RATING: 4 Keys          RESULT: Win           REMAINING: 0:35

Welcome to the Old Tavern, where today’s specialty is: poison!

The Old Tavern escape room will take you back to medieval times. You are a traveler who stopped to rest and eat at this tavern. You thought that the tavern master was the greatest host you ever met, but little did you know he is nothing but an evil murderer and a thief. All that food and wine that you indulged in was laced with a deadly poison. The tavern master left for one hour, hoping that you will be dead by then and he will be able to rob you off all your possessions without a struggle. Now you have to race the time and search for the hidden antidote. The key to finding an antidote is your senses. You will have to use them all to stand a chance and make it out alive. You will have to smell, listen and touch in order to find the hidden key to an antidote and solve the mystery of the tavern.

It is immediately clear that our group of travelers chose the wrong inn.  Due to our unintended actions, we are now minutes away from death’s door and in dire need of an antidote.

Time is of the essence! Within the hour, the poison will take full effect, and the innkeeper will return to finish what he started.  As a result, our team of wanderers begins the ultimate quest of finding the only remedy possible for saving our lives.

The entire adventure takes place within the bar area of the establishment.  At first glance, the environment appears to be eerily calm and quiet.  The room is fairly dark, and the only lighting comes from sets of candles located throughout the tavern.  Along the far wall sits a long bar with two stools and a small wooden table.  Across from this area is a fireplace and mantle in addition to several locked chests and cabinets.

For the most part, the room is completely organized.  Aside from a few plaques, glass bottles, and incidental decorations, the area is very bare.  So, given these circumstances, it seems the travelers should have no problem locating the hidden antidote.  However, the diabolical innkeeper has several tricks up his sleeves.

The strongest and most memorable part of the Old Tavern is its puzzles, which offer varying degrees of difficulty.  In order to successfully complete these challenges, travelers must use their senses of sight, sound, touch, and smell.  This results in a refreshing approach to problem solving.

For the most part, each task within the bar uses conventional combination and key locks.  (This completely makes sense, given the lack of technology during medieval times.)  At first, the large quantity of locks present in the room is very intimidating.  And, since the game play is non-linear, tavern guests need to determine where to input various codes after solving each puzzle.  However, this task becomes less cumbersome as the players progress through the game since the number of locks eventually decreases.

The Old Tavern has it all. A compelling and intriguing storyline, authentic scenery that evokes a sense of being transported back to medieval times, and creatively-designed puzzles, all of which remain true to the game’s theme.  Overall, this adventure is pure fun, and it will challenge escape-game enthusiasts of all levels.  In order to make the experience proceed as efficiently as possible, groups of four to six players would be most ideal.

So, the next time you and your group of wanderers are traveling medieval lands, be sure to carefully choose your place of rest.  Otherwise, that stop may be your last!

#LarryForgotToTakeAPic!

Show your support for Escape Authority and get social with us:

Venue: RiddleBox Escape Room 

Location: Naperville, IL

Number of Games: 1

GAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 10 people

Group Type: Public / You may be paired with strangers.

Cost: $29 per person