In the small town of Marrah, the days hum with the sounds of industry and the bustle of lumbering. But when night falls and the streets grow silent, one place always remains buzzing with energy—Tens’s Tavern. One of the oldest establishments in town, it quickly became the favored retreat of Marrah’s earliest lumberers who took comfort in its hearty meals, strong ales, and good company after a long day of hard work. Over time, it became more than just a tavern—it became a tradition passed and embraced by progeny and newcomers alike.
The tavern takes its name from its founder, Tens, an adventurer of circumstance like many who roamed Asteria in its earliest days. Though “Tens” was not the name he was first born with, it was the name he acquired through his journey across the desert. As he abandoned the old world, he also abandoned his former self, allowing the relentless sands to erode all he deemed unnecessary so that he could emerge on the other side reborn. Not even his descendants, who run the tavern today, know the name he once carried. Those few who did have long since passed, just as Tens himself did many years ago.
But Tens was never one to chase the thrill of adventure. To him, it was merely a means to an end, and while he recognized the necessity for magic in surviving the unforgiving unknowns, he never dedicated himself to mastering or learning to effectively wield it. Instead, he made the most of what he did have, adopting a raw, all-or-nothing approach to using his rather basic abilities. With no fine control over his mana, he simply let it all out in a single explosive burst. He would unleash everything—draining his mana completely to become a force capable of challenging even some of the desert’s great beasts.
Ten seconds. 10s. Without fail, that was how long his incredible strength lasted, and if he was incapable of ending the fight in that time, he’d at least done enough for his companions to finish the job.
Today, Tens’s Tavern thrives, its business as lively as ever, and its founder’s legacy lives on through a few playful traditions. Regulars enjoy a simple perk—every ten visits earns them a free drink, making it a favorite spot for locals. Additionally, anyone who can down their first pint in ten seconds or less earns a 10% discount on their drinks for the rest of the night.