Odd

Odd is a village on the South side of the Northern Isle. The roads from Odd lead to Belve and Stony, which has Echo Woods and Dusk Quagmire in between them.
If travelers know of the legends of the Echo Woods and the Dusk Quagmire, they will journey the longer way through Odd instead.

It is a very unusual place to visit, both visibly and in customs - hence the name. Nothing in the village has corners and is always well lit -" for anything can hide in there in the shadowy corners".
Odd is known for art and friendship celebrations.

The first sight most people see, is the cylinder shape of an inland Lighthouse, made of white stone, which stands on the northern edge of Odd.
It is home to the Lightkeeper Sinead Bryner - Half-Elf - and husband Stewart - Human.
The light glows all day and night, castings of Types of Magic to protect the people of Odd.
A large circular bronze bell stands beside the lighthouse, and Stewart rings it very hour and half hour, from six in the morning until two thirty in the afternoon. Then from four in the afternoon until eleven at night.
A smaller round silver bell is rang at three in the morning and repeating at four in the morning, and then at three in the afternoon not repeated - to mark the Witching Hours.


The three story circular houses are build with stairs on the outside that go up to the entrance at the top, where the kitchen and living spaces are. Access to the lower levels is via hidden hatches (in the floor or furniture) and fixed wall ladders. The oval windows only open at very top - not allowing to be used as exits.

Top levels of homes are open plan and used for gatherings - such as Knitting circles (always indoors quilt-making groups; and baking clubs.

The surrounding trees have steps cut into them, so people can climb up and down.
The trees are mostly Baobab Trees that look upside down when bare, Naptovis Trees and Monkey-Puzzle trees grow around the village - adding to the oddness.
A few hemlock trees grow on the outskirts of the village, at the bases of the trees is scatterings of the poisonous Hemlock plant.

Bushes of yellow Dahlias grow along pathways - the bushes are around 50cm tall with pretty 5cm flowers. The dahlias get planted after the threat of frost has passed, so they will flower for months from early summer until mid-autumn.
These yellow Dahlias are picked to celebrate Friendship Anniversaries (considered more important than individual's birthdays).


The wind off Dusk Quagmire sounds like whispers. There are people known as Interrupters, who Interpret the whispers, then Interrupt conversations with the what they hear.

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DARK METAL

Blacksmith
Dark Metal is run by twin brothers, burly Dwarves Daldan and Grammund Hardaxe.
The homemade spiral water wheel runs in the river that only appears above ground for 500 feet outside the Blacksmith forge - a square building with curved edges and open top half on three sides. The water pump is attached, however is difficult to use - children are warned away from it.

THE WICCAN

Low Magic Shop, Magical Items, Black Market, Potions
Building = oval, mud-clad, two tiered large hut - built into the side of a hill.
Owner = Maelis Bitterbloom - Witch Doctor - nonbinary - half Wild Dwarves/Wild Elves - dark-skinned, tall for dwarf (short for a elf) and skinny - pointed ears - very short light brown hair, has strip of black - with dark brown eyes when using magic their eyes turn violet then become desperate and heavily dilated - has a hunched back - heavily tattooed body, is covered with grease to ward off insects - wears a fur long shawl - wear a bone pygmy necklace - blowgun and poison darts - has a minor phobia of being clean - Voice is deep and wheezing
+ Loudly worships Moradin, God of Dwarves, creation, smithing, protection, metalcraft, and stonework - Languages = Common, Uncommon, Dwarven, Auran, Terran, Sylvan, and Celestial
Wanders in the Dusk Quagmire and visit Echo Woods
PET = Nyx - black feathers - hippogriff - half horse and half eagle

ARTFUL EXPRESSIONS

Art College

Palett, Cane, Canvas, Clay, Brush, Glass, Fabric, Plants, Metals, Gems, and Mixed Mediums Institute
Building = large oblong wooden structure. One room for art classes and other creative activities. While the covered outdoor area has a low stage and plenty of seating.
The people of Odd sit towards the front, and never look behind them during any performance - just in case any 'others' come to watch.
ART
Abstract, Contemporary, Classical
Painting, Sculpture, Pottery, Architecture, Literature, Theatre, Music, Dance, and more
PLAYS: Night Dancers by Cordites Tun; Dragon in the Woodshed; the Tale of Ronin Mikoto.
Study the art of Cordites Tun, who set up the Art College with three close friends.

