Thanks to the generosity of +Greg Gillespie , he of Barrowmaze fame, The Tavern is offering you a an opportunity to receive a PDF copy of The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia, Greg's latest release. Its a megadungon composed of a sandbox setting and multiple dungeons and it is without a doubt, a campaign worth of gaming and then some.
So, how do you get entered for a chance to be gifted with such an amazing OSR release?
Its really simple - name and describe a bartender that may be found in a fantasy tavern. Use two to three sentences for your description. On Monday morning, 9/18 at 11 AM I will chose one random commenter to receive the The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia Megadungeon PDF. A second commenter will receive a $10 RPGNow Gift Certificate for "Best Bartender." Best Bartender is totally subjective to my whims ;)
A new megadungeon from Barrowmaze author Dr. Greg Gillespie!
The lost city of Archaia - an ancient ruin sunken into the earth - lies deep in the badlands. In recent years, caravans from Eastdale have come under attack from orcs, goblins, and worse. Some say these blood-thirsty warbands have made lairs in the deep caves and ruins. Sill others say the ancient halls are filled with magnificent treasures left by the Archaians. Are you brave (or foolish) enough to delve The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia?
THe Forbidden Caverns of Archaia (FCoA) is a 296-page classic old school megadungeon for use with Labyrinth LordTM and other fantasy role-playing games. THe pages of Forbidden Caverns are crammed full with new material, maps, amazing art (including special surprizes by former TSR artists), as well as an amazing colour cover art by Ex-TSR artist Erol Otus that matches Barrowmaze Complete as a sister-book.
The Forbidden Caverns of Archaia will keep your players on their toes and your campaign going strong for years.
FCoA is brought to you by the Old School Renaissance (so don’t forget your 10’ pole).Remember, purchases made via The Tavern's affiliate links enable us to offer gifts back to the community - and keep your bartender in fresh, cold beer ;)
While it is formally known as
ReplyDeleteTenker’s Tavern, the locals simply called it “Tenker’s” or “the Tavern” as
if everyone knows where the place is that they’re referencing. It recently
came under the ownership of the dwarven constable for which is named
— Sergeant Arik Tenker. Now retired from his service to the city, Tenker
found he was unable to abandon his old beat even after surrendering his
uniform. His curmudgeonly demeanor is a thin front for a weary, but
warm-hearted protector-turned-proprietor.
Barth the Bartender: A tall, lanky, lurch type whom behind his back is called "Barf the Bartender" by his patrons. Barth is known wearing the same stained smock daily and vomiting whenever he hears graphic details of gruesome adventures.
ReplyDeleteDram has run the Dragon's Tale for as long as anyone can remember. You'd think it would be a mystery how a mottled green and red pseudo-dragon came to run a tavern, but since Dram is willing to tell anyone who'll listen (and quite a few who won't) how it happened, it's really only a matter of time before regular paterons learn the tiny, yellow-eyed drake's story.
ReplyDeleteYou see, Dram's not quite right in the head. Like all dragons, he craves treasure. But ever since he was hatched, Dram served as the familiar to an alchemist who liked to test his potions on the then-clutchling. While experimenting with a Potion of Gem Detection, something... well.. happened.
Instead of detecting gems, Dram craved them with all the greed of a dragon and the simplicity of a child. But his definition of what constituted a "gem" was limited by the limited understanding of a child. Unfortunately, this is a trait he never quite grew out of. As such, Dram fell in love with glass. Twinkling, worthless glass. He came to love the way liquor twinkled in a frosted bottle, the way it caught the light, and the sound of a pouring beverage.
When his master died in a horrible (but entirely preventable) alchemical accident, Dram's insanity was complete. Carrying on his master's obsession with alchemy, but with his broken perceptions, Dram rebuilt the alchemist's tower. But he had no gift for alchemy. Unwilling to let this deter him, he turned to mixology, and learned to brew some of the finest beverages in the realm - keeping them in a myriad of exotic decanters from across the world.
