First Impressions and a Taste of the New

The Dungeon Manager, wearing a wooden mask, held out a hand. "Welcome, guests," his clear voice said. "Please, follow us. We will show you around the Necro Market. We hope your trip was not too hard." His posture was straight, his movements smooth. There was no rush in his tone, only a calm invitation.

The seven Goatfolk traders were still amazed by the outside of the dungeon. They swallowed hard. Griz, usually calm, felt a knot in his stomach. This was not what he expected. They looked at each other, silent questions in their eyes, then slowly followed Orkesh, Mina, and the Manager inside. The doors closed softly behind them, making a quiet click that echoed slightly in the newly entered space. It felt like stepping into a different world.

As they stepped inside the dungeon, a cool, fresh air hit them. It was much cooler than the humid forest outside, a welcome relief that made them sigh. The air smelled clean, like fresh-cut stone and blooming flowers, not the damp, earthy smell they expected from a dungeon. Their eyes opened wide as they saw the main hall. It was more than just stone walls. The floors were polished stone tiles, shining under a soft, steady light that came from carved pillars. These pillars had bright, strange plants wrapped around them that seemed to glow with a gentle, inner light. There were no smoky torches, no flickering flames. The light was even and gentle, showing everything clearly, making the hall feel open and inviting.

They walked quietly, their hooves clicking softly on the polished floor. Griz, who usually talked a lot, was completely silent. Wow, he thought, his mind trying to make sense of it all. Whoever made this place is very skilled. This is not just a dungeon; it's a work of art. And the air inside… it's not hot. It's oddly cool, like a spring morning. How did they do this? He found it strange that a dungeon, which should be damp and old, was so clean and cool. It defied everything he knew about underground spaces.

They reached the central lounge, a wide, round area with a huge, intricately carved pillar in the middle. Green plants grew from its base, their leaves a vibrant green, and smooth stone benches were placed around it, inviting people to sit. "This feels like heaven," one Goatfolk whispered, amazed, looking up at the glowing plants and carved ceiling. Around this main area were the stores. They were open, their entrances wide, inviting people in. Skeletons worked in each store. They wore the same dark suits and wooden masks as the Manager. They stood still, moved quietly, and looked very professional. They didn't speak, but their presence was orderly and efficient.

A good smell, like cooked food, came from the canteen. It was a rich, savory smell that made their stomachs rumble loudly. The Manager pointed towards the source of the aroma. "This is the Necro Market. Here you can get many services, including places to stay, both shared and private rooms, for your comfort. We also have good meals at very affordable prices. Everyone will be happy with the quality and cost."

Orkesh stepped forward, his new suit looking sharp on him. "We also have different kinds of weapons and armor," he announced, his voice clear. "They are made from good materials like iron and steel. For those who want the strongest and best material, you might have heard about it in Stonehorn Crossing: we have Damascus steel weapons. These are very rare and powerful. They will sold at an auction once a week, drawing buyers from far and wide."

Griz's eyes got wide. So it's true, he thought, remembering stories of a famous Lupen blacksmith who lost a duel to an unknown blade, rumored a wavy flowing pattern on the blade was named the Damascus steel. This meant big things for their own trading business. If this market had such rare goods, it was more than just a local stop.

Mina spoke next, her voice soft but firm. "If you like art, board games, puzzles, toys for children, or furniture, the Necro Market has many wood-carved products. Every small detail is made perfectly by our artists. Each piece is unique and crafted with great care."

The Manager spoke again, his voice gentle. "You are free to check out each store. The staff there will answer all your questions about their products. If you want to discuss business deals, we can talk about that in a private room later. But for now, I think you are all hungry after your trip. You've come a long way. I suggest you checking out our canteen first. Our meals are designed to satisfy your hunger and refresh you." He pointed to the busy canteen, where more skeletons and kobolds moved with purpose. "If you have any questions, our staff is here to help you at any time."

Griz was surprised by how professional they were. These undead and kobolds treated them like important people, like nobles, not just regular traders passing through. His friends were still staring at everything inside, their mouths slightly open. Everything was clean and well-designed, with perfectly carved pillars and living plants. It was not dark and gloomy like a typical dungeon.

The lounge was like another world, bright and orderly, a place of comfort and commerce. Borin, his stomach making noises that could be heard, finally left the group. "I'm going to try these meals," he said, excited, already moving towards the canteen. "The smell has been pulling me since we came in. It smells amazing."

"Wait for me!" Skall, another Goatfolk, quickly followed. "I'll go with you! I'm starving too."

Griz kept wondering how they made this place. The outside was hot and humid, but inside it was cool and comfortable. The air was perfectly regulated. They would be pay a fee just to stay inside, maybe even a high one, if the establishment felt they needed to. But no one said anything about a price to enter, which meant anyone could come and go freely. This was very welcoming, almost too welcoming for a dungeon. It was a clever business move, he realized, drawing people in without an initial cost.

Borin, Skall, Brum, and Cluma went straight for the canteen counter. Lisha, a kobold working there, smiled brightly. "Welcome! What would you like to order today?" she asked, her voice friendly.

The Goatfolk looked at the wooden menu board above the counter. They were surprised by the low prices and how the food was sold. In normal inns, you paid for each drink or meal separately. Here, they had "meal sets." The prices were very cheap. A meat stew with iced water was only 7 bronze coins. This was so cheap that even a poor peasant could afford it and still have money left over for other things. The next set was a "steak," which they didn't know the word for, but the description said it was grilled, seasoned meat. It came with iced juice for 30 bronze coins, or with just iced water for 20 bronze coins. Another set was called a "burger," a new word entirely. It was described as meat between bread with vegetables and seasoning, and it came with iced juice for only 40 bronze coins.

They were also surprised by the "family meal." This set provided meals for five people but cost only four sets' worth. And a "party meal" was for twelve people but cost only nine sets' worth. This meant eating with more people saved money, a smart way to encourage group visits. The Goatfolk smiled, discussing what to eat, their minds buzzing with the implications of such generous and innovative pricing. Ultimately, they chose the "burger family meal set" with iced juice. It cost 1 silver and 60 bronze coins, which was incredibly budget-friendly for a group of four.

Borin leaned forward, pointing at the menu. "Uhhh… we'd like the," he looked up at the plaque, "burger set with iced juice, a family meal."

Lisha nodded, still smiling. "That will be 1 silver and 60 bronze." She quickly wrote their order on a small slate and gave it to the kitchen. Then, she gave Borin a small wooden tag with a number carved into it. "Please wait a few minutes," she said. "This is your order number. Our waitress will bring your meal directly to your table with this specific number." She smiled again, her eyes crinkling.

Borin stared at the tag. A number for his order? He hoped it wasn't some kind of trick. He had never seen this kind of system before. But then, it clicked in his mind. At the inns he frequented, especially busy ones, waiters often gave the wrong order to the wrong table, or brought the wrong dish entirely. It was a common occurrence, a frustrating part of travel and business. But here, they had a system to prevent it.

They actually applied a smart strategy, he thought, a flicker of deep admiration in his eyes. He quickly pulled out a small parchment and a charcoal stick from his bag. He started writing down all the techniques, strategies, and solutions he could see – the pricing models, the order system, the welcoming atmosphere – all ideas he could apply to their own family business establishment back home. This dungeon, run by undead and kobolds, was teaching him more about efficient commerce than any living merchant he had ever met. It was a revelation.