The Grumpy Seagull

Table of Contents

A tavern in an unspectacular corner of Sil'heva that is a popular meeting place for criminals.

Purpose / Function

In its early days, the tavern was one of many places where weary sailors could spend their coin on food and beer. Neither its location nor its menu were particularly attractive, but they were good enough to let the owners make a humble living. However, the unremarkable place caught the attention of those who preferred to remain unseen. Over the years, the Grumpy Seagull became a popular meeting place for assassins, smugglers, thieves, thugs, tricksters, and anyone who would want to do business with them.

Defenses

Code of Conduct

The unwritten rule among Sil'heva's criminals is to avoid anything that would draw attention to this tavern. The Grumpy Seagull is considered a neutral zone where personal conflicts are forbidden and violent escalations are swiftly subdued by the other guests. To keep up appearances, a rotating cast of actors provides an average level of carefully orchestrated "drunken brawls" - just enough to make city guards and innocent visitors mistake them for normal tavern activity.

Passphrase

Those who come there for illegal business signal their intention to the barkeeper by including a particular set of words in their order. They then receive their drink in a mug with a copper handle instead of a wooden one. This lets other criminals know that they are safe to be approached.

Secret Rooms

When the original owner retired, the tavern was bought by a family with great influence in the underworld. They slowly acquired the neighboring buildings via third parties, then started extending the Grumpy Seagull by installing hidden doors. Nowadays, the tavern is connected to the entire city block as well as a secret tunnel network. On those rare occasions when the authorities take a closer look, anyone who wants to remain undetected can easily enter or leave this place.