Post by RedCow80 on Jun 4, 2006 10:28:07 GMT -5
McGinty’s Tavern – Hangout, the side room at McGinty’s
Dive bar can really only mean one type of place, dark, dirty, a little bit seedy, and for locals only. McGinty’s fit that description pretty well. The place was small; it was the first floor of the Ferrier’s Hammer Inn, another dive. The entrance from the street leads into a small area, the right hand and front wall is lined with booths and there are tables in the center. On the left wall there was a door to the front desk of the Inn above (which also had a separate street entrance) followed by a reasonably sized stage, on the far side of the stage was a door marked “performers only”. On the far wall was the long bar, with the regulars spread out and hunched over, keeping their drinks and their sorrows to themselves. The old man behind the bar was Tom McGinty, his white hair was always a mess, his glasses were thick, and his gut and reddened nose gave away that he liked to sample his wares. He had a touch of a syndrome and would shout obscenities and stutter, especially when he got excited. He also loved proverbs, but was unable keep them straight in his head with often comic results. To the left behind the bar was a set of double doors that led to the kitchen and there was an open area in the wall that was a small side room. It had one large table that could seat about eight and a small private stage of its own on the wall around the corner from the main stage.
There were local performers most nights, but it was never anyone famous. They worked for tips and on a given night you could find a bard singing tales, a juggler, or often dancing girls, as the girls tended to make the most money. Usually, though, a girl had to be pretty down on her luck to dance at McGinty’s. The locals frequented the place; it was kept warm and had hearty meals that were reasonably priced and good even though far from gourmet. The specialty was shredded boar sandwich with a pint of the local brew. It was a safe place too; despite the neighborhood reputation for gangs running the show. They left McGinty’s alone, even though it was along the border of the Dock Workers territory and the streets that Lenny’s Light Fingers call home. It was down a few blocks in from the docks, so it didn’t get many of the travelers unless they knew where to look, and old Tom liked it that way.
The reason the local gangs left McGinty’s alone was because of that very special side room. There was a group of adventures from Federated Acquisitions that spent most nights there. Tom never managed to book any private parties, which was why he had the room built, but he benefited much more form the safety provided by a few adventures as regulars. Not to say there was never trouble, gangs would test there luck from time to time, but local toughs and punks are just no match for the real deal. Tom didn’t mind that Federated Acquisitions had a bad reputation, it was that kept him safe, and the boys did their best to keep the fighting in the streets, which Tom appreciated as well.
Pacco was a regular as well; he was just old enough to drink at McGinty’s, which meant he wasn’t old enough to drink elsewhere. He was on the skinny side and had been picked on until he found refuge at the bar. He desperately wanted to be one of the gang of Federated Acquisitions employees and always took the bar stool closest to the side room. He has yet to develop the skills needed to be of any good though, and yet to even be brave enough to respond to an ad and get turned down. For now he just eyes the guys in the side room when he thinks they aren’t looking, and does his best to eavesdrop when they are recalling that latest harrowing situation they have been in.
There was Dominic as well, he was actually a member or the Dock Workers gang, just an errand boy and numbers runner really. He preferred the company at McGinty’s and was friendly with everyone at the bar. He had split loyalties, even though his gang had interests in the area, while at McGinty’s he was just a customer. He was always good for keeping McGinty or the Federated Acquisitions boys up to date on current gang goings on and a good source for local information, as long as you were buying his beer.
Also there is Sadim and Farmac, these two are the low level thugs of the Lenny’s Light fingers gang. They would stop in from time to time, usually just peacefully buy a drink and leave once they noticed the Federated Acquisitions boys in the back. Sometimes they’d try to start a ruckus anyway, or spoke customers away. They have been sent to the local apothecary a few times with interesting injuries, including one time when Farmac had burns on his read end.
There is a handful of others as well, typical regulars from any bar, the other employees, and few repeat entertainers. There is variation in the crowd aside from one theme, the locals at the dive bar, where they can get some peace from the foreigners, their families or impoverished homes, the local law, or even just the rainy weather.
