The Drowned Ghost Tavern

Perched on a rickety wooden pier overlooking the mist-shrouded Fortunes Lake, The Drowned Ghost Tavern is the last stop for travelers heading west into the Mana Wastes. It is a grim, atmospheric place, built from the salvaged wood of ships that never returned from the Wastes.

Atmosphere and Clientele

The air inside is thick with the smell of salt, damp wood, and cheap tobacco. The clientele consists of desperate scavengers (known as "Waste-Pickers"), haunted-looking sailors, and the occasional brave (or foolish) adventuring party. The tavern is famously quiet; people come here to drown their sorrows or plan their final journey, not to celebrate.

The Legend of the Ghost

The tavern is named after Captain Silas Vane, whose ship, the Fortune's Favor, disappeared into the Wastes a century ago. Legend says that on particularly foggy nights, the ghost of Silas appears at the end of the pier, pointing toward the center of the lake. Some say he is a warning; others believe he is guiding the way to a lost treasure.

Unique Offerings

• Waste-Warding Charms: The proprietor, a cynical half-orc named Grogmar, sells "guaranteed" charms to protect against mana-sickness. Most are useless baubles, but a few are genuine, albeit weak, protective talismans.
• The Map of Mists: Grogmar maintains a community map of the ever-shifting shorelines of the Mana Wastes. For a gold piece, travelers can add their findings or copy the latest updates.

Hooks

• A Waste-Picker recently returned with a strange, pulsing purple crystal and died shortly after drinking a pint of ale. The crystal is still in Grogmar's safe.
• The mist hasn't lifted from the lake in three days, and strange, melodic wailing can be heard coming from the water at night.
• A wealthy merchant from Kigum is offering a massive reward for the recovery of a family heirloom lost in the Fortune's Favor shipwreck.