The Crown Inn and Tavern
The oldest and most venerable tavern in all of Aelyria Prime - in all the Empire - remained the busiest location in the city. Once it had stood out from surrounding buildings; now, the Crown Inn and Tavern dominated the entryway to the city. The formerly haphazard, jutting additions and the original building had been drawn together and formed into a brand new structure unlike anything the city had seen before. No longer scarred red brick, it was an icosahedron, a twenty-sided shape, three stories high, made of cyclopean-sized stone that were painted red with accents of many colors. The weathered, heavy oak doors had become new again, with no sign of the damage that had been previously done. As always, the doors of the Crown stood open, and welcomed the people to come inside. Every other side of the icosahedron's first and second stories was occupied by arching, decorative windows. During the brightening, these allowed sunlight to fill the interior; at twilight, the setting of the suns made the last rays glow like ara outside the windows as the rooms grew darker, and the wall lamps were lit.
Guests entered first into the foyer, which was at once elegant enough to charm the most noble of patrons and comfortable enough to feel like home to any road-worn traveler. The foyer was empty but for a crescent table that curved out from the right hand wall, where the rooms on the third floor may be reserved. Behind it and to the side were the stairs to the third floor, with a private staircase to the largest, most expensive suite hidden in a more discreet location.
Directly across the foyer from the open front doors was a grand, open archway that lead into the pride of Prime: the Crown Tavern. Through it came the sounds of people determined to be alive - drinking, laughing, arguing, talking, singing. It remained the favored meeting place for all kinds of people. At the archway stood a very large, strong, and sober man, lightly armored in leather and wearing a deep cerulean cloak; the emblazoned sigil upon the front was, as it had been, the sigil of Zenthia Tilsaro, owner. The devoted woman had not abandoned the Crown in the darkest of times, and was now the proud proprietor of the finest establishment in the civilized world. Old-time patrons might note the absence of the former "no weapons" rule; Zenthia had found it nigh impossible to enforce (most simply hid weapons upon their bodies) and unrealistic to store all weapons and return them to the proper owners.
Inside, the new Crown Tavern was breathtaking. It was a large room, the main bar curving about the center of the room, angled to match the geometric shape of the unique building. Tables were fitted to all twenty corners and scattered throughout the open space of the floor. At the southern wall was the door to the kitchens, through which staff frequently traveled, and a great fireplace with a grouping of chairs and smaller tables, usually occupied. Stairs leading to the upper levels were found on both sides. The first story was entirely open to the second; patrons were now able to dine at tables around the interior balcony and watch the glorious commotion below through the intricate latticework half-wall. Candle chandeliers gracefully suspended from the ceiling of the second story softly illuminated the rooms, but allowed the
many corner tables to remain in the privacy of shade. A dozen servers carried trays of food and drink throughout the crowds. Only the back wall of the second story was closed; this was a closed, private dining room, made available for nobles to secure absolute privacy, or for meetings requiring extra measures of security.
The Crown was always packed, as people had nowhere else to go while kept within the city, and they needed a place to gather, discuss, and seek fun and entertainment. All races and sorts were here, enjoying the sense of warmth and camaraderie the Crown Inn and Tavern offered.