Barret Stonegut
“The Listening Tavern Keeper”
“In my tavern, you can say anything. I’ll remember everything. But I’ll never repeat what matters.”
Barret Stonegut - The
Tavern Keeper
Quick Reference
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 54 |
| Role | Owner of The Drifting Cloud tavern (Skyport Eos) |
| Personality | Gregarious, observant, discreet, kind |
| Specialty | Information broker (through listening, not asking) |
Overview
Barret Stonegut owns and operates The Drifting Cloud—Skyport Eos’s most popular tavern. Large, cheerful, and genuinely friendly, Barret creates atmosphere where people relax, talk, and forget he’s listening. This makes him one of the best-informed people in Eos: he hears everything drunk pilots say, every merchant’s complaint, every sailor’s rumor.
Unlike most information brokers, Barret doesn’t actively trade secrets. He listens, remembers, and occasionally mentions useful things to people who need them—usually for free, sometimes for favor, rarely for coin. He’s not running business; he’s building community. The information is side benefit of being person everyone trusts.
Friend to Captain Jorah Ironwind (rare for the taciturn pilot), confidant to dozen regulars, and reliable source for anyone who approaches respectfully, Barret represents the tavern keeper archetype: knows everyone’s business, keeps most secrets, and helps quietly without drawing attention.
Appearance
Height: Tall, broad
Build: Heavy (enjoys own cooking)
Hair: Bald (shaves)
Face: Friendly, scarred (old fights)
Voice: Deep, warm, laugh frequent
Clothing: Apron over practical clothes, always seems slightly damp (tavern work)
Background
Origin: Howling Expanse (Storm-Sailor clan)
Youth: Sailor and fighter (rough life)
Change (age 30): Tired of danger, wanted peace
Arrival Eos (263 S.): Bought failing tavern
Success: Transformed it through personality and skill
Current: 24 years running Drifting Cloud (institution now)
The Drifting Cloud
Location: Skyport Eos, near docks
Size: Large (seats 60)
Atmosphere: - Warm lighting - Good food/drink - Comfortable (like home) - Safe space (enforced)
Clientele: - Pilots (especially Jorah) - Merchants - Sailors - Regulars (beloved) - Newcomers (welcomed)
Rules (Barret’s): 1. No fights (take outside) 2. Pay what you owe 3. Respect others 4. Everything else negotiable
Enforcement: Barret (surprisingly effective—old fighter skills remain)
Information Network
Method: Passive listening - People talk when drunk - Forget he’s there - Trust him (rightly)
Knowledge: - Who’s traveling where - What’s being bought/sold - Rumors (sorted by reliability) - Relationships, feuds, alliances - Secrets (keeps most)
Ethics: - Keeps serious secrets (confession-like confidentiality) - Shares helpful rumors (when assists someone) - Never gossips maliciously - Protects vulnerable people
Approach: Don’t ask Barret outright (offensive). Drink, talk, and if he thinks you should know something, he’ll mention it casually.
Relationships
Captain Jorah Ironwind: - True friend (rare for both) - Jorah drinks here (only place he relaxes) - Barret one of few Jorah talks to
Regulars: - Dozen core customers - Know them deeply - Protect them fiercely
Elder Mira: - Mutual respect - Barret supports her leadership - Provides her information occasionally (helps governance)
Merchant Community: - They patronize tavern - He hears their news - Useful to each other
Secrets
The Past:
- Was Storm-Sailor raider (pirate?) - Killed people (many fights) - Not
proud (why changed life)
The Ledger: - Keeps written record (coded) - Everything heard (organized) - Hidden (secure location) - Insurance? Blackmail? Archive?
The Soft Heart: - Gives free meals (secretly) to struggling people - Loses money (doesn’t care) - Reputation as businessman (actually softy)
Quest Hooks
- The Information: Need rumor/knowledge (drink and listen)
- The Introduction: Barret connects party to contact
- The Favor: Barret asks help for regular customer
- The Threat: Someone threatening Drifting Cloud
- The Secret: Discover Barret’s hidden ledger
- The Past: Old enemy from raider days appears
- The Gathering: Use tavern as meeting place
Related Topics
“Everyone needs place to rest. I provide that. What they say while resting? Well, I’ve got good memory. But better discretion.”