What are your favorite GH hangouts? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What are your favorite GH hangouts?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Mar 16, 2004 12:12:59 Where do your PC's like to hang out during downtime, gathering infor or just plain relaxing. These can be established places (Inns, taverns, eateries, etc) in GH canon or something you've made up. Tell us where it's at, what it's called, it's quirks and the other people that hang out there.

I know in some of the campaigns I've played in we can spend hours of game time "hanging out in bars." I'll detail one place for now, all though I could probably name a hundred. Since I've been accused of not "Keeping it Simple" I'll try to be brief.

The Drinking Horn, Greyhawk City, Foreign Quarter, "The Strip" (or Horseshoe Road, depending on who you ask, across from R-11, Barge Inn) Valkaun Dain, owner.

Valkaun Dain, a native of Cruskii and longtime adventurer, and his thanes constructed a traditional northern longhouse on a grand scale. It was located very near The Pit (Dain would also own it too in time). The Drinking Horn was most famous for its mead, imported all the way from Thillonria. Drinks were served in, your guessed it, drinking horns, fashioned locally from horns acquired from the City Slaughterhouse. When Valkaun was around, and feeling festive, he would serve draughts from his favorite magic item, a drinking horn that produced any potable liquid in unlimited quantities, one horn at a time. Food was self serve, a side of beef or lambs roasting over the fire pit in the center of the long house. There were no tables but long benches and pallets for lounging. It wasn't uncommon for folks to eat, drink and sleep at the Drinking Horn and start the whole process again the next day. It was a rough place and a popular hangout for visiting northmen who came to partake of Valkaun's hall. The Horn was decorated with traditional carvings of dragons, gods and heroes. The Horn burned once as the result of an attack by Valkaun's enemies but Valkaun had it rebuilt.
#2
Steel_Rabbit
Mar 16, 2004 12:41:44 The nature of my campaigns never gave my PC's any one area for two long, so they preferred to sit at any local inn, pub, tavern, or acamp they set up outside some Dark Elf's lair.

-Steel Rabbit
#3
Brom_Blackforge
Mar 16, 2004 13:03:45 I've kept my PCs on the move a lot, too, but I've found that the local inn is usually a good place for the characters to hang out and interact while they're in town. Right now, the party is in Hommlet, so they've been spending their down time at the Inn of the Welcome Wench.
#4
cwslyclgh
Mar 16, 2004 14:27:07 The characters of my GH campaign hang out at the GreenDragon Inn when they are in Greyhawk, or the Inn they constructed between Greyhawk and Blackstone when they are not in the city. It remains to be seen where they will hang out when theya re not in the city of greyhawk/cairn hills area.
#5
simpi
Mar 16, 2004 14:41:09 Our party's favourite hangout is a merchant house of Deccas (owned by NPC) in city of Roland. Certain PC also spends quite a lot of time in officers quarters. Recently we have ventured to North Province (we are adventuring just before GH wars) just before you-know-what is going to hit the fan.

Our 'classic' party (still playing 1st ed) hangs around in their stronghold at Gnarley forest and goes from there to spread misery across Flanaess.

Just joking actually, they are just selfish bastards, not murderers. It's too bad that our (previously) LE wizards personal history is not in English. It's hilarious:D

"Have you ever carried an elf across a scree?. Try it sometimes and, preferably, start with a one who is whining all the time and is generally on a bad mood."
#6
omote
Mar 18, 2004 8:45:14 I keep my players moving a lot as well, so they never get a good point at which to make a "hangout." However, inevitiably some of the cahracters will want to take a couple weeks or months off in-game. At that time they usually will find a spot to "crash" and make their own. My characters tend not to go to Greyhawk City so much, more often they stay in the Sheldomar area. There they have made a couple of hangouts in Hochoch, Gradsul and Niole Dra. Each one always a tavern where the PCs go on a daily (or near daily basis) to drown away the boredom of in-game downtime.

......................Omote
#7
max_writer
Mar 18, 2004 15:52:56 My new Wednesday game is for newbies and located in Southern Duchy Urnst in the Province (Barony) of Bessenland. I had established the village of Rillford there years ago (with another Newbie campaign) combining an old Dungeon Magazine Adventure (about a miller that follows liosalfar into Faerie - sorry, can't remember the name) with a very old Dragon Magazine Adventure called (I believe) the Sword of Justice.

The Judge's Inn in Rillford is a quaint place. It's large and homey. Here's some flavor text from my last role-playing journal:

"People had finished eating in the taproom and were talking and drinking. A few men were playing chess or checkers at various tables. Others were throwing daggers or darts in one corner. There were a couple of old men smoking large, fancy wooden pipes and playing chess off to one side."

