The small village of Albrighing has always known its central gathering place simply as "the tavern," for it has never successfully held an official name. Its unassuming facade, constructed by the village founder Hemlock Albrigh, belies a profound and dark secret woven into its very foundation.

During the perilous Shadow War, Hemlock, desperate to protect his nascent settlement from relentless incursions, forged a pact with a minor entity from the Shadowfell. This grim bargain was sealed upon the tavern's foundation stone, which was transformed into a minuscule, dormant gateway to the eerie dimension. Unbeknownst to the villagers, the entity's influence immediately began to subtly curse the establishment.

This insidious curse manifested as persistent bad luck, souring relationships among patrons and villagers alike, and ensuring that any attempt to formally name the tavern was met with misfortune and swiftly forgotten. It was a quiet, insidious rot designed to keep the village of Albrighing small and isolated, exactly as the Shadowfell entity preferred. The tavern officially opened its doors on 16 September 0, already suffering under this unseen affliction.

For a brief period, the tavern served its purpose, attempting to be the heart of the struggling community. However, the pervasive curse ensured its existence was fraught with trouble and dwindling custom, reflecting in the struggling local economy and the villagers' dampened spirits. The subtle malevolence continued to chip away at its viability.

Ultimately, the ceaseless bad luck and deepening isolation proved too much for the cursed establishment to bear. The tavern was finally abandoned on 09 October 0, less than a month after its official founding. Today, it stands in a state of continued decline, a silent monument to Hemlock's desperate pact and the enduring, quiet curse that still grips it.