The Eight Horns Inn

by Keith Robinson

Grid Scale: 1 square = 5 ft.

Inn Prices

The Eight Horns Inn is well known in the City of Karnish for being a rowdy place frequented by adventurers when they are not otherwise employed. It is also where those in need of a party of adventurers go to look for prospective employees. As such, tensions are often in the air between competing parties and individuals, and fights are not unknown. Mostly, however, relations are cordial and the atmosphere vibrant and exciting.

The inn has been run for many years by Elastine Doyeen, since her husband, Grayl, was killed by a hill giant while out adventuring. She still remembers him as a brave fighter and enjoys nothing better than to listen to the tales of high adventure. Although she enjoys the company of the occasional adventurer - almost always those with both charm and an air of danger about them - she has remained widowed and channeled her energies into her thriving business.

Elastine has adorned the walls of the inn with her husband's old adventuring gear and the bizarre collection of junk he picked up along the way. As well as a number of goblin and orc swords and shields, which are hung around the walls according to their tribe, and various adventuring paraphernalia, there are also eight horns, after which the inn is named. Each is set on a wooden mount and hung from the wall and include a fantastic example of a large blue dragon's horn, which is almost three feet in length (and takes pride of place), two minotaur horns (both from the same unfortunate creature), a single half-fiend's horn, two gargoyle horns (hung together, since they are from the same creature), a rhinoceros' horn and a single horn from an imp. Each of these, so Elastine claims, were victims of her deceased husband.

Two large wooden notice boards sit on the bar, each with a chaotic array of messages that have been pinned to them in haphazard fashion, several layers deep. The notes each contain a brief message from those looking for work, or those looking for people to work with or for them, and represent the standard way that information is gathered and passed around. Many of the messages are, by nature, out of date, as the world of adventuring is too fast passed for Elastine to keep up with. However, she insists that each note is dated, which helps to highlight the current notes from the old ones. It costs 1 cp to place a note here, for an indefinite duration - usually until Elastine decides to clean the boards up around once every two or three months. A constant crowd of people can be found around these boards, which in many ways are the hub of activity within the inn.

The rowdy nature of the Eight Horns Inn means that a doorman is present at all times in the evenings, in the form of the muscular Thoran Gatbak. He is a wealth of information and always seem to be aware of the latest needs of the punters. He also seems to know every detail of the messages found on the notice boards: which are current, which are out of date, who pay well, who can't be trusted, the good from the bad. He is happy to chat, especially to those who buy him drinks when he is off duty, which he generally spends sat at the bar.

Located in a prime location at the very edge of The Market Arena - a huge and bustling market in the heart of the City of Karnish - the Eight Horns Inn is an excellent place for adventurers to rest up during escapades and find new work, and where rumors and news constantly flow from both the message boards and word of mouth. The market also offers excellent opportunities for loot to be sold and supplies replenished. Such is the buzz that fills the air that many come here just for the sheer thrill of it, but have themselves nothing to do with adventures or adventuring.

NPCs of the Eight Horns Inn

Staff

As well as a few bar wenches (1st level commoners), the principle staff of the Eight Horns Inn are:

Elastine Doyeen, Proprietor: female human (Age 35) Exp6; CR5; Medium-size humanoid; HD 6d8+6; hp 30; Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 12 (+1 Dex, +1 deflection), touch 11, flat-footed 11; BAB/Grp +4/+2; Atk +3 melee (1d6-1, "peacemaker" club +1); AL NG; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Wis +9; Str 7, Con 12, Dex 11, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: +8 Bluff, +18 Diplomacy, +14 Gather Information, +9 Knowledge (local), +10 Listen, +6 Perform, +11 Profession (inn keeper), +9 Sense Motive, +7 Spot; Negotiator, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Profession (inn keeper)).
Possessions: Club +1, ring of protection +1, gold wedding ring worth 15 gp, silver necklace worth 5 gp.

Thoran Gatbak, Doorman: male human (Age 24) Ftr5; CR5; Medium-size humanoid; HD 5d10+5; hp 45; Init +5; Spd 20 ft; AC 16 (+4 Chain Shirt, +1 Dex), touch 14, flat-footed 11; BAB/Grp +5/+12; Atk +9 melee (1d3+3, unarmed strike) or +8 melee (1d6+3, sap) or +8 (1d6+3, shortsword); AL N; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Wis +0; Str 16, Con 12, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: +6 Gather Information, +9 Intimidate, +7 Knowledge (local); Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Strike, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Knowledge (local)), Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike).
Possessions: Chain Shirt, Sap, Shortsword, pouch with 10 gp, 7 sp, 18 cp.

