Location: Oldtown (13)
Services: Food, lodging, gambling, entertainment
Key NPCs: Brogan Hul (male human innkeeper), Fylas (male gnome chef), Grim (female war troll bouncer), Tyraen (female elf entertainer)
The Crown is the oldest inn in Quickstone. It’s not as clean as the Gold Dragon Inn, the paint needs to be refreshed, and some nights it seems like more people leave through the windows than the door. But for the customers, the entertainment and opportunities more than make up for the mess. There’s an axe-throwing wall on the east side of the common room; some nights, the elf Tyraen will conjure images on the wall, creating elaborate scenarios for the competitors to face. There’s always a variety of games at the tables, for stakes as high as anyone’s willing to play for. Beyond that, this is the primary place to find members of the Pennyroyals—smugglers, fences, and others whose business lies beyond the strict confines of the law—who pay a tithe to the innkeeper Brogan in exchange for his help arranging deals. The back room of the Crown is soundproofed and shielded against divination, perfect for secret negotiations.
The Crown is a social hub for the people of Oldtown. The magewright entertainer Tyraen plays the Thurimbar Rod and provides illusory entertainments most nights, but the small stage is always open for other local acts; the Greensinger Briar often leads people in song, and a kobold nose-flutist named Hetch is gaining popularity. A number of minor social clubs meet at the Crown on a weekly basis—the Rockhounds, the Soldier’s Choir, the Wizard’s Circle, and more. With that being said, it’s a dangerous place for outsiders. It’s not that it’s physically dangerous; there are regular brawls, but the bouncer Grim will intervene if things get bloody. The simplest way to look at it is that this is an inn for wolves. The pack looks after its own, but careless sheep who walk through the door are likely to get fleeced.
The Crown serves Modest meals; it’s reliable, if not remarkable. However, the innkeeper, Brogan, takes care of his regulars, stocking a wide range of exotic spirits and foods—slightly toxic Mror mushroom wine, unusual Droaamite delicacies for regular guests from the west, and other special requests. If he takes a liking to you, he can pull strings to get ahold of your personal favorites, producing special meals of up to Wealthy quality. Most rooms are Modest in quality and price, but there are three Comfortable rooms, and Brogan can find Poor accommodations for friends in need. The inn takes its name from its “crown brew,” a horrifying rotgut that only costs 1 Copper Crown for a mug; the taste is terrible, but it serves its purpose.
Brogan is a middle-aged man. Rumors say he was a legendary smuggler during the Last War, who crossed lines to get medicine and other vital supplies to people in need. Another story says he was a prolific grifter who invested his ill-gotten gains in Quickstone, far from his many enemies—and that Brogan himself spreads the “humanitarian smuggler” stories.
Those who know him well know that he is a devotee to the Three Faces of Coin, and that he and his wife Vesper are the force behind the Coins in general and the loose alliance of scoundrels known as the Pennyroyals. Brogan considers himself the patriarch of Quickstone, and takes pride in helping the town and the Coins prosper. But he expects payment from those he helps, either in gold or favors.
Other employees include Tyraen, an elf who entertains with illusions and arcane music. She has the Mark of Shadow, but won’t talk about her past; it’s generally believed that she’s a Thuranni excoriate, but some think this is a front and that she continues to report to her house. The chef, Fylas, generally produces modest cuisine, but he loves an interesting challenge. The most unusual member of the staff is the bouncer, a war troll known only as Grim. No one knows the exact nature of her relationship with Brogan; some say that he won her services in a hand of Thrones, while others say that the innkeeper struck a bargain with a disguised Sora Maenya—and Grim was assigned to keep him alive until he fulfills this bargain. Grim rarely talks—hence her name—but as a war troll she’s more intelligent than most expect.