Hoppaloshens

An experimental brewery staffed almost entirely by Wisps, found within the belly of a Giant Toad sat upon the bottom of Lake Lasholoden.

Patrons arrive at a small jetty, and are loaded into a large copper diving-bell which is sunk down towards the lake bed.

An array of sensory bumps and ridges upon the giant toad's back detect the approach of the diving-bell, triggering a bite and swallow response, delivering the patrons safely into the brewery.

For the comfort of V.I.P's a teleportation pad is also available.

Locating Hoppaloshens in Your Campaign :
if you don't like the idea of a lake-bed brewery, remember that the giant-toad can be placed anywhere in your world! Deep within a forest; crammed between two buildings in a bustling city; halfway up a thousand foot tall tree!

allow your imagination to run free!

Use this section as a quick reference during play, or at the start of a Session to refresh your GM senses!

Sights

• unusual motes of light flickering, dancing, and darting back and forth.

• tavern furniture fashioned from long-sunken, algae-covered timbers.

• variously coloured mists, sparks and arcane eruptions.

• enormous tubes, pipes, and apparatus made of copper and glass filled with variously hued liquids and gases.

• tall, green-hued mirrors that glimmer and sparkle.

• giant glowing toad-eggs strung from the ceiling that cast a mellow light.

• soft, thick mosses underfoot.

Sounds

• occasional rumbling from the Giant Toad's vocal sac.

• mellow bubbling, gurgles, pops, and fizzes.

• gentle strumming of an arcanely infused Harp.

• murmuring of patrons in conversation, clinking of tankards, drinking horns and cutlery.

Smells

• faint and occasional whiff of the Toad's innards; like slightly stale pond-water.

• a strong presence of the various herbal botanicals used in the preparations of Hoppaloshens many brews and imbibements.

• roasting meats.

• treacle and honey.

The variety and manner of liquid refreshment available at Hoppaloshens is astonishing, and once a brewed batch is sold out it is never made again; at least, not on purpose.

It is, therefore, entirely possible to find patrons selling what remains of their own refreshments to the highest bidder, or for tussles and full-scale brawls to break out over the last few drops in a mug.

Some concoctions are rumoured to have changed hands so many times, their value becoming stratospheric, whilst simultaneously none know the name nor flavours of the rare nectars so highly prized and so keenly sought.

All of this is done without interruption or oversight from the resident Wisps, whose attentions are fixed solely upon the preparation, brewing, barreling and bottling of ever more resplendent liquors.

Regular deliveries arrive of grains, fruits, vegetables, herbs, sugars, and more, all required for the brewing of many a beverages.

These are brought by boat out onto the water, before being tied together in weighted bundles so that they might sink to the lake-bed.

The various food-stuffs that arrive come purely via the many patrons, who bring all manner of meats and vegetables to trade for mead, ale, spirits, and wine.

The delivery of such things is handled expertly by Leddwayt & Sons (see Residents of Note below).

Rare liquors, highly prized and eagerly sought by the wealthiest of tables and most resplendent of feasts.

A bottle of Hoppaloshens' brew may be spied upon the high-alters of temples, the banqueting tables of royal houses, and anywhere else that coin and status flows as freely as the spring waters of the tavern's resident Wisps.

Rare arcane yeasts derived from Hoppaloshens are also highly coveted, and regarded (and traded) far and wide as a most precious and prized resource.

A number of small, yet comfortably attired, rooms are available to patrons whose enjoyment and appreciation of Hoppaloshens extensive drinks menu necessitates a longer stay.

Each room consists of a double-bed, a dressing and side table, a chest for personal belongings (fitted with an arcane lock), a small copper bath-tub (with herbal waters), and a comfortable armchair.

There is no charge for these rooms, and they operate on a first-come, first-to-reside basis.

Wisps do, however, remove any who attempt to stay in one of the rooms for more than a single night.

The Wisps are ever-present, and appear to function both autonomously and collectively, switching tasks seemingly at random depending any need, availability, and proximity.