Rek Doyeen, Chef: male human (Age 18) Exp2; CR1; Medium-size humanoid; HD 2d8; hp 10; Init +1; Spd 30 ft; AC 11 (+1 Dex), touch 11, flat-footed 10; BAB/Grp +1/+0; Atk -4* melee (1d4-1, meat cleaver); AL NG; SV Fort +2, Ref +1, Wis +4; Str 8, Con 11, Dex 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: +6 Handle Animal, +6 Intimidate, +5 Knowledge (local), +4 Listen, +7 Profession (chef), +4 Sense Motive, +4 Spot; Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Profession (chef)).
Possessions: Silver ring worth 5 gp
* this includes a -4 penalty for using an improvised weapon.

Regular Customers

A large number of people pass through the Eight Horns Inn, with many returning here on a regular basis. Here are just a couple of the regulars found here.

Gilbert Burhorn, Merchant: male human (Age 30) Exp4; CR3; Medium-size humanoid; HD 4d8; hp 23; Init +1; Spd 20 ft; AC 15 (+1 Dex, +2 Leather Armor, +2 Deflection); BAB/Grp +3/+2; Atk +2 melee (1d4-1, masterwork dagger);AL LG; SV Fort +1, Ref +2, Wis +6; Str 8, Con 10, Dex 12, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: +8 Appraise, +10 Bluff, +16 Diplomacy, +12 Gather Information, +6 Knowledge (local), +9 Listen, +12 Profession (merchant), +11 Sense Motive, +8 Spot; Skill Focus (Profession (merchant)), Negotiator, Alertness.
Possessions: Ring of Protection +2, masterwork dagger, pouch with 100 gp, pouch with 200 sp, pouch with 250 cp.
Characteristics: Gilbert is a merchant who spends much of his time in the City of Karnish, though hails from the town of Hayport (located a few days travel by ship west of the City of Karnish). He is an avid devourer of gossip and information and nearly always hires a room in the Eight Horns Inn when he is in the city on business. He is a friendly chap, though self-important and ever so slightly pompous.

Franzine Cobert: Female halfling (Age 22) Rog1; CR1; Small-size humanoid; HD 1d6; hp 6; Init +3; Spd 20 ft; AC 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 leather armor); BAB/Grp +0/-5; Atk +1 (1d4, short sword) or +4 ranged (1d3, sling); SA Sneak attack +1d6; SQ Trapfinding; AL N; SV Fort +1, Ref +6, Wis +0; Str 10, Con 10, Dex 17, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13.
Skills and Feats: +6 Appraise, +4 Climb, +6 Disable Device, +7 Escape Artist, +11 Hide, +4 Jump, +1 Listen, +7 Move Silently, +7 Open Lock, +6 Search, +4 Slight of Hand, +1 Spot, +7 Tumble, +7 Use Magic Device; Point Blank Shot.
Possessions: Small leather armor, small short sword, small sling, 10 sling bullets, thieves tools, backpack, flint & steel, pouch with 7 gp, 6 sp and 18 cp.
Characteristics: Franzine has become a recent visitor to the Eight Horns Inn as she is seeking a party with which to go off exploring and adventuring. Her motivation is greed, for she wishes nothing more than to surround herself with the finest things in life. She is trustworthy up to the point where it becomes necessary to look after herself, or, being of weak will, if she is tempted by some fascinating (and almost certainly valuable) object. She avoids combat at all costs, preferring to slink away in the shadows and use ranged attacks.

Shahir Mumak: male human (Age 20) Bbn2; CR2; Medium-size humanoid; HD 2d12+4; hp 22; Init +1; Spd 40 ft; AC 15 (+1 Dex, +4 Chain Shirt); BAB/Grp +2/+4; Atk +5 melee (2d4+3, falchion); SQ Fast movement, illiteracy, rage 1/day; AL CN; SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Wis +1; Str 15, Con 14, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Skills and Feats: +3 Climb, +5 Craft (weaponsmith), +4 Intimidate, +3 Jump, +6 Survival, +2 Swim; Power Attack, Weapon Focus (falchion).
Possessions: Chain shirt, falchion, potion of barkskin, potion of cure moderate wounds, backpack, bedroll, blanket, flint & steel, torch x2, waterskin, sunrod x2, acid x2.
Characteristics: Shahir has found himself something of a curiosity since he arrived here several weeks back. A native of Amman-dur, who speaks only a smattering of Karnish, his exotic garb and looks have set him apart from the rest of the crowd. Mistrusted and misunderstood (when he is understood at all, that is) he keeps his own company. Nonetheless, his looks are such that he is not easily missed, usually sitting in a corner eating a meal or drinking. He traveled here from Am-Anak, after his family was killed by marauders from Amman-Mon, though has no idea what to do now he has arrived. He would be only too pleased to join a company on an adventure, should the chance arrive.