The Rusted Eye — Pawn & Oddities Vault
A towering warehouse of shadowed shelves and dusty alcoves, The Rusted Eye is the largest pawn and oddities shop in Voolnishart, crammed with strange, useless, and occasionally priceless wares. Here lie cracked relics of fallen empires, preserved fey in clouded bottles, mummified underdeep creatures, ancient keys to doors no longer standing, and enchanted trinkets humming with long-lost magic.
Its owner is Mineranthese Gregparn, a half-meduse and proud clanswoman of the untamed Wyrllish plains. Tall and sinewy, with scaled forearms and snake-streaked hair bound tightly in silver rings, she’s a cold-eyed negotiator immune to all poisons — both chemical and conversational. Her stare carries the faintest shimmer of petrification magic, though she rarely needs it. The locals know: if you bargain in good faith, you may leave richer; if you cross her, you may never leave at all.
Rumors swirl that Mineranthese keeps a “back vault” of cursed objects too dangerous to sell but too valuable to destroy. Her prized pieces include a severed lich’s finger that still twitches, a petrified sprite heart encased in crystal, and a mirror stolen from the sanctum of the Raven Queen herself — cracked, but still whispering.
1. Whispering Raven Mirror
A hand-sized, cracked mirror framed in blackened silver, once belonging to a Raven Queen cult. Reflections show your true self — including long-buried guilt, hatred, or secrets. Sometimes, it whispers a name you’ve never heard… or one you’d rather forget.
2. Bottle of Preserved Fey
A stoppered crystal bottle filled with golden syrup and a perfectly preserved sylph, her delicate wings shimmering faintly. No one knows if she’s alive, cursed, or simply a masterpiece of embalming magic. Legend says uncorking it wrong might awaken her wrath.
3. The Stone Hand of Velmira
A petrified stone hand, fingers curled as if in warning, once belonging to a medusa queen slain centuries ago. It’s rumored to still carry a sliver of her petrifying power — if held too long, flesh starts to stiffen.
4. Clockwork Skull of a Gnomish Prophet
A small brass-and-silver skull, with ticking gears where eyes should be. Wind it, and it mutters half-mad prophecies in a forgotten tongue. Some claim it once correctly predicted a great plague, others call it a useless bauble.
5. Eternal Ember in a Box
A dark iron box lined with obsidian, holding a single coal that has burned for over 300 years. Its warmth never fades, and though it can’t ignite anything else, it’s a prized relic for fire-worshippers, collectors, and eccentric alchemists.
6. Map to the City That Sank
An aged parchment marked with shifting black ink that never dries. It shows the ruins of a drowned city no one has ever found — or claims not to have. The map hums faintly when touched near the ocean. Mineranthese keeps it under lock and key, offering it only to the most reckless of adventurers.
7. The Candle That Burns the Dead
A thin, pale-blue wax candle that only lights in the presence of a spirit or undead. It’s said to burn down only when touched by otherworldly breath — and extinguishing it can anger whatever lingers nearby.
8. Basilisk Eggshell Pendant
A fragile, greenish-white shard of basilisk egg, set into a silver chain. Supposedly harmless, but some say when worn, the pendant causes snakes to coil near you and lizards to watch you with unblinking eyes.
9. Dreamcatcher of the Hollow Tribe
A tattered dreamcatcher from a forgotten nomadic people, woven with hair and teeth. Those who sleep near it claim to have no dreams… but awake exhausted, as if something fed on them in the night.
10. The Shivering Bell
A tarnished silver bell with no clapper, cold to the touch even on the hottest day. When shaken, no sound emerges — yet animals recoil and unseen things stir in shadow.
The Siren’s Promise — House of Song & Story
A lavishly draped pavilion near the heart of Voolnishart’s market, The Siren’s Promise is less a “shop” and more a guild hall — a place where the finest songstresses, minstrels, harpists, bards, poets, and storytellers gather to sell their gifts to nobles, adventurers, tavern owners, and even underworld clients.
The front is tended by Master Lyrethane, an ageless elven impresario with silver-threaded robes and an unreadable smile. He knows every performer by heart — and knows their worth down to the last copper. Inside, velvet-lined booths showcase musicians rehearsing softly, while shelves and scroll racks offer contracts: you can hire a wandering bard, commission a ballad of your deeds, or secure a professional to spread a crafted tale or rumor across the city.
