Fantasy Taverns
Fantasy taverns are places in fantasy worlds where heroes meet, plan, obtain quests, learn valuable information, and relax. Taverns are found in towns, cities, and long roads. They are home to tavernkeepers, servers, and cooks – though because taverns serve as a community meeting place, anyone could be found here. Different groups (dockworkers, guilds, thugs) may have their own tavern. Taverns may serve food and may be conjoined with inns to also provide a place for travelers to rest.
| Synonyms: inns, pubs, lodges, alehouses |
| Example Mythonyms: the Drunken Pony, the Kettle & Mug, Ye Olde Pub and Inn |
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Designing Fictional Fantasy Taverns
Archetypes
Overview
Fictional taverns are a recurring trope in literature, film, television, and video games. They serve as a social hub, a place for characters to gather, share stories, and embark on adventures. These taverns can be as varied as the worlds they inhabit, ranging from cozy and familiar to grand and fantastical. The concept of the tavern reflects real-world establishments that have existed for centuries. These public houses served as important social centers, offering food, drink, and a place for people from all walks of life to meet and exchange news. Fictional taverns borrow from this rich history, often portraying them as microcosms of the societies they inhabit, often offering a romanticized or exaggerated version of their social atmosphere.
When designing taverns consider what role they play in your fictional society. These may be centers for the community, or may be locations of crime and debauchery. If your culture shuns the use of alcohol, taverns may be hidden.
Mythonyms
Fantasy taverns are often named after curious terrain landmarks, important historical events, or mythological creatures. They often follow the convention of adjective + noun. Examples of this type of naming convention include ‘the Drunken Hearth,’ ‘the King’s Refuge,’ and ‘the Bobbing Cork.’
| Prancing |
| Drunken |
| Old |
| Dirty |
| Sly |
| Infirm |
| Golden |
| Crafty |
| Lowly |
| Lonely |
| Weary |
| Worn |
| Enchanted |
| Sleeping |
| Iron |
| Copper |
| Laughing |
| Humble |
| Royal |
| King’s |
| Restless |
| Eager |
| Leaky |
| Gullet |
| Dog |
| Wager |
| Limeric |
| Knob |
| Maid |
| Boot |
| Burrow |
| Fox |
| Treasure |
| Hag |
| Oasis |
| Mouse |
| Lion |
| Anvil |
| Larder |
| Lady |
| Duke |
| Rose |
| Lark |
| Inn |
| Tavern |
| Pub |
| Bar |
| – |
World Locations
Fictional fantasy taverns are located where they can best serve clientele. This means locating them where townsfolk and travelers may enjoy their wares. Often they can be found in fantasy towns, near bustling marketplaces, or along well-traveled roads. Taverns on the coast may be seaside taverns, and will feature elements associated with those locations.
Fantasy taverns will frequently use the local terrain to enhance their tone and uniqueness. Being located over rivers, near waterfalls, on cliffsides, or in other interesting places can help establish them as a memorable site. These locations may then factor into the names of those taverns.
Architecture & Layouts
Though variations exist (such as those located within a hillside burrow or giant tree hollow), the quintessential fantasy tavern often features half-timbered architecture.
Fictional fantasy taverns often contain a single large room for guests featuring tables, chairs, and alcoves. Connected to this space may be additional rooms: kitchens, storerooms, cellars, and stairs leading to upper levels (if the structure contains them). There may also be rooms for rent. Fictional fantasy taverns will often contain unusual or interesting interiors. They may have rat-infested cellars, rafters full of ravens and rogues, and crawlspaces made for escape with peepholes for spying. There may be hidden rooms and hidden passageways that lead out to the alleyways, into the sewers, or though cavern systems.
