---
title: tavern names
subtitle: You meet in a tavern, it's called ...
keywords: [osr, random, random table]
---
Tavern Scene by David Teniers the Younger, Public Domain, Link
Start with "*The...*" then roll on the following tables.
Some names will suit certain localities better, such as near a maritime
dock, or an out-of-the-way place only visited by local farmers.
If you get something that doesn't suit, just roll again or pick
something near it that strikes your fancy. Pretty much any name works if
you grab two words at random and join them with an *and*. Names starting
with the same letter or similar sounds are easy to say and work well.
Try to come up with a reason for the name and decide if it's true or
just a legend. It could be used as an adventuring hook and inspire PCs
or NPCs to investigate.
Pre
---
Prepend the result from the *Item* table with a descriptive word.
| d20 | pre... |
|:---:| ------------------------- |
| 1 | Black / Sable |
| 2 | Brown / Tawny / Dun |
| 3 | Golden / Azure / Gilded |
| 4 | Green / Vert / Jade |
| 5 | Red / Ruby |
| 6 | Silver / Argent / Crystal |
| 7 | White / Albion / Pearl |
| 8 | New / Young / Foolish |
| 9 | Old / Rusty / Broken |
| 10 | Sad / Weeping / Silent |
| 11 | Merry / Happy |
| 12 | Jolly / Laughing |
| 13 | Naughty / Frisky |
| 14 | 1d8 qty, 1=Lone (eg *The Loan(ly) Arrow*, *The 3 Fools*) |
| 15 | roll on *Append* table (eg *The Kings Lament*) |
|16-20| roll twice on *Item* table (eg *The Frog and Spoon*) |
Item
----
To use the below table, roll a *d6* three times (or three diff colours
at the same time and declaring one d6 as high, one as middle and one as
low, or even just push them into a line) and instead of adding them you
concatenate the numbers
Text in brackets provide suggestions and variations to use, but can be
ignored if it doesn't work.
| d216 | thing |
| :---: | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 111 | (1d4: 1.New 2.Half 3.Full 4.Blood) Moon |
| 112 | (1d4: 1.Sun 2.Moon 3.Stars 4.Sky) |
| 113 | (1d6: 1.Apple 2.Cherry 3.Orange 4.Pear 5.Walnut 6.Yew) Tree |
| 114 | (1d6: 1.Axe 2.Rake 3.Fork 4.Scythe 5.Sheers 6.Basket) |
| 115 | (Baron / Baroness) |
| 116 | (Bay / Pack) Horse (and 1.Cart 2.Groom 3.Jockey 4.Wagon) |
| 121 | (Bow and) Arrow |
| 122 | (Brewers) (Tap / Cask) |
| 123 | (Corner / Halfway / Dog / Brew) House |
| 124 | (Crooked) Billet |
| 125 | (Crossed) (Key / Sword)s |
| 126 | (Duke / Duchess) |
| 131 | (Grape and) Vine |
| 132 | (Hairy / Bald) Goblin |
| 133 | (Jester / Fool) |
| 134 | (King / Queen) ('s roll on *Append* table below) |
| 135 | (Kings / Queens) Crown (and Anchor) |
| 136 | (Locked / Key and) Gate |
| 141 | (Locked / Broken / Lost ) Chest |
| 142 | (Lord / Lady) |
| 143 | (Mean) Fiddler |
| 144 | (Mended) Drum |
| 145 | (Mouse(s Squeak) / Ferret) |
| 146 | (Plume Of) Feather(s) |