They make no sound as they effortlessly toil, with seemingly no need for any sort of obvious communication.

The Wisps require no rest nor respite, do not need to eat or drink, and seem never to tire.

If one is somehow contained or destroyed, another erupts into existence to take its place.

The atmosphere of Hoppaloshens varies greatly, depending on the personalities - and level of inebriation - of the patrons present.

The mood is also liable to see-saw violently as new brews are introduced, older ones extinguished, bottles bartered for, won in contests of skill or strength or luck, spilled in brawls and arguments, or gifted by generous souls to friends old and new(ly made).

Suffice to say, conversation abounds, and a lively air pervades! The refined rub shoulders with ruffians, the wide-eyed with the haughty and cynical.

All come to partake and delight in liquid concoctions most delicious and most arcane, the likes of which one might never taste again.

should you so wish, you can change the mood of the Tavern at any given moment.

Roll 1d8 or choose from the Table below :

1 - A palpable tension fills the air as various groups eye a wealthy looking new arrival with great suspicion.

2 - It as though everyone in Hoppaloshens were the greatest of friends, with warm embraces and as many barrels of laughter shared as ale.

3 - A weary, anguished air hangs upon the many patrons, who sit in thoughtful silence sipping brews.

4 - An intense and wild revelry fills Hoppaloshens, with singing and shouts of a most bawdy nature.

5 - Brawls, scraps, arguments and fights break out at random and just as suddenly come to an end.

6 - Studious conversation and oratorical debates at every table as Patrons take turns to unfurl grand ideas and treatises.

7 - A calm and peaceful silence abounds. Patrons are warmly satisfied and thoroughly at peace.

8 - Tables and chairs are pushed aside as a great game has erupted; one that delights and enraptures the hall of Hoppaloshens.

One of the many pleasures taken in their imbibing is the discovery - and debating thereafter -  of the unusual flavours, along with any appropriate and fitting mixers which might enhance them.

whilst the various liquid delights can - of course - be enjoyed as-served, folks go to great lengths to invent ways to enjoy and appreciate the short-lived wonders of this most unusual of experimental breweries.

Note to the GM :Hoppaloshen brews are known for their extremely high alcohol content. However, you can easily adapt them to being non-alcoholic beverages should you so wish!

A brand new and limited batch of ale/spirit is ready for sale and sampling!

Roll 1d10 or choose from the Table below :

1 - Wolfman's Spittle : foaming and effervescent, with a scent of moonlight and flavourful tones of smoke, silver and lamb’s wool.

2 - Briny Cork : thick and viscous, with a scent of mackerel and flavourful tones of wind-lashed sails, whale fat and sexton.

3 - Radish Rum : milky with flashes of crimson, with a scent of nettle and flavourful tones of wild-garlic, earthworm and dusk.

4 - Arrow's Bite : rust coloured and heavy with sediment, with a scent of iron and flavourful tones of willow, ash and apple.

5 - Subtle Fist : a clear liquid with a scent of armpit, and flavourful tones of grease, bone and leather.

6 - Shark's Tooth : a swirling, foam-topped blue liquid with a scent of chaos, and flavourful tones of oxygen, fine sand and panic.

7 - Gelatinous Rube : a green hued opaque jelly with a scent of violence, and flavourful tones of popped-corn, hubris, and limestone.

8 - Weathervane : copper hued and dappled with dew, with a scent of wildflower and flavourful tones of spring-rain and thunder.

9 - Arsonist's Song : a sparkling red liquid, with a scent of flint and steel, and flavourful tones of pork fat, dried conifer and vellum.

10 - Hedgerow’s Lament : a thick green liquid, with a scent of dawn, and flavourful tones of bark, antler and autumn.

these are, of course, a mere sampling of what is on offer, and we encourage you to create your own brews based on the themes and adventures of your Party!

This list is by no means exhaustive, and is intended simply to stir the pot of your own imagination.

