Midnight Market/Summary

The Midnight Market is a secret, black-market bazaar that pops up in various hidden locations throughout the city. Known only to the right circles, the market is the place to go for rare, illegal, or difficult-to-acquire goods and services. From arcane relics to human trafficking, hitmen for hire, or forbidden knowledge, if it can be bought, sold, or traded, you can find it at the Midnight Market.

Only open at night and only in the same location until the next turning of the moon, the market attracts a diverse clientele of criminal kingpins, underground movers and shakers, and shadowy supernatural entities. The temporary and transient nature of the event makes it unpredictable, and the stakes are always high. Players attending the market must navigate dangerous deals, avoid being swindled, and, if possible, come out with something that gives them an edge in their pursuits.

Atmosphere

The market is always a fleeting, temporary event, only open for a few hours during the night (from the Hour of the Witch to the Hour of the Jackal, roughly from midnight to 3 AM). It’s held in secret locations—on top of a parking garage, under a bridge, or in the basement of an abandoned building—adding to its mystique. Despite being a marketplace, it’s not just about commerce; it’s a nexus of networking opportunities and deals brokered in whispers.

Themes

• Dangerous Deals: Every transaction carries the risk of betrayal, loss, or retaliation. Players must be cautious about who they trust and what they buy.
• Power Through Commerce: The Midnight Market isn't just about what you buy, but who you know. Networking and forming alliances are as valuable as the goods on display.
• Time Pressure: The market only lasts for a short time, adding urgency to every decision. Players must choose wisely where to spend their time and resources.

Intent

The Midnight Market serves as a secret, neutral ground for all Mortal+, Traditional Mages and those Bygones who are affiliated with the Traditions characters, offering a place where supernatural abilities are subtly understood but never openly discussed. The intent of the Market is to provide a common space where Mortal+ individuals—those who have touched upon the supernatural can gather without fear of revealing deeper affiliations. Whether you’re a sorcerer, psychic, hedge wizard, awakened traditional mage, etc., the Midnight Market is designed for you to explore your potential without the pressures of belonging to a specific supernatural society, like the Garou, Mages, or Vampires.

This bazaar is a place to trade knowledge, acquire rare goods, and network among peers. It emphasizes the mortal side of the character, catering to their need for growth, secrecy, and personal power. Here, alliances are formed based on individual merit, without the shadow of larger organizations looming over transactions. The Market operates on discretion—no one will ask who you are or what faction you belong to. It is understood that those who come to the Market seek to enhance their mortal lives or abilities without stepping into the dangerous politics of the supernatural world.

Above all, the Midnight Market is a space where those touched by the extraordinary can come together in relative safety, sharing in the strange and powerful without the risk of full exposure.

The Riddle of the Road

This riddle gives just enough mystery and atmosphere for those "in the know" to navigate the Midnight Market’s elusive, ever-shifting location.

To find the place where shadows trade,
You’ll need no map, no guide, no aid,
But walk the road where light grows thin,
And follow where the night begins.

At the witching hour, when whispers call,
Behind the veil, beyond the wall,
Seek not the stars, but glance below,
Where secrets stir, and shadows flow.

No door will show, no sign will gleam,
Yet pathways twist beyond the stream,
Step where silence meets the stone,
The Market waits for those who've known.

So heed the words, and trust your feet,
The Market hides on every street,
But only those who know the rhyme,
Will find the place, and beat the time.