Buckledown Row#
- Type: Street / district
- Region: Inside Drakkenheim, east of the crater, roughly a quarter mile south of the Drann River
- Status: Controlled territory (Queen’s Men)
A street of ramshackle taverns and makeshift barricades deep inside Drakkenheim, controlled by the Queen’s Men. Rough-shod fences block off the muddy street from the surrounding ruins; crudely built bridges stretch between rooftops; crooked streetlamps glow in the mist. The atmosphere is rowdy but self-regulating — all five gangs operating here follow the Queen’s rules, and in return they enjoy an unusual degree of safety from the city’s monsters.
Entry is guarded by bugbear bruisers at the gate, with sharpshooters on the rooftops. Visitors invoking Blackjack Mel’s name (or another recognized contact) are waved through.
The Queen’s Dues#
To operate in Buckledown Row — or to make initial contact with the Queen — drop 100 gold into the ancient moss-covered well on the terrace behind Smee’s Palace. A skeleton nailed to a nearby tree bears a sign reading “Make a Wish.” Dues are 100 gold per month.
Establishments#
| Name | Gang | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smee’s Palace | Wounded Hearts | Ornate performance venue; chandelier of 100+ candles; open mic after the main show; fighting pits in the basement |
| The Old Imperial | Rose and Thorns | Polished and professional; carved maple bar; raised section for the crew; run by Rose |
| Sneaky McGee’s | Catacomb Cobras | Neon ram’s skull sign; cobra-motif door |
| Padlock Tavern | Pins and Clubs | Door covered floor-to-ceiling in keys; lowest entry bar of any crew |
| Sweaty Bugbear | Howling Dogs | Ramshackle; missing door; bugbear cook on the grill |
The Fighting Pits#
Beneath Smee’s Palace, accessible via a staircase behind the bar. Underground fight club; bettors ring the pit and bookies circulate taking wagers. A medic (human woman) and her gnomish assistant stand by to stabilize fallen fighters. Notable pit fighters:
- Bloodhound — Hobgoblin, Howling Dogs; fights bare-chested; hasn’t lost in the party’s observation
- Mamba Jones — Halfling assassin, Catacomb Cobras; near-undefeated; possibly uses poison
- Dorian Dare — Wounded Hearts’ champion; defeating him is required to join the Wounded Hearts
Log
- Session 2
- Mentioned by Blackjack Mel; not yet visited
- Session 5
- First visited; party explored all five gang taverns
- Cory paid the Queen’s initial dues (100 gold + note into the well) — completing the Contact the Queen quest
- Margareta performed stand-up comedy at Smee’s Palace open mic; earned 18 gold
- Heda met Rose at the Old Imperial; discussed joining the Rose and Thorns
- Party watched pit fights: Bloodhound and Mamba Jones bouts