109. The Crimson House (Chelish establishment in Kaer Maga, Bostonian-accented gargoyle who heckles guests and passerbys perching above the entrance optional, though definitely recommended)
110. The Mucky Duck (Named The Black Swan by the founder, but the paint job on the sign wasn't very good...)--bonus points if you know where that is from.
111. Whilren's Angel (Magnimar microbrewery and tavern famous for its Arvensoar Ale and Empyreal Stout)
112. The Flaming Goblin (complete with permanent silent image of a goblin burning alive in place of a sign, also the signature shot of the bar).
113. All Inn Gambling House (need I say more?)
111. Whilren's Angel (Magnimar microbrewery and tavern famous for its Arvensoar Ale and Empyreal Stout)
I wish I'd thought of that pun! Mind if I steal it?
Don't mind at all! If I post it on the forum it is fair game
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114. Bob's Big Barbecue: This large restaurant/inn/waystation is known throughout the land. Bob is also known for his willingness to BBQ anything. He also on occasions hires adventurers to go out and bring back a beast that has been requested. BBQed giant spider is a house specialty.
103. We Got Crabs. A cheap seafood buffet that my group ate at in our game.
110. The Drag On Inn: Has a image of a dragon dragging a drunk patron in through a door.
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111. The Bursting Bodice. The innkeeper is a local character, being fanatically devoted to the cause of gluttony. The portions are enormous, and a good value, and second helpings are free, but there's a surcharge for failing to finish your meal. What's more, drinks are only served with food, and rooms are only rented under the condition that you stay for dinner AND breakfast the next morning. The inn takes its name from a standing wager the innkeeper has-- anyone who eats enough to split the seams on their tunic or blouse in one sitting eats free for the rest of their life. Less than a dozen people have claimed this honor in the 19 years the inn has operated; the first to do so is now the innkeeper's wife, and the fattest woman ever to live in the village (a title the couple's eldest daughter seems poised to one day claim, whether she wants to or not.)
112. Cat o' Nine Tails Tavern - a rogue's den and house of ill repute.
113. Autumn Moon Bath House - since Japanese bath houses are taverns and restaurants in addition to serving it's primary purpose as a bathing facility. Of course this bath house inn is a published adventure site written by me, for use with the Kaidan setting of Japanese horror. This particular bath house is very haunted...
114. The Drunken Basilisk
In every game, in every setting, our group has one of these
I love the name they have in ultimate campaign "Deadly Aim Tavern". Also for name generation for Inns ask a player between sessions for an adjective and a number between 10 and 250, and another number between 1 and 4.
Then look on page [first number] of Bestiary [second number] take the first monster name on that page and attach the adjective.
And to be more in spirit of the thread:
115. The Battered Sea Nymph (could be a repurposed shipwreck)
116. The Old Rust Monster (I generated this with the above method)
Triple-veil, I took your method and randomized some numbers. I then pulled out the old DMGII from 3e and rolled on the Random Inn Generator for an adjective. I ended up with:
117. The Black Ghost Pub - A dimly lit groghouse for disreputable types run by a tiefling rogue and shadowcaster named Vuylcka. She has bound several shadows to the place; they act as her eyes and ears and are forbidden to come in contact with the guests in any way, but every patron knows they're there. You see, Vuylcka has them out, in plain view, as a deterrent for those who would seek to do her harm.
This is kind of fun! I feel as though someone should make a thread game out of this...
118. Toothchippers- a bawdyhouse, tavern, and inn that has fights on a regular basis. It is situated upon a strange ley line nexus that causes all subdual damage suffered there to heal at three times the normal speed. Most people come for the brawls to let off some steam, but the truly debauched patronize either Mistress Gehenna- a mostly reformed kyton who has turned a unique combination of bondage and torture into high art, or one of her soiled doves- a collection of masochistic tieflings who work for her.
119. The Stag’s Den is owned by a loud and sturdy dwarf that served in the war. It’s built right into the side of a hill and every bit of wall space is decorated with stuffed animal and monster heads. It's known for its spicy beef and pickle sandwiches and cheep booze.
120. Cay’s Hall is owned by a jolly gnome with a fondness for embroidery. It features long tables and is packed with dozens of dogs, siting on patrons laps, begging for scraps and sleeping by the fire. The far wall sports an elaborate tapestry portraying Cayden Cailean, his loyal mastiff Thunder, and his pack of cayhounds chasing a host of devils. It's known for its grilled boar and sweet ale.
121. The Flying Candle Alehouse is owned by an old wizard and located on Lightning Row, with the town’s magic shops. The tavern is lit by hundreds of white floating candles that never burn down or drip. He crafted and enchanted them himself and is very proud of them. It's known for its smoked trout and expensive white wine.
122. The Salty Jellyfish is owned by a grumpy former smuggler with a massive scar on his neck. It’s a run down, shoddy log cabin near the docks. To those who know how to ask and avoid staring at his scar, he will allow to purchase poisons from the back room. It's known for its fried oysters and hobgob ale.