| 151 | (Prancing) Pony |
| 152 | (Rod and) Fish (and Dolphin / Crab) |
| 153 | (Sea) Dragon(s 1d6: 1.Hoard 2.Head 3.Claw 4.Tail 5.Eye 6.Wing) |
| 154 | (Setting / Rising) (Sun / Moon) |
| 155 | (Square and) Compass |
| 156 | (Squealing / Smelly) (Pig / Sow) |
| 161 | (Wild) Boar(s Head / Tusk) |
| 162 | (choose a Person) Daughter |
| 163 | (choose a Person) Father |
| 164 | (choose a Person) Son |
| 165 | (choose a Person) Wife |
| 166 | Abbey |
| 211 | (Abbot / Acolyte)(s Quest) |
| 212 | Adder |
| 213 | Albert |
| 214 | Alexandra |
| 215 | Anchor |
| 216 | Angel |
| 221 | Assassin(s Blade / Knife) |
| 222 | (Sword and) Axe |
| 223 | Badger |
| 224 | Baker(s Arms) |
| 225 | Bandit |
| 226 | Barbarian |
| 231 | Bard (and Lute) |
| 232 | Barley |
| 233 | Basilisk(s Gaze) |
| 234 | Bat |
| 235 | Bear |
| 236 | Bee(s Sting / Hive) |
| 241 | Beggar(s Hand) |
| 242 | Bell |
| 243 | Bird (In Hand) |
| 244 | Bishop(s Blessing) |
| 245 | Boat (House) |
| 246 | (Crossed) Bones |
| 251 | (Muddy) Boot |
| 252 | Bow (and Arrow) |
| 253 | Brewer(s Arms) |
| 254 | Bricklayer(s Arms) |
| 255 | Bride |
| 256 | Bridge |
| 261 | Buccaneer(s Haven) |
| 262 | Buck |
| 263 | Bull(s Head / Horns) (... and Bush) |
| 264 | Bush |
| 265 | Butcher(s Arms) |
| 266 | Camel(s Back) |
| 311 | Carpenter(s Arms) |
| 312 | Carter |
| 313 | Castle |
| 314 | Centaur |
| 315 | Chain |
| 316 | Coach (and Horses) (...House) |
| 321 | Cooper(s Barrel) |
| 322 | Cow |
| 323 | Crocodile(s Smile) |
| 324 | Cross |
| 325 | Crow |
| 326 | Cup (and Spoon / Bowl) |
| 331 | Cyclop(s Eye) |
| 332 | Deer |
| 333 | Doe |
| 334 | Dog (House / and Partridge) |
| 335 | Donkey |
| 336 | Druid |
| 341 | Dwarf(s Head / Axe / Gold / Helmet) |
| 342 | Eagle(s Wing / Talon / Beak) |
| 343 | Elephant(s Trunk / Ear) (...and Castle) |
| 344 | Elf(s Head / Bow) |
| 345 | Falcon(s Beak) |
| 346 | Farmer(s Arms / Wife / Son / Daughter) |
| 351 | Fawn |
| 352 | Ferryman(s Arms) |
| 353 | Fleece (and Sheers) |
| 354 | Forester(s Arms) |
| 355 | Fountain |
| 356 | Fowl |
| 361 | Fox (and 1d4: 1.Goose 2.Hound 3.Rabbit 4.Hare) |
| 362 | Frog (and Toad) |
| 363 | Gardener(s Arms) |
| 364 | Garter |
| 365 | Giant(s Hand / Head) |
| 366 | Gnome(s Head) |
| 411 | Goat(s Horns / Hoof) |
| 412 | Goose (and Gander) |
| 413 | (Grapes / Plums / Apple / Pear) |
| 414 | Greyhound |
| 415 | Griffin |
| 416 | Halfling(s Head / Hands / Feet) |
| 421 | Hand |
| 422 | Hangman(s Noose / Drop) |
| 423 | Harbour |
| 424 | Hare (and Hounds / Tortoise) |
| 425 | Harp |
| 426 | Harrow |
| 431 | Heart |
| 432 | Hen(s Teeth / Nest / House) (...and Egg) |
| 433 | Highwayman |
| 434 | Hope (and Anchor) |
| 435 | Horseshoe |
| 436 | Huntsman |
| 441 | Imperial |
| 442 | Joiner(s Arms) |
| 443 | Journeyman |
| 444 | Jubilee |
| 445 | Junction |
| 446 | Key (and Chest / Gate) |