Services include:
- Whisper Bards — to quietly plant rumors in the ears of the right people.
- Night Singers — sultry or sorrowful songstresses hired for noble feasts or private audiences.
- Epic-Tellers — dwarven chanters or human poets who can recount entire battle sagas by memory.
- Fae Lutenists — rare elven or half-fae musicians whose playing is said to stir the blood or steal the heart.
The Siren’s Promise is also a place where songs themselves can be bought — rare compositions, ancient verse, or magical performances with subtle enchantments woven into the melody. Some claim Lyrethane can even erase a memory or emotion from a man’s heart with the right singer… for the right price.
Wayfarer’s Delight — Trailward Emporium
At first glance, it’s just another large outfitter’s pavilion — but step inside and you’ll find a traveler’s paradise, packed wall to wall with everything an adventurer, scholar, merchant, or explorer might need for the wildest journeys imaginable.
Mavven Talltooth, the half-orc proprietor, is a sharp dealer with a broad grin, a booming voice, and a fondness for swapping tales of the road. His shop proudly offers minor enchanted versions of legendary magical gear, often affordable knockdowns or limited-function items crafted specifically for common use.
Common Goods (Enhanced for Adventurers)
- Trailward Boots: Lesser Boots of Striding — reduce fatigue over long marches but don’t increase speed.
- Feathercloak: Lesser Cloak of the Manta Ray — offers light swimming aid, but no underwater breathing.
- Wayfinder Compass: Minor version of a magical compass, points to north, true even in fae-warped zones.
- Coldshroud Cloak: Enchanted against frostbite, but only for moderate cold (not magical blizzards or tundra storms).
- Sandwalker Boots: Lightweight enchanted soles that reduce the sinking effect in sand and loose snow.
Adventure Packs & Tents
- Spiderweave Tent: Light as silk, water- and mildew-resistant, easy to set up; reinforced with threads from Kraggenkor Forge.
- Havenstone Tent Pegs: When hammered into the ground, create a faint protective aura, keeping small animals and minor pests at bay.
- Ironleaf Pack: A backpack crafted from ironleaf bark, highly resistant to tearing, enchanted to reduce total carried weight by 10%.
- Trollhair Ropes: Braided from treated troll hair; they slowly regenerate frays and minor cuts over time.
Pack Animals & Creature Gear
- Mule Contracts: Pre-arranged pack mules, guaranteed trained and durable, available for rental or purchase.
- Spiderharness: Specially fitted saddles for giant spiders (favored by Underdark expeditions).
- Sablewolf Sleds: Lightweight sleds drawn by sablewolves, bred for cold, northern expeditions.
Exploration Tools
- Farsight Lenses: A lesser version of Eyes of the Eagle; grants a +2 bonus on spotting distant movement.
- Shadowhood Lantern: Emits steady, dim light that won’t reveal your position from afar, perfect for sneaking.
- Runechisel Kit: Portable chisels inscribed to better etch runes, often used for marking trails through magically active areas.
Official Expeditions Board
At the front of the shop stands the Expedition Board, a large carved oak display marked with pinned notices, sketches, and even painted portraits:
- The Sapphire Runners (desert runners, crossing the Burning Reaches)
- The Deepwind Guild (searching the upper Underdark for lost dwarven strongholds)
- The Frostcairn Walkers (northern climbers aiming for the peak of Mount Tharnak)
- The Blackwater Trail (river explorers mapping the dense Marthalund swamps)
- The Glimmermere Recovery Pact (tasked with recovering lost relics from the cursed Burn)
Each expedition that uses Wayfarer’s Delight gear proudly sends back a sketch or token, which Mavven posts for all to admire — or envy.
Special Partnership
Kraggenkor Forge maintains an exclusive agreement to provide reinforced metal fittings, tools, and reinforced adventuring components for Mavven’s official expedition clients — meaning buyers can commission custom-fit armor plating for wagons, reinforced climbing gear, or hardened sled runners, all blended with dwarven craftsmanship.
