The Briny Maiden (Bri-nee May-den)

The Briny Maiden, a small tavern and inn combination, sits alongside the small forest nestled on the Easternmost edge of the town of Saltmarsh. The Eastern road itself has become far less traveled over the years, falling into little more than a poorly maintained cobblestone road in desperate need of repairs and serving as a harsh reminder of how the less developed portions of Saltmarsh lie abandoned, much akin to a dry dairy cow or aging horse set out to pasture to waste away and fade into nothingness. Few travelers use this road as many prefer the much more grandiose Northern road or through the main harbors situated on the Southern end of town leading out to the sea. No one of importance comes by foot from the Eastern edge, as those traveling on foot and hailing from the Sword Coast are nothing more than pirates or bandit scum. With her back to the small forest, the Briny Maiden faces the ocean itself,  just a stone's throw away from the water's edge. The ocean breeze playfully swings her sign back and forth across its metal hanging rod.  Even though a small sea wall was put in place, the ocean's spray edge still gently kisses the front windows and dual entrance doors.   Such is the view from the front of the Briny Maiden, one of the older tavern/inn combos. Time has not been kind to the old girl, her woodworking showing signs of aging, the effects of time slowly eating away at the once brightly painted wood, leaving parts a dull, lifeless grey. Though her personal small craft dock sees little use, the innkeeper still insists on keeping it in good shape for potential customers. The semi-transparent windows, of the ocean-facing wall, do a fair job of allowing patrons to sit and gaze out into the sea and watch the colors of the setting sun without the harsh glare.   Walking inside, the surprisingly dimly lit tavern still feels warm and welcoming, despite its lower selection of beverages and sparse clientele. Deep scuff marks within the floor lay bare the tell-tale signs of many a bar brawl, scuffle, and even the occasional celebration and dancing with some of the older boards creaking their greeting almost as loudly as the innkeeper himself. Each wall is adorned with various pieces of homemade art, from a few simple charcoal pencil drawings to a couple of paints done in oil on canvas representing....something that the artist felt very passionate about, no wall is left untouched with some form of color in an attempt to brighten up the aged, soot-stained walls. Two large stone hearths sit facing each other on opposite sides of the eastern and western walls, their roaring fires serving to bring light to the entrance but also warm travelers as they walk in from the often cold and wet sea air. Homemade beeswax candles adorn each table and booth to provide a bit of romance, and entertain the more dramatically inclined.   The Innkeeper Gaelin, a bear of a man in his own right, greets everyone with a warm smile while the few waitresses tend to the needs of customers. Though they had fallen on hard times, Gaelin and his wife Nora refused to give in, opting to try with all their might to keep their home, and the home of the men and women working there, open in hopes someone will not only help them rid the place of the drunken and disorderly town guard but also the other ailments of the people of Saltmarsh.   Will a band of capable adventurers come to their aid? Will the Black Market importers succeed in choking the life out of the once glimmering gem? Or will they succumb to the fate of becoming little more than a watering hole for the corrupt town guard?