you have been waylaid by enemies and must defend yourself

[castingspells]

elfsong tavern

location: eastway, baldur's gate
tavern quality: 🍺🍺🍺🍺/5
pricing: 💰💰💰💰/5

structure
The two-story building was large and elegantly built, albeit somewhat dilapidated. The ground floor was the taproom featuring the bar and a large number of tables and dark, anonymous booths. One of the more notable decorations was a stuffed baby beholder (that a patron named Ethon had found in the cellar).

The only lighting was provided by many blue driftglobes, which floated about near the ceiling. The furniture was stout wood marked by any number of nicks and slashes from swords and knives. Individual tables were cordoned off with hanging tapestries that provided visual (but not vocal) privacy. The upper floor was filled with private meeting rooms, which could be rented either by the candle—the time it took a short taper to burn down—or by the evening.

Under Alan Alyt's ownership, much of the upper floor was given over to a large dining room with tables for eating and gambling. There were two private dining rooms, the Beholder Room and the Displacer Beast Room, named for the mounted heads contained in each. There were also two small guest rooms, two larger, more luxurious guest rooms, and Alan's private bedchamber.

atmosphere
The name derived from an unusual haunting: a ghostly female elven voice heard periodically throughout the establishment. The singing was quiet but could be heard quite clearly. It was most often described as both beautiful and mournful. The identity of the singer was unknown, but it was clear that her song was a lament for a lover lost at sea. No other music was permitted inside the Elfsong.

provider
The establishment served virtually every kind of alcohol known. It was also known for its melted cheese sandwiches (spicing optional), pickles, and fist-sized twists of dried herring. All food was heavily salted to make patrons drink more. The tavern was also famed for a thick stew beloved by many sick or cold sailors. This stew consisted of all leavings from the rest of the cooking, soured ale, wine dregs, etc. It was thrown into a huge cauldron that was constantly kept at a simmer. A number of folk in Baldur's Gate were quite fond of the stew, and some very reputable folk would come to the Elfsong for the sole purpose of eating it.

prices
Ale sold for 2 cp per tankard
Stout sold for 4 cp per tankard
Wine sold for 5 cp per tallglass
Rollrum (dark, licorice-laced drink from the Tashalar) sold for 1 sp per flagon
Stew sold for 1 sp per mug, and 2 cp extra for a large bowl
All servings of other food were 1 sp (one serving made half a meal for most people)