Wayfarer’s Delight × Kraggenkor Forge: The Iron-Trail Alliance
This formal partnership, known in contracts as the Iron-Trail Alliance, fuses Mavven Talltooth’s far-ranging outfitter empire with the legendary dwarven smithcraft of Garbrik Kraggenkor. While Wayfarer’s Delight handles all travel supplies, Kraggenkor’s forge provides specialized adventuring-grade metalwork — tailored not for war, but for survival, protection, and expert exploration.
Special Gear from the Alliance
1. Ironbind Harness (Pack Animal Gear)
Forged dwarf-steel plates, fitted seamlessly onto mules, giant spiders, or sablewolves, combining flexibility and lightweight resilience. These harnesses resist acid, minor elemental damage, and mundane cuts, ensuring your precious pack animals survive encounters with brambles, minor monsters, or elemental hazards.
2. Trailguard Bracers & Greaves
Explorer-grade bracers and shin guards made from folded steel over lightwood core, designed for scouts and adventurers rather than warriors. Grants modest protection (+1 AC equivalent) without the weight of full armor — perfect for those crossing jagged ravines or crawling through rubble-strewn ruins.
3. Kraggencor Climbing Rig
Dwarven pitons, hammers, and grapple hooks crafted with rune-forged tips that bite even into magically hardened stone. Comes with “fireline rope,” a heat-treated, enchanted cord that resists fire and acid, allowing explorers to rappel through volcanic vents or caustic crevasses.
4. Seeker’s Edge Weapons (Special Order)
While not meant for soldiers, Kraggenkor forges offer expert-crafted weapons to explorers who face the wilds’ dangers. Each is signed discreetly by the forge. Options include:
- Trailblade: A lightweight longsword with corrosion-resistant alloys, designed to cut through underbrush and resist rust.
- Echo-Hatchet: A dwarven-made climbing axe that doubles as a light throwing weapon, balanced for precision strikes.
- Pathwarden Spear: A collapsible spear reinforced with Kraggenkor alloys, its head enchanted for extra durability, useful against beasts or wild creatures.
Custom Armored Expedition Equipment
For larger expeditions, Mavven and Garbrik offer custom orders on reinforced:
- Wagons and sledges (metal-capped axles, shatter-resistant undercarriages)
- Storage chests (runed to resist magical tampering)
- Field anvils and repair kits (allowing teams to mend gear far from civilization)
- Portable shields for scouts (light, metal-edged, collapsible)
Iron-Trail Alliance Perks
Expeditions officially outfitted under the Alliance get:
- A small badge seal proving Kraggenkor approval, granting discounts on repairs at dwarf-run forges across the region.
- Access to select minor enchantments (for a price) like cold-resistant coatings, anti-corrosion treatments, or faintly glowing runes on gear for visibility in pitch-dark areas.
Displayed at Wayfarer’s Expedition Board
The front Expedition Board features honored expeditions that used Iron-Trail equipment, with plaques or artifacts sent back from the field:
- A shattered but intact shield recovered from the Wyrllish wolf plains after a giant beast attack.
- A burned but unbroken climbing hook pulled from a volcanic fissure during the Mount Tharnak ascent.
- A battered iron chest from an Underdark delve, marked with deep scratches from a hook horror’s claws — but unopened and still sealed.
Iron-Trail Alliance Meeting — Preparing for Deathwatch Mountain
In the back chamber of Wayfarer’s Delight, away from the bustle of customers, Mavven Talltooth paces the packed-dirt floor. His half-orc tusks jut in a worried grimace, and his fingers drum nervously against a rolled expedition contract. Across the heavy table, Garbrik Kraggenkor, the famed dwarven forge-master, leans forward with a scowl deep as a mountain crevice, his calloused hands folded, eyes gleaming like burnished iron.
Mavven:
“We can’t afford to fail again, Garbrik. Deathwatch Mountain devoured the first team. We lost people. Good people.”
Garbrik (gruffly):
“Aye. And ye know why? Cheap bastards skimped on the small things. No reinforced sleds, no fireline rope, no spiked crampons for the ice fields. You can’t throw men at a cursed mountain with baker’s twine and farmer’s boots.”
Mavven huffs, slamming the contract down.
“This time, everything works. I want Ironbind harnesses on every beast, reinforced sled runners, and I want your Echo-Hatchets in the hands of every climber. We’re not sending a warband, but if they meet trouble, they need to cut, smash, or burn their way through it.”
Garbrik strokes his thick, ash-streaked beard.
