On the East Road, on the far eastern edge of the Misty Vale, as the karst rock formations give way to the smooth plains of the eastern coast lands, sits the Four Javelins Coaching Inn. Its famous and diminutive proprietor, Fergle 'Forearm' Finkle, a knobtown halfling, has been serving good eats and strong brews at his inn for over a hundred years.
So the story goes, Fergle was a young and innocent halfling who desperately wanted to be an adventurer. On an endowment from his paternal grandmother, a somewhat famous baker in Knobtown (which is saying something), he set out to equip himself in Javelin Hill and find an adventure. After being 'helped' in his provisioning by the infamous dwarf Gargle Stonebritches at his outfitter shop, Down the Hole, Fergle had spent all his money, could barely carry all of his equipment, and found that the pony he had bought from Gargle was a sway back nag.
Being ever the font of positivity, Fergle loaded his pony with his equipment and provisions, and walked her to the Slippery Eel. He had heard if you wanted to join a crew The Eel was the place. He joined a suspect group, more thugs than adventurers, and they set off to 'follow a rumor' east of Javelin Hill of bandits harassing travelers making their way to the coast.
The bandits harassing the travelers were actually his crew. Fergle was not interested in banditry, he wanted to be an adventurer. And he told them so as he broke up the first holdup of the day and let the merchant go. The bandits were not impressed. and cornered Fergle by a rock formation. A formation that hid the nest of a cranky manticore. The bandits were killed one by one, leaving only Fergle, standing by the pin-cushioned bandit leader. Fergle stood his ground, drew out his own freshly wrapped javelins, and prepared to fight for his young life.
When the dust cleared, Fergle stood alone, and the manticore lay riddled by his javelins. His Four Javelins.
The site of the Four Javelins Coaching Inn stands on the site of that encounter. Built with the treasure Fergle acquired from the manticores lair, and the bandits hole, The Four Javelins is a comfy, safe spot welcoming of a tall tale in a wilder world.
- My Favorite Places - Penelope Flowerfold
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