A Traveler's Guide to Dorchar

This document is meant to represent the book of the same name which was acquired by Frode on Nurend 13, 308 while in The Hidden Village of Mothlights. It was given to Frode by Dayae, the mothling that runs the inn, Inn the Light Place. Dayae offered the book to Frode after he learned that Frode wished to see his family. While it is written in a language unrecognized by most of the Spiritual Travelers, Hysteria is able to somewhat understand most of it. The book has detailed information about The Night City of Dorchar, places to visit while there, people to meet, food to eat and so forth. It is unknown who wrote this book. Table of Contents

Introduction

If you've decided to travel to this glorious and beautiful city then you've chosen well. The Night City, The City of Stars, Dorchar, it really comes alive at night, and I would insist that you only visit when the sun is fully set. I made the mistake of going there during the day once...it's completely different. I'm hoping this guide will help outline what an ideal trip to the City of Stars could be. Remember, you'll want to find a way to get a good amount of rest during the day...otherwise you'll be up all night here, and then you won't really be having as much of a good time as you could. There's nothing worse than falling asleep somewhere here and waking up in the comparably boring, uneventful, and drab Daytime Village of Aotri. Between the introduction and the next section is a map that unfolds until a line leading from a point labeled as "The Night City of Dorchar" ends at a dot which is suspiciously close to your present location. As you journey along the line the dot follows you...how odd.

Sightseeing

In this city there are many sights to be seen. Buildings and poles that rise high up into the air with lights blinking from all angles, strange sculptures and statues, a remarkable and unique level of technology that rivals even the metropolis of Esther from back home. They have these plants called Electrimoss and Conduction Reeds. A whole system of those two plants working together to provide power for the whole city. With this power they can have bulbs of light without any fire, music playing over loud speakers, and many more oddities. While this may not have much to do with landmarks or points of interest like a normal sightseeing log might have, the very sight of this technology leaves many travelers with a drooping lower jaw.

Restaurants

When first stepping foot into this town it is hard to not be distracted by the flashing lights, trolleys, and the intense music emanating from a warehouse down one of the streets. Some places that any traveler really aught to stop at before running off to dance though is the well placed diner located just at the entrance, or, a bit further down, Sgith's. I'll provide some more details about the different cuisine available in town later on in the next section, but any traveler is likely to want some delicious food after being on the road for so long. So, if you're feeling hungry, the first place you really aught to visit is either one of these restaurants. Feel free to skip ahead if you're more in the mood for some tourism.

Sgith's

A fancy eatery and the best restaurant in town. Soft lighting, ambient classical music provided by a live string quartet, and an upscale dress code make Sgith's an ideal location for anyone looking for a romantic evening or even just a high end meal with some friends. Expertly arranged lighting coupled with the decor, dress code and potential magic make each table feel incredibly private. The area around you becomes darkness with just points of light for each surrounding table almost as though you were sitting in a sea of stars. There's also a fully stocked bar available for anyone not looking for a sit down meal, but instead just a drink or a conversation. I recommend the Creamy Locust Risotto, the...locusts are a bit off putting at first, but it is delicious! While here be sure to try Sgith's Pinot Noir! It only exists at night, and it is pressed, barreled, aged and bottled on the premises.

DINER

For a more laid back, casual experience I would recommend the DINER: A less-than-creatively named Diner though one of the more popular locations for travelers. A Neon sign hangs in the window with OPEN in large red lettering and Late written in cursive blue letters. Large windows frame the establishment and people walking outside can see the well-lit interior and any customers that might currently be enjoying a meal or drink. A variety of music can be heard playing from a jukebox, though most of the time this music defaults to smooth jazz unless otherwise directed. Most of the lights are consistent and provide gentle illumination for dreary travelers, but one of the lights is constantly flickering as if in need of a replacement. I'd recommend the Baked Caterpillar Casserole, again, the bugs are a bit off putting, but trust me when I say that it IS delicious. To drink, they have an amazing coffee, and some mighty fine pies for desert too.

