Overview

Founded in 1862 by Luther "Lucky" Calloway, it started as a one-room den for cards, dice, and whiskey. 

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Calloway wasn’t just a gambler — he was the luckiest man in town, until he wasn’t. In 1869, he vanished after a stormy night argument with Victor Draven, Monaghan’s enforcer. No body, no blood, just an empty chair and the lantern outside swaying like it knew something nobody else did. Some say Calloway never left. His chair at the end of the bar still sits empty, and if you’re unlucky enough to sit in it, you’ll feel a weight on your shoulders, like a hand resting lightly. The lantern above the saloon door never goes out, no matter the storm. Some claim it’s enchanted, others say it’s cursed — “Lucky’s still watchin’,” they whisper.

 

Control of the Lantern passed to August "Gus" Merriweather, a sharp-dressed man with sharper patience. Gus doesn’t chase debts. He doesn’t send thugs. He just waits — because debt, as Gus likes to say, "calls its own collector." If you owe him, you’ll know it. Small misfortunes will follow you: broken wagon wheels, cracked door hinges, or dull axes. Some call it “Merriweather luck,” but it’s no accident. Gus sits at the end of the bar, ledger open, silver pen tapping slow and steady. Every coin, every drink, every favor — it all gets written down. His gaze is heavier than any sheriff’s stare. 

 

Upstairs, the Lantern Girls operate as both comfort and control. More than just entertainers, they’re quiet informants for Victor Draven, who controls every aspect of their work. If a man crosses them, it’s Draven he’ll face. 

 

Draven, the real shadow behind the Lantern. He’s not the owner, but he doesn’t have to be. When he walks in, the air tightens. He’s quiet, deliberate, and walks like a man with nothing to prove. They call him “the shadow in the storm” because you don’t hear him coming — you just feel him pass. Trouble follows him like smoke follows fire, and if you owe him, he’ll collect without ever lifting a hand.

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But it all comes back to Lucky Calloway. His name still echoes through the Lantern. His laugh still echoes too, late at night, long after the bar’s empty. People say if you stare too long at the lantern outside, you’ll see his face in the soot-streaked glass, grinning like a man holding all the cards. 

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Debt doesn’t die.
Neither did Calloway.

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​​​​Secrets & Lore

• The Black Lantern (Namesake): The lantern hanging above the entrance is more than decoration. It never goes out, no matter how strong the storm. While some believe it was enchanted by Esme Delacroix, others think it’s the spirit of Luther Calloway watching over his old haunt. Either way, when the flame flickers, people get nervous.

• The Guest Quarters (2nd Floor): The upstairs rooms serve as rented guest rooms by day and brothel quarters by night. Gus Merriweather controls the guest rooms, but Victor Draven controls The Lantern Girls. Each girl answers to him, and only he decides who stays in their line of work. One room is never rented, it’s for the Lantern Girls only. 

• The Lantern Girls: Known throughout Shadewood Hollow, these women offer company to the saloon’s patrons—for a price. While they laugh, smile, and entertain guests, their eyes are sharp, and their tongues are sharper. Some of them work willingly, others not so much. Regardless, all of them answer to Victor Draven, who oversees their schedules, payments, and punishments. Whispers say that if a Lantern Girl "disappears," it’s because Draven decided she was more useful gone than present.

• The Bar: Carved from a single slab of oak, it is said to have been crafted by Jacob Finch. Patrons claim that anyone touching it with ill intent will feel a “jolt like a copper shock” that lingers for hours.

• The Piano: Out of tune more often than not, but it still plays at odd hours when nobody's at the keys. Some nights, it plays old riverboat songs that no one in Shadewood should know, leading some to believe it’s Luther Calloway's "final hand."

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Saloon Roles

• Barback – Assists bartenders by stocking shelves, cleaning glasses, and handling basic grunt work. 

  • Weekly pay: $5.00

• Bartender – Mixes drinks, serves customers, and keeps an eye on the mood of the crowd. 

  • Weekly pay: $8.00

• Saloon Manager – Oversees the saloon’s operations, handles payroll, and keeps the peace with the help of enforcers or "friendly persuasion." 

  • Weekly pay: $12.00

• Saloon Owner – The ultimate authority over the saloon, controlling its finances, security, and "special arrangements" that happen behind closed doors. 

  • Weekly pay: $20.00

• Enforcer – Keeps order in the saloon, throwing out unruly patrons and ensuring nobody steps out of line. 

  • Weekly pay: $7.00

• Lantern Girl - Provides entertainment to the patrons, for a fee.

  • Weekly pay: Varies depending on clientele. 

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Beverages

• Rye Whiskey (local house staple)

• Black Lantern Whiskey (house blend, extra smoky) 

• Bourbon (imported)

• Ale & Beer (locally brewed)

• Hard Cider (seasonal variations) 

• Moonshine 

• Sassafras Tea (for health or hangovers) 

• Hard Lemonade (spiked lemonade served cold) - Summer only

• Harvest Mead (seasonal mead brewed with honey and autumn fruit) - Autumn only

 

Free Food Served with Drink:

• Stew (rabbit, venison, squirrel, root vegetables, wild greens) 

• Cold Meat Platter (assorted smoked meats, cheeses, and bread for shareable meals) 

• Porridge (oats boiled in water or broth) 

• Smoked Jerky (deer, rabbit, or boar)

• Salted Fish (preserved in barrels) 

• Cheese, Bread & Pickles 

 

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Services

• Sleeping Quarters (pay-per-night or by the hour - prices go up in the winter)

• Firelit Rooms: Upper rooms for rent are pre-stocked with wood and fresh kindling.

• Lantern Girls (entertainment, company, or room service)

• "Dry Your Boots" (for wet travelers, boots are cleaned and dried by Lantern Girls)

• Winter Bedding: Additional wool blankets and foot-warming stones are provided for an additional fee.

• "Night Watch" Protection: Patrons can pay for an overnight watch, ensuring no one enters their room or disturbs their stay.

• "The Invisible Guest" (rent a room and never be listed in the log)

• "Forgetful Bar Tab": Gus will clear a patron's outstanding tab... for a price. Payment isn't always coin.

• Private Bottle Reserve: Patrons can pay Gus to store a personal bottle of whiskey or moonshine for their exclusive use during visits.

 

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Entertainment

• Card Games & Dice: Rent a seat at the card table for poker, blackjack, or dice games. A cut goes to the house.

• Live Music Nights: Musicians play for money or "a free meal." 

• Harvest Festival Events: Drinking competitions, card tournaments, and seasonal wagers on "who lasts the longest.”

• Lantern Girl Showcase: Lantern Girls perform song, dance, and light acrobatics during festival nights. During the winter Lantern Girls put on dances and firelit performances near the hearth. 

• "King of the Cold" Competition: Patrons wager on how long they can endure standing outside the saloon barefoot in the snow.​​​​​​