Dancing Shadow Inn
Location: Nurisel Township
Quality: Average
Prices: Average
Owners: Master Innkeeper Arvor of Biron and secretly the Nurisel Guild of Arcane Lore.
Staff: 5
The Dancing Shadow has a sinister reputation.
The owner uses the Shadowbox, a complex brass device allegedly dwarven in construction, for entertainment. The box burns alchemical powers to create an intense white light projected onto a large canvas screen in the inn's taproom. The light passes through an intricate box containing brass silhouettes and puppets, which create shadows on the screen. Short plays are produced from shadows to entertain the guests, which are narrated skillfully by Innkeeper Arvor.
The most famous plays are The Dragon and the Maid, The Defiance at Lothraem’s Tower, A Greedy Troll, and The Dance of the Giants. Apprentices of the Guild of Arcane Lore operate the Shadowbox.
Occasionally, when in a rare sociable mood, Earl Sunoril Thabel is known to attend, and it is rumored that Crown Prince Jevas Toron visits incognito.
History
The Dancing Shadow was constructed by a mysterious foreign innkeeper, Talsalar Harroweave, from Emelrene in 705TR.
Talsalar is not from Emelrene; instead, he is a shape-changing wizard from Yashain the World of the Gods, who claimed he was fleeing a demon named Edthiel. He made himself known to the Order of the White Hand, and they assisted him in creating a false identity, appearing as a human Innkeeper. As an interplanar resident, he seemed happy with his Inn and regularly consulted with selected Guild of Arcane Lore members who knew his true identity.
Unfortunately, this was an elaborate deception; he spent years secretly weakening the fabric between the world and the Shadow Plane, creating a magical nexus hoping to trap some powerful entity. His plan partially succeeded, after which he returned to his home world after creating considerable supernatural chaos and leaving the White Hand to clean up the mess and modify the memories of any witnesses.
Talsalar worked with the local Guild of Arcane Lore (the Chantry of the Venerable and Enigmatic Conclave of the Phantasms of Lyahvi) to repair the famous shadowbox, a dwarven artifact he had discovered in his travels. Mysteriously, in 718TR, something went wrong with the shadowbox, and the Inn was engulfed in a bright flash and strange shapes. Some patrons claim that they momentarily saw the shadow of a huge dragon flying over the Inn's roof.
The next day, Talsalar Harroweave disappeared, deserting his Inn. After an extensive investigation, Earl Sunoril Thabel sold the abandoned property to Arvor of Biron, a wealthy artist from the Cherafir. Arvor paid for the repairs to the damaged shadowbox and created a successful business that combined his love of the arts and commerce. However, the Dancing Shadow attracts many strange patrons.
Innkeeper Arvor of Biron
A talented artist, performer, and failed priest of Save K'Nor (he was considered not intelligent enough), Arvor's Innkeepers Guild credentials are suspect.
As the only son of a wealthy merchant clan, he invested his inheritance in The Dancing Shadow and restored its famous Shadowbox. He now makes quite a good income.
Arvor is oblivious that most of his staff are agents for either the Earl Sunoril Thabel of Nurisel, the Inquisitors of the Church of Save K'Nor, or the Order of the White Hand.
This Inn's magical properties attract dangerous people, and they carefully watch patrons for suspicious activities or renegade spellcasters.
Love the shadow play device. Reminds me of devices from those old TV shows Friday the 13th and Warehouse 13, where the character's run around retrieving cursed curios and antiques.
Warehouse 13 brings back memories. I loved that show, and there are probably a wealth of adventure ideas there.
Indeed, the Friday the 13th TV Series had some great episodes. You can check them out on the Youtubes .
Never seen Friday the 13 series, watched the first episode. Lots of campy bad acting but I enjoyed it. I consider myself inspired, I expect you might spot something familiar in about 3 or 4 weeks.