serves as a reminder to would-be adventurers that the Yawning Portal may be a tavern—but it is also a threshold, and Durnan has seen more than he’ll ever say.
