A Beasthood · The avenue
The Beastro
To be from the Beastro is to feed someone before you ask where they're from.
Their gift: The Table. At the Long Table every grudge sits down. The cost: It feeds everyone, the Hush included.
About 500 Beasts call The Beastro home.
The place
The long avenue through the middle of the Beastside: every Beasthood borders it, and it's walked so much it holds. Open kitchens, oil on hot pans, the Long Table at night, other Beasthoods' cooks after midnight. Sunday is roast at the Long Table, and has been since the Grey Year.
Their gift, and what it costs
The Table. No quarrel can be carried on at the Long Table: sit down to eat and every grudge sits down with you. The cost is the rule that made the gift: everyone eats, whoever they are. The limit: a grudge sits down; it doesn't go home. Stand up and it's waiting on the pavement, holding your coat.
What they want, and what they fear
Want: everyone fed. Fear: an empty chair, and the Gourd King, whose sign is invitations coming back unopened.
People you might meet
- Hilde Arnesen (Original, old-timer cook), asked yet again which dish won the Feast: "Ask me again after pudding."
- Mei Salgado (Panda, Back of House). Last week they cooked the oldest stew exactly as written, from memory, and added plums. "It's the old recipe. I've improved it."
- Dumpling (Koala, Long Table host). Wants rivals fed side by side; seats feuding Beasts together unasked. Some of those grudges deserved to stand.
- Biscuit (Koala, Late Window keeper). Wants the window open all night. Dozes by midnight; regulars serve themselves and wash up.
Neighbours and old business
- Concrete Jungle and Trusty Lake Estates share a table here and nowhere else; their oldest quarrel sits down too.
- Gaia Grove grows it, the Beastro cooks it, and both argue basil.
- Champions Court runners carry its pots, as they carried its word in the Grey Year.
- The Hush eat here too, by the rule. The Beastro would sooner lose a regular than move one.
Books from The Beastro
A Beast's Book is written from their holder's choices.
No Book from The Beastro is open yet. A holder of a Beast from here can begin theirs in the game.
More about The Beastro
Their scarIn the Grey Year the Beastro fed everyone who reached the avenue, from every side of every quarrel.
In the Grey Year the Beastro fed everyone who reached the avenue, from every side of every quarrel. That's where its neutrality comes from, and its rule: everyone eats. Most of those it fed still come by.
Last winter's Feast That Lasted a Week: which dish won is still argued.
What they argue aboutFront of House vs Back of House: is the Beastro the table or the plate?
Front of House vs Back of House: is the Beastro the table or the plate? The cooks say a host who seats well can't save a thin stock. The monthly cook-off settles it; both sides claim the last one.
This seasonThis month's cook-off is a rematch, judged the Beastro way: by who comes back.
This month's cook-off is a rematch, judged the Beastro way: by who comes back. Front of House saves every diner's seat for tomorrow; Back of House sends everyone home with a bowl to return. Walkers off the dark stretches come back for both.
A customWrong Way Round.
Wrong Way Round. Once a season the hosts cook and the cooks host. The cooks seat Beasts by what they ordered, and once sat two feuding Beasthoods together for liking the same soup. The hosts make toast, with enormous confidence. Both sides go home sure they've proved their point.
PlacesThe Forever Pot: simmering since the Gathering; every newcomer's first bowl.
- The Forever Pot: simmering since the Gathering; every newcomer's first bowl.
- The Road Chairs: a chair for every cut-off walker, the plate kept warm.
- The Cold Room: stocks, the Grey Year book, the recipe cards. The oldest recipe card is for gravy, in big round handwriting, and it's the one card no cook may change.
What they think is going on"Feed them and find out."
"Feed them and find out."