Groggy Froggy
In 4714 AR, one of Westgate’s most infamous traditions ended in tragedy as the gorgon used in that year’s Charge of the Bull petrified a few dozen innocent bystanders in addition to a new batch of criminals. This “wake up call” was enough to tip the scales of public opinion and the tradition ended. Most of those who were accidentally petrified by the gorgon’s breath were restored to life, but not all. One such victim, Klard Vunker, remains a statue to this day—not because he was unknown, but because those who knew him unanimously agreed he became a much better person after he was petrified.
For many years, Klard ran the Groggy Froggy tavern, and was notorious for his cruel sense of humor and poor treatment of the tavern staff. Having inherited ownership from his father, Klard had all but run the once-popular establishment into the ground as a result of his unpleasant personality. He became a statue after running an employee out of the tavern for offering a regular customer a drink on the house, only to stumble right into the path of a crazed gorgon. Once he was petrified his thankful employees dragged him back to the Groggy Froggy to put him on display, where his distinctively unflattering pose and position locked him forever as a buffoon. The tavern’s employees took over the tavern, and ever since, Klard’s gape-mouthed statue has served as a sort of trophy for customers and employees alike. Under its new co-op ownership the Groggy Froggy’s fortunes have reversed and the tavern is well on its way to regaining its previous position as one of Westgate’s favorite drinking spots.
Today, the eye-catching and original sign above the tavern’s door depicting a frog passing out over a tankard of grog has been painstakingly restored, along with much of the building’s interior, to match its original look from when it first opened two centuries ago. In addition to its ever-changing and popular types of artisan grog options, weekly contests of “Klarding,” where customers are invited to use paints and other decorations to give Klard an ever-changing new look, have proven quite popular. The tavern’s current manager, Annara Laskin, uses her magic to clean the paint from the statue weekly so that new decorations can be applied.
Of course, recent events have made Klarding impossible, for earlier in the year, the statue of Klard Vunker mysteriously vanished. Most are convinced that any one of dozens of those Klard wronged years ago destroyed the statue after sneaking into the tavern after hours, but some whisper that one of Klard’s still-living allies finally managed to arrange for his un-petrification and performed the mercy after breaking into the tavern after hours—these folks fear Klard’s inevitable return for vengeance, but others point out how hard it is to believe that a man like Klard ever had friends close enough in his life that would take such a risk for him.
For many years, Klard ran the Groggy Froggy tavern, and was notorious for his cruel sense of humor and poor treatment of the tavern staff. Having inherited ownership from his father, Klard had all but run the once-popular establishment into the ground as a result of his unpleasant personality. He became a statue after running an employee out of the tavern for offering a regular customer a drink on the house, only to stumble right into the path of a crazed gorgon. Once he was petrified his thankful employees dragged him back to the Groggy Froggy to put him on display, where his distinctively unflattering pose and position locked him forever as a buffoon. The tavern’s employees took over the tavern, and ever since, Klard’s gape-mouthed statue has served as a sort of trophy for customers and employees alike. Under its new co-op ownership the Groggy Froggy’s fortunes have reversed and the tavern is well on its way to regaining its previous position as one of Westgate’s favorite drinking spots.
Today, the eye-catching and original sign above the tavern’s door depicting a frog passing out over a tankard of grog has been painstakingly restored, along with much of the building’s interior, to match its original look from when it first opened two centuries ago. In addition to its ever-changing and popular types of artisan grog options, weekly contests of “Klarding,” where customers are invited to use paints and other decorations to give Klard an ever-changing new look, have proven quite popular. The tavern’s current manager, Annara Laskin, uses her magic to clean the paint from the statue weekly so that new decorations can be applied.
Of course, recent events have made Klarding impossible, for earlier in the year, the statue of Klard Vunker mysteriously vanished. Most are convinced that any one of dozens of those Klard wronged years ago destroyed the statue after sneaking into the tavern after hours, but some whisper that one of Klard’s still-living allies finally managed to arrange for his un-petrification and performed the mercy after breaking into the tavern after hours—these folks fear Klard’s inevitable return for vengeance, but others point out how hard it is to believe that a man like Klard ever had friends close enough in his life that would take such a risk for him.
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