Decades have passed, and Dram remains ageless and innocent, happily serving his patrons from the brightly colored beverages from twinkling bottles. He's cheerful, talkative, and friendly to all who enter - unless you break a glass. Then he grows quite grumpy at your disrespect from the most valuable treasure in the land.
Barth
ReplyDeleteBarth is a filthy bartender that always seems to be getting into conversations with the towns local children about their daily business. During this discourse he often accidently reveals that the meat he uses is actually rats, resulting in the children purging their meals which he quickly captures in a bucket.
"I keep the burgers warm by keeping them under my arms."
Delete*nausea ensues*
(Why do I remember this stuff?)
👍
DeleteAntonio! Great minds think alike! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteSavage, I take it you were a fan of You Can't Do That on Television? Ahhh yes, good old Canadian TV :)
ReplyDeleteI watched that show daily when I was a kid.
DeleteOh yeah it was gold
DeleteAm I wrong to have had a crush on Moose growing up?
DeleteHa! That is so weird, Joe. HahahahahaIlikedhertoo...
DeleteCompletely understandable. I liked Ashley on the show Fifteen. Another Canadian show on Nickelodeon.
DeleteIf that's being wrong then I don't wanna be right, Joe.
DeleteAmbrose is the current proprietor of The Lazy dragon Tavern. Ambrose is an older man with a beaming smile and an infectious laugh. His warm kind eyes tell of knowledge and wisdom well beyond his station.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Ambrose is unusually wise, he does not flaunt it. He is humble beyond measure and gracious to a fault. He is often heard singing softly to himself in an unfamiliar tongue, but if questioned about it will behave as if he has no idea what is being talked about.
Behind those endearing eyes hides a secret— Ambrose‘s real name is Ambricus and he is a former monk of Star Stone Abbey. He is believed to be dead and has assumed a new identity to protect himself. years ago the Empire mysteriously destroyed Star Stone Abbey. The monks there were either murdered or "re-educated." Ambricus however managed to escape.
Tarquin "Olé" Biscuitbarrel is a retired politician from the Silly Party. Nowadays, he can be found behind the bar at the establishment in Old City known as "The Silly Party." His bouncers are known far and wide for their unique ejection technique: they slap rowdies in the face with fish.
ReplyDeleteSmall Charles was a huge muscular brute of a man who had worked as a laborer on the docks. While engaged in a guild directed demonstration against non guild workers unloading a foreign ship, he was among those attacked by a yakuza thug, and lost the use of his leg. Near death, he was healed by a not quite elven cleric of Sethyg, the serpent god of healing. Brought back from the brink, but without his leg, Small Charles recieved the best retirement a disabled member of the Longshoremen and Stevedore's guild could get, a wooden leg and an intense and rapid in brewing, and bartending, along with placement in an underground tavern built into the tunnels under the city to serve adventurers in need of ale and the occasional extra torch, ten foot pole or fifty foot coil of rope.
ReplyDeleteDenkar the Gnome: After a rich life of adventuring, where he never died and was always useful, Denkar used his impressive fortune to open a tavern. On the wall hung trophy creatures he had defeated as an adventurer. His personal favourite were the birds he had hunted over the years, including a considerable collection of finches.
ReplyDeleteKaz is a dwarf overcome with melancholy. The sole survivor of the Death of Thundermount, he puts up a brave and jubilant front that masks an intense survivor's guilt. Late into the evening, when most of the patrons are either gone or snoozing over their last ale of the evening, he can sometimes be seen to pull a silver key from underneath his tunic and stare at it with a burning intensity. Those who know him whisper that it will open a secret door leading into Thundermount, but never do so within his earshot, lest they be banned from his establishment forevermore.
ReplyDeleteBig Wayne, the proprietor of Buzzard's Roost, is a grizzled old figure who favors the use of Invisible Servants over serving girls (they cost less, the drunks can't harass them, and if a fight ever breaks out they're mighty handy).
ReplyDeleteWayne is a giant of a man and has an equally large pot belly, as well as an unkempt beard in which his pet rat Willard hides.