“We’ll triple-layer the climbing hooks — cold iron, steel, silver — just in case they face anything cursed. I’ll add runic etchings for frost resistance on the tents and gear seams. And I’ll personally fit the pack harnesses: no slipping buckles this time.”
Mavven lowers his voice.
“They need something else, Garbrik. Minor protections. Small, reliable magic. Cloaks to keep out the worst of the cold, lanterns that won’t go dark in that cursed fog. They need to trust their gear when the mountain wants them dead.”
Garbrik’s eyes narrow.
“Then I’ll speak to my rune-carver, Sniksnik. We’ll work in frost-warding and anti-fog enchantments. Not flashy — but solid. Every boot, every buckle, every bit of kit will hold.”
He leans forward, tapping the table hard.
“But listen, Mavven. You send those poor bastards up that mountain, you tell them something for me: the best forge-craft in the world still needs a sharp mind and steady hands. We give them the tools. Surviving? That’s on them.”
Mavven gives a tired smile, his shoulders easing.
“Agreed, old friend. But by the gods, let’s make sure they don’t fail for lack of a nail this time.”
They clasp hands — iron and leather, dwarf and half-orc — sealing the pact. Behind them, the wall displays the names of past expeditions, some ending in triumph, others in ruin. But soon, a new name will join them:
Second Expedition to Deathwatch Mountain.
And this time, everything will work.
The Salt & Horn — Rare Meats, Cured Wares & Spiced Delicacies
In the savory-scented heart of Voolnishart’s bustling market, The Salt & Horn is unmistakable: a broad butcher’s stall lined with heavy wooden tables, iron racks hung with drying meats, and clay spice jars stacked floor to ceiling. The mingled aromas of smoke, pepper, salt, dried herbs, and sizzling fat drift through the air, making the place a magnet for carnivores, gourmands, and adventurous palates alike.
Owner:
Morvar Hornbreaker, a towering coal-black minotaur with gleaming horns and arms like tree trunks, looms over his wares with the solemn precision of a priest at his altar. He sells nothing he wouldn’t eat himself — which, humorously, is a very short list. Morvar is famously picky, rejecting whole beasts if they “smell wrong” or “look soft,” and sparing no patience for customers asking for mild or common cuts.
But what he does sell? Masterful.
Signature Wares of The Salt & Horn
- Hellfire Jerky
Spiced with infernal peppers imported from distant lands, this jerky is so fiery that even hardened adventurers break into sweats. Morvar claims it “burns the sin off your tongue.” - Wyvern Belly Strips
Cured and smoked in honey-maple glaze, these ultra-rare cuts have a gamey, intense flavor — often bought by nobles looking to impress, or by mercenaries seeking a lucky snack before battle. - Basilisk Shank
Salt-cured slices from the toughened hind leg of a basilisk. Chewy, smoky, and laced with faint mineral notes — a favorite among dwarves and goliaths. - Razorfin Tuna Steaks
Rare, blue-fleshed deep-sea fish, preserved in brine and cut into jewel-like slabs. Sold only in thin portions, as the fish are dangerous to catch and even harder to transport. - Underbeast Sausage
A deep, dark sausage made from subterranean beasts — mushrooms, spices, and a touch of underdark moss add an earthy, almost haunting flavor. Not for the faint-hearted. - Manticore Tail Cuts(when available)
A delicacy reserved for special customers. The meat is tough but richly flavored, marinated in bitter herbs to counteract the natural toxins.
Spices & Cures
Morvar personally oversees every spice blend, often crushing and mixing his own combinations by hand in a massive stone mortar. His most prized blends include:
- Hornbreaker’s Smoke (black pepper, ash salt, and dried bloodleaf)
- Saltspire Rub (sea salt, ember pepper, and dried citrus)
- Gravelbite Dust (crushed stone pepper and volcanic salt — sharp and almost gritty)
Shop Atmosphere
The stall’s dark canvas awning is painted with a great white bull’s horn, flanked by strings of drying meats and woven spice garlands. Inside, lanterns cast a smoky golden glow across counters lined with cleavers, hooks, and heavy butcher’s blocks. The air is warm, slightly humid, and always alive with the scents of sizzling fat and spice.
Morvar himself speaks little, but when he does, it’s in short, blunt praise or brutal honesty:
- “That one’s for chewing, not slicing.”
