Day 25 - Shopping
Day 25-Where can I do some shopping?
I want to buy some souvenirs from this trip and maybe snacks for the voyage home.
Elowen’s Journal
"I didn’t grow up with shops like this.
Back home, you went where you needed to go, and that was that. Here, I still sometimes wander without meaning to buy anything at all. West Haven is full of places that invite you inside just to see what’s there. I love it when my parents visit, and I take them everywhere.
Omar’s is the obvious starting point. Everyone ends up there eventually. Adventurers especially. You can buy rope, packs, armor, weapons, and things you didn’t know you needed until Omar asks why you’re leaving town. Behind the front room are stranger things, magical things, but you don’t browse those so much as you’re allowed to see them.
Émilie’s apothecary smells like dried herbs, sweet resins, and something sharper underneath. You can buy ingredients for alchemy, remedies for illness, charms for luck, and sometimes things she doesn’t advertise at all. I’ve learned that if Émilie pauses before answering a question, it’s best to listen very carefully to what she says next.
Renee’s isn’t just tea. You can buy blends to take home, little tins wrapped in paper with handwritten notes explaining what they’re good for. Sleep. Courage. Letting go. I’ve seen travelers buy them like souvenirs, not realizing they’re also buying memories. I have to admit I love working there.
There are bookshops here. More than one. That still amazes me. I’d heard of them before coming to West Haven, but I’d never seen a place where books were sold the way bread or cloth is sold. Some shops specialize in histories or spellcraft, others in poetry or strange pamphlets that feel half-finished. Even the smallest shops seem to know which book you’ll reach for first.
Clothing shops are everywhere. Practical things for travel. Robes and cloaks. Dresses meant for dancing, ritual, or both. Tailors who don’t blink when you ask for hidden pockets or fabric that won’t tear if you fly. And food. So much food. I’ve lived here three years, and I still haven’t eaten everywhere I want to.
Market days bring even more. Temporary stalls selling charms, tools, odd trinkets, and gear meant for adventurers heading north or west. If you want a souvenir, you’ll find one. If you want supplies for a dangerous journey, you’ll find those too. West Haven makes sure no one leaves unprepared, whether they realize that’s what they’re shopping for or not."
Designer’s Notes
Shopping in West Haven is designed to support play rather than distract from it. The village offers abundant access to gear, food, clothing, books, and magical supplies without turning shopping into a chore. Familiar anchor locations like Omar’s, Émilie’s Apothecary, and Renee’s Tea Shoppe give players consistent reference points, while smaller shops and market stalls allow for improvisation.
Bookstores are a deliberate inclusion, reinforcing the setting’s emphasis on learning, discovery, and personal growth. Clothing shops and tailors acknowledge the practical realities of witches, travelers, and adventurers living side by side. Market days expand variety without requiring permanent infrastructure.
The goal is simple: if players want something reasonable, West Haven can probably provide it. If they want something strange, meaningful, or slightly dangerous, West Haven might provide that too, but with a conversation first.
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