Use what follows as starting-points, or ignore them entirely in favour of your own Adventure Hooks!

Roll 1d8 or choose from the Table below :

1 - The only way in, and out, of the Brewery is barred by clumsily stacked tavern furniture, almost as though those inside are trying to keep someone, or something, from gaining entry...

2 - A rival company of brewers wishes to soil the reputation of Hoppaloshens' expertise, and has hired the Party to bespoil the latest batches and brews.

3 - The monarch has decreed that none but their own household should ever again partake of Hoppaloshens wares.

4 - The Wisps have created a rare tonic, the properties of which may unlock many healing secrets long studied but ill understood. Others alerted to its existence wish to keep it for themselves.

5 - The Adventurers have been tasked with escorting a wedding party throughout their wedding celebrations here at Hoppaloshens. Surely a pleasant, and easy, task! Right?

6 - Rumours circulate that the Wisps are no longer creating delicious brews, but instead conjuring batch after batch of mutagens, poisons, and pollutants.

7 - A group of fisher-folk have hired the Party to move Hoppaloshens along, as they believe the Giant Toad to be depriving their nets of much needed fish.

8 - A dangerous group of semi-professional but capable ne'er-do-wells is intent of taking control of Hoppaloshens, turning its profits and its opportunities to their nefarious ends.

Roll 1d20 for an Hoppaloshen Trinket or choose from the Table below :

1 - a small pouch of barley that, when tossed upon the ground, immediately sprouts difficult terrain.

2 - a copper drinking cup in the shape of a dragon's head.

3 - a bundle of reed straws.

4 - a pocket-sized wooden box filled with dried juniper berries that pop when in the presence of a demon.

5 - a small carved wooden figurine that appears to depict an elephant.

6 - a cold clay pot of thousands of awakened, talking yeast fungi.

7 - a bottle opener fashioned from a crab-claw.

8 - a lump of coal and an iron bar.

9 - a porcelain chamber-pot said to bring good luck should one drink the first slug of a new brew from it.

10 - a pouch of dried sea-weed.

11 - a violin that, when garlanded with hops, plays by itself.

12 - a tiny pink paper umbrella; dip it in water and it becomes full-sized.

13 - a corkscrew that, when used to open a bottle, turns the contents into any liquid the wielder requires.

14 - a drinking horn that never empties; sadly, the beer within it is like dish-water.

15 - a single cube of ice with what appears to be a tiny whaling ship within it.

16 - a small, dirt encrusted potato; splash a little brew upon it, however, and it begins to hurl insults and drunkenly sing the lewdest of songs.

17 - several sprigs of various, fragrant herbs that are sure to improve the mood of any who regard their aroma.

18 - a napkin with a set of co-ordinates scrawled hastily one side, and the recipe for seagull wine on the other.

19 - an awakened lemon that swears it is, in fact, the Duke from a nearby Duchy.

20 - an elegant leather shoe refashioned as a drinking-horn. Drinking from it when the moon is full is sure to summon Lasholoden lake-sprites.

Roll 1d8 for an Hoppaloshens Encounter or choose from the Table below :

1 - Several inebriated patrons are carelessly mixing various brews together with disastrous consequences.

2 - The lantern eggs hanging from the brewery ceiling erupt, spilling hundreds of toadlings everywhere.

3 - A heated argument erupts as two Patrons - one richly attired, the other scruffily dressed - both lay claim to the last bottle of a particularly rare brew.

4 - Bottles and barrels are randomly exploding, showering their contents and leaving the floor partially flooded.

5 - Every vessel, bowl, bottle and barrel is dry!

6 - Several musicians strike up a tune, the lyrics of which greatly offends a small number of patrons.

7 - The air with Hoppaloshens is becoming increasingly stale and acrid and Patrons are beginning to vomit and lose consciousness; is something blocking great Toad's pores?

8 - Hoppaloshen is ready to relocate, and begins its ascent to the surface of Lake Lasholoden!