- “You’re too soft for the hellfire. Try the basilisk.”
- “No. That cut’s mine.”
Cobbler’s Haven — Korrik’s Ironheel Emporium
Tucked near the edge of the main market, where the streets turn rough and the Underdark traders mix with surface folk, stands Cobbler’s Haven — a weathered, two-story shop bursting with boots, sandals, slippers, and shoes of every imaginable kind.
Above the heavy oak door hangs a polished iron sign shaped like a giant dwarf boot, stamped with Korrik’s unmistakable forge-sigil: an anvil crossed with a cobbler’s awl. Inside, the walls are lined floor to ceiling with shelves of footwear: soft silken elven slippers, thick iron-toed dwarven boots, sturdy human riding boots, delicate half-elven sandals, reptilian wraps for scaled feet, and even enormous, custom-fitted shoes for minotaurs or ogres.
Owner: Korrik Ironheel
A gruff, square-shouldered dwarf with iron-grey hair and a blacksmith’s grip, Korrik Ironheel is no ordinary cobbler — he’s a master of utility footwear. He believes shoes are not mere clothing but essential tools, and he crafts each pair with a smith’s precision and a general’s tactical mind. His workshop carries both mundane and mildly enchanted options, designed for survival, endurance, or specialized terrain.
Korrik’s guiding rule?
“If it fits, it lasts; if it doesn’t, it’s art.”
Signature Footwear Lines
- Stonebreaker Boots
Dwarven-make, reinforced soles, excellent for rocky and uneven terrain. Limited shock absorption enchantments for those crossing jagged cliffs or tunneling stone. - Cloudstrider Slippers
Soft-soled elven slippers that allow for near-silent movement across wood or stone — perfect for scouts or burglars. No weight reduction, but they dampen footfalls almost entirely. - Sandstep Moccasins
Designed for desert travelers, these light but durable moccasins are enchanted to keep feet cool and reduce blistering on long marches over sand or salt flats. - Frostmarch Boots
Heavy, fur-lined boots insulated with dwarf-forged runes, designed to resist magical and mundane cold. Not full immunity, but they keep the blood moving in the coldest marches. - Deepstep Spiderwraps
Flexible silk wraps treated with Underdark resins, perfect for climbing or squeezing through narrow spaces. Often purchased by Underdark merchants or surface rogues headed into deep caves. - Ironheel Warboots(Special Order)
Heavy steel-toed boots, reinforced at ankle and shin, often favored by mercenaries and caravan guards. Korrik refuses to make enchanted weapons, but these boots could break a jaw in a fight.
Special Services
Korrik also offers:
- Custom Fittings — For nonstandard feet (minotaurs, ogres, reptilian folk), custom orders take a week but are guaranteed to fit like a second skin.
- Sole Refitting & Repair — Korrik’s cobblers can repair or upgrade old boots with reinforced soles, new heels, or mild enchantments (anti-slip, anti-mire, or frostbite resistance).
- National Styles — Korrik proudly carries a wide array of footwear inspired by distant lands, such as Gesk’ah islander sandals, Kadathe’ frostwalkers, Wyrllish hunt moccasins, and Auris noble riding boots.
Shop Atmosphere
Inside, the air smells richly of tanned leather, warm oil, and a faint tang of iron. Wooden shelves creak under the weight of lined-up boots, while the back room rings with the tap-tap-tap of cobblers’ hammers. Korrik himself moves between customers like a stone statue come to life, measuring, appraising, and barking orders to his apprentices.
His pride is not in enchantments or magical show — it’s in the craft:
- “You can’t outrun death, but you can sure as hell walk out of his shadow in my boots.”
- “No, you don’t need wings, lad. You need proper soles.”
Alder Manse’s Visit to Korrik’s Ironheel
The doorbell jingled sharp and quick as Alder Manse ducked under the lintel, his broad lizardfolk frame momentarily filling the doorway. Gleaming emerald scales caught the lantern light, and the damp, briny scent of the harbor clung faintly to him — as if he’d walked straight from the salt flats.
Korrik Ironheel, perched on his cobbler’s stool, looked up with a grunt.
“You’re late, Alder. Thought lizardkin prided themselves on punctuality.”
