Table of Contents
Races | Culture | Institutions | Buildings & Organizations
SAW’S END
Overview
- Location: Public Services Ring, Morningstar
- Address: SE Public Services Ring Rd 3
- Surroundings: Adjacent to Kuhl’s Funeral Home
Founded in mid-2627 by former axe-foreman Orin “Ironhand” Hale, Saw’s End catered to the hardy ExoHuman workforce of the Atrana frontier — lumberjacks fresh from the Fogwood Sawmill, smiths off-shift at the Forge of Atrana, distillery hands, and other laborers from local workshops. After long days felling massive hardwoods or hammering hot steel, patrons gathered here to gulp Space Beer, sip Gravity Grog, challenge one another at the card game Twenty One or swap tall tales of the misty heights. Beyond its roaring hearth and resin-smoke haze, Saw’s End doubled as a guesthouse: three modest rooms on the second floor welcomed weary travelers or off-shift crews.
Saw’s End remained a frontier landmark until the death of its founder, Orin “Ironhand” Hale, in one of Morningstar’s final Great War engagements on the 24 of March 2631. Following the war’s close and the establishment of the Federal Confederation in 2632, it was shuttered and its operations absorbed into the newly chartered Federal Hostel and Saloon of Morningstar under the Federal Allotment Agency.
Architectural Significance
- Construction Material: Rough-hewn timber logs chinked with river-stone mortar; plank floors reinforced with reclaimed shuttle-canopy glass shards from the Last Frontier
- Floors: 2
- Façade: Open-shutter windows with simple wooden frames; heavy double-door entrance carved with saw and axe motifs
- Design Purpose: Durable and welcoming — built to withstand constant moisture, with a wide bar and communal tables to accommodate large crews
Building Structure
Ground Floor – Taproom & Common Hall
- Bar Counter: A thick plank slab carved from a single mahogany beam; shelves behind boast kegs of Space Beer, Orbital Grog and other drinks from Space Drinks Inc.
- Communal Tables (6): Long timber benches scarred by axe handles and chip marks from friendly — or not so friendly — games of challenge
- Hearth & Smoke Hood: Central stone hearth for resin logs, its hood funneling aromatic smoke above the crowded hall
- Ground-floor Restroom: One unisex stall with AuroraSan fixtures, tucked behind the bar
Second Floor – Guest Rooms & Loft
- Guest Rooms (3): Small chambers with bunks, wool blankets, and rough maple dressers; each room accommodates up to four guests
- Common Loft: Overlooks taproom; a simple table and chairs for private meetings or late-night cards
- Loft Restroom: One unisex stall with AuroraSan fixtures
Exterior Grounds
- Wooden Porch: Raised deck with oil-lantern brackets
- Resin Pit: Outdoor barrel where spent resin chips are burned daily to freshen the air inside
Look and Feel
Step inside Saw’s End and you’re hit by a wall of resin‑smoke haze and the warm glow of oil lanterns dancing off rough‑hewn beams. The taproom’s plank floors creak under booted feet, each board still spotted with sap drips that glitter in the perpetual violet light filtering through open shutters. Behind the bar, the Butler Bot’s polished metal arms whirr softly as it pours foamy Space Beer into battered tankards.
The hearth dominates the room — a massive stone structure roaring with resin logs, sending fragrant curls of smoke up through a blackened hood. Card tables are ringed by axe‑scarred benches, where lumberjacks and smiths lean close, faces lit by lantern light, slapping down chips on Twenty One or wagering wood‑chips in logs‑and‑pins. The air is thick with the tang of Gravity Grog and the sharp bite of Slivovitz, mixed with the earthy dampness of river‑stone mortar and the faint, cool scent of the Atrana mist swirling just outside.
Head upstairs on narrow stairs and the loft feels surprisingly quiet — a single lantern flickers over the guest table, and you can hear the low murmur of the taproom below. Through the small loft window, fog drifts past, cloaking the peaks in ghostly white. In the guest rooms, bunks are snug and simple — wool blankets tucked tight against the chill, with the distant clank of the Forge of Atrana echoing in the perpetual twilight. At Saw’s End, every creak, every muted laugh, and every flicker of lamplight carries the story of frontier grit and camaraderie.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Orin “Ironhand” Hale (Founder and Owner): Bar manager, pit boss
- Butler Bot (1): The Butler Bot served as bartender and called out rules violations.
Public Access, Operating Hours and Operational Rhythm
- Public Access: Open to all adult settlers. No weapons check. No questions asked.
- Opening Hours: Every night from 6:00 PM to 01:00 PM.
- Operational Rhythm: Most of the guests arrive after their work shift; last round called at 00:30
Menu
| Item | Description | Price |
| Space Beer | Light, foamy lager with faint citrus (5 % ABV); first pint grants +1 temporary HP and joyous shout audible up to 30 m | 4 K |
| Gravity Grog | Heavy amber ale (8 % ABV); reduces move speed by 1 m for 30 min, but grants advantage on Intimidation checks | 6 K |
| Slivovitz Superior | Double-pot plum brandy, oak-smoked (48 % ABV); +1 to Constitution saving throws vs. cold for 1 h | 8 K |
| Water | Fresh glass of water from a Mistspring Water Inc. jerrycan | 1 K |
Security Measures
- No Formal Bouncer: The proprietor’s imposing presence and local reputation deter trouble
- Patrol Visits: Periodic rounds by Guarding Troopers Station officers
- Locked Guest Loft: Access controlled by a sturdy wooden door with simple iron latch
- Lantern Light Code: A triple-flash signal from the porch lantern summons assistance from nearby troopers in emergencies
- Reinforced Windows:The windows are protected by fixed steel security bars.
Player Interaction Possibilities
Legal Interactions
- Buy a round of Space Beer or of other drinks from Space Drinks Inc.
- Rent a guest room for the night or longer stay
- Play a hand of Twenty One
- Join a friendly saw-sharpening contest or betting game of logs-and-pins
- Gather rumors from displaced lumberjacks or visiting traders
Illegal Interactions
- Slip unapproved contraband into storage beneath the bar
- Fix the outcome of a logs-and-pins game using weighted cuttings
- Frame a rival by planting incriminating ledgers in a guest room
- Bribe the proprietor to hide wanted fugitives overnight
Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters
Saw’s End is perfect for adventures mixing social drama and subtle action — whether uncovering a smuggling ring hidden behind ale barrels or rescuing a kidnapped guest from the fog-choked woods beyond the door.
