Highwayman Howff

Calico · 6/18/2025

Faction includes mature themes & is led by a 3-3-3 character

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Highwayman Howff

Verdigris Row

..:: Inspirations ::..
TTRPG/Fantasy Tavern Tropes · Pirates · Highwaymen · Celtic Mythology

Hail ye wanderers, rogues, and ne'er do wells — do your feet grow weary? Your throat dry? We’re a miserable lot, but there’s no sense being lonely! Follow the coast and you’ll find her sooner or later, Highwayman Howff is open for business! A waystation for transient souls, the Howff offers room and board without asking too many questions. It’s the place to be if you need to catch up on rumours, and for those with tabs to pay — a good place to find work (especially if you’re not overly beholden to morals.)

Ellipsus Doc · Discord Channel

Fun stuff includes:

Being a waystation for travelers to rest, recover, and revel
A hub of rumours and folks who 'know a guy' (or are a guy), where you can hire entertainers, muscle, thieves, spies, whores, or even, potentially, assassins.
A bounty hunting system where the Howff hands out rewards to whoever completes the job
Treasure hunting (or stealing!)
Fae folk potentially wandering about, who are left offerings to keep the inn in the kingdom's good graces
A bunch of feral kids running amok in the inn

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Overview

The Howff will board anyone with means to pay — whether that be with gems and jewels, fresh food or drink for the larder, or time and labor. Runaways, fugitives, adventurers, travellers — folk from all across Mythris might find their way to the door, and that makes it a veritable font of information. If you’re looking for someone, or something, the Howff is the best place to start.

If you need to beat some heat, it’s not a bad place to disappear into a well of conflicting rumours, either.

Transient visitors are free to enjoy the Howff as merely a rambunctious waystation. The lonely can find companionship in all its… various forms. If you need a calling, and have a burning need to make a name for yourself, then someone here can probably point you in the right direction.

Ask the inkeep and they’ll tell you the name is just a play on words. But that’s not strictly true. Lyra and Mal run a crew of mercenaries out of their tavern — happy to serve in a variety of above board roles when the pay is good… or take what pleases them when it’s not. Discreetly, of course. While they’re not likely to boast of their less-admirable exploits, the right word in the right ear could open certain doors.

But Travellers take heed, the inn sits on ground once claimed by fae folk, and as a result, their magic still abounds. Certain rituals must be performed to safeguard wanderers in Verdigris, and remnants of the kingdom — like fairy rings and stone mounds — ought not to be disturbed.

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Howff Rules

Respect the Howff
Mal and Lyra are not to be disrespected.
(They can only disrespect each other.)
Their kids aren’t to be harmed or threatened. If you have complaints, you can make them directly to mom or pop.

Respect the Fae
It was their land, first.
Bargains with faeries must be kept.
It’s polite to offer a small portion of your vittles & earnings to the local fae.

If you pay, you can stay
No questions asked.
The Howff keeps its secrets, price of doing so weighed against the value of said secrets.
If you break it, you buy it.

Pay your tab
You’ll be made to, one way or another. Repeated walk-outs might not get to be walk-ins, in the future. Or walk-anywheres.

A deals a deal
(Unless a better deal comes along.)

Loose lips sink ships
Under the table jobs need to stay under the table.
Folk with the gift of gab and a deficit in discretion are liable to find themselves missing a tongue.

No dirty jobs involving children
Mal won’t tolerate the kidnapping, killing, or otherwise exploiting of pups and pregnant mothers.

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Contracts

"Bounties"

Got a fella you just can’t stand? They skimped on a deal, broke their oath, stole your girl, invaded your territory, or, hey, maybe they just chew way too loud? Bring your grievance to the Howff, and put up a bounty. If Freelancers like what you’re offering, they’ll help you find ‘em, bring ‘em in, or give ‘em what they’ve got coming. (Well… assuming said Bounty couldn’t make the Howff a better offer, anyway.)

"Protection & Muscle"

Maybe you’re involved in the headache of an inheritance dispute, or loners keep raiding your trade routes with the neighbors. A bear is eating all your salmon. If you need some extra muscle to reinforce your territory and protect what’s yours, the Howff can provide. They probably won’t send the same people who were robbing you to do the guarding.

"Entertainment & Spies"

Ok, so you have a wedding, or a big important diplomatic meeting coming up. You need entertainers! You need information! The Howff can provide you with bards to sing, dance, or do magic tricks. Maybe even cleverly insult your rivals. If you’re looking for more lusty forms of persuasion, Lords and Ladies of the Evening can provide more… carnal approaches to the task. Or just pretend to date you, so you don’t look like a total loser in front of the other guys. Both can be prevailed upon as spies, too, weasling into places and hearts to gather information you pay them for.