Wayne himself has never "adventured" but he has been skillfully draining the coffers of such folks for years and has hired on a couple to maintain his serving staff.
Raza is a short man many times mistaken for a dwarf. His ugliness was the stuff of legend. In an age of affordable beauty by magic, there was something heraldic about his lack of it. Brown teeth and a badly carved wooden leg are the best looking features of Raza.
ReplyDeleteThat said, he makes sure that the ale is served in filled mugs promptly, keeps the counter clean, and keeps the bar in order. If you are willing to look past his looks, he good for a honest rumor and a not-so honest job.
(Credit Gibson for one line)
Stinky Pete, he's not stinky and his name isn't even Pete, He speaks Draconian with the fluency of a native speaker, produces an array of herbal ales with a wide variety of alchemical properties, and he seems to know everything. Mysteriously he was born in town, grew up in the tavern, and took it over from his (human) parents. To the best of anyone's knowledge he's never even left the county.
ReplyDeleteLady Jarla is the wealthy daughter of foreign nobility, or so she claims. With her nose held high and a straight back, she serves the patrons of the Silver Butterfly slightly rancid booze and stale bread. The patrons refer to the establishment as the grey moth--or maybe they refer to her that way. She does not deign to hear their comments.
ReplyDeleteOle Cap'n Theo: He started out as an honest coastal freighter pilot, but soon found that there was more gold to be had navigating a rumrunner known as The Empty Flask. He now entertains bar patrons at a dockside establishment called The Blind Landlubber. While many assume he sustains the tavern with ill-gotten gains, the truth is that he makes his profit by breeding pedigreed parrots for well-to-do ship captains.
ReplyDeleteTarga Sloshfist, Caveman Bartender. Targa work at place called Big Mammoth Drawing Cave With Lions on Wall and Cave Bear Too. His bar is sacred rock, carved as a Venus of Willendorf figure, lying on side. Targa serve goat milk beer. Targa serve more goal milk beer. Targa get beer from rock bucket. Targa serve beer in skull of wolf. Targa serve beer in skull of goat. Targa no like take care not to spill. Targa make mess, but beer good. You drink beer? Targa say drink now. Targa give beer. Drink!
ReplyDeleteFedorsha, She With the Golden Leg, is the bartender of the Prancing Unicorn famous for its stirge meat pies. A former one-legged prostitute from the City, she was recruited by a group of adventurers with the promise of a magical, prosthetic leg which she will gladly use to kick anyone who would dare mention her former vocation, try to start any kind of brawl or insult her cook. Rumors abound that she has ended many a family line with a well placed punt. Supposedly, she ended her adventuring career after taking revenge on a dragon that killed most of her party. Evidently, she used a strange method called a lay zerr. She now is mostly interested in procuring fresh stirge meat and any ideas of how one might domesticate the blood thirsty beasts.
ReplyDeleteDenif is the owner and bartender of what the people of the crossroads village simply call the tavern. He is sapling thin and almost frail looking. He always has a sympathetic ear for the troubles of his patrons, the they love trouble or orc trouble. Break the peace, however, and you will see another side of Denif. He will use his thin, thin blade to disable or worse anyone who disturbs the peaceful atmosphere that he cultivates at his establishment. Salud!
ReplyDeleteThe Blackened Stump is perhaps the most nefarious tavern in Obsidian Bay, with the ever-cantankerous, ill-mannered, and uncharismatic Geffen Rathmore as its proprietor/barkeep. He is a man rumored to be a retired brigand, both overweight and under-bathed, and if he can be bothered to leave his favorite stool next to the tavern’s namesake burned tree stump posing as a table at the end of the bar, it probably means you have drawn his ire. He often chides his serving staff with shouts such as “you lot ought to keep off your backs while there’s puke to be mopped up!”
ReplyDeleteLittle that goes down at the Stump escapes the eyes and ears of the serving wenches, and they can be found to be an invaluable source of gossip. For a reasonable price they will be happy to tell a generous patron what they know, and depending on said patron’s generosity they might only make up half of it. Aside from rumor-mongering, relieving inebriated customers of their purses, or “hospitality”, the girls can also be hired to deliver messages and small, easily concealed items to parties who wish to use discretion about whom they are seen with.
