The Manticore's Tale
The Manticore’s Tale, 10 miles out from the Free City of Greyhawk, is known for several things: the hide of a real manticore mounted above the bar, nightly entertainment provided by the proprietress, a bard named Melisandra, who plays several instruments and has a hauntingly angelic singing voice, and its famous, locally brewed Manticore Brown Ale.
Although The Manticore’s Tale does offer traveler accommodations, the atmosphere around the tavern tends to be lively and boisterous most evenings and a good night’s sleep is hard to come by until after each night’s entertainment and crowd has finished and dispersed. Rooms are just as likely to be rented by patrons who stayed late and decided to spend the night as they are to be rented by travelers on the River Road.
The bartender is a large, retired soldier named Barrymore. Although retired, his strength and capability with a wide variety of weapons is well known. Although not married, he is the companion and bodyguard, and lover of the proprietress, Melisandra. Melisandra was a famous bard who toured the lands of Greyhawk and many surrounding provinces for a number of years. Her success enabled her to buy The Manticore’s Tale several years back and since then she has continued to ply her trade as the resident bard. Many patrons come to her establishment just to hear her perform. Other bards are known to frequent the establishment and are likely to perform as well. Entertainment is generally available six-to-seven nights a week.
The sign at the front door of the Establishment features a fierce looking manticore, with the traditional body of a lion, dragon wings, a human-like face, and a spiked tail. The hide mounted above the bar matches the manticore on the sign, except for the dragon wings, which have obviously been cut off and removed from the mounted hide.
The common room of the establishment has a large bar, numerous tables, a couple of large fireplaces, and a corner stage for the nightly entertainment. Stairs lead up to the second floor, which offers 10 rooms for rent, 5 rooms have double beds, 5 rooms have two single beds.
Cheaper, but quieter accommodations are available on the second story of the detached stables out back. These accommodations are sparse and include a number of pallets in an open dormitory layout. The stables below can handle about 20 mounts.
Barrymore and Melisandra have no children. They have hired help that run the kitchen, assist Barrymore with the bar, serve and bus the tables, manage the rooms and stables.
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Selintan River and River Road