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== Geography ==
== Geography ==
[[File:BlackDragonInn03.png|thumb|250px|The Black Dragon Inn and environs near the cross-streets.  Illustrated in ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]'' (2007), art by [[Rob Lazzaretti]].]]
[[File:BlackDragonInn03.png|thumb|250px|The Black Dragon Inn and environs near the cross-streets.  Illustrated in ''[[Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk]]'' (2007), art by [[Rob Lazzaretti]].]]
In [[Clerkburg]], the Black Dragon Inn is situated along the [[Processional]], near the corner with [[Apprentice Walk]].{{csb|CoG||Poster map}}
In [[Clerkburg]], the Black Dragon Inn is situated along the [[Processional]], near the corner with [[Apprentice Walk]].{{csb|CoG||Poster map}}  Just south of where the inn is situated, the slow risse toward the [[High Quarter]] begins.  This makes it so that the inn is raised above the [[Processional]], and the inn's front walk curves and climbs uphill to approach the southwest-facing front door.{{csb|CoG||Poster map}}{{csb|EttRoG|28|Map inset}}


== People==
== People==
Line 59: Line 59:


Stables are also available, though there's only enough room for a half dozen mounts, but the courtyard is able to fit several carriages.{{csb|CoG|68|Gem of the Flanaess}}
Stables are also available, though there's only enough room for a half dozen mounts, but the courtyard is able to fit several carriages.{{csb|CoG|68|Gem of the Flanaess}}
== In ''Legends of Greyhawk'' ==
{{LoGsection}}
In the days approaching GenCon 2025 (Jul31-Aug3), Baldman Games published a series of social medial fliers which looked like public notices on parchment, affixed to a brick wall which has a decorative metal bracket holding a hanging sign bearing the heraldry of the [[City of Greyhawk]].  The notices are presented in-character and depict a rivalry or growing grudge between the [[Silver Dragon Inn]] and the Black Dragon Inn, as they get embroiled in a feud, offering better and better deals and mor eand more entertainment at each venue.
The Black Dragon Inn posts a notice, welcoming adventurers and "extending [their] hospitality", noting their location in [[Clerkburg]], and their "harvest stew specials, just in time for [[Ready'reat]]," and the fact that they have live minstrels every [[Moonday]].  It is signed by [[Miklos Dare]], proprietor of the Black Dragon.<ref name=BvS_Dragon_Inn_1>BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials).  GenCon flyer image 1.  ''Baldman Games Discord''.  26 July 2025 [https://discord.com/channels/727692031945605252/814560918431858718/1398693803015016520]</ref>  Later that same day, a poster for the Silver Dragon appears, nailed up, covering the Black Dragon notice.  They, too, welcome adventurers.  The flier reads that "unlike <u>some other</u> establishments", the Silver Dragon promises "sights, smells, and wonders of the Flanaess."  It makes note of the quality of their food and denigrating the "'seasonal' potato pumpkin mush" served elsewhere.  It also notes they have a "FULL BAND" every [[Earthday]] and [[Starday]], seeming to up the ante from a single minstrel to a whole band, and from one day a week to two.<ref name=BvS_Dragon_Inn_2>BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials).  GenCon flyer image 2.  ''Baldman Games Discord''.  26 July 2025 [https://discord.com/channels/727692031945605252/814560918431858718/1398757111520821249]</ref>
Next, the poster from the Silver Dragon is torn down—the seal and pin remaining visible with torn parchment, but the seal having been scratched into obscurity.  It is replaced by another flier from the Black Dragon, again signed by Miklos, calling establishments in other quarters of the city "overcrowded, overpriced, and oft overrated."  They offer free breakfast with every overnight stay, and "Blippo the Bard's fire juggling act every Earthday and Stardy night", upping the ante again, and having events on the same nights.<ref name=BvS_Dragon_Inn_3>BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials).  GenCon flyer image 3.  ''Baldman Games Discord''.  27 July 2025 [https://discord.com/channels/727692031945605252/814560918431858718/1399054790511558806]</ref>Next, the Silver Dragon again posts a new notice over the Black Dragon's, and offers "valet stable parking", and "Calathes, the Gray Guitar—Elven Music for Every Ear!" every other night of the week.  Scrawled in red at the end of this parchment is a "Help Wanted!" note, looking more hand-written.  It calls for "a scrubber with a strong arm" who is "proficient in removing black ''sovreign glue'' from our outhouse stall doors."  It also proclaims, "To the perpetrators, whoever they may be, we hope you know this means war!"<ref name=BvS_Dragon_Inn_4>BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials).  GenCon flyer image 4.  ''Baldman Games Discord''.  28 June 2025 [https://discord.com/channels/727692031945605252/814560918431858718/1399420536353718302]</ref>
Lastly comes another notice from the Black Dragon Inn, appearing to be adhered over the prior Silver Dragon notices using black ''sovereign glue'' on the corners.  It offers "50% off pricing on rooms, food, ale, and healing services from in-house cleric" for adventurers.  They also have the "Perrenland Circus Performers" performing a show every night of the [[week]].  Affixed below Miklos' signature is a steel blue, unadorned wax seal unseen before, with a small note which reads, "To the Friends of Burne, if you find this, find me here at the Black Dragon.  I have a proposition for you. —Lena"<ref name=BvS_Dragon_Inn_5>BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials).  GenCon flyer image 5.  ''Baldman Games Discord''.  29 June 2025 [https://discord.com/channels/727692031945605252/814560918431858718/1399845327200325783]</ref>


