Hex: The Weary Traveler Inn
The Weary Traveler
A small inn big enough to sleep about a dozen guests, positioned along the road a long distance from civilization. Constructed out of splintering wood, it looks like it might blow over on a particularly windy day.
Rumors are that people who visit the inn never return, but really it just doesn't do good business. People who have been to the inn describe it as dated, but pleasant.
Sign: A worn sign with a cracked wooden post. In faded black paint it reads: “Rest your head at the Weary Traveler”.
Decor: The inn is full of dated furniture that squeaks and wobbles Most tables have paper or cards stuffed under a leg in a failed attempt to balance them. A large bearskin rug is in the center of the room (covering a trapdoor that leads to the basement). A jade ornament of a turtle hangs from the doorframe by a string.
Menu
- Miso Soup (50 Mon)
- Tempura vegetables (100 Mon)
- Sake (30 Mon cup, 300 Mon bottle)
Hanging Curse
The original owner of the inn died decades ago by hanging. A spirit who lamented the inn's closure placed a curse on it, raising the owner as a demon and binding her to the inn. The owner could only pass the curse on if someone else died by hanging to replace her. The spirit would never be without someone running the inn.
Since then, there have been seven different Inn owners, each one charming a guest into hanging themselves to escape their curse.
Secret Basement
A wine cellar has been haphazardly dug out into a small cave system. The cave is lit by candles, and opens to a chamber lined with the bones six different people. A frayed noosed hangs in the center of the room.
Treasure
A thorough search of the basement turns up:
- 1 muddy jasper worth 50 ryō
- 1 Blue Azurite worth 10 ryō
- 2 Flawed Green Turqoises worth 10 ryō each
- 1 Black Obsidian Worth 25 ryō
- 1 Cloudy Pink Pearl Worth 100 ryō
- 1 Orange Carnelian Worth 100 ryō
- 1 Black Jasper Worth 250 ryō
- 1 Sparkling white Jade worth 1,000 ryō
NPCS
Shiori
The proprietor of the Inn, Shiori, is a nervous woman who is always visibly sweating. She is very chatty with new customers, an asks questions about their backgrounds and adventures, but she will not answer questions about her own.
She wears a green wrap skirt and a black apron. Shiori is happy for any business she gets and is well-liked by repeat guests, rare as they are.
Shiori is a demon who died by hanging in the inn 6 years ago, and plans to coerce the next guest who comes to the inn alone into hanging themselves and taking her place.
At night, Shiori sleeps in the inn's secret basement and lets her true form show. Her skin turns a pale blue, and her nails sharpen like claws. Shiori swore not to pass the curse on at first, but years of imprisonment in her small inn have changed her mind. She is desperate to escape.
HD 4
AC 11
SP 18
Saves D10 R11 H12 B13 S14
Att 1x claw (+3, 1d6 +1)
Speed 20
Morale 12
XP 175
Special: Shiori can make strangely powerful demands. Once per combat, she can command her opponents forget. Each target within 30’ must make a save against Spell. On a failure, they forget what they are doing and wander away from the fight. They can be shaken out of their forgetfulness as an action.
Hiromi
A hunter whovisits every week to sell food and supplies to Shiori. He's met several different owners of the inn. He doesn't quite understand what keeps happening to the old owners but is happy to keep selling to the new ones.
HD 2 AC 12 SP 10 Saves D12 R13 H14 B15 S16 Att Yumi (+1, 1d6), Tanto (+1, 1d4) Speed 20 Morale 9 XP 20
Guests
When the party arrives at the Weary Traveler’s Inn, there is a 3 in 6 chance for each of the guests below to be present.
Takato An elderly tattoo artist traveling between domains for his next commission. Balding, self-absorbed, and a drunk. Brings nothing with him on his travels except his tattoo needles and a smoking pipe.
HD 1 AC 10 HP 3 Saves D14, R15, H16, B17, S18 Speed 30, Att 1 (+0 1d6), Morale 6 Morale 6 XP 5
Umika, Umiko, Fumika, and Fumiko Quadruplets traveling to Lady [[Tomoe's Camp]]. They've heard rumors that [[Yahagi Clan]] has built an army entirely of women and hope to become samurai in her service (or if they already have, are traveling on duty). The four bicker a lot. If the party are visibly warriors, Umiko or Umika will challenge the strongest looking character to a friendly duel.
- Umika Serious, stoic, constantly talking about training and never drinks. Slight frame, wields a Katana. Very short black hair, always wearing her armor.
- HD 3 AC 16 SP 20 Saves D11 R12 H13 B14 S15 Att Katana (+2, 1d10 +1) Speed 20 Morale 12 XP 40
- Umiko The youngest by 20 seconds, and has a a complex about it. Brown with bangs that hang in front of her eyes. Bratty, relies on natural talent and avoids training. Flirty with young women, drinks a lot.
- HD 2 AC 14 SP 11 Saves D12 R13 H14 B15 S16 Att Katana (+1, 1d10) Speed 20 Morale 9 XP 20
- Fumika and Fumiko An inseparable pair. Fumika and Fumiko are constantly found together and speak simultaneously in a way that creeps people out. They are mischievous and practice this to freak people out.
- HD 1 AC 14 SP: 5 Saves D14 R15 H16 B17 S18 Att Wakizashi (+1, 1d6) Speed 20 Morale 9 XP 5
Events
Hanging in the Night: If Takato is at the inn, the party awakens in the night to a creaking sound from the main hall. When they investigate, they see the bear rug rolled away and a staircase leading down into a basement. Takato has been charmed and Shiori is preparing to hang him in the inn's basement.