Donegal Tweed: arcane archeologist, dashing delver, and purveyor of potables. As this halfling is fond of sharing tales of daring-do and tomfoolery, it’s wise to limit how many pints you purchase. You may be lamented with one of his tales…that he’s already told you…a couple of times!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMike is a bartender by night and student of magic by day. A part timer in the worst of ways; incompetent at mixology, always late, and horrible with customers. He tends to bounce from bar to bar but he usually stays a little longer than he should because a full time employee sees the value of some slob taking the bosses heat.
ReplyDeleteSweat, warmth, laughter, and two lackadaisical half-ogres assault the senses when entering Grik's brew. A loud call of welcome, smiling tusk, and bright, shiny eyes from the host washes away any fears as the proprietor waves entry. He holds up two mugs with his half-orcish hands in greeting. Tonight is for drinking, and this beer, always chilled, is the best around.
ReplyDeleteWhile the regulars all knew what to expect, the newcomer was startled by what stood behind the bar. Stooped over the counter was a powerful looking figure, tawny fur interrupted in places by hairless slashes of flesh, old scars, long healed, yet never regrown. The locals just called him "Bull", not especially creative considering he was a Minotaur, a trait betrayed by two great horns on his head, dark and rough, one broken off at half its length, the irregular layers of the exposed horn-rings smoothed and polished to a shine to match its intact mate. His tail gave a single swish as he snorted impatiently, deep brown eyes staring into the newcomer's face, the crooked hint of a smile forming on his snout. "What'll it be, friend...?"
ReplyDeleteMort is the proprietor and barkeep of Mort's Dive in North Bridge. He is a ghost and quite dead and has been for far longer than anyone can remember. He performs his duties by using his ability to possess people - usually unlucky patrons who ignore his no-violence policy. His current body though is a troll - a gift from a long time regular, and of great enjoyment for Mort
ReplyDeleteA gaunt Halfling with severe halitosis, Gellin serves mildly rancid stew to the wretched crowd at the Crimson Platypus. Secretely an apprentice necromancer, Gellin uses animal carcasses for his forays in dark magic but waits not so patiently for a patron to die in his establishment and the subject of a more ambitious experiment.
ReplyDeleteAurora silver-hair is a pretty and friendly girl on the younger side of middle age. To some, she seems a bit on the slow side as far as brains go, but she can spot a lie and ill intent on a bar patrons face from a mile away, and anyone who comes to the bar with a plan to hurt her or one of the other patrons, especially one of the regulars is liable to earn a snapped warning followed by a remarkably swift and brutal beating. Those who ask about her history learn that she was actually born as a hunting dog, but a misfired wizards spell a few years back polymorphed her into a human, and she took a job at the bar since it turned out she had a knack for helping people.
ReplyDeleteGareth Silverson might have been handsome once, neath the scars and crooked nose - but his chin's not seen a razor in a seven-day, his hair water in twice that time and his crooked, unkind smile smells a bit too much of the spirits he serves for comfort. His eyes are still sharp though, sunken bits of flint floating in aged tallow that seem to take the inn entire as he goes about his chores day in, day out, sliding further into the bottle each evening.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hell of a thing tho - three sheets to the wind and Gareth's hands are still steady. Never spills a drop . . . or fumbles with steel, much to many a bravo's chagrin.
Good ol' Tenk was the best bartender ever, just listening, and only saying a word or two of encouragement. That's all he needed to say as his empathy was evident.
ReplyDeleteAntonio was a wizard for 40 years, and it shows. Finally, after several magic mishaps that almost caused his ruin, he fullfilled his lifelong dream and opened his own tavern. Old friends and collegues sometimes find it hard to recognize the introverted bookworm they knew, as he seems a totally different person when he tends the bar.
