Desert Lynx's Oasis

Welcome to the Parched Throat Tavern. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you are unable to see anyone else in the Tavern. Your nose rebels at the strong scent of fermented beverages after your long journey in the stale desert while your dry throat cries out for a liquid rescue. Seeing no one, you turn to leave stepping on a loose floorboard. Instantly, you hear a noise behind you and spin back around. A large, muscular man has magically appeared behind the bar. He rubs his eyes and laughingly asks, "What are you doing here at this hour?" You look behind the bar and realize that he must have been sleeping on the mat that you see there. Once again, you explain about your inexperience in the Dry Main and again you are met with chuckles and advice. You notice that he has only one arm. From this and his lightning-quick reactions, you guess that he's an ex-soldier. When you sit at the bar, he introduces himself as Marduk and asks what you would like to drink. You ask for a mug of Bor Brew and he lets out a boisterous laugh and points to a slate on the wall that has a chalk list scribbled on it. It reads:

Marduk's Rules

1. No Bor Brew!!
2. No Brawls.
3. Everyone must have a designated caravan leader (Charter member of Caravanners Against Drunk Driving)

You sullenly request a glass of chai-cheer and listen to Marduk as he sleepily leans against the bar. His conversation wanders from tales of Lone Wolf and the Kai to mutual friends and finally to other places that he's travelled.

• Chat (requires Java)
• Register
• Survey
• Links

You notice an exceptionally clean table in the corner of the room that has been closed off with velvet ropes. You ask Marduk about the table and he explains that, occasionally, the Great Sage Joe Dever pays the Oasis a visit. That table is held in reserve for him when he visits. Never able to resist telling a good story, Marduk offers to tell you some of the things that he has learned from Joe Dever.

• Dever's Corner

There is a stairway leading upstairs. Above the doorway hangs a sign that is labelled in Marduk's distinctive scrawl:

• The Gallery