Souterrain

A Gelmorran Eatery In The Heart of Ishgard

Balmung Empyreum - Ward 16 Plot 14
Nearest Aetheryte: The Halberd's Head
Open All Hours - RP Gil Only
Primarily NPC-Staffed

About Souterrain

Owned publicly by Hyacinthe Phodovond, Souterrain seeks to bring the flavours of and inspired by Gelmorra to Ishgard, away from the Shroud where its' origins lie. Silently backed by Kugane's Hisui-no-hebi-kai yakuza clan, Souterraint almost exclusively employs Duskwights and Keepers of the Moon both Shroudborn and from various diasporas, paying them a thriving wage and donating tips to local funds to benefit those in need in Ishgard. To the same end, the yard and upstairs have been designed as spaces easy to take refuge from the cold in, and staff are always present and willing to feed those who haven't the gil to pay.With Gelmorran Wight and Keeper literature and zines available both inside and on the outside bookseller's cart - but no maps, and staff will all reiterate that anyone who sells you a map of Gelmorra is trying to kill you - and a bunkroom and bathing/laundry facilities available to Duskwights and Keepers moving through or working in Ishgard free of charge, and a stage just waiting for performers to accompany an eve's fine dining, Souterrain seeks to support the people for whom the culinary traditions presented are a taste of heritage and home.While upstairs is fitted more rustically and downstairs more extravagantly, please feel free to sit in either no matter what you're partaking in.

Behind The Scenes

Souterrain is the result of two years worth of adoring Duskwights beyond measure, a labour of love for them and one of my personal passions - thinking way too much about fictional cultural foods - into which many hands have contributed and to all of whom I am endlessly grateful for their support in making this idea a reality for me.For the time being times when actual staff may be on hand will be erratic - those closest to this have their own lives, their own schedules, their own spoon drawers that don't always play nicely with the idea of specific recurring events. But by all means - come and roleplay here. Pop in to grab a morning coffee, or laugh over dinner and dessert until the wee hours.Enjoy.

I - Hyacinthe Phodovond - can be found at @eldritchselachii.bsky.social.
Screenshots taken by myself and Anaïs Pivoine; menu creation moral support and ideas provided by Anaïs and other friends.

Drinks

Coffee, Tea
And other refreshment

“The Hyacinthe Special”
Triple-distilled Ishgardian coffee with chicory. Never mind a spring in your step, it will give you the vim, vigour, and va-va-vroom of Souterrain’s owner, as well as give your favoured medical provider cause for concern.“Like getting hit in the face with a spiked staff of wakefulness!” - Unnamed Xaelic customer.Coffee
Normal Ishgardian coffee, for those who prefer to not risk a cardiac event in the name of energy.Honey Locust "Coffee"
Made from the roasted seeds of honey locust trees, this tastes quite similar to an earl grey, but sweeter and more tannic.Lichen Tea
Of a variety commonly foraged in Gelmorra and since cultivated by some of those to have moved above, this particular lichen, when boiled and served as a tea, has calming effects to both the nerves and digestion, making it a long-time favourite of Gelmorran parents.Fireweed Tea
Similar to a black tea in flavour, but fruity, almost pineapple-ish. Or, as more than one of the Gelmorran staff's put it, pineapple tastes like fireweed.Bagged Tea
Kept on the cart in the upstairs dining area; bring whoever's working the bag of your choice for some boiling water. Try to ignore it if they look at you oddly for choosing bagged Lord Wotsit's.Mun-Tuy Drink
Mun-Tuy "tea" sweetened to taste with rock sugar, served hot or chilled.Switchel
Water, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and heavily seasoned with ginger, this thirst-quencher will replenish your electrolytes nicely. Excellent for when you've been working hard, or warmed when you're feeling under the weather.Hops Water
Similar to cave wall water, but fresher, fizzier, and less likely to get you sick than licking a cave wall.Drinking Vinegar
Ask staff what's in stock!Juice
Pyrepod
Bloodcurrant
Crabapple
Rhubarb
PickleMilks
Mun-Tuy
Black Walnut
Acorn
Hickory
Goat

