Tavern Crawl

The boys were wandering the town in high spirits, high on spirits from just mere moments ago. They stumbled upon a little hole in the wall, a single wooden door along a dirt alleyway. The street they were on was lit bright and the crowds passed them underneath banners and flags. Of the five young men, the youngest suggested they go check out the door. The door had the depiction of a stein carved into it, this was all they needed to know to begin the night. 

Inside there was nothing of importance to notice. It was beige and grey and the walls were peeling. Wood pillars held up the roof and it smelled of stale ale. If you looked closer you see a lone patron asleep at the bar, and even closer still you saw a couple booths. The pictures are crooked and there’s a rusty sword above the taps. The bartender is absent but no one cares. What a bore. However, the boys are prepared. The youngest jumps behind the bar and pulls out five steins. He jokes, “The first rounds on me, but you’ll pay the rest.” He fills ‘em up and they race to the finish. They each put a coin on the bar and onto the next.

Next up is a tavern known to all. It’s bustling and hustling and packed with locals. The people are loud and noisy and the staff is all women. Women of all types, diverse as they are fierce. One barmaid stands over a drunkard with a few missing teeth. She charges him with what they call a disturbance fee and empties his pockets. The boys are on their best behaviour here as they sit at a round table hollering and howling over past shenanigans. Their barmaid is the most innocent thing in the whole scene. Their infatuation was strong, but her protection was stronger. They all noticed immediately the glare from the bartender staring directly at them. The boldest in the group spoke to her the longest. After a whiskey and a song they each left three coins and onwards they went. 

They came upon a statue of a mermaid holding a pitcher outside a two story tavern in shimmering white. The boys looked out of place in such grandeur but buzzed and jovial was always welcome here. The balcony was rowdy and the music was loud. The band was live, and a house special. The doors were heavy, and the walls were pristine. The people here were dressed to the 9’s, and danced like they owned the world. The bar was busy and the boys knew in an instant, they could let loose here. They acted like kings. Bottles in service and a booth near the action, the fairest of the boys made his way to where music and movement blend together. After an hour the bottles were done and the boys rendezvoused at the door, they left seven coins each for their time in The Mermaid’s Paradise. 

Dazed and confused, the boys stumbled into a tavern they don’t quite remember. Small and cozy, the people evenly spaced apart. The most responsible took care of the drunkest as they all sat at the bar. They flirted and laughed with the barkeep, ordering just one more drink. Tonight was for them, a celebration of nothing. From tavern to tavern, drink to drink. But now it’s all over, they're done for the night. Although getting them home will be an adventure itself. The end of the night is what makes it a crawl.