The Third Donkey
Centuries ago, during the War of Bloody Shores and just after Rambergam was created, trade sprung up by necessity between the burgeoning mountain settlement and Mandir, the next closest city of any substantial size. Two such traders, Isco and Fraircel, were struggling to make the journey as there was no safe midway point at which they could rest -- centaurs patrolled the forest boundaries and the plains and were unused to anyone interfering in their dominion, and this made the journey quite dangerous.
One of the donkeys in their caravan - the third donkey, to be precise - eventually refused to continue forward and sat down stubbornly on the path. No amount of coaxing could persuade the hardheaded beast to carry on, and so the caravan was forced to halt. It wasn't long before a centaur patrol party came across them and began to attack the caravan when Isco failed to get the third donkey to move. The rest of the caravan scattered, but the donkey remained stubbornly seated. Danorior, the leader of the centaur patrol party, did not want to attack a non-aggressive equine cousin, and halted the attack, instead opting to commune with the donkey.
The donkey, giving no name or moniker, explained how exhausting it was to try to evade the centaur patrols to carry lifesaving goods back and forth between Rambergam and Mandir, related the suffering that the people of the land were experiencing, and expressed the fondness the donkey had come to feel for its human companions, who treated it kindly.
The conversation changed Danorior's perspective on the caravans, and he, Isco, and Fraircel came to an agreement: the centaurs would not attack the traders and Isco and Fraircel would be allowed to construct an inn at the place where the donkey had made its stand. In exchange, a small tithe of supplies would be set aside for the centaurs as recompense for the infringement into their territory, and all caravans traveling to and from Rambergam and Mandir would not be allowed to deviate from the path and would be required to stop at the inn to receive judgment from the donkey, whom Danorior trusted to be a good judge of character and therefore appointed as the overseer of the outpost. This arrangement, of course, caused some confusion and many laughs, but seeing as it caused little harm and gave the inn quite the reputation, the terms were readily accepted and all parties were content.
Over the years, the centaurs became more comfortable with the people who passed through, and when the donkey breathed its last, it entreated the centaurs to show mercy and kindness to its humanoid companions in its absence. Danorior, having come to love and respect the donkey like a brother, honored its wish, and permitted a town to spring up around the inn. Now, a full-fledged village thrives around The Third Donkey, whose memory is forever cherished. A commemorative statue at the center of town features Isco, Fraircel, Danorior, and the donkey.
Today, the inn is owned by Berin Forubron-Demescu, the descendent of Isco and Fraircel's adopted daughter, Chenna.
Founding Date
Year 8,672 of the Age of Earth
Type
Inn
Parent Location
Owner
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