ReplyDeleteTenkar, give the prize to this guy. He wins just for having the best bartenders name!!
DeletePenure the Tightfisted is a magic-user from the city of [insert name of fantasy metropolis here] who is renowned for his love of exotic alcoholic drinks - and his unbelievable miserliness. He runs a high brow drinking establishment in the temple quarter of [fantasy metropolis] but as he refuses to pay others to work in his bar all drinks are served up by a selection of his own variants of Bigby's Hand and Tenser's Floating Disc spells. However, the mage failed to take into account that the price of the material components for such spell casting far exceed staffing costs and, as such, drinks at his exclusive club cost both the standard price for such plus a drop of mercury, a snakeskin (preferably already turned into a glove) or similar......... ;)
ReplyDeleteTik chuk tar, Thri kreen. Has several varieties of carnivorous plants that he grows on the roof of his establishment and using their nectar to brew a selection of mead. He uses his own saliva to grow his own glassware- customers often comment on what they consider to be exotic hand blown masterpieces unaware they are sipping from vessels of crystallised spit.
ReplyDeleteFuzzy Mulligan. Tends bar at the Ickle Bickles Pub. Not exactly a ladies man, but he sure can pour a glass.
ReplyDeleteSam is an ex-adventurer who loves to talk about the good old days. He mainly chats with the regulars and hits on the ladies. He believes himself to have a high charisma, but it's actually fairly low -- he just chooses low-charisma women to hit on. Great memory though, knows everyone's name.
ReplyDeleteGary is a large, gregarious man who runs a small but beloved local tavern called Donald's. Donald is Gary's dog, some kind of sheep dog mix that sits on a stool behind the bar. Gary loves Donald more than anything. He talks to him all the time and pours beer in his water bowl. Some nights, if you look closely you can see tears in his eyes as Gary pets Donald. If you get close to Gary and earn his trust he'll tell you about his days as an adventurer. He and his brother traveled the world slaying beasts and finding long lost treasures. Until the day they battled a lich deep in a dungeon far away from here. The lich turned Gary's brother Donald into a dog as punishment for trespassing in his dungeon.
ReplyDeleteGary and Donald retired from adventuring after that. If someone finds a way to turn Donald back into his previous form Gary will give them a great treasure from his adventuring days.
Allister Pyke is the burly, bearded proprietor of Rooks' Rest Public House. With a pox scared face only a mother could love and forearms like ham hocks Pykey pulls foaming pints for the thieves and crooks of city's backside. This hardnosed publican tolerates no rudeness in his brew house and the Rooks' Rest serves as a neutral meeting place between rival crimelords and their associates.
ReplyDeleteHandsome Pete is a good looking bartender who was never a smuggler. Ever. He keeps a clean bar and serves a fair pint and his hair is just so amazing - flowing gold it looks like. He was also never a river pirate. Pete has a great whiskey collection for those in the know and his eyes are like pools of the purest blue - like true love. But he is just this normal guy. Right.
ReplyDeleteKanmon is a charismatic, but devious barkeep who is more intent on convincing bar patrons to join him in shady back-alley schemes than pouring drinks. Once the locals get wise to his game, he usually sets fire to the tavern or inn he is currently working in and then slips out of town to look for a new position elsewhere while the townsfolk try to mitigate the damage he leaves in his wake.
ReplyDeleteThe rogue turns around the corner first, and stops. The rest of the party, concerned, rush up to join him. They see, in the corner of the curve of the dungeon passage, a kobold wearing a gnomish bowler and an stained apron, standing behind a bar chisled out of the rock wall.
ReplyDelete"What'llyahave? What'llyahave?" he barks in accented Common.
The rogue replies: "Uhhmmm...whatcha got?"
"Spicy ale, and not-spicy ale."
The dwarf pushes forward through the party. "Give me a spicy ale."
The kobold disappears below the bar, returning with a wooden bowl filled with a frothy liquid. Setting it on the bar, he ducks down again, this time popping up with an adze. He turns around, reaches back behind his head with the adze, with an overhead swing gives the mossy wall a good smack. He picks up a couple of rocks that flew off, weighs the in his clawed hands, holds one up to his eye, examining it, then dropping it into the bowl.
