The establishment known as The Long Embrace is actually a renovated estate that once belonged to a wealthy family, rumored to be of nobility, that had thinned out and faded from history a little over a century ago. Nearly fallen to complete ruin, the last of the family line gifted the property to a band of adventurers who were rummaging through the buildings, assuming the grounds to be completely abandoned, haunted, and–as is the axiom of adventure seekers and places of wonder–filled with treasure. As the story goes, the band of adventurers accepted the offer only after some hesitation and deliberation among the ranks.

Located at the far end of what is now known as the Ember Wastes, it is the last place of civilization for travelers, merchants, and other passers by before one comes to the treeline of the Barghest Woods.

Having accepted the offer to keep the estate, the group went about restoring the structures and making some changes to the location. The stables were expanded, the guest house rebuilt and refurnished. The Master House, as it was called at the time, was renovated with the greatest changes; nearly a quarter of the inside space was redesigned to be a taproom with a performance stage. Given the circumstances of the shattered empire’s lands, the inheritors agreed as a group to make the grounds a roadhouse of sorts. The Ember Wastes were fairly well-tamed even in the first decade after the Servile Rebellion, but even now, the eastern forest is mostly uncharted territory.

Historically, groups of travelers, whether they were merchants or contracted explorers, would go into the woods, but would only come back after few days, battered and far worse for wear, or worse, they didn’t come back at all. What did come back with the travelers were tales of caution, and the most consistent tale that returned was that of the massive hounds that lurked in the dark, fur black as night and burning coals for eyes. So repeated were these stories that the forest at the edge of realm was henceforth renamed the Barghest Woods.

Over the years, the notoriety of the place gathered more attention, and what was an attempt at a way station for adventurers became almost a small town on its own. Though the only permanent structures are from the estate, tents and pavilions are always set up for the travelling merchants, who use the area as a market. Being the last stop before people go into the forest, the demand for supplies is steady and good business for those that peddle their wares.

Of the five members of the original inheritors, two bloodlines remain, the Osgoths and the Carcosans, while the circumstances of the other three are subject to some scrutiny.  Julian Osgoth and Abelard Carcosan run most of the operations at The Long Embrace, but they’ve added staff to support their needs based on the volume of people.

Most famous of this support staff is the door woman, Abigail, who at first sight makes no sense to use as muscle for the taproom. Described by the patrons as “dainty” and “helpless”, towards the more perverse adjectives of “mischievously attractive” and “problematically arousing”, and every colored phrase in between, Abigail was hand-picked by Julian and Abelard for her task, though they will not say where they met her, nor speak on her history.

Claudia Masterson runs the bar and kitchen, but you’d be wise to hold your tongue around her unless you want it served on the menu. She is the most recent staff addition to the establishment, and occasionally still goes hunting in the woods with Julian when necessary.

Roland and Morgan Duke, brother and sister, help with lodgings and stables. The siblings came from a family of merchants and tradesmen, so they spent a lot of time in the area as teenagers, and after their parents passed, they offered to stay and help with the operations, seeing as they knew most of the regular travelers that came through.

As far as communities go, the people that regularly circle the area is not as socially tight as one would imagine. The staff, as any business warrants, requires a measure a trust between all parties, which is noticeably present. The travelling merchants and patrons can run the any measure of the lot, however, as the motivations for treasure hunters and adventure seekers vary far more than anyone would be willing to map out.