Enregard Brewer
The village brewery is a two-story stone structure built during the second age by dwarves. The original purpose of the building has been lost to time and the depradations of the third age, but at present is is the property of Bernard Smyth. As a dwarven building it is solid, cool, and timeless, with walls made from massive blocks of granite that have been shaven to fit seemlessly together. The back of the building is butting against a stone promentory that overlooks the village. Overall the building is the oldest and most solid building in the village, and could almost serve as a fortress if it didn't have so many openings.
Enregard was born the son of the village barrel maker, his father building the barrels that Bernard used to ship his finely brewed ale. His mother was Bernard's sister, making Enregard the nephew of the village brewer.
Enregard's father, Caldune, was smitten by his current wife Glorenna during his teen years, and their marriage broke the heart of the village locksmythe, who was a rival for her affections. This rival came up with a plan to rid hinself of Caldune, and take Glorenna for himself. He would frame Caldune for a crime, and the overlords would haul him off to a life of enslavement. Unfortunately the plan backfired when both Caldune and Glorenna were enslaved.
Enregard escaped this fiendish plot when Bernard claimed his nephew for his own son, and won his release despite the protestations of the locksmith due to Bernard's privileged position within the village. The brewer had a special relationship with the local lord, in which he would ship a substantial portion of his annual output to the lord and his troops, in exchange for light taxation and freedom from persecution. Bernard is the sole surviving owner of the family's secret recipe for brewing the village's ale, and even the dark, souless fiend of a lord would regret its loss.
As a result Enregard grew up under the care and supervision of Bernard. Enregard hatched endless plots to gain the freedom of his parents, as well as to get revenge upon the slave and the locksmith. The smithy knew of his hatred, and was constantly attempting to have him "taken care of". Only Bernard's influence had kept him alive.
The cellar of the brewet contained an expertly concealed door that repeated searches by the evil occupiers had always failed to uncover. Bernard and Enregard knew how to access and open this panel, and used it to hide refugees and hide illicit goods. The pair knew only of a safe room and a secret tunnel behind the panel; the other secrets of the ancient dwarven structure remained lost to them.
One of Enregard's contacts is a slimy dog of a man who plays both sides of the village power structure. He is a spy for the lords and feeds them interesting tidbits of information in exchange for allowing him to traffic in illicits goods. He is also a friend of certain villagers, including Bernard, and works to keep them safe from persecution. This smuggler has a relationship with Bernard, and knows the hidden back entrance of the secret tunnel. He uses this to carry goods into the village.
The spy also knows a hidden cave near the river where he stores transported goods. Once he took Enregard here and told him he could use the cave in case he ever needed to hide. Nearby are the docks where the river barges come to haul away the barrels of quality ale. Here it is that Enregard met his gnomish friend, an owner of one of the boats that ply the river. The two have spent much time together on the river and become good friends.