Entertainment

If you aren't that hungry and you'd prefer to get right to finding some entertainment, then there are a few great locations in town. While out walking there area variety of popup restaurants that all specialize in one cuisine or another, or you could pay the premium for bar or casino food and drinks.

Arlech's Casinno

It's rather hard to miss as it is one of the taller buildings in town and it is constantly lit with flashing lights, neon signs, and windows. The exterior of the building has moss, vines and other plantlife trying to reclaim it, however, it is in no danger of being damaged. Inside is the casino on the ground floor with a hotel upstairs, "elevators" are also available for easy altitude modification. A traveler could gamble here and meet the owner, Big Arlech. Rewards for winning it big include some coins, though they mostly exchange items of magical, sentimental or practical value rather than money. While the hotel is intended for visitors it seems almost like a strange...mask? As if it were only there because it's expected. I'm not sure who would visit this city just to sleep...though I can imagine maybe a traveler getting a little too eager with their liquor and needing a bed. Or maybe someone wanting to visit the Daytime Village instead and wanting to rest through the night. Regardless of how unusual this hotel seems to me, it clearly has some purpose to somebody...but the number of rooms is still unnecessary I feel. That being said, I did rent one of the rooms just to see what's inside. The beds are of a high quality, very comfortable, soft sheets and everything is clean and aesthetically pleasing. If you do need a room, this is going to be one of the better ones you stay in. Drinks similar in nature to Sgiths and other establishments are available, and a buffet is accessible for anyone that gets hungry while engaging in their games.

The Lilypad

The entrance to this club, like all exclusive and "cool" bars that I've seen, is quite hard to find. The biggest indication of its approximate location is a neon sign of a lilypad, no words, just the plant. That being said, the sign isn't above a door, but to find the entrance simply look for the tree closest to the sign. One of the lower branches of this tree is a lever, and if you pull on it it will slide open a door and part of the ground to reveal a set of stairs leading below ground. An underground tunnel will lead to another door with a bouncer, when I was there he accepted the password "Starlight". Beyond this door is the club proper. Windows and exterior, well angled lighting provide a gorgeous underwater view of a pond. Seating is available around the oversized windows that make up most of the walls, a dance floor is almost always in use by a a few different eadarling, and a semicircle shaped bar arch's out from the rear wall opposite the entrance. They serve a variety of drinks at the bar which is tended to by the owner, Ceol. They stock most alcohols except the ones that are particularly elusive, and they have Sgith’s Pinot Noir, of course. Soft and slow or even hard and fast beats can be heard playing over the loud speakers, and a DJ is always ready and willing to accept requests within reason.

The Warehouse

The setting of many a "rave" and other musical events: The Warehouse. The original purpose and owner of this warehouse has long since been forgotten, or maybe no one ever knew to begin with...or maybe it came into existence with the very purpose of being an abandoned warehouse. Nightly raves, dances, and other forms of gathering and merrymaking are held here with music provided by DJs or live performances depending on the event. Lighting is mostly non-existent save the luminescent piping of certain outfits, glowsticks, and the individual table lamps for private booths or the bar. I only came here for a little bit during my first stay here... I'm not a big fan of the rave scene, never heard of it until that night. I would offer this one little bit of wisdom regarding this particular landmark: If you're offered anything, only take it if you're ready for a particularly wild night.

Other Landmarks

Statue of Dorcha

Throughout this city there will be the occasional smaller statue of Dorcha or some other relevant Eadarling. You might do well to remember to take a moment at each one to bow your head at the very least. Most Eadarling, especially those of the Dorchar, won't do much more than a passing glance and a nod, but they will still judge outsiders for not recognizing that she exists. Ignoring the statues is the worst thing you could do. In addition to these smaller statues there is also a much larger statue to her built behind her "throne". This statue of Dorcha is made of some incredibly dark material, likely obsidian or, at the very least, obsidian adjacent. It stands at about 10 times the height of her throne with a small garden growing around it. This garden is surrounded in a circular bench which many eadarling couples or friends will be seen sitting on and enjoying food or recreational drugs. This garden is large enough that it is basically a small park with fountains, trees, flowers, grass and moss. It really is gorgeous. A plack at the north, west, east and south points of the circular bench can be read which kinda tells who Dorcha is as a dark archfae to these people.

