Geoff and Coy recently managed to arrange a special meeting with Constable Inspector Reva Lunaria to speak a bit about some of the places she likes to spend her free time. Through a bit of multi-dimensional magic, we’re able to let Reva tell you about it in her own words. Luckily, the magic being employed also translates Elven into English.
Reva: Alright, I’m not sure how this magic works – that’s really Ansee’s specialty – but since it’s rather slow at the constabulary right now, I’ve been volunteered to talk about the city of Tenyl to those of you who are following my adventures. Lucky me.
First Constable Aescel instructed me to describe some of my favorite places in Tenyl. The actual instruction I got from him was to “tell people where I like to spend my off hours.” I told Aescel that wasn’t really possible, because I don’t have a lot of off hours since I’m the only constable that seems to be able to close a case. For those of you with sensitive ears, I’ll spare you the words he used next. Needless to say, he was insistent on my participation, so here goes.
Let’s see, there are three places that come immediately to mind. The first is the House of Theobroma. It’s a cacao house – you have cacao on your world, I hope?
(Indistinct whisper) What?
Oh, Ansee just told me that it’s called chocolate where you are from. Anyway, nothing beats a hot cup of cacao to start the day. I try to stop by Iliam’s place as often as I can.
(Indistinct whisper) I was getting to that – just go inventory your mana samples or something.
Sorry for the interruption. One of the things I enjoy about Iliam’s place is how eclectic it is. The tables are round, or square, or even in the shape of flowers, and are equally varied in their construction. Some are made from wood, some from iron and glass, and some are even made with polished brass and ceramic tiles. The chairs are similar in their variety, from tall, straight-backed chairs, stools, to military camp chairs. My favorite table is wooden, carved in the shape of a flower, and is painted pink and white, and I like to sit in a metal-framed, heart-backed chair. The windows in the shop are filled with prisms, stained glass, and metal chimes that always catch the morning light and make the place sparkle. It’s really something to see, and enjoying Iliam’s hot cacao there is the best way to start the day. His really is the best in the city.
I suppose the next favorite of mine is Pfenestra’s Playhouse. It overlooks the river in Merchant Grove and is a great place to see a play. I assume you have plays on your world. Pfenestra’s is the second largest playhouse in the city (only the Royal Opera House is bigger) and Pfenestra always puts on a great performance. I’ve seen hundreds of plays there over the years. It has a grand foyer with high windows and wooden floors that have been polished over the centuries from all the feet that have walked across it. There are two curved staircases that head up to the balcony, but I never sit up there. I prefer the main seating, so I go through one of the two sets of polished wood double doors and try to sit near the front. Unlike some of the cheaper playhouses where the audience must stand the whole time, Pfenestra’s contains plush chairs for the audience to sit in and enjoy the play.
My third favorite place is right next door to Pfenestra’s – The Beehive. It’s a pub –
(Indistinct whispering) What? Of course, they know what a pub is.
(More whispering) A bar? What’s the difference?
(Whispering continues) Oh, never mind.
Pub or bar, Pfletcher serves alcohol there – they must know what alcohol is – and it’s a great place to get a drink before or after a show at Pfenestra’s. The owner is Burl Pfletcher – but nobody calls him Burl – and he has one of the best-stocked pubs in the city. His place is split into front back rooms. Up front is the bar, where Pfletcher reigns over everything, and a few small tables. Most of those don’t have chairs, so you stand to enjoy your drink – which is always a good sign to gauge just how drunk a person might be – but a few tables by the front windows do have chairs. The front room also has a large fireplace, and the room is decorated with banners from many of the plays that were put on next door. Most of them have been autographed by the actors, and behind the bar are several portraits of some of the most famous actors to have played in the city. The back room is smaller, and it can get pretty crowded when there are a lot of people in the pub. Pfletcher has a small stage built back there for actors, musicians, and the like to perform. There are more tables, either with chairs or bench seating. The walls back there are covered with artwork of bees – paintings, drawings, and small sculptures – and in one corner is a large beehive. It no longer has any bees, and Pfletcher told me one time that it had been on his grandmother’s land where he’d first learned to make mead.
(Indistinct yelling) Okay, it sounds like I need to cut this short and finally go do my real job. Wherever you are, I hope you found this interesting. I actually enjoyed myself – but don’t tell Aescel that.
Geoff & Coy: Well, that worked out better than we could have hoped. We want to thank Ansee for setting up the magical gate that allowed us to talk to Reva, and we hope that you enjoyed hearing a bit about Tenyl from Reva herself.
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