| 451 | King(s Arms / Head / Crown) (...and Queen) |
| 452 | Kitchen |
| 453 | Lad (and Lass) |
| 454 | Lamb (and Anchor) |
| 455 | Lass |
| 456 | Lighthouse |
| 461 | Lion(s Mane) |
| 462 | Lock (and Key) |
| 463 | Maid |
| 464 | Maiden(s Hair) |
| 465 | Manor |
| 466 | Mare |
| 511 | Mason(s Arms) |
| 512 | Mermaid(s Tail) |
| 513 | Milkmaid(s Stool) |
| 514 | Mill |
| 515 | Miller |
| 516 | Miner(s Arms / Pick / Helmet) |
| 521 | Minotaur(s Horns / Head) |
| 522 | Minstrel(s Song) |
| 523 | Mitre |
| 524 | Monk |
| 525 | Mother |
| 526 | Mule (and Donkey) |
| 531 | (Tooth and) Nail (and Hammer) |
| 532 | Navigator |
| 533 | Oak (and Acorn) |
| 534 | Ogre |
| 535 | Orc(s Head) |
| 536 | Ox |
| 541 | Pard / Leopard |
| 542 | Peacock(s Tail) |
| 543 | Pheasant |
| 544 | Phoenix |
| 545 | (Leaf and) Pipe |
| 546 | Plough |
| 551 | Pudding |
| 552 | Queen(s Arms / Head / Crown) |
| 553 | Rabbit(s Foot) |
| 554 | Ram(s Head / Horns) |
| 555 | Rat(s Tail) |
| 556 | Raven(s Craw) |
| 561 | Rooster(s Tail / Crow) |
| 562 | Rose (and Crown / Thorn) |
| 563 | Sailor |
| 564 | Scorpion (Tail / Sting) |
| 565 | Sheep |
| 566 | Shield (and Axe) |
| 611 | Skull (and Bones) |
| 612 | Slime |
| 613 | Sloth |
| 614 | Smith(y's Arms) |
| 615 | Smuggler(s Den / Nest) |
| 616 | Soldier(s Wife / Son / Daughter) |
| 621 | Sparrow(s Nest) |
| 622 | Spider(s Liar) |
| 623 | Spoon (and Bowl) |
| 624 | (Horse and) Stable |
| 625 | Stag(s Head) |
| 626 | Star (and Garter) |
| 631 | Swan (Song) |
| 632 | Swine |
| 633 | Talbot [^talbot] |
| 634 | Thiefs(s Hand) |
| 635 | Thorn |
| 636 | Toad(s Hole) |
| 641 | Tortoise (and Hare) |
| 642 | Traveller(s Rest) |
| 643 | Troll(s Head) |
| 644 | Trumpet |
| 645 | Turtle |
| 646 | Unicorn(s Horn) |
| 651 | Vineyard |
| 652 | Wasp(s Sting / Nest) |
| 653 | Water (Front / Side) |
| 654 | Weasel |
| 655 | Weaver(s Loom) |
| 656 | Wheat (Sheaf) |
| 661 | Wheelwright |
| 662 | Windmill |
| 663 | Wizard(s Wand / Hat) |
| 664 | Wolf(s Claw / Pack / Howl) |
| 665 | Woodsman(s Arms / Axe / Wife / Son / Daughter) |
| 666 | Wool (Bale / Cart / Pack) |
Append
------
Append an emotion if it suits (eg *The Kings Lament*)
| d20 | emotion |
| :---: | ---------- |
| 1 | Folly |
| 2 | Gambit |
| 3 | Joy |
| 4 | Lament |
| 5 | Pride |
| 6 | Quest |
| 7 | Sorrow |
| 8 | Victory |
| 9 | Curse |
| 10 | Fate |
| 11 | Ruin |
| 12 | Omen |
| 13 | Bliss |
| 14 | Mirth |
| 15 | Jubilee |
| 16 | Solace |
| 17 | Fortune |
| 18 | Haven |
| 19 | Revelry |
| 20 | Promise |
generate
--------
Create the above list with:
``` bash
for i in {1..6}{1..6}{1..6} ; do echo $i ; done
```
For more info on generating tables like this, see [d216 and markdown tables]
[^talbot]: A hunting dog, see [Talbot]
[Talbot]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talbot_(dog)
[d216 and markdown tables]: 2021-09-14.d216_and_markdown_tables.html
