December's Overground
Introduction
You find yourselves arriving in a modest town of single story buildings made of grey stone. Your eyes are drawn to the outlier, a far larger building of a similar aesthetic - the theatre that your cart driver pointed out. The Morningstar Theatre is strangely beautiful for such a plain building - pale grey stone, a faintly blue slate roof, and violet tinted windows stand in the grounds of black and pale green vines which wind and dance in plaits and knots. The town comprises of a single main street, with a few shops near the theatre, and what appear to be homes further on. Beyond the buildings, the permafront is transformed in a pure white tundra. From beneath the snow rises a huge rocky dome. A large cave entrance collapses into it, where the main road meets it.Shops
The market street isn't particularly large, but the shops that are here are of a decent size. Each one is slightly unique, but all have the same peaceful grey stone structure as the theatre. Despite the vaguely brutalist architecture type, the whole scene is strangely idyllic and quiet. A few rhye elves are also perusing the shops here. These individuals have a very different air to those elsewhere in the kingdom - dulled clothes and a lack of vibrant ornaments give them a haunting appearance, almost ghostlike. Yet, their faces appear youthful and distantly happy. Faint smiles adorn each elf, and though they do not oft speak, when they do their voices are singsong and pleasant, and their subtle laughs feel warm and genuine. The shop that Evien is currently unloading her cart into appears to be a general food store 'December's Overground Produce' - with ingredients and wines for sale. A few grey-faced elves change direction as they see the shop they were headed to is temporarily closed while the new stock is delivered. Next-door, a medicine store, 'Apothecary - Open all Hours' reads the sign, displays a selection of dried herbs, powders, flowers, oils, and other natural ingredients. Each one has a detailed note next to it, explaining it's origin and purpose. Through the warped window you see more products inside, included pre-prepared elixers, although the back half of the shop seems devoted to space to cook up remedies and tonics as and when needed. The elf inside is a slender man with a wide mouth, dressed in what at first appear to be rags, but are truthfully strips of a soft silk wound together into an almost knitted poncho with it's fraying ends forming a sort of veil over his arms and legs. The busiest shop in the street is also the largest: Sint Raynor's Fashion. It sits opposite a far lonelier looking shop labbeled as 'Sub Zero Clothing Hall'. Sint Raynor's shop is made of two smaller shops which have been merged together using a concrete like extension. The front is made of a blurry crystal glass, behind which you can see carefully choreographed scenes of mannequins and dummies wearing beautiful furs and thick woollen dresses. Shoes that shimmer like iridescent beetle shells and equally spectacular purses and accessories join the clothing. Inside, you can see elves hunting through ready made garments tended to by frantic looking youths wearing a strange black fur uniform, and further in a counter and measuring stage is so popular a queue has formed for those looking for custom clothing. Sub Zero is empty but for it's staff. A small windows shows piles of brown and greyish garments, folded in piles rather than on display. Forgotten Fixtures seems to be a home decor shop, advertising decorations, furnishings, and a wide selection of charms. The most formidable looking building turns out to be the Aurelian post office. A huge roost stretches behind it, Klik-Klak realising that this must be for messenger dragons. Below the roost, a large pit of dog-like creatures roll in snow, play with one another, or sleep curled up in tight balls. To the side of the pit, completely still, stand other creatures - these appear more bear like, strong, with powerful haunches. The dogs do not interact with the bears. A jewellers sits next to the post office, not yet open, but the well worn path outside suggests that it is well patroned. A beautiful mural upon it's garden wall introduces it as 'Frostfire Jewellers', written in flowers. The final shop of note is the most run down of all the high street, although Sub Zero is a close second. A block of concrete outside is engraved with the words: Grim's Hunting and Fishing Stop. Elsewhere, there is a small bakery, a shop selling household tools, and bizzarely a stationary shop.
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