mong the rogues and miscreants of Alexar’s Alley, only one ale will do: the legendary red ale Emberkiss, brewed by the equally legendary dwarven mistress Rurthona. Growing up a street urchin in the bowels of the undercity Gornkhuldir, Rurthona quickly learned to do what she needed to survive, and take whatever fleeting joys as they came. When she matured into dazzling young maiden, she caught the eye of a debauched alchemist. Turning the situation to her advantage, she secured a place in his will and arranged an “accident” in one of his labs, making her the sole heir of his modest fortune.

Rurthona was as sharp as she was pretty and quickly took to the alchemical arts. She saw an avenue of profit by remembering the alleys and gutters were awash with all manner of alchemical narcotics. She began to work on cleaner, more potent versions of these drugs, undercutting the cartels through her previously established contacts in the criminal underworld. This funded her true goal: the creation of a brewery.

Dwarven breweries are notoriously difficult to start, as the established brewers had already bribed the locale senates to make the bureaucracy involved all-but impossible. But through seduction, business-acumen, and blackmail, Rurthona was able to secure the vaunted title she so desired.

For a while it was good: Emberkiss Brewery was known both for its exquisite, alchemically enhanced ale and the carnal delights it hosted. At heart, Rurthona is a hedonist, indulging in every momentary pleasure and always deciding to live life to the fullest. But Emberkiss began to crowd out it’s competition, and an alliance between the rival brewers and criminal elements who Rurthona had previously slighted would prove to cause Rurthona’s fall from grace.

The attack was swift and brutal, and Rurthona was barely able to escape, despite her proficiency with her six-shooters. Marked for death, Rurthona decided it was time to leave Gornkhuldir and seek fortune, fame, pleasure, and revenge elsewhere. And from then on, Emberkiss never quite tasted the same.

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A commission from an anonymous client. I do have a particular love for shortstacks.