Alcohol, Cocktails,
And Mocktails

BeersDandelion Beer
Similar to a red ale in richness, this brew's use of wild ginger gives it a nice warming bit of kick.Yarrow Beer
Crisp and bright, it just might also be good for your digestion and may even keep the hair in your scalp. So the herbalists say, anyhow.Summer Gruit
A herbal beer featuring chicory, mugwort, yarrow, and sweetfern, evoking foraging in the Shroud in the summer heat, but more refreshing.LiquorsBlack Walnut Liquor
Taken as an aperitif or in a cocktail most commonly, some Gelmorrans still prefer to drink theirs straight.Gilded Gin
Gin sourced from fellow establishment Ul'dah's Gilded Lily, made from Duskwight-grown Mun Tuy beans and distilled with Keeper-tended botanicals.Deep Absinthe
Brewed by a Gelmorran witch, this absinthe comes in both a very traditional variety and a spicy chili-infused second that will light your mouth aflame as well as knocking your socks, pants, and hat off. Not for the light of constitution.Cocktails and mocktails
Any drink can be made alcoholic or non by requestA Wight's Nightcap
Candy cap infused bourbon, artichoke and black walnut bitters, and extra dry vermouth come together over ice for an earthy indulgence tasting of maple syrup, garnished with a dried candy cap mushroom.Nettle Tea Mojito
Nettle tea, rum, honey, basil, and a squeeze of lime; Refreshing and peppery.Umami Sour
Featuring cremini mushroom-infused gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, velvet falernum, egg whites and black truffles.Deep Suissesse
Deep absinthe, cask-aged aquavit, egg white and creme de cacao combine for a bracing experience. Get it with the spicy deep absinthe and brace yourself even harder!Cornichon de Fête
Pickle juice, dry vermouth, vodka, and a pickled mushroom. Why? Why not.Wealth of the Earth
Ginger beer with white pearlescent lustre dust and rimmed with black pearlescent sugar. While primarily offered as a non-alcoholic beverage, if desiring it be alcoholic, the owner recommends a shot of black rum.

Staff

Player Characters

Hyacinthe Phodovond

Proprietor, Executive Chef
He/HimHyacinthe Phodovond is a Gelmorran of the Black Shroud, raised in those dark tunnels and on a diet that often could be described as "we make do and we make things stretch" given a lifestyle of wandering with his researcher mother up until his mid-teens. In his time since leaving Gelmorra, he has worn many hats, including but not limited to sex worker and death priest.Notoriously experimental, particularly with what can be pickled, Hyacinthe loves feeding people possibly more than he loves almost anything else.

Anaïs Pivoine

Bartender
They/Them

Non-Player Characters

Kahmih Mhetyhi

Chef
They/Them

Oliverre Beauchene (Ollie)

Chef
He/Him

Qifa'ra Volkilo

Server
Ve/Ver/Vis (Verself)

Nitixi

Server
All pronouns

Yvette Archambault

Bartender
She/Her

Marneaux Notrechamps

Security
Any Pronouns

Vahne Meseine

Delivery Woman, Back-Up Security
She/Her

In-Character

  1. There is to be no fights initiated by anyone who is not a member of staff on Souterrain property.

  2. Respect all members of staff. If you don't, don't be surprised if they disrespect you in kind.

  3. Please do not engage in sexual activities on the premises. Even if nobody's around.

  4. No discriminatory language against Duskwights or Keepers will be tolerated on Souterrain property, even if used by Duskwights or Keepers about themselves.

Out-Of-Character

  1. There is to be no real-world racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or other forms of hatred brought here. While given the nature of the venue as being open 24/7 makes this difficult to police, it is nonetheless unwelcome.

  2. There is to be no combat in the venue. Take it outside if you really need to RP fight. NPC staff is not present for you to manipulate for combat, but please assume that they will remove combatants from the establishment with force.

  3. There is to be no ERP in the venue. Not in the yard, not in the dining areas, not in any private rooms left open. Get your own apartment or something. Obviously we can't stop you if you're doing it in party and not being obvious, but if it's obvious and a staff member shows up you will be asked to leave.

  4. No headcanon for Gelmorran or Keeper anything will be presented as The One True Way here. That means we don't force you to hew to our ideas, but by that same coin that means this is not your space to enforce your own in. If you want to make your own rules about it, make your own restaurant. We'll even advertise it.