I've added a lot to the area and am trying to keep the PCs in one general location. Nearby towns include the halfling villages of Boda and Wistil (from Huddle Farm and Them Apples adventures from Dungeon) and Rendrick (from the adventure Cry Wolf - also Dungeon). The judge in Rillford is actually the judge for the entire South of Bessenland.

Now they are going after a place called Greytop Keep in the Abbor Alz Hills that one of them (my wife's sorcerer) inherited (yet another Dungeon Magazine Adventure - The Inheritance). I'm hoping to keep them in the area of these few towns, something I've never really done with a campaign before. Usually my campaigns are travel campaigns and range across the Flanaess.

Not sure where the campaign is going next.

None of my other groups really had a hang-out though the city of Beachcourt on the Wild Coast (on the peninsula north of Fax) drew the groups I ran in NC time and again.
#8
cwslyclgh
Mar 18, 2004 16:25:46
Dungeon Magazine Adventure (about a miller that follows liosalfar into Faerie - sorry, can't remember the name)

I think I remember that adventure (although the name escapes me as well).
#9
Argon
Mar 18, 2004 21:59:58 wes, Thats The Legacy of the Lisofar. I believe!
#10
max_writer
Mar 19, 2004 7:48:03 You are correct sir! I looked it up last night.
#11
zombiegleemax
Mar 19, 2004 11:40:01 I remember that one. It was set in a haunted mansion wasn't it? The sword glowed when a lie was spoken near it? I think the first Dragon I ever bought had that in it. It had a cool cover with two dragons fighting in flight didn't it? Memories.

Back to the thread. Thanks for your responses. I guess our group spends an inordinate amount of time doing these things but it's all apart of character development for us. I've had tons of fun running a restaurant with my halfling thief, detailing my seafaring fighter's ship and crew etc, etc.

Thanks again.
#12
max_writer
Mar 22, 2004 9:29:14 Yes, you're thinking of the right adventure. Not sure what the cover was (don't remember). The sword is still used by the town. It was recovered by adventurers in 582 CY.

I've set the new Wednesday night campaign in the area where I'd started a campaign about four years ago. The PCs from the earlier campaign moved on (and ended up searching out the Vault of the Spirit Warriors to the north) but I decided to re-develop the area for 591 CY. The mansion is still there and I've filled the area up with more adventure.

The most recent one they dealt with was the "Night of the Living Halflings." I stole the idea for a night of the living dead type of scenario from one of the Kenzerco boards. My group had a blast.

