Tavern Press — Haunted Tavern Mystery
The Gloomy Grog
Your full one-shot module is unlocked and ready to run.
📖 Read Aloud to Players
A tavern’s patrons vanish nightly, and the owner begs the party to uncover the curse before the next moon.
Setting
Dusty, rain‑slick streets of the city’s back alleys, leading to the crumbling Gloomy Grog tavern.
Lore
The tavern was built over an old burial ground; the founder’s greed cursed the place.
Notable NPCs
Mara the Owner
Tavern KeeperWeathered, nervous, clutching a silver locket
Save her business and family
Old Tom
PatronGrizzled, mutters about a shadow in the cellar
Reveal the truth before he disappears
Bram the Bartender
BartenderQuiet, knows the cellar’s secrets
Protect the tavern’s reputation
Encounters
| Encounter | Type | Difficulty | Enemies / Hazards |
|---|---|---|---|
Shadowy Patrons Ethereal figures attack when the clock strikes midnight | ⚔️ Combat | Medium | Spectral Patrons |
Mysterious Clues Interview patrons, gather rumors, and decode a hidden diary | 💬 Social | Easy | None |
Final Confrontation Face the vengeful spirit of the tavern’s founder | ⚔️ Combat | Hard | Wraith of the Founder |
Map Description
A single floor layout: entrance, bar, dining area, cellar, and hidden back room.
Treasure
Silver locket, gold coins, a cursed ale bottle (usable as a spell component)
Pacing Guide
Act I
Start with investigation, build tension, climax with reveal and combat, finish with resolution.