(Apologies for the lack of updates. A friend came from overseas and we headed down to the islands for some chill time, sans laptop. Normal service to resume gradually.)
The Embassy of Qag (#14/31, #287/365) and the Ambassador of Kor (#15/31, #288/365)
Both the twin northern cities of the oases maintain a semblance of presence within Thagwar to further their interests. Qag runs a professional organization out of an opulent repurposed semi-palace in the centre of town, staffed with efficient Wraiths, and led by a Bone Demon, Sha-Han the Sceptic (angular, suspicious), and, in addition to promulgating overt efforts at advancing Qag's interests, also operates a covert program collecting as much information as possible from as many sources as possible, and are always eager to recruit new pundits to the cause.
By contrast, the post of Ambassador of Kor is more of a ceremonial role, that city-state being somewhat further distant, and the current incumbent, a Hellhorn Champion called Fenrab Foulspleen (obese, drunk) certainly sees it that way. Fenrab can be found across Thagwar, at any event or occasion, proclaiming themselves as "Their Excellency, the Korian Ambassador", while getting completely plastered on the local booze provided. Those in the intelligence community are unsure as to whether Fenrab is actually a master-disseminator who is possibly fooling everyone, or a totally incompetent drunkard.
Gwegbalm's Items Most Peculiar (#16/31, #289/365)
Gwegbalm's is a byword for quality in Thagwar, a mark that what you have purchased does what it says it will, a signature implying consistency and effectiveness. Some say this is because Gwegbalm himself, a Netherworld Demon (elderly, honest-ish), has teleportation access to a Lost Artefacts Dumping Site on the Plane of Platinum, rescuing choice items before they are ground back into their constituent particles. No one knows what security measures Gwegbalm actually employs because no one has been stupid enough to try and steal from him, but the rumours indicate everything is very, very well protected, thank you very much!
Handling all items with his trademark green velvet gloves, Gwegbalm will display his most potent treasures for sale. A selection of items currently in the shop could be generated by giving the magic treasure tables in Encyclopedia Arcana's chapter 5, a good shakedown, as follows:
- Scrolls: 2-7 scrolls
- Curiosities: 2-7 items
- Components: 2-12 items
- Potions: 2-12 vials or bottles
- Trinkets: 2-7 items
- Enchanted Items: 2-7 items
The Broken Tusk Tavern (#17/31, #290/365)
The Broken Tusk is literally the Tavern of Taverns. Some say a ramshackle hovel, standing in this exact location, was serving alcoholic beverages in the days before the Irritarian Cataclysm. Others claim the tavern predates Thagwar's founding as a city. Regardless, the Broken Tusk has been destroyed, burned down, flooded, carried off by predatory Rocs, disintegrated via local meteor swarm, eaten by a passing Godtime Creature, and sat on by a Gargantuan Automaton, multiple times over the centuries, but has always been rebuilt in this exact spot.
And how it springs back anew! A low clay-brick building with orange lamps and open windows, where creatures gather from across the Macrocosmos to gossip, consume liquor, get drunk, gamble, fight and a host of other interesting and potentially painful activities. The current tavernkeep is a Dai-Oni called Fan-Xi IV (scarred, placid), twelfth in a long line of tavernkeepers from the Second Khang Dynasty according to the Broken Tusk genealogy records. Fan-Xi's personal retinue of attendant demons (a Skurasha, a Smoke Demon, a Gargantus, and a Rock Demon), all work as security staff. Weapons are allowed on the premises and the Watch never venture here, but general behaviour promotes an honour-code of 'relatively' neutral ground. Assume anything can be drunk or eaten here, any game can be played and bet upon, and any sentient beast from across time and space may be found, having fun.
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