Paws & Pints - 第1章 - The Deed

Aug 7, 2026

Upload by Noah

Paws & Pints follows Jack Cross as he transitions from years of empire service to a fragile retirement, only to discover the deed he purchased leads to a decrepit tavern at a harsh crossroads. The opening chapter establishes a tense first day: rain-soaked ruins, rotting structures, and immediate signs of danger as a collapsed interior reveals a nest of oversized rats. With limited gold drained by corrupt bureaucracy, Jack’s plans for a quiet hearth are threatened by the property’s chaotic condition and unseen adversaries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages377

Reading Time9 h 41 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

The Deed

Assessing the Damage

The First Real Meal

The Ledger Update

Shadow on the Crossroads

The First Coin

Rhythm of the Hearth

Late-Night Inventory

A Changing Ledger

Chloe's Keen Eye

Paws &Pints James Winters [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) Copyright © 2026 by James Winters All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact James Winters on Facebook. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) Contents 1. The Deed 2. Assessing the Damage 3. The First Real Meal 4. The Ledger Update 5. Shadow on the Crossroads 6. The First Coin 7. Rhythm of the Hearth 8. Late-Night Inventory 9. A Changing Ledger 10. Chloe's Keen Eye 11. Silver Adventurers 12. Upgrading the Cellar 13. The Kitchen Expands 14. Accounting 15. Domestic Bliss 16. The Cartel's Scout 17. Security Upgrades 18. The Squeeze 19. Checking the Maps 20. Patio Project 21. Breaking the Hammer 22. Foraging Expedition 23. Sacking the Cartel 24. The Wandering Bard 25. Building the Stage 26. Midnight Shift 27. The Ledger's Warning 28. Festival Prep 29. Setting the Stage 30. Hearthfire Festival 31. Party Crashers 32. Evolution of the Hearth 33. Settlers Request 34. A Unified Hearth 35. The View from the Porch 36. Jack’s Journal—Entry \#1 Check this out! [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) CHAPTER ONE The Deed The frontier mud clung to his boots like wet mortar, fighting him for every step. Jack Cross paused, planting his feet on a relatively dry patch of weeds, and let out a slow, controlled breath. The air out here was entirely different from the capital. There was no smell of sulphur, no burning pitch, and no distant shouting of incompetent officers barking contradictory orders. It just smelled like wet pine needles and rotting wood. He reached up, wiping a streak of rainwater from his forehead. His knuckles scraped against the faded scar running along his jawline; a permanent parting gift from a fortress breach three years ago. He’d spent ten years bleeding for the empire, fighting border wars that didn’t matter, and playing politics with nobles who’d never held a blade. Now, he was officially retired. Jack adjusted the thick canvas strap of his travel pack, feeling it dig into his aching shoulder. Deep inside the worn leather lay a small pouch containing what little gold he had left from his military pension and severance pay. The corrupt bureaucrat in the capital had already drained most of his life savings just for the deed. It was barely enough coin to survive a harsh winter, let alone renovate a ruin. But a comfortable estate in the inner cities meant neighbours, and neighbours meant local lords, taxes, and taking orders. No local lords, no marching orders. Just quiet. He pulled the folded, wax-sealed deed from his leather coat. The snivelling clerk who sold it to him had practically laughed in his face, calling Jack a fool for buying an abandoned tavern in the middle of nowhere. The paperwork claimed the property was a functioning tavern on a major neutral trade route. Jack looked up from the parchment and stared at the building. Great. Fantastic. Just what my retirement needed. Calling it a ruin was being generous. The two-story stone and timber building sagged heavily to the left, groaning audibly as a gust of windswept across the crossroads. Half of the wooden shingles had been stripped from the roof by decades of harsh weather, leaving gaping holes that exposed the dark interior to the rain. The wrap-around front porch was buried under a suffocating layer of creeping ivy, and the main double doors hung precariously off a single rusted iron hinge. Jack kicked

FAQs

Who is the protagonist at the beginning of the story?

Jack Cross is the protagonist, newly retired after years serving the empire and now trying to start a quiet life.

What problem does Jack face right after buying the property?

The deed points to a severely run-down tavern ruin, with broken roof sections, damaged doors, and widespread decay.

What immediate danger appears when Jack enters the tavern?

Overwhelming rot and an animal-den smell give way to a threat from the shadows: three oversized rats emerge and surround him.

Aug 7, 2026

Upload by Noah