THE BEST LESSER-KNOWN CLUBS IN NEVERWINTER (Free Tier) (Patreon)

Or: Where to go if you don’t want to be seen at the Moonstone Mask

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Hail and well met!

In this Realmslore installation, I share some of the most interesting clubs, nightlife or otherwise, that you can find in Neverwinter if you are looking to add some variety to your party's city adventures.

Many of these clubs seem specific to Neverwinter, but with a little tweaking I am sure you could use them in any location in the Realms that you find most appropriate!

I hope you enjoy!

Hugs,
Ed

Habbard’s Haven
River District; fronts halfway down the west side of the small block of new and rebuilt buildings that’s southeast of The Fallen Tower (and two blocks south of the Sacred Park of Sune). Known just as “Habbard’s” to all.

Outside Appearance
Solid three-floor fieldstone building with a grand stone half-pillars-framing-broad-scarlet-front-doors front. No sign over the doors, just a horizontal, gilt-painted hunting horn (looks very like an ox-horn used as a drinking horn, open end to the viewer’s right, no strap).

What It’s Known For
Where merchants go to drink, make deals, gossip, and vent.

The Experience
Street youths earn steady coin in hiding, working pedal-pumps to recirculate scented waters endlessly through fallpipes built into the “bower walls” that partition the barn-like interiors into small alcoves, each holding half a dozen chairs around a table. No carousing here; drunks and anyone singing will be rushed out, here it’s all talk, talk, talk. The fallpipes make background noise that echoes, to try to make eavesdropping on other alcoves nigh-impossible. In winter, fires are lit under the pump-feed runs, to warm the waters and provide heating.

No music is played, or wanted. Minstrels and even superb bards who “strike up” will be shown the door.

This is where everyday small-goods deals are made that keep city crafters supplied with raw materials, and their finished output flowing to the wider Realms. It’s where merchants can speak plainly rather than fawning over customers or telling little bright lies to make a sale.

Here, food is fuel; lightly-seasoned and boring, but solid and edible, portions mid-sized. Drinks are weak in strength but generously poured, and taste good.

Assault On Your Purse
Moderately expensive; merchants expect good deals for their coin, not to be pinched so some lout can profit-feast on them. Better bargains than their workers can ever expect to see.

Watch For
Tassakra The Silent, the hood-up-cloaked ghost of a pale-faced, thin woman who glides silently up out to nowhere to stop and stare sadly right at someone who makes a deal she thinks will harm peace in the area, or benefit Luskan at the expense of Neverwinter, or aid anyone using magic to coerce others (such as the schemes of Szass Tam, the Zhentarim, the Arcane Brotherhood, or other wizardly cabals or liches). After she’s tendered a long, silent stare of disapproval, meeting the eyes of a living person if she can, she slowly fades away. All can see her, and her appearance usually causes a hush.

What’s Really Going On
When Dagult Neverember first took the lordship, he seized upon Habbard’s (where he’d been a regular patron until the moment he was lord, whereupon his visits ceased forever) to be his way of getting the shopkeepers and “middling merchants” of the city to do what he wanted them to, by using paid but undercover “mouths” among the merchants to spread gossip, comments about what he liked and wanted or disliked and didn’t want, and so-called “in the know” gossip about what he was up to, or his intentions. He’s not above saying things to manipulate those who want to thwart him to try to stop him—and so, act as he really wants them to.

Skaroon’s
River District; fronts in the middle of the north side of the block of buildings immediately southwest of the Shard of Night.

Outside Appearance
An old barn of a wooden building, two floors and solid, front double doors of deep blue, flanked by two hanging cage lanterns that are lit dusk until dawn.

What It’s Known For
A dancing and drinking club where folk go to be seen, find a this-night-lover, or just have fun for an evening—sometimes until dawn. Live music for dancing, not for minstrels or bards to show off; here, lyrics don’t matter, but a good beat is expected.

The Experience
Skaroon’s is beloved among the citizenry. Folk of Neverwinter think of it fondly, as where they met their spouse or someone they want to be wed to, where good times have been had often and hopefully will be again, and where they’d like to be right now (as opposed to any unpleasant situation they’re in).

Assault On Your Purse
fashionable new drinks can be pricey, but everything else is “almost expensive.” So, no bargains, but moderation can see a slender purse through an evening. Which enables some citizens to be many-evenings regulars.

Watch For
The ceiling is painted like the night sky, with entirely fanciful constellations and dragons flying among the stars. Glowing globes (enchanted driftglobes) were stolen so often that they’ve all been replaced with small spherical glass candle-lamps in metal cages that hang from the ceiling on chains of varying lengths. These lamps are clustered in some spots, alone in others, and hang in an entirely random pattern that’s been adjusted over the years to leave some corners gloomy and others much better lit, as usage recommends.

What’s Really Going On
Not a place to make private deals or talk serious business unless you want to be overheard, so you can start rumors. However, some folk wanting to deal use Skaroon’s to meet at (in hopes that any rival spying on them will think they’re going for dancing or dalliance), to arrange a truly private meeting elsewhere.

The full version of this write-up (Audio / Video) includes six more captivating locations in Neverwinter. For access to the full write-up, plus my complete narration in both video and audiobook formats (including an RSS feed for audio), become a Protector of the Realms and join our rapidly-growing community of adventurers!