This balding, dark-haired human wears a high-collared red cape fastened with a skull clasp over a green jerkin and pants. His receding hairline betrays his advancing age, as do the white streaks at his temples.

About two months ago, Khellek unseated the inn’s reigning dragonchess champion and has not been defeated since. The incredibly complex but hugely popular game involves forty-two pieces per side competing upon three game boards representing the sky, the earth, and the underworld. Pieces include the griffon, sylph, oliphant, basilisk, hero, thief, and paladin. Games often take a full hour, and unfold at a leisurely pace while the players converse.