The Traveling Tramp Inn

The Traveling Tramp is the major staging area for My High King's Sword Novels and the roleplaying campaign I ran for two years on my world. Found on the east side of the bazaar in Bloodhelm, this two story inn has been part of Bloodehlm since Bloodhelm came into being.

The current owner is Derk Tumblestone, an ex-adventurer and mercenary. He spent his youth traveling the countryside, fighting brigands and monsters, even finding himself in the Minotaur Wars. He would have continued except his band rescued a group of slaves from Black Wizards and he fell in love with one of the women named Mina. He proposed to her on the spot, took her back to Bloodhelm and bought the Traveling Tramp. He has quite the stash so he's never been big on making a large margin. He always helps down on their luck adventurers and ex-slaves, especially after his former band was wiped out by brigands not long after he bought the inn.

The tap room down stairs is large. Fifty people could easily fit inside the tavern around tables. The bar itself is directly across from the front door, manned by Derk himself, the kitchen behind. A small stage and fire place are to the right of the door, the stairs to the second floor to the right of the bar. Between the stairs and the kitchen is a small hall that leads to a bath house and privy. Under the stairs is one small room, another across the hall from the stairs. Derk uses these for bards when he has one.

Upstairs are private rooms, two suites and a common room with 10 bunk beds. Each private room has two single beds, a mirror and a chest. The suites have 3 bedrooms with two beds and a common room. The room under the stairs has one bed, the one across the hall has two beds.

Derk is assisted by his wife, three daughters and two of his sons. (His other son is serving in the home guard). His oldest, Celest, does most of the serving, though the other girls serve as well. Derk will not allow mistreatment of his girls, and neither will Crusher, Derk's bouncer and best friend, who just happens to be 1/4 ogre. (His father was a half ogre).

The most significant decorations of this fine inn are the shields hung on the wall behind the bar. Most are dented and blood smeared with hand painted standards. Each one of these shields belongs to a fallen adventurer. Derk respects all requests to hang one and only asks for the story behind each.

Stew, bread, and platters of meat are available. Fruit is available when Derk can get it and Mina makes delicious pies. Ale and mead are the mainstay, but Derk keeps dwarven ale along with wine for those nobles who play at being adventurers for the night.

Some of the regulars found here include Tres Silversword, a red haired firebrand and leader of the Flaming Shield mercenary band. She hates nobles and is a forward woman. She's not beautiful, but she can hold her own. Another is Hannon, Derk's bard of the moment. He's an old man and plays instruments well, but singing and story telling are another matter. He is slightly hunched and doesn't hear well, so Derk only uses him when he absolutely has to, but Derk doesn't have the heart to throw him out, either.

Tomorrow: The City of Stormvale