Nightshade Market
The Nightshade Market of Luth Galahd is a shadowy, labyrinthine bazaar deep within the city's heart, known as a place where no surface dweller treads willingly. Hidden away from the prying eyes of outsiders, it is the very embodiment of Drow hedonism, debauchery, and unchecked capitalism. The air is thick with the smell of exotic spices, intoxicating perfumes, and the metallic tang of blood, while the flickering lights of enchanted lanterns cast ominous shadows across the uneven stone walls. Every corner of the market whispers with clandestine deals and unholy bargains, with the very fabric of morality stretched thin in a place where gold and power are the only currencies that matter.
Here, slaves are bought and sold without hesitation, their cries for mercy lost beneath the din of haggling merchants and roving clientele. Lethal poisons, forbidden arcane scrolls, rare artifacts, and pleasures of both body and mind are openly offered for a price, often negotiated in hushed tones or with a simple flick of a dagger. Every vice is catered to, from the sale of rare and addictive substances to the most forbidden of rituals, with those who dare to venture too far into the market often leaving without a coin to their name — or worse, without their life. The Nightshade Market is a dangerous place, where the powerful prey on the weak, and even the most seasoned Drow tread carefully.
Guards are conspicuously absent, but that is because the market polices itself. Criminal cabals and shadowy syndicates maintain a ruthless order, ensuring that those who break the market’s delicate balance are swiftly dealt with. Outsiders who stumble into the market uninvited rarely leave, either lost to the shadows forever or sold as another commodity. The Nightshade Market is where the darkest desires of Luth Galahd are realized, a place where gold flows as freely as blood, and where anything — or anyone — can be bought for the right price.
Here, slaves are bought and sold without hesitation, their cries for mercy lost beneath the din of haggling merchants and roving clientele. Lethal poisons, forbidden arcane scrolls, rare artifacts, and pleasures of both body and mind are openly offered for a price, often negotiated in hushed tones or with a simple flick of a dagger. Every vice is catered to, from the sale of rare and addictive substances to the most forbidden of rituals, with those who dare to venture too far into the market often leaving without a coin to their name — or worse, without their life. The Nightshade Market is a dangerous place, where the powerful prey on the weak, and even the most seasoned Drow tread carefully.
Guards are conspicuously absent, but that is because the market polices itself. Criminal cabals and shadowy syndicates maintain a ruthless order, ensuring that those who break the market’s delicate balance are swiftly dealt with. Outsiders who stumble into the market uninvited rarely leave, either lost to the shadows forever or sold as another commodity. The Nightshade Market is where the darkest desires of Luth Galahd are realized, a place where gold flows as freely as blood, and where anything — or anyone — can be bought for the right price.
Purpose / Function
The Nightshade Market originally began as a slave market, intended to fuel the dark desires and needs of Luth Galahd’s elite. Slaves were traded not only as laborers but also for the fulfillment of more depraved appetites, with a focus on both physical toil and sexual exploitation. Over time, however, the market grew beyond its original scope, evolving into a vast and thriving underground economy that caters to every imaginable—and unimaginable—vice and indulgence.
At its heart, the slave trade remains the cornerstone of the Nightshade Market. Traders proudly parade their wares—men, women, and sometimes even children, shackled in chains and offered to the highest bidder. The slaves sold here serve a variety of purposes, from house servants and manual laborers to consorts in the lavish estates of the city’s powerful cabals. Male slaves, often indentured or captured during raids, roam alongside women cast out from their houses or cabals, all openly displaying their bodies in a desperate bid to catch the eye of a buyer, whether for a fleeting night’s work or a more permanent arrangement.
But the market has grown, its purpose evolving with the insatiable greed of the Drow. It has become a haven for merchants selling illicit goods—from lethal poisons and forbidden arcane artifacts to rare and dangerous scrolls. Artisans, too, have carved out a niche for themselves, crafting items of exquisite beauty or deadly purpose, hoping to earn enough coin to survive the treacherous currents of Drow society. The Nightshade Market, once a simple center of commerce for flesh, has now expanded into a den of trade where anything can be sold, from lives to dark magics, all under the unrelenting gaze of the city’s shadowy overlords.
At its heart, the slave trade remains the cornerstone of the Nightshade Market. Traders proudly parade their wares—men, women, and sometimes even children, shackled in chains and offered to the highest bidder. The slaves sold here serve a variety of purposes, from house servants and manual laborers to consorts in the lavish estates of the city’s powerful cabals. Male slaves, often indentured or captured during raids, roam alongside women cast out from their houses or cabals, all openly displaying their bodies in a desperate bid to catch the eye of a buyer, whether for a fleeting night’s work or a more permanent arrangement.
But the market has grown, its purpose evolving with the insatiable greed of the Drow. It has become a haven for merchants selling illicit goods—from lethal poisons and forbidden arcane artifacts to rare and dangerous scrolls. Artisans, too, have carved out a niche for themselves, crafting items of exquisite beauty or deadly purpose, hoping to earn enough coin to survive the treacherous currents of Drow society. The Nightshade Market, once a simple center of commerce for flesh, has now expanded into a den of trade where anything can be sold, from lives to dark magics, all under the unrelenting gaze of the city’s shadowy overlords.
Type
Market square
Parent Location
Included Locations
Characters in Location
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