The tavern is dark and crowded. The wooden tables and chairs are stained with ale and wine. The walls are covered in soot and cobwebs. The air is thick with the smell of smoke and sweat. The only light comes from the candles on the tables and the fireplace in the corner. A group of men are sitting at a table in the corner, drinking and talking. They are all wearing cloaks and hoods, and their faces are hidden in the shadows.