== Publishing history ==
== Publishing history ==

Latest revision as of 08:08, 30 July 2025

Greyhawk Site
Black Dragon Inn
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The Black Dragon Inn, illustrated on the DMG (2024) Baerald map. Art by Francesca Baerald.
General information
Location:Clerkburg, City of Greyhawk
Floors:3
Demographics
Owner:Mikos Dare
Staff:Local university students employed as bouncers, maids, bartenders, and housekeepers[1]
Miscellaneous
Services:Drinks, meals, and rooms
Quality:Above average to Good
Price:Good/standard

The Black Dragon Inn is a hostelry and tavern in the City of Greyhawk, in Clerkburg On maps with a legend or key, it is designated "G4".[1][2][3][4]

Description

The Black Dragon Inn is a notably tall, packed building. At three stories tall, it is the largest hostelry in the district.[1][2]

Atmosphere

The Black Dragon is notable for being open all hours of the day, even moreso than its reasonable prices and well-made food.[5] Another great draw for many of the patrons of the inn is the intellectual conversation often found here. Since a significant portion of the inn's guests are university students, there's never a lack of topics of conversation;

"Walking from the bar to the private toilet off the taproom. it's possible to hear a heated argument over the rights of Wild Coast slaves whose masters were killed by the warbands of Turrosh Mak. bitter complaints about unfair business practices in the Petit Bazaar. and rampant speculation on the whereabouts of the dastardly Lord Robilar."[5]

Geography

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The Black Dragon Inn and environs near the cross-streets. Illustrated in Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), art by Rob Lazzaretti.

In Clerkburg, the Black Dragon Inn is situated along the Processional, near the corner with Apprentice Walk.[3] Just south of where the inn is situated, the slow risse toward the High Quarter begins. This makes it so that the inn is raised above the Processional, and the inn's front walk curves and climbs uphill to approach the southwest-facing front door.[3][6]

People

Notable individuals

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The Black Dragon Inn, illustrated in the City of Greyhawk on the Valusek map, by Valerie Valusek (1989).
  • Miklos Dare (LG male human, Ftr4)—proprietor of the Black Dragon; former adventurer. A talkative sort who frequently knows quite a bit of information and rumors. Willingly discussed these with those who spend time drinking with him.[1][2] "red-bearded"[2] and "bearlike";[1] Miklos has "a peg leg and numerous scars."[2]

Regulars

All manner of folks are drawn to the Black Dragon for a variety of reasons, often because of the full-time open hours. Amongst it's eclectic clientele are "students, young professors, political agitators. and weary menials,"[5] as well as "traders from the Low Market, city watchmen, former students still caught up in the allure of intellectual debate, and Baklunish inhabitants of the 'Little Ket' neighborhood across the Processional."[5]

A group of political activists who frequent the Black Dragon, the Dunfalcon Alliance are one of the "literary societies" common in the Halls and universities. They keep secret meetings, but they are revolutionaries work to undermine the city government to end corruption.