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123. Desna's Destination, an old church in an out of the way village that has been converted to an inn. The publican is an old priest of Desna who runs the inn as a labor of faith and a way to bring Desna's word to the people. The meal and lodgings are free, but the food is incredibly bland and you must spend the entire evening in the inn, participating in the publican's sermon and singing hymns to Desna. The publican still considers himself a preacher first and an innkeeper second, and considers his guests to be parishioners. There is no alcohol allowed, not even what guests bring in with them, and an early curfew is strictly enforced. The inn's clientele is comprised mainly of travelers who are either unaware of how this inn is run or desperate and broke enough to stay anyway. Repeat business, and converts to Desna, are rare.
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124. The Bell's End
Not to be confused with the brothel Belle's End.
125. The Warm Respite
126. The Green Dragon complete with sign of a woozy Green Dragon that might be hurling vomit.
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127. The Pit of Horrors
This tavern is decorated in draped black cloth, imposing wrought iron, and holy symbols of various evil gods. The cook promises that the food is so spicy, and the drink so strong, that only a true devotee of Zon-Kuthon can finish a meal. The bar wenches are openly hostile to patrons when they're not cackling madly for whatever reason, and the innkeeper frequently alludes to vague "services" he offers out of the back, if you have the right connections. A Knowledge: religion check tells you that the holy symbols are all forged and the place's impression of the evil deities seems derived entirely from rumors. A Knowledge: Local check reveals that the whole facade is an act, there are no underhanded activities going on, and that the local paladins are all in on the joke.
129. The Gilded Pixie (Low class Inn that often shows up in my groups games)
130. The Dancing Unicorn
131. The Exploding Bear Tavern (Long story, but yes... PC's were involved.)
132. The Painted Sign (Blatantly stolen from fiction.)
134. The Grenadier Inn. Came about from a misreading of Grungnir Forest and rolling with it.
"There are a lot of craters out there, why not us?" (the owner is really bad at sales pitches, but the atmosphere is nice.)
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135. The Fuzzy Quarterstaff
There is absolutely nothing remarkable about this inn except the depressingly long amount of time my group spent laughing when we rolled it on a random inn names table
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131. The Exploding Bear Tavern (Long story, but yes... PC's were involved.)
You NEED to share this one.
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136. unpronounceable - The name of this inn is in a language utter foreign to your world, but owner assures you that it's some sort of pun. It's otherwise an unremarkable bar, save for the owner's fastidious cleanliness and actual latrine in the back.
137. Coco-de-mer - Known by everyone but the regulars as "The Hanging Nut." Founded by a Pathfinder who specialized in tropical exploration. The aforementioned nut, known for being naturally shaped like buttocks, used to be hung alongside the sign before it got taken down when the owner got tired of people assuming it was a brothel. The nut hangs over the bar now, and the owner will gladly (and preferably) talk about her travels.
138. The Wet Orchid - A upscale brothel exclusive to women, one not at all shy of celebrating feminine beauty. As the founder and owner is a worshipper of Falayna, empyreal lord of femininity and martial training, demanding males have never been a problem. Of more serious concern to the owner is her past, she's a (neutral good) ex-paladin who felt her co-religionists were too humorless and marriage-focused. (A DC 25 Knowledge (religion) check will reveal that Falayna pines for her lost husband and welds his sword, Betrothal.)
139. House of Delectation - Technically an inn but practically a commercial palace. The place is a combination art studio, bathhouse, beauty parlor, clothing shop, dance theater, publishing house, shrine to Arshea, traveller's inn, and (of course) brothel. The sex services are notable in that they're only offered to those willing to "explore perfection of form," which in practice usually amounts to cosmetic feminization. The line between "satisfied client" and "fervent convert" is as vague as Arshea's gender, and no client has been known to be dissatisfied.
The bar only serves drinks with little to no alcohol but nobody seems to care.
140. The Tricky Priestess.
A tavern run by Adina Eyvendr, it's one of the least rowdy in the city. There are no bouncers, just Adina and her 'family magic’, which she uses to bring down troublemakers quickly and safely, knocking them out.
She saves a lot of money on repairs that way. ;)
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141. "Tavern". This looks like an old, abandoned building with broken windows and no sign of movement inside. The front door is massive and made of freshly polished oak with silver leaf inlays. The majority of the building's front is covered by an enormous wooden sign that says "Tavern". Both the sign and the door are far newer and better maintained than the rest of the building. They're actually a pair of mimics.
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First, from the great Terry Pratchett novels.
142. The Broken Drum.
143. The Troll's Head.
94. The Mended Drum. (The Broken Drum's name after the fire)
Some of mine.
144. The Red Rose. Brothel and inn. (No Food!)
145. The Broken Nose. The owner gave up at one point and kept the name sake of likely happenstance.
146. The Moaning Whale
147. The Angry Giraffe
Oddly, I don't think this one has been mentioned yet:
148. The Bucket: this is where the Ankh Morpokh city watch drinks. They do not like to have their drinking interrupted. Do not try to take the werewolf hostage.
Um, Ooookay...
One thing to remember is that traditional inn/tavern names are based on something that can be portrayed by a fairly simple picture, as most people in the middle ages couldn't read. So a tavern with a green dragon on the sign would be "the Green Dragon." and so on. There might also be a smaller symbol that represents the fact that the owner is a member of the innkeeper's guild, if you are in a country where guild privilege is respected.