-DORCHA-
She is the darkness that lets us admire the light.
Without her shadows the stars would not shine.
Without her gown the city would not shine.
Without her cloak we would not shine.

More detailed information about Dorcha can be found at the end of this book.

Dorcha's Throne

In front of the statue is a throne. It looks to be suitable for a humanoid creature of about 5 or so feet tall. The back goes up to around 8 feet, and the whole throne is made of the same obsidian material as the statue. It shines and reflects the light of the city around it, I was stunned when I first saw it. Nobody sits in it. I've been to this city many times to gather as much information as possible, and I have yet to ever seen anyone sitting in that throne. I'm not sure what its purpose is beyond a monument. The only creature I've ever seen go near it is what appears to be a tiny, ordinary, perfectly mundane frog. It's a creamy white color and reminds me of a Cuban Tree Frog. I chose not to capture this frog for further research as its proximity to the throne made me think it might be important. Additionally, this throne is the only consistency between the Night City and the Daytime Village... the only difference being that instead of this creamy white frog hopping around the throne there was an incredibly tiny black frog with an interesting brown pattern on its body. This frog was smaller than the size of my fingernail! Reminiscent of a Paedophryne amauensis. I have a sneaking suspicion that these two frogs are the archfae Dorch and Aotrom, but in frog form during their opposing times of day... They must have some form of protection to still be alive and just out in the open like this. If they were ever harmed I have no idea what would happen to their societies let alone the balance of the world itself! How remarkable.

Moon Carvings

Throughout the city there are smaller carvings depicting moons and stars. They aren't as essential to acknowledge as the smaller statues of Dorcha, but they are beautiful and seem significant. Taking the time to admire the artistry behind them is essential to any tour through the night city. They sometimes appear at the entrances of buildings, street corners, separating storefronts in strip malls, carved into the sidewalk itself, or into the sides of buildings too. They're everywhere!

Eadarling Cuisine

The diet of the average Dorchar Eadarling is largely alcohol based, however, they do also have several hearty dishes made from high quality and rare ingredients. These dishes range from high end cuisine in a fine dining restaurant like Sgith's to late night junk food that you could find at a popup.

Fresh Insects

To save space, many insects found in dishes here can also be purchased fresh to either cook with on your own or to consume in a more natural way.

Mealworm Ambrosia

A salad made with mealworms, seasonal fruits, and some form of dairy topping such as whip cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, or even sour cream. The easier, cheaper forms made from basic whip cream or cottage cheese and easy to acquire seasonal fruits are usually seen on menus of diners, though more elusive fruits could be used to jack up the prices at fancier establishments.

Cricket Dishes

Crickets a la Creme

An appetizer served at finer dining facilities, surprisingly delicious! The Crickets are sauteed in oil, spirit salt, white pepper, garlic, and fresh lemon juice. They are then transferred to a plate and topped with an expertly applied drizzle of creamy sauce made from Coconut Milk, ginger, and a very soft and pungent cheese made from Mountain Goat milk.

Fried Crickets

A less time consuming dish, fried crickets are usually seen on menus at late-night diners, pubs, road side pop-ups and the like. They’re an appetizer, and some are cooled and packaged for later consumption as snacks.

Locust Dishes

Creamy Locust Risotto

An entree prepared with fresh Locusts that are pan-seared in truffle-butter with Ulunor’s Hair Mushrooms. Rice is cooked in a separate pan with truffle butter, then boiled with a mushroom broth until it is fully reduced. The seared Locusts and Ulunor’s Hair mushrooms are then incorporated along with fresh in-house made Mountain Goat Mascarpone. The dish is then plated along with a slice of toasted garlic bread and topped with the previously removed hairs from the mushrooms as a garnish. Typically served in fancier establishments.