Staff

Mmany, if not all of the employees of the inn are students from local universities.[1][2] Staff of the inn work 24 hours a day, in shifts. Regardless of time, the following can be found on duty:[2]

  • 2 stable hands
  • 4 cooks
  • 3 bartenders
  • 10-12 servers
  • 4 bouncers
  • 4 housekeepers

Resources

Food and drink

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at the inn, and meals are still available throughout the night.[2]

Services

The inn offers a whopping sixty private rooms for rent,[2][1] in addition to a large common sleeping room, and several luxury suites.[2]

Stables are also available, though there's only enough room for a half dozen mounts, but the courtyard is able to fit several carriages.[2]

In Legends of Greyhawk

In the days approaching GenCon 2025 (Jul31-Aug3), Baldman Games published a series of social medial fliers which looked like public notices on parchment, affixed to a brick wall which has a decorative metal bracket holding a hanging sign bearing the heraldry of the City of Greyhawk. The notices are presented in-character and depict a rivalry or growing grudge between the Silver Dragon Inn and the Black Dragon Inn, as they get embroiled in a feud, offering better and better deals and mor eand more entertainment at each venue.

The Black Dragon Inn posts a notice, welcoming adventurers and "extending [their] hospitality", noting their location in Clerkburg, and their "harvest stew specials, just in time for Ready'reat," and the fact that they have live minstrels every Moonday. It is signed by Miklos Dare, proprietor of the Black Dragon.[7] Later that same day, a poster for the Silver Dragon appears, nailed up, covering the Black Dragon notice. They, too, welcome adventurers. The flier reads that "unlike some other establishments", the Silver Dragon promises "sights, smells, and wonders of the Flanaess." It makes note of the quality of their food and denigrating the "'seasonal' potato pumpkin mush" served elsewhere. It also notes they have a "FULL BAND" every Earthday and Starday, seeming to up the ante from a single minstrel to a whole band, and from one day a week to two.[8]

Next, the poster from the Silver Dragon is torn down—the seal and pin remaining visible with torn parchment, but the seal having been scratched into obscurity. It is replaced by another flier from the Black Dragon, again signed by Miklos, calling establishments in other quarters of the city "overcrowded, overpriced, and oft overrated." They offer free breakfast with every overnight stay, and "Blippo the Bard's fire juggling act every Earthday and Stardy night", upping the ante again, and having events on the same nights.[9]Next, the Silver Dragon again posts a new notice over the Black Dragon's, and offers "valet stable parking", and "Calathes, the Gray Guitar—Elven Music for Every Ear!" every other night of the week. Scrawled in red at the end of this parchment is a "Help Wanted!" note, looking more hand-written. It calls for "a scrubber with a strong arm" who is "proficient in removing black sovreign glue from our outhouse stall doors." It also proclaims, "To the perpetrators, whoever they may be, we hope you know this means war!"[10]

Lastly comes another notice from the Black Dragon Inn, appearing to be adhered over the prior Silver Dragon notices using black sovereign glue on the corners. It offers "50% off pricing on rooms, food, ale, and healing services from in-house cleric" for adventurers. They also have the "Perrenland Circus Performers" performing a show every night of the week. Affixed below Miklos' signature is a steel blue, unadorned wax seal unseen before, with a small note which reads, "To the Friends of Burne, if you find this, find me here at the Black Dragon. I have a proposition for you. —Lena"[11]

Publishing history

See Also

See also:

Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.

References

Citations

  1. a b c d e f g The Adventure Begins (1998), p.95.
  2. a b c d e f g h i j k The City of Greyhawk (1989), p.68, Gem of the Flanaess.
  3. a b c The City of Greyhawk (1989), Poster map.
  4. "City of Greyhak Map Key".  Living Greyhawk Journal #2 (Nov 2000), p.4.  
  5. a b c d "Clerkburg, Part 2".  Living Greyhawk Journal #5 (Jul 2001, published March 2002), p.4.  
  6. Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk (2007), p.28, Map inset.
  7. BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials). GenCon flyer image 1. Baldman Games Discord. 26 July 2025 [1]
  8. BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials). GenCon flyer image 2. Baldman Games Discord. 26 July 2025 [2]
  9. BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials). GenCon flyer image 3. Baldman Games Discord. 27 July 2025 [3]
  10. BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials). GenCon flyer image 4. Baldman Games Discord. 28 June 2025 [4]
  11. BMGSocial Media (@baldmangamessocials). GenCon flyer image 5. Baldman Games Discord. 29 June 2025 [5]

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions 43
Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, The City of Greyhawk: Gem of the Flanaess 68, 96
Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, Living Greyhawk Journal #2 4
Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, Living Greyhawk Journal #4 6, 9
Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, Living Greyhawk Journal #5 4, IBC
Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, Player's Guide to Greyhawk 33
Black Dragon Inn (City of Greyhawk) Building Inn, The Adventure Begins 95