While traveling through DaYuan Yan with my companions, I decided to partake in a local evening faire. They called it a Night Market, and seemed fairly similar to the evening festivities that graced Stupigrad in Daleko. But the farther I got from Steeltooth Hill and closer I got to the Salt Flats, the lights dimmed and raucous orcs gave way to masked ogres and rather physically imposing goblins. There were still shops, but they certainly did not purvey in the same goods. They seemed much more discreet that the Hornlands of Feldspar.

Curiosity got the better of me and I went into one of the shops. I was immediately greeted with a billowing of smoke and the ring of a small bell. The shop owner was a gnome and incense smoke was failing to cover up the unmistakable odor of a rodent's piss. Hans Pöge was a strange little gnome with a very eerie smile. He was very knowledgeable about the potions he sold. There was a strange deep squeaking coming from his back room.

Soon after, a gruff and brutish goblin named Yesun barged in wanting to talk to Mr. Pöge in private. They spoke in a strange dialect of goblinoid from the western raiding tribes. I wasn't familiar with it. When they returned, Yesun insisted I see his wares or buy information off of him. I was herded into a narrow alley where his "shop" was. It was a linen sheet resting on a square chest. Most of his wares seemed to be used for breaking an entering of explosives, so instead I purchased information on other shops like his.

It was from the information gathered from Yesun that I found a bookstore with very ancient and forbidden texts, even a Treatise On Exiting Demonic Contracts by Chad Thundercock. It was run by an old quiet tortle named Kappa. I purchased some rare tomes and returned to my party satisfied, regaling them of the adventure.

Further adventures in DaYuan Yan has made me nostalgic for the taverns I've visited around Dawurld. From Kotahi to Bittenicht every town seems to have its unique flavor I suppose I should make a note of them if by chance I am in town again.

The tavern that started my reminiscing was an ogre tavern in DaYuan Yan. Owned by a surly oni named Mal’goken, it was quite a raucous place, which seemed odd for the usually quiet, stoic ogres I had met thus far. I suppose that like the literal straight faced masks they wear, the ogres wear a figurative social one as well. This makes the Cracked Mask one of the few places they can be themselves. The tavern had performers and food or drink in ample supply. But if I had to pick out one flaw with the bar, it would be the constant bar brawls. I see why Cid and Diarmuid enjoy it.

Not so much a tavern itself, Markt der Welt contained several mikrobrauerei pubs that all seemed to serve their own homemade brews. I was granted the pleasure of partaking in one of the Markt's annual beer and wine festivals that pitted the mikrobrauerei against one another in various taste testing competitions. Oh what did the fey call it? "Bis zum Herbst Trinken," I believe. If you're in Bittenicht around the harvest season, it is really worth the hangover.

Feldspar had a very interesting approach when it comes to their taverns. As an example, Prinny dragged me into the Golden Horn, a popular tavern of the Horn lands in Feldspar. The bar was run by an old mistress Miratris Agilehide and the room was worked by her Milky Girls, Sly working girls known for providing patrons with conversation in exchange for purchasing creamy alcoholic beverages. Interesting girls with interesting stories to tell. I must go back and hear what story they tell with the happy ending fee.

Stupigrad had a very pleasant pub It was a smoking lounge of sorts, its only ventilation came from the various chimneys around the main common area. Its owner was a large but intelligent man named Artem Datsenko, and he was very pleased by the complete lack of windows on his building. It certainly set a dark and pensive mood to smoke and drink to. The Needy Lamp prided itself more on the ambiance and tobacco than its ale.

The Thick Sheep Tavern is another unique establishment Owned by shy absent-minded kenku, I would not be surprised hapless avian was tricked into the spectacle that makes his tavern so popular. Throughout the day the Thick sheep carries on like any other tavern, but from the late afternoon to well past midnight the tables are occupied by dancing girls that undress more and more for each coin they are tipped. All the while Minstrels play this strange exotic music. I wouldn't be surprised if a brothel was being run under that kenku's nose, poor Mr. Goat Baa.

Vizinho is a really interesting place, their community has bred a happy nation full of happy people. That said the occasional wild card props up in every herd. This one's name was Nedland.

A curious halfling child, his problems were not just relegated to anger management. No, his problems also only just begin to spring up when he gets angry. Shadowy tendrils, teleportation, light shows, and even those strange flumph creatures would appear each time that Nedland became angry. The ostracization due to these strange occurrences were also very detrimental to the child's mental health.

Old friends of mine, his parents called for me to look into the matter, so my companions and I traveled to a small town north east of Proxima Porta called Pedaço. Mostly halflings, the town was quaint, money only occasionally needed to trade hands for goods or services. Nedland and his family lived at the edge of the village near the woods, and that was our first destination.

Each of us taught young Nedland in our own way how best manage his gifts and his anger. Our paladin, Diarmuid gave the child martial training. Improving his discipline and self-control, Nedland was trained to use weapons.

CidZAER, our artificer, gave Nedland an outlet for his anger in blacksmithing. He also picked up CidZAER's penchant for verbal out bursts. Thankfully, the outbursts only come out in strange nonsense phrases like 'diddly ' or the such.

I taught the young halfling meditation and spiritual wellbeing. As a monk and scribe, I was happy to pass along the art of patience. He became very fervent in his relationship with his patron deity.

Even Prinny was able to divulge some wisdom upon Nedland:

"Everything has its time and place, whether it be your rage..."

"That's right, Prinny!"

"or random acts of murder."

"Damnit, Prinny!"

Traversing the world certainly has its benefits. I've seen unique sights that

The Heeps

The Northern Shield

Pythios' Wall

Spine of the World