The kobold says, "Thatll be a silver and a copper. I aint got change. And Meeyike don't advise you to swallow the rock."
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ReplyDeleteVance Sugarfoot, a halfling baker's apprentice, moonlights as a barkeep, work he much prefers. He is a good listener and always ready with a kind word for the worndown or a well thrown stale biscuit for the troublemakers. He has been experimenting with brewing his own beer but needs additional funds to really begin.
ReplyDeleteSammy the Mirrorman; Sammy is a maturing and slightly heavy burly man sporting scars that indicate previous employment as a man at arms. His most outstanding feature is the mirrored eyepatch he wears over his left eye.
ReplyDeleteTurn-ons: red heads and halfelves in colorful hose.
Turn-offs: dwarves with greenery in their beards and fools that ask for a clean glass. "A clean glass, a glass? What type of frilly-pants establishment do you take this to be?"
Deep Dark Secret: Anyone who lifts up his eyepatch to get a look at what is under there is likely to be shocked at the miniature office with a diminutive gremlin scribe taking copious notes.
Veerna, the valkyria:
ReplyDeleteVeerna is a fierce tavernkeeper. Se is not a valkyrie, but sure looks like one. She likes to tell stories about wolfs and ravens, swords and dwarfs. The last one made her less popular with dwarves, who often tries to sabotage her business, by pissing in the ale fore example (and some say that this actually makes the bear stronger and more alcoholic)
Kral-Gar is a bald half-orc with green skin and a toothy underbite. He keeps a clean and well-stocked barroom. His grim growl and muscular frame will often end any trouble with patrons before it begins.
ReplyDeleteGallorus Pulpp is the barkeep at The Joker's Grin. Located just off a busy road, known for its trouble with highwaymen and Ettins, travellers from all parts seek shelter in its timber framed walls. An open fire pit and fine dark Mild welcome the weary, Gallorus serves his customers with a punctilious efficiency but rarely a smile. Each evening he bids the guests good night, warning them to lock their doors and ignore the creaking roof "'tis an old place with a character of its own" he insists. Gallorus then retires to his small shack near the inn. The sad truth is that Gallorus is but a servant of an infernal power, cursed to serve guests of the Joker's Grin that, at night, comes to life and consume those that have willingly entered its innards...Inn by day, Demon stomach by night!
ReplyDeleteLucine Dellafonn is the head bartender of the night shift at the 24 hour Till the Wolf Howls Tavern. She always dresses in black and her raven-black hair glistens with a hint of white. Rumors say not to become enthralled with her because once you follow her home just before daylight peaks you will never be seen again.
ReplyDeleteThe bartender of my Morgansfort BFRPG campaign is a veteran adventurer named Morgan Ironwolf. You may have heard of her. She runs the fort as well as the tavern, keeping in touch with the next generation of adventurers and handing out useful advice along with ale and mead.
ReplyDeleteBobby works the day shift, and is well known for the exactness of his mixes. So exact that he has a selection of eyedroppers to precisely measure the volumes of the various spirits he introduces into his drinks. This makes him exceedingly slow at producing a beverage. However, he also has an eidetic memory, which serves him well to start the drinks before his usual patrons place their order. Being on the day shift keeps the number of customers down, which is good because the bar Bobby works at is frequented by the local "Merchant Benificent Society," and they don't like people snooping around their business, capiche? Bobby knows a lot more than he should.
ReplyDeleteGaji, a sturdy female gnome, dresses elegantly and carries herself with ladylike grace. Beneath her composed exterior, however, is what some of her patrons call "the Gorgon," as she can suddenly become a fierce and terrifying force to any who disrupt the "harmony" of her establishment. For a piece of silver, she will read your fortune in the spit of your empty glass.
