The Night Market

*by Kroacthu*

Somewhere in the alleyways of Shuilongxia is a loosely kept secret. A market where all manner of impossible findings can be found. Although only a select few and their trusted ones are capable of purchasing anything from the market, or to return from the place unscathed.

It is a wild realm, run by the Fae. Very strict rules are present wherever you step but to know of them is only possible through word of mouth. Punishment for any of these rules is upheld by anyone who knows of them. As such, there are few who have made it out of the Night Market unprepared. The stories of survivors are quite often discounted as irrational, some form of trauma-induced hysteria affecting their recollection of events. However, as with any form of dealing with the Fae, any stories that would come out about them and the territories they hold can in some way be possible. The most credible possibilities have been compiled into this document here and the warning has been given should you pursue a visit to the Night Market:

* Severe memory loss
* Loss of your name
* Ceased ability to control body parts
* Elemental hair/scales/tattoos/anything else that sticks well to the body
* The addition of a separate conscious in the back of your mind

As for any countermeasures that have been found against the dangers that lurk within the Night Market, there are none. More specifically there are no steps to be able to determine exactly what you may encounter. The entrance to the place is different every time no matter where you begin within the material plane. The inhabitants seem to be differing according to whatever “mood” the market had taken upon at the time. As the market has been reported to have changes in mood. Many creatures of mischief will appear all at once and music will be often playing from some sort of stall nearby and the actions of many things will turn out to be motivated through frivolous means. Creatures of significant fighting drive will appear, the streets will be filled with sand and the lanterns will roar with magnificent blazing flames. There has even been a reported sighting that the entire market was filled with rain, its skies a darkened grey and no lanterns were lit within sight. Only the flickering and weak light of candles being held in a parade of sorrowful figures marching down the streets. Many other “moods” may be possible but one theory holds a strong amount of credibility and that is for certain secrets of the market never to make it out of the market.

The inhabitants of the place are described either as things with colour or those without. The ones without are white, grey, or black silhouettes that perform seemingly sentient actions about the market but show no ability to interact with any other inhabitant or visitor. Some of these colourless folk run shops of their own. Just ensure that you pay them an amount that feels right for whatever they provide and it seems you will be safe to shop there. As for the ones with colour, they seem to either be those native to the market or outsiders that are familiar with the dealings of the market. Their particularities are not so easy to list but all of them should have the capability of communication in some form. Use your best judgement as to whether communication with them is wise.