The Cackling Crone (Pirate AU)
This page is part of the Pirate AU plot!
The Cackling Crone is a magical public house in colonial Boston. All kinds of magical kin, from wixes to Pukwudgies, are generally welcome here.
The entrance to the Crone is hidden inside an old, gnarled elm tree tucked behind a map shop. To summon the entrance, one must tickle a knot on the elm tree that has a passing resemblance to a withered old woman's face until it sneezes. (Wands tend to work best, but the tickling is also possible with other materials.) Once the knot sneezes, it queries the visitor to determine their purpose. If it is convinced that they are friend and not foe, the knot expands into a human-sized hole and permits them entrance.
The Cackling Crone itself is underground, tucked amidst the roots of the elm tree. It has a rich, earthy smell that gets stronger after a recent rain. The furniture is all haphazard and mismatched, salvaged from old ships. Faerie carrying tiny teardrop lights drift near the ceiling -- this has the effect of lending inconsistent light to the space, as the faeries can sometimes get distracted and rush off somewhere else, leaving an area of the public house shrouded in darkness.
Miss Elsebeth has been the server at the Crone for as long as anyone can remember. Her appearance is both timeless and memorable, with long, pale golden hair, bright blue eyes, and a lilting laugh. She remembers every patron by name, even if decades pass in between their visits. Those who are more worldly may suspect that she has Veela blood, but this has not been confirmed.
By 1692, pressure from the growing witch hunts throughout the Massachusets Bay Colony have forced a change to policy at the Cackling Crone. Although all magical creatures are still welcome, only those humans with a wand are permitted to enter.
