Kuressa's Den

Just south of King's Way, the main artery of Balic, sits the expansive tavern Kuressa's Den. An arched entrance gives the appearance of an upstanding institution, which it occasionally is, though not by any fault of the owner.

Kuressa, former sailor, former adventurer, former thief, and current entrepreneur, runs the tavern. Fights are encouraged as long are both willing participants and nothing belonging to her or noncombatants gets damaged.

There are no bedrooms in the Den - it is simply a place to drink after a long journey across the desert or a hard day in the fields. The owner has many fans and friends and, rumor has it, this includes Lady Essen of Rees, though the Lady would never been seen inside a tavern. If the rumor were true.

All types can be found inside the Den. Dock workers, sailors, farmers, patricians, adventurers, book keepers - they all come for the lively atmosphere, cheap drinks, and halfway edible food.

Just inside the door is the long bar of Balican stone where Kuressa and a comrade for many years, Evago, serve drinks. Evago and the bouncer Narls try to keep the worst of the troublemakers out of the Den, and from overeager patrons from bothering the five waitresses overly much.

Near the back of the Den is the kitchen, where food can be bought by the plate. Nothing is too-order, and if something looks good, the patron drops their bits on the counter and grabs a plate.

Beyond the kitchen, a private room can be rented near the back where it is less rowdy, but this is not a place for a quiet discussion, except in the early afternoon when most upstanding citizens are working. This area is also where the privy and storage room are located.

Popular doesn't begin to describe the way most Balican think of Kuressa's. It is one of the first stops when first time visitors arrive in the city, such is its reputation. Many have tried to duplicate the atmosphere, but there is a uniqueness about the place that defies copying. Whether it be the owner, the food, the beer, the fights, or all of them, Kuressa's is a one-of-a-kind place.