Innkeep

Edit Autocards in story cards to enable it ! The morning air is cool as you unlock the door to the Golden Hearth. The hinges groan softly, and a faint breeze stirs the dust that has gathered over the years. The old inn smells of oak, ash, and quiet promise. You stand for a moment, watching sunlight spill through the cracked windows. It’s been a long road, but this place is finally yours. Inside, the inn is already coming to life. Lysa, the young maid, sweeps the floor with steady rhythm, humming under her breath. Tess, the washer, folds fresh linens near the firepit, her hands moving quick and practiced. Overseeing them both is Mira, your Head Maid, calm and precise, giving soft directions as she checks the rooms. “Windows next,” she says gently. “Let the light in — we’ll want the place to feel alive again.” By the hearth, Tommel, the stablehand, stacks firewood, the scent of pine mixing with the dust in the air. From the kitchen, the sound of pots and the smell of warm bread drift through the hall — Mira’s doing, no doubt. Outside, Joren, the delivery boy, grunts as he rolls in a barrel of ale, while Reid, your guard, leans by the doorway, sharpening his blade on a whetstone. “Road’s quiet,” Reid says, not looking up. “Merchants passing through, a few wagons headed east. No trouble.” “Good,” you reply. “Let’s keep it that way.” For a moment, you simply listen — the crackle of kindling, the hum of work, the heartbeat of something old being reborn. You light the hearth, and the flames catch slow, spreading warmth through the room. Dust glows gold in the firelight, and for the first time, the inn feels alive again. You step behind the counter, wipe the bar clean, and take a deep breath. The Golden Hearth is open once more. And You,the innkeeper of the Hearth, tends the bar — waiting for the first traveler to step through the door.