Alder’s long tongue flicked once.
“Punctuality is for the small hunt. I was negotiating kelp rights.”
Korrik gave a short, gravelly laugh and gestured to the bench.
“Sit, then. Got your boots right here.”
From behind the counter, he lifted a pair of Saltbreaker Boots — thick-soled, seal-leather boots with steel-capped toes and dwarven rune etchings worked along the seams. The leather had been treated in Korrik’s own forge with a combination of water-repellent waxes and salt-resistant oils. The soles, made from crushed barnacle and iron filings, were designed to grip wet decks and slick coastal rocks without slipping.
Korrik thumped the boots down beside Alder.
“Triple-stitched seams. Reinforced ankles. Won’t rot, won’t split, won’t suck the life from your feet when you’re knee-deep in the brine. You won’t outrun a storm, but you’ll outwalk it.”
Alder examined them with slow, reverent fingers.
“I will test them. In the shallows first, then the deep flats.”
Korrik snorted.
“Of course you will, lizardkin. And when they hold, you come back, and you tell the others.”
Alder gave a toothy grin, snapping his jaws softly.
“I will spread your name among the shoals, dwarven crafter. They will know Ironheel boots.”
Next Stop: Wayfarer’s Delight
With his new boots slung over one shoulder, Alder strode across the market to Wayfarer’s Delight, where Mavven Talltooth waited near the counter, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
“Alder, my friend! Ready for the full sea-walker’s kit?”
Mavven guided him through racks of waterproof cloaks, seal-leather leggings, salt-resistant pack wraps, and corrosion-proof buckles. He even fitted Alder with a spiderweave hood — lightweight, enchanted to shed rain and spray without adding weight, a design straight from Kraggenkor Forge’s latest adventure gear.
“These,” Mavven explained, “aren’t just for keeping dry — they’re for survival, Alder. You’re going where most would drown or freeze or rot. But you? You’ll come back with dry scales and dry loot.”
Alder’s yellow eyes glittered.
“Then let us fit me, Talltooth, before the tide calls again.”
Breads of Old — Ashfern & Daughters Bakery
The warm, yeasty scent of baking bread drifts far down the lanes of Voolnishart, drawing citizens and travelers alike to Breads of Old, the famed family-run bakery founded by the Ashfern clan. Known across the region for its dedication to ancient recipes from many cultures, the bakery prides itself on preserving rare, time-honored methods — dwarven stonebreads, elven honey-loaves, goliath oatcakes, halfling spice buns, and even exotic frostloaves from the far Kadathe’ Peninsula.
But recently, with the Underdark market opening nearby, the Ashferns have embraced an entirely new frontier of flavors: mushroom-based breads and fungal delicacies.
Signature Traditional Breads
- Stonebread (Dwarven) — Dense, long-lasting loaves, excellent for rations or heavy stews.
- Honey-Glazed Leaf Loaf (Elven) — Light, sweet bread wrapped in edible green leaves.
- Salt-Kissed Oatcakes (Goliath) — Thick, salted rounds designed to last weeks on the trail.
- Spice-Cracked Buns (Halfling) — Soft, fragrant, dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Frostloaf (Kadathe’) — Pale, slightly sweet bread that resists freezing, eaten by northern travelers.
New Underdark-Inspired Offerings
With the arrival of Underdark traders, the Ashferns now showcase mushroom breads made with rare, subterranean fungi — strange, earthy, and deeply coveted by the Voolnishart public.
- Glowcap Loaf — Baked with faintly phosphorescent undercap mushrooms, this soft bread glows softly at night and has a delicate, savory-sweet taste. Perfect for parties or nighttime feasts.
- Ironroot Focaccia — Thick, herb-dusted bread laced with ironroot mushroom, giving it a dark, mineral-rich bite prized by dwarves and goliaths.
- Spiderlace Flatbread — Ultra-thin, web-patterned flatbread made with fine lace fungi. Delicate, crisp, and slightly tangy, often served with sharp cheeses or cured meats.
- Veilspore Braid — Soft, braided loaf infused with veilspore essence, creating a fluffy, aromatic bread rumored to induce vivid dreams when eaten before sleep. (The Ashferns warn: one slice only!)
- Deepmire Rye — Dense, nutty rye bread blended with dark mirecap mushrooms, giving it a deep umami richness. Popular with miners and surface folk craving bold flavors.
