Kethira-720TR-Harn-Kaldor-Qualdris-GeninsRest

The Genin's Rest (inn)

The Genin’s Rest in Qualdris isn’t a tall place. It is built of heavy log timbers, rather low to the ground, with a thatched roof that slopes up sharply. Inside there are several steps down to the main floor level; it is sunk a full yard into the ground with a floor of good flagstone and embanked walls that sloped inward so they couldn't readily collapse. The windows aren’t large but they are usually open and do let in a good amount of light. The interior walls are half-timbered, making for a reasonably smooth surface; they have been whitewashed, lightening up the place considerably. The roof is open over the main room and the cooking smoke curls around high up in the rafters before exiting through the several smoke-holes. (The chimney for the fireplace should take care of all that, it is good stonework, obviously old, but perhaps needs a good cleaning.)

Off to the far end of the room, a narrow staircase goes up to a second level with a narrow balcony. The rooms are small and with only a latch for privacy.

It is a bit stuffy with old smells of barley and grease and ale, and sweat. Light in the common room comes from three main sources: the fireplace, the open windows, and the oil lamps suspended from the crossbeams — two old wagon-wheels, each with a half-dozen hurricane lamps. There is a pulley system for raising and lowering each with satisfaction with the cables running down the wall to behind the bar, away from drunken patrons.

When fishing is good, the fish is very fresh: the cook reaches into a nearby barrel, pulls out a still-thrashing trout, and smacks it hard against the fireplace. Two strokes with a cleaver remove the head and tail, and a few more swift strokes clean it out. Removing the scales takes only a few more and then it goes into a pan over the fire.