Barking Alien's RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE! Day 13

Day 13 - Food & Drink

Day 13-Where can we get a drink and a bite to eat?
Give us a few of your most notable restaurants and bars in the campaign setting. Tell us something about these places and what makes them distinctive.

Elowen's Journal

"If you want tea, you go to Renee’s. That part is simple. It is perfect for luncheons, for afternoon conversations that turn into confessions, and for evenings when you only want something light and warm before heading home. Renee always seems to know when to refill your cup without asking, and I have learned that whatever pastry she suggests is the one you should take.

The Purple Dragon is better when you are hungry in a serious way. Big meals. Loud tables. Music drifts through the room, whether you planned to listen or not. It feels like a place where stories get told out loud, not whispered. 

But if you want the best food in West Haven, truly the best, you go to one of the inns run by the Westhaven gnome clan.

They used to be called 'Winterhaven,' long before the flood, back when Haven was still one settlement. The stories say they hid a group of witches during a hunt, fed them, sheltered them, and never asked for anything in return. The witches blessed them in return, and when some of the clan stayed in the valley, they changed their name to Westhaven. Their cooking is… more than good. I do not know how else to say it. Their bread alone feels like it remembers every meal you ever needed. I dream about it sometimes. They make this pastry, which they call "walking bread." It's light, fluffy, sweet, and filled with fruits and cream. It's crazy how good it is. One day, Doireann and I went all over the village and got a different one at each inn. I was sick to my stomach, and Doireann laughed, but it was completely worth it. 

Food changes with the seasons here, too. Each quarter does its best work in its proper time, but no one does autumn like the Mabon Quarter. Stews, roasted roots, apple breads, things that make you feel like winter will not be quite so cruel after all.

Friday the 13th is my favorite. It is not a big festival. No banners or speeches. Just a quiet understanding that luck bends a little differently that day. Extra dishes appear. Drinks get stronger. People linger longer. Witches smile more than usual. It feels like the town is taking a breath and remembering who it belongs to."

Designer's Notes

Food in West Haven is intentionally grounded. Meals are communal, seasonal, and often layered with subtle ritual meaning, whether the diners are aware of it or not. Eating together is one of the ways the town maintains cohesion between witches and non-witches, locals and travelers, living and lingering.

Different locations serve different roles. Renee’s Tea Shoppe is a social and conversational hub, ideal for quiet scenes and character development. The Purple Dragon handles larger gatherings, music, and shared stories. Gnome-run inns, particularly those of the Westhaven clan, represent inherited magical hospitality. Their food is blessed not through spells but through tradition, gratitude, and long memory.

Friday the 13th functions as a minor holiday in West Haven. It is not announced, but it is observed. On that day, luck, fate, and appetite all run a little stronger. For witches especially, it is a reminder that nourishment is not just physical. It is ritual, protection, and belonging made edible.

It is Friday the 13th here as well, and my son's bakery is doing its annual Pączki day, which may or may not be a good substitute for Westhaven Walking Bread. But don't try to eat more than two at a time unless you are a goblin. 

Join Adam Dickstein of Barking Alien, and his RPG CAMPAIGN TOUR CHALLENGE 2026!