ReplyDeleteWasdelb, barkeep for the Tipsy Cock is actually the forgotten god Putres, whose only remaining followers are a tribe of were-rats in the city sewers (an entrance to which lies in the Cock's cellar). Appears as a crooked and dirty old man, bad at his job and afraid of losing it as well as his only source of new worship. Occasionally drunken patrons will fall down the stairs and not be seen again, either food for or new recruits to his flock.
ReplyDeleteSlippy Penbroke is the arrogant aristocratic yet highly incompetent and butter-fingered barkeep at The Vomiting Goblin Tavern. Adventurers would normally not patronize such a train-wreck of a drink-slinger, if it wasn't for the all the highly-accurate maps and rumors he seems to know off the top of his head and spews out randomly from time to time(usually while cleaning up after himself).
ReplyDeleteTrogan Joss is the owner and head bartender of the Rusty Saw, a well built and well loved drink hole popular with local lumberers and woodsman. Trogan was a lumberjack himself, but a terrible injury on the job left him both unable to continue his work and part owner of a profitable lumber concern. As both a former worker and current owner he often finds himself asked to be peacemaker and adjudicator.
ReplyDeleteMost people consider Sara the bartender a normal friendly part of their town. Not even the most suspicious would consider for a moment that she might be a powerful formerly evil necromancer, who was "unlucky" enough to have encountered a Helm of Opposite Alignment and is now hiding from her former compatriots.
ReplyDeletePercival Hotspur is a fussy teetotaler who inherited the Jocular Inn from his boisterous, adventuring father. Taking after his mother's side of the family, it sometimes seems as though Percy manages the bar more to monitor and safeguard the well-being of his customers than to run a welcoming festhall. He keeps the bar impeccably clean and tidy, much like his pencil-thin mustache. If Salvador Dali had an uptight, polar-opposite twin that abhorred bombast, it would be Percival. The trick to having a good time in his bar is to order a drink he's never heard of, and he will always overcompensate by making it ridiculously strong as he brags about all of the exotic drinks he does know... but thank you very much for helping him expand his repertoire.
ReplyDeleteHop McFuggles, Dwarven craftsman of superior ales and proprietor of The Hammered Adventurer alehouse. Conveniently located at the entrance to the cascade dungeons, Hop provides quality respite, refreshment and courage to weary and prospective dungeon delivers.
ReplyDelete"delvers"
DeleteGraak is a grumpy goblin who refuses to talk about what got him expelled from his former tribe. He manages to get by making the strangest drinks, inspired by goblin alchemy, and sends local heroes on various quests to keep them busy and away from the goblin caves.
ReplyDeleteKillian Gehrlach, retired military man and adventurer... he owns and runs the Crossroads Inn, equidistant from three hamlets and the edge of civilized lands. His four sons and a Minotaur named Nimrod help him with the day-to-day activities of the establishment. He is beholden to none and runs a tight ship. Only on occasion will he feel maudlin enough or in his cups enough to share stories of his youth and his lost love. The walls are filled with trophies of various esoteric quality, their stories only hinted at and mostly made up by patrons over the years...
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ReplyDeleteMarius Halvern, former first mate of the Salty Siren, is sole proprietor of the Cat & Candle tavern; a small establishment nestled in the crook of an alleyway between Thieves Ward and the Mortuary District. Local blades and rogues regularly frequent this establishment; plots keen as blades and eager eyes reflect from green bottles which serve as candle holders and glass orbs hanging from the ancient fish netting which decorates the walls. All the while Malk, Marius' one-eyed tom, languorously observes the proceedings from his favourite spot, an old lobster pot propped up beside the bar.
ReplyDeleteGeorgo is the sole owner and primary barkeep of The Lucky Blade, an evenings-only tavern near the edge of town. He is the sole survivor of his adventuring party, though almost no one recalls that he was the group's lawful good cleric. Now retired and quite the pacifist, Georgo is somehow able to quickly calm the rowdiest patrons, but can't stand the sight of blood. Georgo never samples his own libations. He secretly suffers from a unique vampiric curse, the result of a wound from a decidedly unlucky blade. Should someone begin to suspect his secret, it is never a problem. Georgo can be quite the charmer, and if the interloper should be particularly troublesome, they simply help restock Georgi's 'private stash' of sanguine fluids.
