A scholar is working their way through the drinks on offer. They are writing a guide on taverns, and ask a character for their opinion.
Simple encounter tables for ports and docks in any fantasy setting. Tables for Tavern Encounter Prompts, Tavern Atmosphere & Distractions and Tavern Quick NPCs.
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[art by Henrik Karppinen]
Fantasy Tavern and Inn Encounters
Tavern encounters might be labourers discussing cheese, a trader organising a wine tasting or a tavern-keeper offering to sell the place for cheap. It might be a hardworking farmer, a penniless mercenary or a friendly adventurer who is studying a map.
A place of drinks and celebration, ghost stories and musicians, games of cards or dares. The smell of spices or spilled beer, the smells of frequent laughter or drunken singing. Miners, soldiers, artisans and locals all gather here.
There is a fantasy encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Tavern and Inn Encounters.
10 Tavern Encounter Prompts
| 1d10 | 10 Tavern and Inn Encounter Prompts |
|---|---|
| 1 | A well-dressed trader is selling (or giving away) tickets to an exclusive wine tasting. Apparently lots of important people will be there too. |
| 2 | Three large locals (or guards) loudly discuss everyone who enters. |
| 3 | A scholar is working their way through the drinks on offer. They are writing a guide on taverns, and ask a character for their opinion. |
| 4 | A group of caravan guards are discussing their options for an adventuring life. One approaches the characters for some advice. |
| 5 | A lonesome vagabond tries to talk to people but gets ignored. They are a doppelganger (or lycanthrope) who recently lost everything. |
| 6 | A friendly guide is buying people drinks, but is a spy for local bandits. |
| 7 | A depressed veteran can't afford to pay off their tab. They ask a character to buy a drink, or maybe they pay off the tab as a favour. |
| 8 | A pair of drunk old mages are arguing and talking of having a duel. |
| 9 | A pair of labourers are having a passionate discussion about cheese (or whiskey). They approach a character to solve a particular question. |
| 10 | The owner of the establishment asks to meet the group privately. They are trying to sell the place at a bargain, although they try not to mention the curse (or strange debt) that also comes with it |
Tavern Atmosphere and Distractions
| 1d10 | There is (or are)... |
|---|---|
| 1 | an oppressive (or lively) atmosphere; or a strange silence inside |
| 2 | people are playing a tense (or loud) game of... d10 (1-2. dice 3. drinking 4. cards 5. complex rules 6. throwing 7. dares 8. words 9. runed stones 10. many pieces) |
| 3 | a haze of smoke in the air or very few people here |
| 4 | there is the strong smell of ... d10 (1-2. cooking meat 3. spilled beer 4. animals 5. strong cheese 6. fresh rushes 7. vomit 8. hot pies 9. spices 10. something foul) |
| 5 | a shortage of drinks or a few reserved tables |
| 6 | entertainment! A(n)... ... d10 (1-2. singer 3. jester 4. teller of ghost stories 5. juggler 6. minstrel 7. trio of musicians 8. hypnotist 9. dancer 10. illusionist ) |
| 7 | many decorations for festivities or hardly any space to sit |
| 8 | sounds of ... d10 (1-2. drunken singing 3. breaking glasses 4. lively music 5. banging 6. frequent laughter 7. distant thunder 8. grunting and groaning 9. something outside 10. clapping) |
| 9 | lots of people coming in or a lively debate on a divisive topic |
| 10 | an special offer on (or a special, expensive type of)... d10 (1-2. local ale 3. mulled red wine 4. goat's milk 5. strong spirits 6. mead 7. weird tea 8. spiced cider 9. fruity beer 10. herbal wine) |
Quick Tavern NPCs
| 1d10 | Descriptor | Profession | who... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | penniless or vengeful | miner | is on a long journey (or quest) |
| 2 | nonhuman or gloomy | magician | is flirting with the bar staff |
| 3 | loud or chuckling | farmer | with a pet dog (or monkey) |
| 4 | restless or thieving | mercenary | works (or lives) here temporarily |
| 5 | queasy or enchanted | coach driver | is with a few friends (or thugs) |
| 6 | hardworking or rough | merchant | is studying a map (or book) |
| 7 | gossiping or flirtatious | adventurer | is a character's cousin (or rival) |
| 8 | dramatic or local | labourer | who is a regular (or a nuisance) |
| 9 | carousing or friendly | soldier | wants adventurers (or justice) |
| 10 | entertaining or drunk | artisan | is part of a local faction (or cult) |
More Encounters
There is a fantasy encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Tavern and Inn Encounters.
If you liked these there are Fantasy Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
