The Hagfish

One of Sandpoint's most popular taverns, especially among fishermen and gamblers, the Hagfish is also Sandpoint's best bet for a good old-fashioned seafood meal. Owned by the gregarious, one-legged, Jargie Quinn, the Hagfish gets it's name from the large glass aquarium that sits behind the bar, home to a hagfish affectionatley known as Norah.

Hanging from a nail next to Norah's tank is a leather pouch bulging with coins: prize money for anyone who can down a single tankard of "water" scooped from Norah's tank. It costs a single silver coin to try, but since she's a hagfish, the water in Norah's tank is thick and horrifically slimy and foul-tasting. Few can stomach the stuff, but those who do get to keep however many coins have accumulated in the pouch, and then get to carve their names in the ceiling beam above the bar. To date, there are only 28 names carved there, and the Hagfish has been in business for nearly ten years.

Tall tales are a favorite pastime here, with one popular game called "yarning" invloving seeing how long a local can string along an impromtu fable without contradiciting himself. The most popular subject of these tales is Old Murdermaw, a legendary giant red snapper that may or may not dwell in the depths of the Varisian Gulf.