I'm trying to figure out how to get a small war started in the area - possibly using the Little Finger hobgoblin tribe that I've set in the Abbor Alz Hills.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Mar 16, 2004 12:12:59	Where do your PC's like to hang out during downtime, gathering infor or just plain relaxing. These can be established places (Inns, taverns, eateries, etc) in GH canon or something you've made up. Tell us where it's at, what it's called, it's quirks and the other people that hang out there. I know in some of the campaigns I've played in we can spend hours of game time "hanging out in bars." I'll detail one place for now, all though I could probably name a hundred. Since I've been accused of not "Keeping it Simple" I'll try to be brief. The Drinking Horn, Greyhawk City, Foreign Quarter, "The Strip" (or Horseshoe Road, depending on who you ask, across from R-11, Barge Inn) Valkaun Dain, owner. Valkaun Dain, a native of Cruskii and longtime adventurer, and his thanes constructed a traditional northern longhouse on a grand scale. It was located very near The Pit (Dain would also own it too in time). The Drinking Horn was most famous for its mead, imported all the way from Thillonria. Drinks were served in, your guessed it, drinking horns, fashioned locally from horns acquired from the City Slaughterhouse. When Valkaun was around, and feeling festive, he would serve draughts from his favorite magic item, a drinking horn that produced any potable liquid in unlimited quantities, one horn at a time. Food was self serve, a side of beef or lambs roasting over the fire pit in the center of the long house. There were no tables but long benches and pallets for lounging. It wasn't uncommon for folks to eat, drink and sleep at the Drinking Horn and start the whole process again the next day. It was a rough place and a popular hangout for visiting northmen who came to partake of Valkaun's hall. The Horn was decorated with traditional carvings of dragons, gods and heroes. The Horn burned once as the result of an attack by Valkaun's enemies but Valkaun had it rebuilt.
#2 Steel_Rabbit Mar 16, 2004 12:41:44	The nature of my campaigns never gave my PC's any one area for two long, so they preferred to sit at any local inn, pub, tavern, or acamp they set up outside some Dark Elf's lair. -Steel Rabbit
#3 Brom_Blackforge Mar 16, 2004 13:03:45	I've kept my PCs on the move a lot, too, but I've found that the local inn is usually a good place for the characters to hang out and interact while they're in town. Right now, the party is in Hommlet, so they've been spending their down time at the Inn of the Welcome Wench.
#4 cwslyclgh Mar 16, 2004 14:27:07	The characters of my GH campaign hang out at the GreenDragon Inn when they are in Greyhawk, or the Inn they constructed between Greyhawk and Blackstone when they are not in the city. It remains to be seen where they will hang out when theya re not in the city of greyhawk/cairn hills area.
#5 simpi Mar 16, 2004 14:41:09	Our party's favourite hangout is a merchant house of Deccas (owned by NPC) in city of Roland. Certain PC also spends quite a lot of time in officers quarters. Recently we have ventured to North Province (we are adventuring just before GH wars) just before you-know-what is going to hit the fan. Our 'classic' party (still playing 1st ed) hangs around in their stronghold at Gnarley forest and goes from there to spread misery across Flanaess. Just joking actually, they are just selfish bastards, not murderers. It's too bad that our (previously) LE wizards personal history is not in English. It's hilarious:D "Have you ever carried an elf across a scree?. Try it sometimes and, preferably, start with a one who is whining all the time and is generally on a bad mood."
#6 omote Mar 18, 2004 8:45:14	I keep my players moving a lot as well, so they never get a good point at which to make a "hangout." However, inevitiably some of the cahracters will want to take a couple weeks or months off in-game. At that time they usually will find a spot to "crash" and make their own. My characters tend not to go to Greyhawk City so much, more often they stay in the Sheldomar area. There they have made a couple of hangouts in Hochoch, Gradsul and Niole Dra. Each one always a tavern where the PCs go on a daily (or near daily basis) to drown away the boredom of in-game downtime. ......................Omote
#7 max_writer Mar 18, 2004 15:52:56	My new Wednesday game is for newbies and located in Southern Duchy Urnst in the Province (Barony) of Bessenland. I had established the village of Rillford there years ago (with another Newbie campaign) combining an old Dungeon Magazine Adventure (about a miller that follows liosalfar into Faerie - sorry, can't remember the name) with a very old Dragon Magazine Adventure called (I believe) the Sword of Justice. The Judge's Inn in Rillford is a quaint place. It's large and homey. Here's some flavor text from my last role-playing journal: "People had finished eating in the taproom and were talking and drinking. A few men were playing chess or checkers at various tables. Others were throwing daggers or darts in one corner. There were a couple of old men smoking large, fancy wooden pipes and playing chess off to one side." I've added a lot to the area and am trying to keep the PCs in one general location. Nearby towns include the halfling villages of Boda and Wistil (from Huddle Farm and Them Apples adventures from Dungeon) and Rendrick (from the adventure Cry Wolf - also Dungeon). The judge in Rillford is actually the judge for the entire South of Bessenland. Now they are going after a place called Greytop Keep in the Abbor Alz Hills that one of them (my wife's sorcerer) inherited (yet another Dungeon Magazine Adventure - The Inheritance). I'm hoping to keep them in the area of these few towns, something I've never really done with a campaign before. Usually my campaigns are travel campaigns and range across the Flanaess. Not sure where the campaign is going next. None of my other groups really had a hang-out though the city of Beachcourt on the Wild Coast (on the peninsula north of Fax) drew the groups I ran in NC time and again.
#8 cwslyclgh Mar 18, 2004 16:25:46	Dungeon Magazine Adventure (about a miller that follows liosalfar into Faerie - sorry, can't remember the name) I think I remember that adventure (although the name escapes me as well).
#9 Argon Mar 18, 2004 21:59:58	wes, Thats The Legacy of the Lisofar. I believe!
#10 max_writer Mar 19, 2004 7:48:03	You are correct sir! I looked it up last night.
#11 zombiegleemax Mar 19, 2004 11:40:01	I remember that one. It was set in a haunted mansion wasn't it? The sword glowed when a lie was spoken near it? I think the first Dragon I ever bought had that in it. It had a cool cover with two dragons fighting in flight didn't it? Memories. Back to the thread. Thanks for your responses. I guess our group spends an inordinate amount of time doing these things but it's all apart of character development for us. I've had tons of fun running a restaurant with my halfling thief, detailing my seafaring fighter's ship and crew etc, etc. Thanks again.
#12 max_writer Mar 22, 2004 9:29:14	Yes, you're thinking of the right adventure. Not sure what the cover was (don't remember). The sword is still used by the town. It was recovered by adventurers in 582 CY. I've set the new Wednesday night campaign in the area where I'd started a campaign about four years ago. The PCs from the earlier campaign moved on (and ended up searching out the Vault of the Spirit Warriors to the north) but I decided to re-develop the area for 591 CY. The mansion is still there and I've filled the area up with more adventure. The most recent one they dealt with was the "Night of the Living Halflings." I stole the idea for a night of the living dead type of scenario from one of the Kenzerco boards. My group had a blast. I'm trying to figure out how to get a small war started in the area - possibly using the Little Finger hobgoblin tribe that I've set in the Abbor Alz Hills.