Catchup Shops
A catchup is any kiosk store, normally on a street corner, but anywhere close to a water fountain, or well in smaller towns. There is at lest one in every town, if not several. In fact any place is considered a town, even if it is abandoned or just two house, if there is a working catchup shop, it's a town and will be labeled as such on any map. Which the store will sell for a nominal fee.
These tiny convenience stores are split into two halves. One that sale mostly incidentals; things easily lost or forgotten at home, to help you 'catch up with life'. Simple and basic hats, bags, gloves, socks, sunglasses, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, those sorts of things. Most of it mass produced by the Giants so sometimes the proportions and quality of things isn't ideal, but again, you are paying for convenience here. And at a nominal fee, too. Books, simple toys, flowers, and information can also be bought at a catchup shop.
The other half of the shop handles all the food stuffs. From sodas, leaf juice (teas), bean juice (coffees), fruit juices, and any other flavorings for the infamous fountain water, to snacks for your self, your steed or carriage team, and other vehicles. If you need something more fortifying, every shop also sells 'catchup packets' for you to take on the go. A bigger shop will have cooks ready to whip up a fresh packet, smaller shop will have them premade. For an om-nominal fee, of course.
Purpose / Function
Convenience, for a nominal fee.
Architecture
Catchup shops are often hut and shed-like buildings. Normally they have two rooms where the food and sundries are kept separate, but the smaller ones may only have a curtain to do the job.
Defenses
Friendly and constant suspicion. And a big stick. Or a big dog named 'Stick'.
History
Legend says the stores got there name from a shop long ago that sold only ketchup. Apparently a goblin over heard that a restaurant had run out of ketchup. Being an opportunist, the goblin traded and ended up with a case of ketchup. They then set up shop right next to the restaurant. Some say the story ends there. Others say that eventually the goblin started selling other missed or forgotten things, like napkins or salt. Others say the goblin and the restaurateur were working together to nickel and dime people. But who's to say what really happened.
Tourism
These shops are a combination of 19th and 20th century Earth's fast food restaurants and gas station convenience stores. They are manned by every race and found in every corner of Nimue, even deep inside the Dwarf Mountain caves. Every region has it's own flair and local flavor which is best represented by the compulsory ketchup every shop sells and are very collectible.
There are some franchises. Luck-ee's four leaf clover always says "If you're lucky, we'll have it!" (They always have it). Sinjin, who mascot is just the head of an olm/dragon. And Pippa's with a pigtailed mascot. All these companies sell merchandise with their mascot on it, of couse, for a nominal fee.
Alternative Names
'Cat chup shop' in troll country.
Type
Kiosk / Small store
Parent Location
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