An Interview with Halden Irongut

Pfire: For those who have never encountered you before, tell us a bit about yourself.
Halden: Well, sure and I guess that would be a right reasonable thing ta do. My name be Halden Irongut, tavern traveler and head of tha Irongut family

And is it a large family?
Surely ya seen that fer yerself. I done read some of yer articles from time ta time about when we been busy. There be more of us than I can count, all over tha face of Norrath. Now I couldn't name all of them, since we be spread out all about. Every member o' tha family uses their skills ta help with tha family business.

What exactly is the family business?
Why ale o' course! Halden's finest brews be tha mainstay of the family fortunes. We prepare some of tha best drinks that can be found on Norrath. I be tha master brewer of tha clan, although many of the others help out there too. Others fill roles in the different areas, like haulin' goods, creatin' barrels and kegs and cask, and so forth.

In recent months, your family has been seen doing a lot of work preparing for the next season. How has that gone?
It been goin' right well actually. With business boomin' last year, we went through more product than expected, so this year we stepped up our efforts. This year, with the able assistance of many brave and thirsty clients, we managed ta set ourselves up fer what could be the biggest batches of product we ever dealt with.

So can we expect to see more of your family's products out soon?
Indeed so! Right now we're still in tha midst of usin' those supplies ta prepare our newest batches. I hope ta have the first of the bunch ready by the time the real chills hit tha air.

Well then what will you be doing in the meanwhile?
Well, besides brewin' ya mean? As ye may have heard, I be a fancier of taverns and tales. It's not tha family business, but knowin' these things be a way ta help in what one of me kin calls "marketing". So, some of us tend ta go out seekin' good stories and tales and rumors from the folks we meet.

So you are a bit of a reporter yourself?
Well, I'd say there be a bit of similarity. After all, I do go out and find out information and such. But there be more than a bit of difference too.

How so?
Well, you fer example seek stories ta tell others about and report on. And ye do a good bit of work ta make sure ya be tellin' only the verifiable facts, including going out yerself ta see these things personally and with yer floatin' gizmos. The things we tend ta hear may not always be so verifiable and we tend ta only have folks who saw things or heard about it tell us. O' course, before we say anything about these tales ta others as bein' more than rumor or something we heard, we try ta find out more from others as well.

How was the Irongut Frostfell?
Ah lass, it were a grand ol' time. Lots o' getting' together with tha family, just like everyone else. We all gathered together and celebrated a fine old time. Gifts were given, news of how things be goin', tales o' business and brews and general happenin's out in Norrath. And o' course gettin' things prepared fer tha start o' tha spring season and our upcomin' boom in trade.

An upcoming boom in trade?
Why o' course! While everybody be concentratin' on romance an' sparkin' their ladies or men, we be getting' set fer tha rest of tha Spring, an' Brewday in particular. Although, Erollisi Day be some good fer business.

How so?
Well, now ya know that most menfolk consider takin' their lady love out fer a romantic time about now. That be a given. But not everyone has themselves a great bit o' success. And that there leads to an increase in sales in tha local taverns. Plus ya get them there folk lamentin' lost loves an' so forth an' drownin' their sorrows in a good old tankard of ale. Now I'm not gonna be sayin' that we want more broken hearts, but they be gonna happen anyways, an' we at least can provide a bit o' comfort fer them individuals. . .among others.

What kind of others?
Well, we done talked before about some o' them folk ya see or hear about wanderin' around causin' . . . well, not trouble, but causin' things ta happen durin' tha seasons. An from what I be gatherin' they be at it again. Tales be goin' around about folks wanderin' tha streets of that cities mindin' their own business when suddenly these strange Guide folk come up and start marryin' them off ta each other, or ta total strangers. I meself watched as this poor Kerran found hisself married off ta a Ratonga just fer havin' been wanderin' down tha same street at tha same time. Things like that, and other such tales of "romance" gone awry can lead a lot o' folk ta drink.

I see. Well, the time of Erollisi Day is drawing to a close soon, and you mentioned Brewday. What plans do you have for then?
Well, besides brewin' ya mean? Well, we be doin' a lot o' drinkin' o' course. We be knowin' that folk be gonna spend a lot of their time in Brell's Bar as they do every year, but we be goin' ta increase our own presence around tha lands. Plus, in a story-tellin vein, people who be a bit more under tha influence be a bit more likely ta share stories, so we'll be around lookin' fer them as well, and seekin' ta find all tha bars and taverns we can. Plus, I hear that a few acquaintances of mine be makin' some plans o' their own fer that whole month. . . but that be somethin' I can't tell ye about. What I can tell ya is that once again I be hearin' some rumors about other bits an' pieces of things that may be goin' on.

What "bits and pieces" might those be?
Well, now o'course I want ta stress this only be rumor. But as always, tha appearance o' Brell's Bar can cause even tha most experienced drinker ta lose their head. So there may be some opportunity fer enterprisin' adventurers ta help them poor souls out what have had a bit too much and need help.

Interesting. And what about after Brewday?
That there depends on who ya be. Me personally, I'm half inclined ta go into hiding fer that next month. Not that I got anythin' against Bristlebane Day ya understand. But there be jest enough mischief makers that sometimes it can be a real trial on a body ta go out during that month. Explodin' whoopie seats, opened salt shakers, an' so forth. Now, that don't mean me clan will be backin' off of stories and such. But, we may be a bit more cautious while around doin' so. After all, there always be one or two who be wanderin' around determined ta prove they be tha funniest folks around.

Well, thank you again Master Irongut. I hope that all goes well and safely for you then until we talk next in a few months to see what you have heard about the Summer.
Sure thing lass. Summer always be a fine time fer me family. A cold brew be jest tha right thing on a hot day, and the tales always flow freely. So I'll be glad ta talk to ye again.

Read more about the Irongut Clan in Halden's Blog.