The Copper Tankard

After leaving the Guild building, I followed Sofia down the road to a building called “The Copper Tankard”. From the outside, it looked like your average rundown tavern you’d find in any RPG. There was a older gnome passed out in a heap next to the door, clearly drunk, and snoring loudly. He was drooling into his grey beard.

“Here we are,” Sofia said. “The Copper Tankard is one of the cheapest places to sleep. It has a partnership with the guild, giving discounted rates to adventurers in order to get more patronage. It’s lowered prices combined with its proximity to the guild makes it rather popular with low leveled adventurers.”

“Good to know. But, should we do something about him?” I asked, pointing to the drunk gnome.

“Him? Oh, no that’s just Phil. He’s the owner’s brother. This is pretty normal for him. He’ll usually just sleep it off.” said Sofia.

“Then let’s head in,” I said, reaching for the tavern’s door. It swung open, causing me to lurch forward off balance and grab the first thing in front of me...which unfortunately happened to be the person who had opened the door. A visibly drunk adventurer in fairly expensive looking clothes. She had blonde hair drawn back into a pony tail. Her emerald eyes were foggy and unfocused due to intoxication. Her shirt was unbuttoned, showing off more cleavage than she intended, and, unfortunately, allowing my poor hand direct access to its accidental target.

“H-hey! *hic* at leasht buy me a drinnk fursht,” slurred the drunk adventurer. Panicked, I retracted my arm and stammered an apology.

“Flynn!?” Sofia said in surprise, “you’re much more forward than I had guessed. I misjudged you.”

“Wha- I-I didn’t mean to!” I stammered. “I just wasn’t paying attention, and I didn’t realize the door had opened, and she was there in front of me, and her shirt was undone, and-”

“Relacksh, keeyootie. If ya wanna continue, I’m in room 204,” the drunk said, staggering off towards the stairs on the side of the tavern.

“Real smooth,” Sofia teased.

“Shut it!” I retorted. “Let’s just go inside already.” Opening the door successfully this time, we went inside The Copper Tankard.

Inside the tavern, various races were drinking together at tables. It was clear to see that most patrons were adventurers, and based on the variety seen at the tables, most were drinking with their parties. At one such table, a heavily armored dwarf was drinking with an elven archer and a human mage. At another, there was a pair of bunny girls drinking with a female orc. The diversity of races and classes was a sight to behold. The clear throughline was that everyone was hammered.

Moving up to the bar, a gnome ran back and forth on a raised platform behind the bar, handing drinks to paying customers and yelling at deadbeats. Presumably, the brother of Phil, and the owner of the Tankard.

“Excuse me,” I said, waving to get the gnome’s attention.

“Eh? Oh, firegirl and a newbie. Here’s yer beer, firegirl. Try not to cause a fire. This one’s got a fifth the **** content of the gin ya had last time!” The gnome said, putting a tankard of beer in front of Sofia while gesturing to the scorch marks on the bar a few feet away. Sofia set a pair of copper coins in the empty tankard behind the bar and began sipping at the beer in silence.

“How much are the rooms here, sir?” I asked.

“5 copper a night, and don’t call me sir, name’s Bill, ya want one room or two,” the gnome talked as fast as he moved, mixing and serving drinks the whole time he spoke.

“Two, please,” I said, putting a silver in the tankard like Sofia did earlier.

“Here’s ya keys. Rooms 203 and 202 are open right now. Ya want something to drink or not, boyo” Bill said, tossing a pair of keys to me.

“No, thanks,” I said, handing Sofia one of the room keys. “Don’t stay up drinking too late, I want to do another request tomorrow.”

“I’m just gonna have this one,” she said, sipping the beer. “I’m not exactly the biggest fan of beer.”

Chuckling, I left the tavern, heading to the staircase on the side of the building. Heading up the stairs, I almost held the railing. Then I remembered where I was. Sure enough, the railing was covered in vomit. Gross. I put my hands into my pockets and continued up to the second floor to find room 203.