Locust Melt

Locusts are first grilled and seasoned before being cooled and incorporated into a mixture of chopped onions, celery, dijon mustard and mayo. This mixture, known as Locust Salad, is then placed between two slices of toasted bread and melted cheese of either the establishment’s prerogative or the customer’s depending on the location. Served in most late-night diners, and some roadside pop-ups may also specialize in more customizable versions.

Locust Chili

The specialty of many roadside pop-ups, Chili. Not just any chili but hearty, nutritious, Locust Chili. This particular dish is served year-round by a select few pop-ups, but comes into season in Nurend and Daulok, the multitude of new pop-ups tend to phase out as spring comes into existence with Vorkalt. This chili is made from Locusts, be they fresh, dried or fried. If the Locusts are fresh they are seared in a pan with onions and any other vegetables that the chef might add. This mixture is seasoned and transferred to a large soup pan with previously cooked beans and tomatoes that had been stewed with lots of delicious seasonings and stock. After incorporating the main ingredients together additional seasonings, spices, and sometimes sweeter varieties will add sweeteners in the form of Marmalade, Molasses, and more.

Caterpillar Dishes

Giant Caterpillar Roast

A giant caterpillar, roasted with vegetables of the chef’s choosing, seasoned with salt, pepper, minced garlic, thyme and spais. The Roasted Giant Caterpillar is usually cut tableside and served with a sauce made from the broth. Some restaurants will slice it thin and serve it on bread with the same broth sauce (french dip style), this is usually seen in late-night diners. When served as a tableside-cut steak it usually comes with a side of miso soup or a house salad.

Baked Caterpillar Casserole

A simple dish made of smaller caterpillars, bread crumbs, some form of creamy sauce, and seasoning to taste. Usually served at late-night diners and “homestyle cooking” restaurants. Many chefs will also incorporate peas, mushrooms, onions or other vegetables to compliment the flavor profile of their sauce.

Seared Spotted-Lion’s-Mane Caterpillar w/ Special Sauce

A particularly dangerous caterpillar if eaten raw or fully cooked… this delicacy is prepared at fancier restaurants where the clientele can afford the exuberant prices. The poison of this caterpillar is located within the soft exoskeleton layers that surround it. Removing the layers will result in the poison leaking onto and damaging the meat 100% of the time, and overcooking the caterpillar will cause the poisons to spread through its body and cook resulting in the flavor profile being ruined as well. The only way to safely cook them is to pass them over an open flame very briefly, just long enough for them to curl up and render the poison inert and trapped in the outer layers. As the caterpillar curls onto itself the outer layer splits in such a way that the poison leaks out into a ready dish with mayonnaise, garlic and chili oil. This mixture is then whipped until stiff peaks form and piped onto the caterpillar as a “special sauce” (Poison-aioli).

People of Interest

Sgith

Owner and founder of Sgith's, the finest restaurant in The City of Stars. He brews his own Pinot Noir and personally develops each item on the menu with his chef. Most of his time lately though is spent just hanging out, talking to guests and maintaining the atmosphere famous to Sgith's. He has the appearance of a white frog-person with black tiger-like stripes. The inside of his mouth is bright blue. He looks similar to an African Milk Frog and wears a well-tailored black suit. I've noticed that, as long as he is out front and welcoming guests, he has his “game face” on and is eager to interact with people. He's rather excited, especially new people like travelers, outsiders and the like.

Arlech

Owner and founder of Arlech's Casino. She has a no-nonsense attitude which has served her well during all her years overseeing the operations of her business. She proudly carries a firearm on her hip for all to see, and, according to other patrons, she has used it in the past. Seems to be evidence of the the rather lawless nature of the city. She has the appearance of a large, humanoid, Turtle Frog. When I was visiting the casino for research on this book I swear I saw her arguing with a young eadarling waiter from Sgith's... I hope they're alright, wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt.