Public Craze & Demand
Since the Ashferns began offering their mushroom breads, queues have stretched around the block — nobles, merchants, and adventurers alike eager to taste the exotic new wares. Even locals who once turned their noses up at “Underdark goods” now clamor for a slice of Glowcap Loaf or a wedge of Veilspore Braid. The Ashferns have even begun offering small sampler baskets, pairing traditional breads with their new mushroom creations to encourage cross-cultural tasting.
Bakery Atmosphere
Inside, the bakery glows with warm lantern light, the walls lined with woven baskets and long wooden shelves stacked high with fresh loaves. Decorative signs above each bread announce its cultural origin and history, and the shop’s back wall now proudly displays new murals of the Underdark — strange glowing mushrooms, delicate subterranean fungi, and the shadowed caverns from which these treasures come.
Ashfern’s eldest daughter, Mira, handles most of the Underdark trade, negotiating eagerly with mushroom merchants and learning the strange, ancient recipes they share. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and regulars love to hear her tales of how each new loaf was created.
Gilded Ember Distillery
Motto: “A fire in every glass.”
Nestled in the stone-walled western quarter, this copper-still distillery is run by the Vandrell family, humans who have perfected their liquors and spirits over five generations. The Gilded Ember specializes in potent spirits, particularly those with sharp finishes, subtle magical infusions, and long cultural histories. Dozens of races work in the fermentation rooms and bottling halls — lizardfolk stir mash barrels, dwarves measure alcohol proof, and elves infuse rare aged wood casks with sylvan essence.
Signature Spirits Include:
- Dwarf-Tongue Firewhiskey — Molten red, burns hot and sharp, aged in stone-cored barrels.
- Wyrllish Stormrum — Dark and briny, with an aftertaste like salted thunder.
- Mooncap Brandy — Infused with phosphorescent mushroom extract; glows softly when swirled.
- Kadathe’ Snowgrain Vodka — Crystal-clear and almost freezing to the touch.
- Phoenixberry Liquor — Only served warm, releases spice smoke when uncorked.
Special Note:
The Gilded Ember keeps a wall of “shamed bottles,” commemorating failed or sabotaged blends (many blamed on their rivals at the brewery), each labeled with dry humor: “The Milk Incident – Year 334,” “Too Much Basilisk,” or “Turned to Slime Overnight.”
The Laughing Cask Brewery
Motto: “Every pour, a punchline.”
On the opposite side of the market square, the Laughing Cask Brewery bursts with noise, cheer, and fermenting hops. Owned by the Calthorn family, they claim to brew beer “with soul, not steel,” and lean into a more rustic, earthy charm. Their brewery is open-air in warm months, with large fire-pits, kegs stacked like walls, and half a dozen races working the taps and mashers — goblins for the spicy brews, elves for floral infusions, and halflings for sweetness and balance.
Notable Brews Include:
- Mithrin Green Ale — Vibrant color, brewed with highland moss and whispermint.
- Ironbrew Stout — Thick, pitch-black, with metallic hints and a clay-like finish.
- Wemic Bitter — Sharp and dry, brewed with razorgrass and wildflower nectar.
- Fool’s Fall Lager — So smooth it’s dangerous; causes hiccups if you lie while drinking it.
- Burnwake Smoked Wheat — A dark beer with a smoky finish and bright golden color, a tribute to lost towns of Taurdain.
Brewery Traditions:
The Laughing Cask names seasonal brews after clever jabs at their distillery rivals — “Hot Air Brandy Substitute,” “Vandrell’s Tears,” or “Copper Pot Sorrow.” Though mostly humorous, a few batches have been mysteriously spoiled the day before a festival… and suspicions rise.
The Rivalry
The Vandrells (Gilded Ember) and the Calthorns (Laughing Cask) regularly sabotage each other’s banners, “accidentally” swap barrels, or deliver pranking gift crates (filled with things like salted mash or screaming mushrooms). While it’s all done in jest — mostly — there have been two tavern brawls, one magically exploding keg, and an unfortunate incident involving a cursed fermentation charm that turned an entire Calthorn batch to fog for a week.
Still, during public festivals, they always raise a shared glass — and then start heckling each other immediately after.
Shermans fantasy world 