The Silver Coin

The Silver Coin is a beautiful building, square and imposing, held together with sandstone columns in the classical style. Ivy smothers up the walls, tumbling onto the wooden trellis work that shelters the open air roof, and veiling the windows. On the wall facing into the square near the top of the building, nestling comfortably in the greenery, rests a silver disc a metre in diameter. On it is the vague outline of the last (known) member of the van de Maacht lineage. The coin has surprisingly never been stolen, and rumours abound that it is magically protected. At night, the flare of torches outside the tavern glistens on the dark metal.

The tavern resides on the third floor and the top of the building, and a staircase runs up the outside wall to the roof. The tavern opens in the early evening, and from then the staircase is guarded by two wiry Estelian twins. Entry codes are very strict, and if you aren't part of the fashionable set, you won't be allowed in, no matter how good your excuse. Patrons can invite guests, but only the most influential do so, as rejection of a guest would result in ridicule.

The third floor houses the bar. It is almost pitch black inside ­ everything is made of stained wood, and the shutters to the windows are kept closed. The orange lamp glow ensures the place has a warmth to it, but it is usually empty except in the winter months when the roof gets too cold. The roof is bustling most evenings, the clientele being made up primarily of the spoilt rich kids of the merchant lords who have little to fill their days with. The younger artists, actors and musicians of note sometimes put in an appearance, but most find the spiteful cliques that exist both tiresome and inappreciative. Estelian friends and associates of Taca inevitably show up, but don't tend to mix with the socialites.

The crowd is a whirling mass of colour, critical to the extreme if you aren't wearing exactly the right gloves for example. Pretentious harpies snipe at each other from across the courtyard. Hotheaded, arrogant dukelets invent slights of honour and then tumble into a drunken duel. The volatile and slightly risqué atmosphere is actively encouraged by Taca, and ensures The Silver Coin retains its notoriety amongst the fickle rich. Occasionally a duelist from outside the city will arrive, defeating and humiliating all the boys until Taca steps in to challenge the 'foreign upstart.' He has never lost.

Mambrino Toltaca: Duelist, Ex - Highwayman, Ex - Outlaw Chief, Ex - Targeteer, Ex - Outlaw

Mambrino Toltaca, or Taca as he is known as, stands well over six feet tall, with tanned skin and a blocky figure. He is about as far away from the svelte pale elf stereotype as it is possible to get. His arms, which he leaves bare, are inscribed with writhing blocks of tribal tattoos. He wears his black hair pulled back tightly into a pony tale, and has a large forehead. His skin looks stretched as though there wasn't enough to fit over his face. He smiles and laughs a lot when talking to friends and clients, but becomes impassive when conversing with those he doesn't know. His eyes are in a perpetually drugged daze, but this bears no reflection on his reactions or powers of observation.

Taca is an excellent duelist, utilising a highly defensive style, effectively dodging every blow aimed at him until he occasionally strikes. His skill and speed with his beautifully ornamented throwing knives is almost legendary.

Mambrino is the manager of a small Estelian concern that smuggles drugs into Marienburg. He deals mainly in naturally produced Hallucinagenics and the Olla milk favoured by Slaaneshi cultists. His sources are old contacts in Estelia, who bring the goods up through Brettonia and into Marienburg on Coaches. He uses the Silver Coin both as storage and distribution centre, selling mainly to the young rich who patronise his establishment. Any remainder he disposes of through several Estelian gangs that operate in the Suiddock. Mambrino is careful to keep his operation fairly low key so that neither the law nor other gangs are aware of his activities, or if they are remain willing to leave him alone.

Taca acts as a godfather figure for the members of the Silver Coin. He gives advice and acquires services and goods for the moneyed young, who, being sheltered have no option but to trust him. The intricate relationships and secrets tying the socialites together are well known by Taca, who could easily indulge in quite profitable blackmail if he chose. However, realising the symbiotic nature his relationship with his patrons, he only utilises his knowledge when absolutly necessary.

The young fashionable set are all known by Taca, if only by face. The other designers on the square, artists from the Contemporary Setting,

Age: 163

Alignment: Neutral

M 4, WS 53, BS 88*, S 4, T 6, W 9, I 98, A 3, Dex 74, LD 78, Int 60, Cl 86, WP 47, Fel 75

Skills: Animal Care, Astronomy, Concealment Rural, Concealment Urban, Disarm, Dodge Blow, Drive Cart, Dance, Etiquette, Evaluate, Excellent Vision, Follow Trail, Identify Plants, Marksmanship*, Ride, Scale Sheer Surface, Secret Language ­ Thief, Set Trap, Silent Move Rural, Silent Move Urban, Specialist Weapon ­ Longbow; Parrying Weapon; Rapier; Throwing Knife, Spot Trap, Strike Mighty Blow, Strike to Injure, Strike to Stun, Sixth Sense, Trick Riding, Wit

Possessions: Rapier, 3 Throwing Knives (Magical +2 Str), Leather Jack, Simple clothing, Pouch with 40 Gu.

Notes: Taca is slightly addicted to Olla Milk.