Fantasy tavern · Painted fantasy-cover art
The Hollow Lantern: a fantasy tavern roleplay
The Hollow Lantern is a run-down tavern in the Coppergate ward of Carrowgate, a walled city where six peoples share the same narrow streets. A man you never met, Ambrose Vell, has left it to you in his will — the bar, the books, the rooms above, and the debt.
The regulars are retired and working adventurers: a duellist behind the bar, a half-orc on the door, a drow wizard, a tiefling rogue, a dwarf who counts everything. They all knew the man who chose you. None of them know why he did.
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The debt: Quarter Day
The note on the Lantern’s deed falls due on Quarter Day, House Marrow wants the building, and every regular has a stake in the doors staying open. Danger here is real but bounded — a scuffle, a bruise, a retreat — and every character is an adult with their own debts and secrets.
12 characters
The people of The Hollow Lantern
Everyone has a job, a daily routine and a memory of you. Walk up to anyone and talk — the AI answers in their voice.
Six peoples share these streets: human, elf, tiefling, half-orc, drow and dwarf.
Human
Maren Holloway
The Lantern's barkeep, a retired duellist
warm · sharp-tongued · tireless
Human
Bram Tallow
The Lantern's cook and cellarman
slow · dry · exact
Elf
Sylvaine Ashgrove
Ranger, runs the ward's night patrol for whoever pays
quiet · exact · watchful
Tiefling
Kethra Vayne
Rogue, runs errands nobody asks about
loud · teasing · quick
Half-orc
Dravik Thorne
The Lantern's doorman, a retired sellsword
gentle · slow · immovable
Drow
Ilvarin Sael
Wizard, an exiled scholar
precise · dry · formal
Dwarf
Torvald Emberhand
The Lantern's bookkeeper, a retired burglar
gruff · funny · counts everything
Human
Finch Marlowe
Bard, sings on the Lantern's stage for his supper
charming · quick · evasive
Human
Seraphine Duval
Sorceress, reads fortunes in the corner booth
low-voiced · amused · unhurried
Human
Captain Aldric Vane
Captain of the Coppergate watch
clipped · official · courteous to a fault
Human
Lady Rosalind Marrow
Heir of House Marrow, the house that holds the note
cool · exact · courteous
Elf
Evander Sallow
Rogue, a regular who only comes in after dark
silky · theatrical · self-serving
Where you'll go
Places in The Hollow Lantern
The Hollow Lantern
The Lantern's taproom: a long oak bar, a wide hearth, booths under hanging lanterns, and a small stage in the corner.
Coppergate Market
The ward's cobbled square under canvas awnings, with a stone fountain at its heart.
The River Stairs
Wide stone stairs down to the slow gray river, barges moored below.
The Kitchen and Cellar
The stone kitchen behind the taproom and the vaulted cellar of casks beneath it, with a bricked-up arch at the far end.
Coppergate Street
The narrow cobbled street the Lantern stands on, timber houses leaning over the way, lanterns at every door.
Marrow House Gate
The iron gate in the high black wall of House Marrow on the hill, a gatehouse with silver lanterns, a formal garden beyond.
How it starts
Your first quests
- 1
The morning after
Go down to the taproom and see what Ambrose left you: the bar, the books, and the people who kept it open.
- 2
The note at Marrow House
Walk to the Marrow House gate and ask what the deed's note actually says before Quarter Day.
- 3
Coppergate Market
Cross to the market square and find out who in the ward still sells to the Lantern and who has stopped.
Or bring your own story
Roleplay ideas for The Hollow Lantern
- The barkeep was promised this tavern, and the will gave it to you. She hasn't decided what to make of you — and she runs the bar either way.
- The cook has a letter with your name on it, and hasn't decided when to hand it over.
- The fortune teller in the corner booth laid out your cards the day the will was read, and won't tell you what she saw.
- House Marrow sends its heir to the Lantern with an offer for the building, one week before Quarter Day.
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