T

o avoid being invaded, and to keep a close eye on those who pass through the sacred
woods, the inhabitants created the
Treetop Tavern! This tavern is owned and operated by a community of wood elves and
forest gnomes, who cultivated a
rich, sky-scraping forest to live in. A network of bridges, rope swings, and zip
lines connect a variety of buildings high
up in the trees, though none are easily visible from below, in keeping with their
goal of protecting and preserving the forest.
A number of platforms rest on the ground, ready to pull up any guest who sets foot
on them.
Player characters of any level can enjoy respite in these woods, as long as they
respect their surroundings. The greatest
threats here are minimal, and it is optimized for characters leveled 1-3. This
tavern should be placed in a large forest but
can also be a fantastical section of smaller woods, and can be close to or far away
from other settlements. It should be
presented to the party as vibrant, full of life, and set at seemingly perilous
heights (it’s not—they have birds to catch you…
unless you were pitched off on purpose).
Areas of the Tavern
The tavern spans the tops of a multitude of trees, though
the main tavern welcome/bar area is perched among the
branches of the largest tree, roughly in the center of the
overarching structure. Much of the tavern is alive: tables
and chairs and the bar itself have been grown into useful
shapes by the artistry of the wood elves over the years.
Even many of the bridges that connect the areas of the
tavern are made from branches and vines that have grown
together. Any damage to the living tavern is severely
frowned upon and may result in being suddenly and
unceremoniously dropped over the edge of a platform
by Greeba, the resident security.
COMMON AREAS
A1 The Forest Floor
When characters enter the area directly under the tavern,
they may not notice anything at first other than the forest
appearing particularly healthy and well-tended. The
bounty of the forest is on display here with berry bushes
and useful plants, especially to druids or others interested
in herbalism. Player characters with a passive Perception
of 11 or higher will immediately notice the stables, but
only those with a passive Perception of 14 or higher will
see the lift platforms without a bit of searching.
There are a total of
four lift platforms:
A1A Large Platform (to A3)
The largest of the platforms will comfortably hold up to
seven guests (and their baggage), and is located next to
the largest tree trunk in the area. It is the main lift used
for guests and connects directly to the main hall/bar area.
Once all guests have stepped onto the platform, they will
hear the call of a bird (often a magpie) and the platform
will begin to rise using a system of well-hidden gears and
pulleys constructed by the gnomes.
When players ascend using this platform, they cannot
help but notice passing by the windows of the owner’s
quarters (B5) on the way up to the main hall (A3)