Dive bar can really only mean one type of place, dark, dirty, a little bit seedy, and for locals only. McGinty’s fit that description pretty well. The place was small; it was the first floor of the Ferrier’s Hammer Inn, another dive. The entrance from the street leads into a small area, the right hand and front wall is lined with booths and there are tables in the center. On the left wall there was a door to the front desk of the Inn above (which also had a separate street entrance) followed by a reasonably sized stage, on the far side of the stage was a door marked “performers only”. On the far wall was the long bar, with the regulars spread out and hunched over, keeping their drinks and their sorrows to themselves. The old man behind the bar was Tom McGinty, his white hair was always a mess, his glasses were thick, and his gut and reddened nose gave away that he liked to sample his wares. He had a touch of a syndrome and would shout obscenities and stutter, especially when he got excited. He also loved proverbs, but was unable keep them straight in his head with often comic results. To the left behind the bar was a set of double doors that led to the kitchen and there was an open area in the wall that was a small side room. It had one large table that could seat about eight and a small private stage of its own on the wall around the corner from the main stage.
There were local performers most nights, but it was never anyone famous. They worked for tips and on a given night you could find a bard singing tales, a juggler, or often dancing girls, as the girls tended to make the most money. Usually, though, a girl had to be pretty down on her luck to dance at McGinty’s. The locals frequented the place; it was kept warm and had hearty meals that were reasonably priced and good even though far from gourmet. The specialty was shredded boar sandwich with a pint of the local brew. It was a safe place too; despite the neighborhood reputation for gangs running the show. They left McGinty’s alone, even though it was along the border of the Dock Workers territory and the streets that Lenny’s Light Fingers call home. It was down a few blocks in from the docks, so it didn’t get many of the travelers unless they knew where to look, and old Tom liked it that way.
The reason the local gangs left McGinty’s alone was because of that very special side room. There was a group of adventures from Federated Acquisitions that spent most nights there. Tom never managed to book any private parties, which was why he had the room built, but he benefited much more form the safety provided by a few adventures as regulars. Not to say there was never trouble, gangs would test there luck from time to time, but local toughs and punks are just no match for the real deal. Tom didn’t mind that Federated Acquisitions had a bad reputation, it was that kept him safe, and the boys did their best to keep the fighting in the streets, which Tom appreciated as well.
Pacco was a regular as well; he was just old enough to drink at McGinty’s, which meant he wasn’t old enough to drink elsewhere. He was on the skinny side and had been picked on until he found refuge at the bar. He desperately wanted to be one of the gang of Federated Acquisitions employees and always took the bar stool closest to the side room. He has yet to develop the skills needed to be of any good though, and yet to even be brave enough to respond to an ad and get turned down. For now he just eyes the guys in the side room when he thinks they aren’t looking, and does his best to eavesdrop when they are recalling that latest harrowing situation they have been in.
There was Dominic as well, he was actually a member or the Dock Workers gang, just an errand boy and numbers runner really. He preferred the company at McGinty’s and was friendly with everyone at the bar. He had split loyalties, even though his gang had interests in the area, while at McGinty’s he was just a customer. He was always good for keeping McGinty or the Federated Acquisitions boys up to date on current gang goings on and a good source for local information, as long as you were buying his beer.
Also there is Sadim and Farmac, these two are the low level thugs of the Lenny’s Light fingers gang. They would stop in from time to time, usually just peacefully buy a drink and leave once they noticed the Federated Acquisitions boys in the back. Sometimes they’d try to start a ruckus anyway, or spoke customers away. They have been sent to the local apothecary a few times with interesting injuries, including one time when Farmac had burns on his read end.
There is a handful of others as well, typical regulars from any bar, the other employees, and few repeat entertainers. There is variation in the crowd aside from one theme, the locals at the dive bar, where they can get some peace from the foreigners, their families or impoverished homes, the local law, or even just the rainy weather.
