Lazare's House
Those seeking a relatively cultured nightspot often congregate at Lazare's House, a cozy gaming parlor situated on the Vein's central square. In contrast to the ostentatious banners and garish chipped paint on the Emporium across the street, Lazare's exudes a quiet sense of class with a stylish stone and timber construction and distinctive crooked-roof. Inside, Diamond Lake's elite match wits over dragonchess, a popular game in which two sides of 42 pieces contest over three 96-square boards representing the sky, the earth, and the underworld. Pieces include the griffon, sylph, oliphant, basilisk, hero, thief, and paladin, Scholars claim that the game is a metaphor for the celestial struggles of fundamental law, chaos good, and evil. In Diamond Lake, its principally another justification for gambling.
A central hearth, constantly to comfortable warmth by the courteous staff, serves as the hub of a roughly circular interior. Along the ring, eight alcoves offer an excellent location for private conversation or even romantic trysts. Each alcove is a half-moon of posh benches encircling a rectangular table bearing a special built-in dragonchess board. Visitors are expected to bring their own pieces, but may rent a house set for 2 gp. This fee effectively keeps out the riff-raff, making Lazare's a haven for visiting dignitaries and Diamond upper class. Ellival Moonmeadow, Chaum Gansworth and Luzane Parrin are frequent patrons.
Lazare himself was a dragonchess champion in the Free City some 20 years ago, and used ample winnings gained there to purchase a mine in the hills northeast of Diamond Lake. He and his family moved to the village and start a new life as mine managers, but failed to anticipate the desperate, appalling politics of the mud-soaked mining town. Within three years, Lazare was all but bankrupted, forced to sell his mine to Balabar Smenk (whom the usually serene chessmaster hates with undisguised passion). Lazare blames Smenk for the death of his beloved wife, who grew gravely ill at the height of the ownership struggle. Lazare cherishes his daughter, Dannath, who reminds him of his lost love and the stakes of Diamond Lake politics.
One of the newest patrons is Khellek, leader of the trio of Free City adventurers currently exploring the empty Stirgenest Cairn outside Diamond Lake. Khellek makes a point to challenge any seemingly worthy opponent, using the game as a pretense to pump natives for information on nearby tombs. Khellek wears simple silver ring on the third finger of his right hand. The face of this ring bears an eight-pointed star symbol.
Type
Hospitality, Resort
Parent Location
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