The Gray Goblin by Jospeh Mohr is a role playing game supplement published by Old School Role Playing for use with OSRIC. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as a 25 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. Two pages are the front and rear covers three the front matter and three the Open Game License.
The opening paragraphs explain that fantasy cities are comprised of many different places and this provides a tavern so that the GM doesn’t need to develop one. It’s popular with the local guard but has a secret; it’s the headquarters of an assassins’ guild.
Game Master Note explains that it could be placed in many towns or cities and what the guard refers to.
Key to the Gray Goblin covers the public, aboveground portion of the tavern as well as the belowground, secret assassins’ lair. The lair is more dangerous, and contains traps and treasure.
Tavern Personalities has details on various NPCs who work at the tavern.
Tavern Customers has details on various NPC customers.
Guild Members has details on the various assassins who belong to the guild.
New Magical Items has some new magic items.
The final page of content has a map of the tavern.
The Gray Goblin in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column format and some minor errors were noticed. Bar the map and covers, there are no illustrations. Presentation is okay.
This provides a useful place to drop into a larger fantasy settlement to flesh it out. It’s entirely possible that characters might visit it, and continue doing so, without realised the secret; there are enough non-assassins to generate a number of adventure hooks based out of the tavern. It will need placing in a city that doesn’t already have an assassins’ guild, though, which is the only drawback; places that would have one generally have one already described. The Gray Goblin can be found by clicking here.
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