The Crooked Tankard stood on a leaning street in Emblem's lower quarter, a large, timber-framed tavern set into a street that sloped unevenly. Its walls bulged where the beams had shifted over time, and the roof sagged under the weight of patched shingles. The creaking and swinging sign outside was barely legible, but inside, the tavern was spacious and dimly lit, a good place for less-than-legal dealings.
Founded and run by Povhol Crooktank Valu-Nugate, the tavern had been named after its bruising owner. It quickly developed a reputation for being a place where anything could be bought, from false papers to information on who to knife next. Local Torchwardens had cut a deal with the place to not police in exchange for free drinks, though their presence would often coincide with other clientele quickly disappearing.