"Treasure Hunting"

Looking for a bauble? A rare pelt, some old-Mythris jewelry, exotic plants, or a really cool looking rock? Freelancers can be tasked with tracking down these monuments to wealth, curiosity, or love! It’s advised to be very specific about the terms and potential division of loot on such expeditions! And bring a good haggler with you to collect. Cursed objects cost extra.

"High Profile Marks"

Sometimes the Howff gets wind of a particularly high-profile target, and throws its own bounty into the pot to have it dealt with.
(Subject to tweaking if needed to comply with Viv rules — these could include RNG ‘scavenger hunts’ to track down fugitives or hidden treasures & simple dice-roll battles with a character brought in just to be a bounty target. Bring them in for Howff credit, loot, and/or maybe even a chance to adopt the character into your own roster?)

"The Backroom"

Highwayman Howff is a legitimate business! But if you’re looking for discreet help that isn’t overly concerned with things like karma and political scandal… well, they might know a gal or two. Prepare to pay a premium for anything like royal assassinations, stealing crown jewels, or providing ‘test subjects’ for your ‘science experiments.’

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Innfolk

Permanent residents of the inn might be few, but any traveller worth their salt will want to have some association with the the Howff, and will return to defend it if needed. There’s always something to do at the tavern, and a place for hardworking hands.

"WAYFARER // TAISTEALAÍ"

The general term for visitors to the inn, whether it be folk staying long term, or only for a night or two. They may be traders, travelers, or curious explorers.

"BUACHAILL TÁBHAIRNE (M) // CAILÍN TÁBHAIRNE (F) // DUINE TÁBHAIRNE (N)"

An inn’s no good without food and drink. Tavernkeepers acquire ingredients through trade, hunting, or even thieving, and prepare meals and spirits for feasting upon. They ought to be good conversationalists…. or at least, interesting conversationalists. The first in line to assess new arrivals, they also need to be keen-eyed, discreet, and have a good memory for faces and rumours.

"FREELANCER // DÍOLÚNACH"

Freelancers, adventurers, and other folk looking to ply a trade. Some stay at the tavern between jobs and may even help out as guards or bouncers. Others just stop by now and then to catch up on the going’s-on. Each will have their own reputation and style. Some may achieve such legendary renown as to be asked for by name on certain jobs. Those with the most diverse sets of skills will have the most flexibility. Whether their motives are pure-hearted or purely selfish, here is the place to come to find fitting work.

"BARD"

Performers and storytellers, who keep the place lively. They also spread word of the Howff to interested parties and collect rumours. Many are talented freelancers or lifelong wanderers themselves, and can spin tales of derring-do to inspire all that hear it. But take care — get on the bad side of a bard, and the songs they sing about you might not be so glamorous…

"LORDS & LADIES OF THE EVENING"

Some folk come to the tavern lonely or restless, and it’s the talent of a whore to coax them into better states of mind. Those set up at the Howff split earnings with the inn and are expected to make enough to cover the room they keep — but otherwise have free reign to choose their clients and set their own limits. They may be finders and keepers of valuable information, coaxed from blissful lips after nights of passion.

"WISE FOLK // LIA"

Folk trained in the art of healing or the appeasing of spirits are valuable for their wisdom, and a welcome sight at the Howff. For dispersals and drifters, access to this kind of help might be hard to find, and having a place to go to reliably find it is a great boon.

"AES SÍDHE // FOLK OF THE MOUNDS"

Fae folk who live in the woods around the Howff (or inside, if they’re so inclined!), but don’t consider themselves part of the crew. Though they coexist in relative peace, they’re not strictly beholden to the rules of the inn outside its doors, and might have all manner of motives or interests. Travelers take caution when meeting alluring strangers out in the wilderness! Fae can make for lively company, powerful protectors, or terrible foes.

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Founders

Lyra (Myna)
(Recruited ✅ // Post Count ✅)

Mal
(Recruited ✅ // Post Count ✅)

Jaskier
(Recruited ❌ // Post Count ❌)

Taloka
(Recruited ✅ // Post Count ✅)

Sarge
(Recruited ✅ // Post Count ✅)

Will-o'-Wisp
(Recruited ✅ // Post Count ✅)

Caiaphas
(Recruited ❌ // Post Count ❌)

Mir
(Recruited ❌ // Post Count ❌)

Caspian
(Recruited ✅ // Post Count ❌)

Honorary Joinees:

Lonán Newt Frog Toad
Kobold Honor Grim Selkie Lichen Wendigo
Naya

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How to Join

Post a joining thread in or bordering Verdigris Row, pinging Lyra (Myna) and/or Mal for visibility :3

Founder Requirements:

Decide to join in IC post
Have 30+ IC posts
Be 1 year old or over IC

1 leader & 4 followers must reach "Founder" status to make the Howff official! Others are welcome to join before or after as regular members.

If you have questions or want to plot, you can comment below, DM Calico, or reach out in the Howff channel on the Vivarium Discord! <3

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