Nether's Gate stands just across the way from the Provost Office, and is near enough to the portal and large enough compared with the other, scant dwellings to dominate the newly formed and mutable skyline somewhat. Though only a mere three stories tall this is more than enough to dwarf the other buildings in its shadow, and it is wider and more strongly built than many of the surrounding homes - built along similar lines to the Provost Office itself in choosing practicality over aesthetic appearance. Two large firepots sit on either side of the wide door and, lit at night, create a welcoming glow to tempt passersby into the interior.
Inside, the shabby tavern is surprisingly clean and well lit, the floor strewn with clean straw among the polished but worn wooden tables and chairs. There is a long, wooden bar that dominates one wall of the place, though it is the most basic of things and is as practical and wooden as most of the rest of the place.
Beyond the main room, the 'Gate, as it's fondly known by much of the Pax Honestus, hosts a number of more intimate delights than mere beverages can provide. For not only is Nether's Gate a tavern, entertainment hall and gathering place for all, it also serves as a brothel. Upstairs one could hear the sound of giggling and running feet. The girls of the Nether's Gate knew how to please a man, and keep his mind off the rough daily life of Pax.
The current tavern owner is Melissa LaRouge and she is assisted by a barmaid Rosie. A trader called Morton Wanesman can often be found holding court here and a young achadhiel, Angelo can often be found drinking in a corner.
Jygust 31 ET
Torc rose before the roosters cry in his tent near the refugee camp outside of Pax. For sometime now he had been living with them trying to heal and spread a message of hope to the people. Yet battle and blood was all that he could foresee for now. Scratching himself for Torc was only in his bed clothes, Torc began to think about all there was to do today. Truthfully, after Melissa he should be spending time with the child to find the mad man who was poisoning children. However, he thought of Ulder’s news. There was to much to prepare for, so Torc threw back the blanket and started packing various foci into a bag.
Squatting Torc felt the cool breeze upon his unclothe back, and though he felt he should probably get water to clean his face. Torc didn’t truly have time for such nicities. Torc put on a dirty pair of pants and a clean shirt. Thinking that he should probably give his clothes to some washer women for repair and scrubbing, instead he simply went outside.
Seeing that the small camp of Torc’s followers had yet to rise, Torc went over to the cooking fire and sat on a log close to it. Taking a small white cloth Torc used charcoal to write a quick message to Caelis. Telling him that he was at the Nether’s Gate for the early burns and that he should send a messager boy for him to receive special requests from Torc. Just to make sure that if Caelis didn’t read Torc made the tree that he considered his mark and the mark of Nether’s gate which appeared on its sign. Torc drew an arrow between his mark and the mark of Nether’s gate, hoping that Caelis would be smart enough to realize that he needed to send a runner.
Torc walked through the early morning camp as the sun’s rays started to come over the Howling Mountains. A few roosters could be heard in the distance waking everyone for work. The walk was solemn but clearing to Torc’s mind as he neared the Nether’s Gate Tavern. Pausing before he went in Torc wondered if what he was about to do would be for the best. Still Melissa wanted to know about her child and any misfortune that had been visited.
With that Torc entered the tavern.