ReplyDeletePaul the Octopus lives *within* the bottle of the ale dispenser. By removing one of its tentacles, the ale flows into the glass via a small opening. One other tentacle gets the money from the customer. Paul even knows how to give you change-- the bottom of the bottle is full of small change.
ReplyDeleteAlviva is owner of the Pewter Pot, on the old road. She is in her 60s, a strong woman running the inn with a mixture of uncompromising sternness and kind yielding. Her sons, who live down the old road in Beechfield, are often at the tavern as both customers and occasional helpers. In those occasions these burly youths meekly follow the directions of an assertive mother who seems to not acknowledge their being grown men.
ReplyDeleteThe widow of the founder of the inn she is rumoured of being a witch although of course people in this valley would say that of a widowed woman that doesn't take another husband. A midwife and an herbalist she has seen many a youth of this village born and many a generation of layabouts drinking her amber ale.
Barrak The Halfhanded is half-orc and a former adventurer who lost the first two fingers on his left hand to green slime.
ReplyDelete"I just wanted 4see what it was. Guess I shouldn't 'ave put my fingers in it."
Rather than pay to have his fingers regenerated, he invested his share of treasure into opening his tavern, simply called "The Tavern"
The heat of the lights, the adulation of the crowd, the glory of the stage. How Olivar Spearshake misses his time as an Actor. Not a mummer you fool, an Actor!
ReplyDeleteNow the proud proprietor of 'The Footlights' tavern, he relives his finest roles by acting as a different character every day, each with it's own individual story and take on events. One day he is Tomas Hardwick, the retired mercenary with tales of blood and war, the next Orgus Rottengut the drunken barman who can barely string a sentence together, yet has his fingers on the pulse of the underworld. Another day he may be Roger Redmane, a boisterous ex-sea captain and by his own admission a one-time pirate, with tales of buried treasure. Yet another day he will be Lord Rookswift, a noble fallen on hard times, yet willing to spread tales of noble rivalries and politics. There are many other roles Olivar Spearshake has yet to reprise.
Olivar has been known to change roles many times throughout the day. He will deflect questions about his other characters, and will never admit to being anyone other than the character he is currently playing, such is his commitment to his art. The first time each of his characters meets the party, they will act asthough they have not met them previously. Perceptive characters will easily spot the familiarity between all of these barmen, sadly Spearshake is not the quality of actor he believes himself to be!
Whether Olivar's tales and rumours hold any truth is up to the GM.
The mugs are filthy,
ReplyDeleteThe plates are too.
The keeper looks surly,
Because he doesn’t like you!
Eriladar is the barkeep and proprietor of the Final Rest Inn. The white necromancer staffs his establishment with skeletal minions, which assure his customers their conversations will never be overheard and repeated. Run up a large tab, and you may find that you can exchange your remains for free liquor.
ReplyDeleteNo one is quite sure how the nameless lizardman came to run the Itchy Octopus Tavern. But one day, the tavern’s prior proprietor, Harald Horstooth, disappeared, only to be replaced by a hulking, slightly befuddled, but apparently harmless lizardman.
ReplyDeleteThe usuals shrugged and ordered up anyway.
The tavern grew in notoriety for its unique proprietor, who became both a curiosity, and a source of amusement, as the lizardman gingerly handled tankards in his clawed hands, gingerly mincing about behind the bar. Occasionally, in a moment of absentmindedness, he would clear the bar with his tail, leading to spilled beer, soaked patrons, and general hilarity. Embarrassed, he would sweep up broken flagons and sop up the sodden bar with a rag clutched in a massive fist.
He understands Common, but only replies in his own gutteral speech. He also appears to know his ciphers and can make change, not that anyone has dared to shortchange or grift him... The druid Beiric made a rare appearance in town and had a quiet talk with the reptilian, but retreated back to his forest before proffering any information gleaned from their conversation…