Tavern Of The Damned

The tavern sat like a tumor would— at the edge of the gate camp — crooked walls, broken signage, and a roof stitched with rusted metal plates and scavenged bones.

Smoke poured from shattered windows.

The scent: sweat, blood, and sour ale hit Ian like a fist the moment the doors creaked open.

"Welcome," Lyra said with a grin, sweeping her arm theatrically as they stepped in, "to the end of the world."

Inside, the Tavern of the Damned was alive with chaos.

A bard with a shattered lute played nonsense chords in the corner.

Two masked duelists sparred with daggers atop a bar table.

A woman in gilded armor drank from a horn full of flame. And everywhere — packed elbow to elbow — were killers.

Warriors.

The damned and the damned-willing.

All gathered in this liminal space, standing on the edge of Hellscape, daring it to blink first.

Often times, it never did.