Here's some though:
150. "The Hanged Man" (overlooking a town square where executions are held)
151. "The Bawdy Basilisk" (a picture of a basilisk rearing on it's hind legs and winking while wearing a harem girl's outfit)
152. "The Savage Mouse" (a heraldic mouse rampant)
153. "The Broken Wheel" (the sign is just a broken wagon wheel; popular with stevedores and drovers)
154. A town where all taverns by law must be called "The Elephant and Castle."
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One thing to remember is that traditional inn/tavern names are based on something that can be portrayed by a fairly simple picture, as most people in the middle ages couldn't read.
The question about literacy rates has been asked as early as 2008. Guess who answered?
And to avoid being "that guy" (especially since I prefer being genderfluid), more names. :)
155. The Speared Shark - A popular establishment with fishermen-turned-pirates. They still fish, they do hunt sharks, which are on the menu. Also serves as a place to purchase very attractive leather armor.
156. The Stabbed Chalice - Run by a worshiper of Socothbenoth, this place is as bad as you think. It's the tavern where the PCs first meet in, as well as where they have their first fight. Why they're here in the first place depends on which traits they've taken, usually along the lines of "investigate slavers," "kidnapped loved-one," and "crazed vigilante."
157. The Unbroken Sign - The one tavern in the demon-overrun town that doesn't have a smashed sign. It's where the cultist camp followers go to socialize. For obvious reasons, the selection is strictly BYOB.
158. The Shrine Maiden - Run by said shrine maiden desperate for cash. The only drink is sake from an oni's ever-full gourd but it's cheap and high quality. The place welcomes all species, even those with violent racial reputations. This works because the proprietor will end fights fast, most customers know to behave.
159. The Wil Wheat Inn. The owner for a brief time left because he thought he wanted to do something other than hang out with adventurers all day. Then he changed his mind. Because adventurers are awesome. And if you want to have adventures, hanging out with adventurers is the best place to be.
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Anyone remember the Vulgar Unicorn from Thieves' World?
Anyone remember the Vulgar Unicorn from Thieves' World?
Ninja'd. #87 thanks to Haladir.
87. The Vulgar Unicorn (in Kaer Maga -- yes, it's that Vulgar Unicorn from the late '70s shared-world anthology Thieves World . I even dropped a couple of characters from the stories as NPCs.(
Though we seem to have several #87s... Making it #95 after the correction.
We went from 115 to 110 at the top of this page so the official count is resoundingly borked at this point.
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The question about literacy rates has been asked as early as 2008. Guess who answered?
Not actually relevant for this thread, since we are talking about traditional-style names for inns and taverns, and the tradition comes from a lack of literacy. If you assume a largely literate society then you can just use names of bars and restaurants out of your local phone book for inspiration.
Anyone remember the Vulgar Unicorn from Thieves' World?Ninja'd. #87 thanks to Haladir.
87. The Vulgar Unicorn (in Kaer Maga -- yes, it's that Vulgar Unicorn from the late '70s shared-world anthology Thieves World . I even dropped a couple of characters from the stories as NPCs.(Though we seem to have several #87s... Making it #95 after the correction.
We went from 115 to 110 at the top of this page so the official count is resoundingly borked at this point.
Interesting that I specifically read through the list and I didn't see that.
Anyone remember the Vulgar Unicorn from Thieves' World?
love love love thieves world. I love it!
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We went from 115 to 110 at the top of this page so the official count is resoundingly borked at this point.
In that case...
123. The Prayer Circle. Prayers are rarely uttered in this rowdy town-tavern, but the name is put to good use when a spouse or parent enquires just where you're heading off to.|
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1@#7: The Mayp-zsapic-m'jiq
The sign outside has no words, just a picture of a dinner plate and mug of ale. The tavern's owner is an enthusiast for language and wordplay, and writes his own drinking songs and poems. He encourages customers to come up with their own stories of how the tavern got its name, and gets a laugh out of hearing drunk patrons trying to pronounce the name of the place. If you've got an interest in wordplay and poetry yourself, you're in for an entertaining evening indeed. Clever wordsmiths might just impress him enough to get a drink on the house.
161: Lemon's tiny hut. All that remains of the original is the sign with a lemon on it. The hard lemonaid is great, so is the lemon pepper chicken and lemon pie. The tavern's founder was a wizard who used his flying chariot to visit distant lands that he brought lemon seeds back from.
162. The Anthrax Inn. This castle shaped inn, has a sign with a grail on the outside and is run by 8 score young blondes and brunettes... all between 16 and 19-and-a-half. The beds here are warm and soft... And very, *very* big. Unsurprisingly, the people running the inn all worship Calistria.
163? Inn of the Hart's Desire - This small inn and brothel sits just off a major roadway at the edge of a woods. A sign shaped like a stag's head with antlers twisted into the shape of a heart hangs above the door. The staff consists primarily of half elves, all of whom are attractive and pleasant. Once in a great while the inn is graced by its proprietor, an elderly elf with a surprising amount of vigor and a little too much mischief in his heart.