Snàthad

Somewhere behind the busy streets, behind the lights and the action of the city scene, beyond the warehouse and the casino... there's another area that's not quite a landmark but worthy of mention just the same. A small building, just part of another strip mall next to some inconsequential diner, a beauty parlor and a Local Game Store. This building has a neon sign displaying the word "TATTOOS" along with a flashing needle design. Just past the glass door a bell rings as it swings open and an eadarling with the appearance of a humanoid Yellow Banded Poison Dart Frog greets you with nothing but a slight head movement and a rough "hm". If all that lines up you're in the right place. Do not ask him if he's the "magical tattoo guy" or what his name is... He's very particular, but if you go about it right you'll be able to get what you need. You need a smooth rock, like a river pebble or a lakeshore pebble of some kind. Something smooth, and it helps if it's pretty too. If you don't have one then he says he'll provide something "For a price". The phrase you're supposed to say, if you want to see your family or people that were close to you in a far off land, is the following: "My rock is broken, and in need of mending
Draw the lines that may become my thread
so that it connects us, sews us back together
and bridges the gap between us." One painful tattoo later and I was able to see my family...they couldn't hear or see me, but I was able to feel them, see them, hear them. They were miserable... Their sadness tore at my mind and soul, feeling what they felt was something I both regret and would never give up for anything in the world. I'm just glad they're okay...but I wish they could know that I am too.

Dorcha

Dorcha (dürchuh, like oo in goo, and ch in lunch) is a Dark Archfey, and the Eadarling that follow her are devoted to her darkness. She seems to be an embodiment of another philosophical concept, or half of one anyways: Yin represents things that are cooler, quieter, more still and darker. It is characterized by the color black and has a point of white light, hence the Night. Dorcha is an archfey and an ancient, timeless frog-like being that the Dorchar Eadarling believe is the darkness found throughout their lives. Cool, calm, collected, and within the darkness there is opportunity to see beautiful lights you couldn’t see during the light of day. The Dorchar love these lights as they are only visible when Dorcha allows them to be… much like the Dorchar themselves. Dorchar and their cities only exist at night when Dorcha awakens and brings the dark blanket of a new sky over the land, blocking out the harsh light of day and bringing her children, the Dorchar, with her. The stars could be compared to the bright lights of a Dorchar city. As, from a distance, a Dorchar city may even be confused as just another part of the night sky. It is possible that the Dorchar and Dorcha are all the same being...though if this is the case it hardly seems to matter as each Dorchar is still their own individual personality with goals and hobbies and so forth. That being said, if something were to happen to Dorcha the Dorchar would be unable to come into existence again each night. … I wonder if something could happen to her. That would be dreadful.

I spent many nights here trying to find her. I asked around, I asked all the "important" eadarlings like Sgith and so forth... but finding her is incredibly challenging. It's such a big city, and apparently she tends to just wander about looking at the Dorchar and enjoying the night, what a strange deity. I eventually realized that I was going about it all wrong. I was putting too much energy into it, too much heat. I needed to just wait patiently for her to come to me, and it worked! I just sat in a random Diner out in the city, the buzzing and sometimes flashing tube lights above me providing a lovely atmosphere as I enjoyed yet another piece of pie and cup of coffee. She did walk by. I almost missed her until the flicker of her gown was picked up out of the corner of my eye. Something unusual even in such a strange city. She has the appearance of a very dark brown, almost black, frog person with white speckles and very faint brown stripes. Similar in appearance to a Paedophryne amauensis. She wears a dark gown with long flowing bits of fabric draped over her shoulders, elbows, and so on, this fabric looks to be made of the night sky. A cloak that almost looks like it is made of shadows is draped over her shoulders though it seems to just melt into the air around her like smoke.

She was willing to to talk after I approached her, but I don't want to share too much information here... no, it'd be better if whatever traveler happened to find this book was able to ask her some questions themselves someday, if they are even able to find her. What secrets will you be able to uncover in this City of Stars?

MAP

At the back of the book is a map of the city!

Location

The Night City of Dorchar

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