ONE FISHY AQUARIUM

Hunting & Fishing
The aquarium is located to the South-East of Odd. The building is rectangular with rounded corners.
It is full of wonderous sea creatures. Everything inside is for sale.
Has a number of weird sea creatures = Pom-Pom Crabs, Serpent Stafish, Dumbo Octopus, Pistol Shrimp, Longhorn Cowfish, Blobfish, Frogfish, Garden Eels, Harlequin Shrimp, Diamond Starfish, and Watchman Gobies.
Does not sell much of the stock, however has a few regular visitors - mainly those who have adopted a creature - half the price of buying one.
Owner = Emberdande "Dandy" - Half-Elf female - 72 years old - unbrushable white hair, bright blue eyes, cheeky grin, bare feet, wears baggy colourful pants underneath long floral sun frocks - smells of saltwater, seaweed and fish.
+ Stingray (18 gp)
+ Crocodile (55 gp)
+ Manta ray (25 gp)
+ Hammerhead Shark (450 gp)
+ Seal (45 gp)
+ Narwhal (350 gp)
+ Squid (500 gp)
+ Dwarf caiman (7 gp)
+ Octopus (500 gp)
+ Gar (90 gp)
+ Sea krait (5 gp)

THE PICKLED CAT TAVERN

Drinking Tavern, Inn
The round brewery building, is attached to the Tavern The Pickled Cat, which is also round - the two buildings look like an infinity symbol.
Both are owned and run by a family of Tabaxi - matriarch is Berry - Sweet Berry - who has white and grey fur.
* Related to Bakery owner in Souji named Honey Pie.
The brewery makes ginger beer (alcoholic and non) - as well as raspberry wine and thistle cider.
* Has a good relationship with the Milk Thistle Wine Brewery in Castow - which allows the Tavern to sell both Milk Thistle Wine and Nut Milk Wine.
The ingredients are grown in a roof garden, on top of the brewery.

The Bunny Hole

Inn
Owner = Sezzy - female Harengon dark grey fur
This unusual accommodation is built like a rabbit burrow underground, on the mound to the South side of the village. Like a actually rabbit warren, this has has two, and possibly more, entrances.
The two well-known entrances are each behind tall oak trees, partially hidden by flaxes and ferns. The entrances both slope down into a warm and welcoming, circular entry area, where people are greeted and directed to empty sleeping hollowed out 'room'.
Only fresh water and uncooked foods like salads are on offer.
The circular passages are interconnected and have side pockets in which individual can book for one or more nights. The set rate is for the 'room' - it is approx. 2cp per person above that. Longer stays rates are for negotiation.

THE WHISPER SCHOOL

The small schoolhouse is over 100 years old - it was refurnished 78 years ago to remove any corners. It is built out of the ruins from the Quagmire Temple to Gil'lon The Master Cat, that once stood on the edge of Dusk Quagmire.
It is built on stilts, with an indoor play area underneath - which has three sides that fold back (the solid wall is the one towards Dusk Quagmire.

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The Witching Hours

During the hours of 3 to 4 - both morning and night, the people of Odd stay inside. During the day, they have a daily afternoon siesta. At night, they take herbs to help them sleep. They rely on the bells to time them the time.
The heavy cloud of Spiral Peak lowers down to the Dusk Quagmire. Air Elementals and their herder Aerodos - of The Plane of Air - travel down swiftly to play on the quagmire with the Treant from Echo Woods.