There is a stereoptypical beginning to D&D and other fantasy adventures and campaigns. It's tried and true and for soe reason has become a bit of a joke. While yes, it is overused, it is still an absolutely solid place to start things.
Inns and taverns are THE meeting place in a medieval style setting. While there are plenty of other places to start things off, an inn/tavern is the most universally accessible location besides an open, public space. Other locations may often lack any reason for some characters to be there but everyone eats, drinks, and needs shelter. Inns are also incredibly generic and as such can easily be used to set any number of tones for your adventure or campaign setup.
The Action Start
In this start, the inn becomes a sight of an action scene that instigates the adventure. After a brief setup, the PCs either knowing one another or having introduced themselves, suddenly find themselves in the middle of some sort of action that starts the adventure. Perhaps the man they are all looking for gets wide to them and springs from the crowd to try to get them before they get him. Maybe that same person tries to sneak out and the character spot him. It could be that the action only indirectly addresses the adventure. Perhaps the city guard, minions of an evil NPC, are in the inn, taking prisoners or searching for the PCs themselves, their master having been tipped off to the characters being there to thwart him?
The Mystery Start
The players have come together and find themselves in the midst of soemthing mysterious that sets off the adventure. This is not just a simple quest giver introducing a mystery plot but something mysterious occurring whole the characters are in the inn. Perhaps a specretal presence makes itself knowm, signifying the beginning of something, even the adventure. They might witness a suspicious interaction between inn patrons. Perhaps the lights or flames in the inn act strangely as a hauntng sound filters in through the windows and doors.
The Unintended Quest
As the party gets to know one another, or as they enjoy their latest rest after a long adventure, something occurs within the inn to make them aware of a possible quest. This can tie in with any of the previously mentioned sorts of starts. In these sorts of starts something such as a rumor, a tvern tale, a song sun by a bard, or even a curiosity among the decorations fo the inn draw the players into an adventure. Perhaps they ask the inkeeper about a strange monster head hanging above the fire. The bard's song might sing of a place that sounds worth finding. An old drunk mutters something about gold in the dark hills. This sort os start does very much require buy-in by the players.
The Action Start
In this start, the inn becomes a sight of an action scene that instigates the adventure. After a brief setup, the PCs either knowing one another or having introduced themselves, suddenly find themselves in the middle of some sort of action that starts the adventure. Perhaps the man they are all looking for gets wide to them and springs from the crowd to try to get them before they get him. Maybe that same person tries to sneak out and the character spot him. It could be that the action only indirectly addresses the adventure. Perhaps the city guard, minions of an evil NPC, are in the inn, taking prisoners or searching for the PCs themselves, their master having been tipped off to the characters being there to thwart him?
The Mystery Start
The players have come together and find themselves in the midst of soemthing mysterious that sets off the adventure. This is not just a simple quest giver introducing a mystery plot but something mysterious occurring whole the characters are in the inn. Perhaps a specretal presence makes itself knowm, signifying the beginning of something, even the adventure. They might witness a suspicious interaction between inn patrons. Perhaps the lights or flames in the inn act strangely as a hauntng sound filters in through the windows and doors.
The Unintended Quest
As the party gets to know one another, or as they enjoy their latest rest after a long adventure, something occurs within the inn to make them aware of a possible quest. This can tie in with any of the previously mentioned sorts of starts. In these sorts of starts something such as a rumor, a tvern tale, a song sun by a bard, or even a curiosity among the decorations fo the inn draw the players into an adventure. Perhaps they ask the inkeeper about a strange monster head hanging above the fire. The bard's song might sing of a place that sounds worth finding. An old drunk mutters something about gold in the dark hills. This sort os start does very much require buy-in by the players.
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