The Old Bargewright, formerly known as the Bargewright Inn, was an inn in the settlement of the same name, Bargewright Inn, in the Savage Frontier in the 14th and 15th centuries DR. It was originally owned and run by Feston Bargewright and his descendants, before becoming a base of the Zhentarim in the 1490s DR.[3][1][2][8][4][5]
Location[]
It stood in the eastern upper part of the settlement, on the eastern end of the road known as the Rise, neighboring Ruldarr's Pipes, Locks, Tobacco, and Fine Furniture and Rintharr's house.[9][10] Prior to the growth of the settlement around it, it had stood alone atop a natural hill[11][2][4][5] on the west bank of the River Dessarin[3][2] at the crossroads of trails leading to Red Larch in the north (the Cairn Road), Amphail in the west, and over the river at the Ironford Bridge in the east[12][13] to the nearby village of Womford that it overlooked[4][5][14] and the beginning of the Iron Road.[12][15]
Structure[]
A view of the settlement, with the two towers and the Old Bargewright visible in the distance.
Circa 1365 DR, the building was sturdy and unremarkable and constructed largely of wood. It was rather like a fortification with its two lookout towers: the North Tower was taller and slender, while the South Tower was wider but leaning, and both gave grand views over the grasslands of the Dessarin Valley. Each winter through the 1360s DR, Feston rebuilt the wooden parts in stonework, so it appeared ever more like a small castle.[1][2] Between the two towers in front of the inn was a courtyard, wherein stood a well that ran deep.[16][9][10]
By the 1490s DR, the inn and towers had been wholly rebuilt in stone, becoming a much larger structure with thick walls.[4][5]
Interior[]
Inside, the inn was adorned with fine wood paneling.[1][2] Rooms were ordinary, furnished with bed, table, chair, window, and small fireplace.[7]
By the 1490s DR, it was riddled with secret passages and private chambers, entered via sealed-off passages from nearby rooms.[4][5] The two towers were not just used for defense: the southern tower held meeting rooms, while the northern had a strongroom at its base, used to store the Zhentarim's pay, riches, loot, and other items of importance.[17]
At that time, there was a taproom that served as a tavern. Near the taproom, the innkeeper had an office, which housed keys to the inn's important rooms and the settlement's gates.[17]
The Harpers made the Bargewright Inn a secret base at some point, placing a portal in a cave beneath the inn by the late 1400s DR. Appearing as a shimmering green pool, it linked to portals in Everlund, a root cellar in Noanar's Hold, and elsewhere. The later Feston Bargewright aided those Harper agents who made use of it; he could be contacted through an exchange of passphrases relating coded information and flashing a Harper symbol, and would grant the key to the room with a secret passage in its fireplace, wherein a ladder led down to the portal. In the cave, a portalkeeper operated and guarded it. In the 1480s DR, this was an old witch woman (secretly a tiefling of night hag descent with potential Abyssal connections).[6][7]
Atmosphere[]
Naturally, the Bargewright Inn was the heart of the community for the people of the namesake settlement.[1][2]
Defenses[]
In addition to the two lookout towers, peace in the inn in the 1360s DR was maintained by four guards, all strong warriors. Furthermore, Aldon Bargewright, the stablemaster and Feston's brother, also led the local militia.[1][2]
Services[]
Service here was fast, efficient, and straightforward, lacking embellishments but not without its charms in Volo's eyes.[1][2]
For rooms, one could have a private room (bath included) at 1 gp per person, a double room at 5 sp per person, or a wardroom with six to eighteen bunks at 2 sp person, all per night. For 1 gp more, one could hire a chambermaid to assist with the bath, provide a back rub or foot rub on request, and even relate a short bedtime story or legend of the area.[1]
As for food and drink, a talltankard of weak ale and a platter of biscuits and very salty pickles were included in the room price. The huge pewter talltankards were twice the volume of a regular tankard. For main meals, there was only roasted beef or pork with lots of parsnips, potatoes, radishes, and turnips; a tray with a fine selection of cheeses; and a vegetable and root sauce soup available in winter; these were plain yet hearty dishes. This meal was served any time from highsun to midnight for 5 cp per person, not including drinks.[1]
