The Flying Fish Tavern
The Flying Fish Tavern is a lively, ramshackle establishment perched precariously on stilts near the harbor's edge, its weathered timbers groaning with the weight of countless stories. A massive carved fish, its fins appearing to leap through the air, serves as its iconic sign, hanging askew from rusted chains. The interior is a riot of mismatched furniture, sea-worn trinkets, and nets strung with glowing orbs of bioluminescent jellyfish, casting a soft, shifting light over the crowd. The tavern thrums with energy, filled with the clamor of clinking tankards, sailors’ bawdy shanties, and the sharp tang of salt and roasted fish. The Flying Fish is both a haven and a crossroads for travelers, a place where secrets are traded as freely as drinks, and no one leaves without a tale to tell.
Purpose / Function
The Flying Fish Tavern serves as the heart of Underbelly’s social and economic life, a bustling nexus where fishermen, sailors, merchants, and adventurers converge. It provides a space for weary laborers to unwind after long days on the docks, while also acting as a hub for the exchange of information, rumors, and opportunities. The tavern is known for hosting informal meetings between smugglers, traders, and shadowy figures seeking discretion, making it a key player in the undercurrent of Underbelly's trade. Beyond its practical role, the Flying Fish also offers a sense of camaraderie and connection in the often harsh and isolating environment of Caspian's territory, creating a lively and essential haven amidst the ever-present gloom.
Architecture
The building is constructed primarily from weathered driftwood and salvaged ship planks, giving it a rugged, pieced-together appearance. It rests on tall wooden stilts driven deep into the soggy ground near the water’s edge, protecting it from the frequent flooding and high tides of Underbelly. The structure is topped with a sharply slanted roof covered in overlapping shingles, many of which are unevenly painted in faded hues of blue, resembling fish scales. Decorative buttresses, carved with swirling aquatic motifs, brace the building against the harsh winds coming off the sea.
Balconies and external staircases twist around the tavern, connecting its upper levels and providing views of the bustling harbor. The windows are small and irregularly placed, framed with heavy shutters to keep out storms, while a giant carved fish juts out from above the entrance, doubling as both an iconic sign and a striking centerpiece. Lanterns crafted from hollowed-out sea creatures and bottles filled with glowing jellyfish oil hang at the corners, casting a warm and shifting light that reflects off the damp wood, creating a welcoming, if slightly chaotic, aura.
Type
Pub / Tavern / Restaurant
Parent Location
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