Such drinks included a variety of beers for 1 cp per tankard and a dry clear wine for 4 cp per tallglass, as well as sherry and Mintarn green wine both for 7 cp per tallglass or 1 sp per bottle (Volo presumed Feston stocked green wine because he had acquired a taste for it).[1] In the late 1400s DR, the inn sold its own wine, also known as "Old Bargewright", in black bottles.[18]
History[]
Once, this was but a simple wayside inn standing alone atop a hill beside the ford. However, after numerous attacks from bandits and brigands, Feston Bargewright, the innkeeper, elected to fortify the hill. This feat was accomplished with the help of several Waterdhavian merchants whom Feston had encouraged to join him to share the costs. Being weary of the politics and fees of the city's guilds, they came and established other businesses servicing the travelers and caravans passing through, giving rising to the community of the same name, which was well-established by 1358 DR.[3][11][2]
Brin and Havilar visited the inn on Ches 21, the Year of the Nether Mountain Scrolls, 1486 DR. They went to the inn and negotiated with the later Feston Bargewright to use the Harper portal to reach Noanar's Hold.[7]
A few years later, the inn, the settlement, and many of its businesspeople fell under Zhentarim influence,[4][5] but the Black Network kept their presence covert so as to escape attention.[8][note 1]
In the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR, the ranger Melisande Calador visited the settlement and stayed at the Old Bargewright, as did the famed minstrel Harrowind of the Windwyrds.[19] That year, the supply barge from Yartar was delayed and Nalaskur went to Waterdeep to acquire more supplies and speak with his superiors in the Zhentarim, leaving control of the Old Bargewright in the hands of trusted others.[20] This triggered a struggle for power amongst the Zhent leadership, instigated by the Zhent spy Inglor Brathren, involving thefts of Senior Sword Chalaska Muruin's keys and gold from the Zhents' strongroom and false accusations. A tavern server, Grendo, and a guest, Kendrin Feldarr, were caught up in this, and an accidental release of exotic spiders. Nalaskur returned to find the settlement in conflict.[17]
Inhabitants[]
In the mid-to-late 1300s DR, the Bargewright Inn was owned and run by Feston Bargewright, founder of the community.[3][1][2]
The following century, in the 1480s DR, a descendant and namesake, Feston Bargewright, remained as innkeeper.[6][7] However, with the majority of local business owners having financial dealings with the Zhents,[4] by 1491 DR, the Zhentarim had effectively taken over the settlement.[8][5] and the Old Bargewright's innkeeper was now one Nalaskur Thaelond.[4][5][20] The Zhentarim used its many private chambers to meet with their agents, spies, and mercenaries, usually to arrange illicit deals in contraband, poisons, and some kinds of magic in nearby Waterdeep.[8][4][5] A permanent resident of the inn at the time was Arik Stillmarsh, who lived as a recluse in a corner room of the top floor and the attic above, reached via a secret door in the ceiling of a closet.[5]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ This is "a few years ago" from 1491 DR in Princes of the Apocalypse, presumed to be 1489 DR or earlier. Since The Adversary has it acting as a Harper base, the Zhentarim takeover is likely between 1486 and 1489 DR, but it is not impossible, and indeed likely, for the Harpers to operate under the Zhents' noses.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), pp. 33–34. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), pp. 34–35. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 28. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 73. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Erin M. Evans (December 2013). “The Harpers of Waterdeep”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #430 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Erin M. Evans (May 2014). The Adversary. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 11, pp. 209–214. ISBN 0786965363.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Inside cover included in slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Map of the Sword Coast North included in Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
- ↑ Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ Map of Interior, Silverymoon, Longsaddle, and Yartar included in slade, et al. (April 1996). The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier. Edited by James Butler. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ Melisande Calador (2015-04-30). Travel Talk: The Dessarin River Valley. In Matt Chapman ed. Dragon+ #1. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2022-10-08. Retrieved on 2019-10-14.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 160–161. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.