DeepShadow of FoS wrote:More on topic, I'm wondering what other denizens the Market might have. I just can't see Duke Gundar kicking back with a hag and swapping stories; it just seems out of character. OTOH, why wouldn't such a villain make all possible use of a resource like this? I think the Market would appeal only to certain types of critters. Hags I can see doing a brisk trade in deadman's candles, and evil wizards and liches would be all over the spell component trade. Fey are obvious, and yet something tells me that the Bogeymen would be absent, perhaps conspicuously so. For some reason, I imagine an enterprising fey taking it upon him/herself to make purchases on behalf of powerful vampires, including DL's, and delivering the goods personally, so they don't have to trouble themselves.
Well, you're right. First off, the Market only appeals to pretty specific kinds of entities, usually the ones who are more sociable or less paranoid than others. Secondly, there is the fact that the Market is something of an invititation-only institution, so not everyone would be invited (I think in fact that the
really powerful entities, such as Strahd and Azalin, or Meredoth, might also be conspicious by their absences, since they're strong enough to actually challenge the Minister of Fear). There's also the fact that, at least as-written, the Market is a demi-domain, which means no Darklords need enter. Since yours is somewhat different on the global mechanics, I'm not entirely sure how that would work out.
All that said, I'm sure that at least some enterprising Fey or mortal has come up with the concept of home-delivery for the more powerful or the more paranoid.
Demographically, I think the majority of the Midnight Market (some 60%) is faerie of one sort or another. Some fey would just naturally gravitate here, faerie of gold or money or trade, faerie of knowledge, but others also. I can just see a pack of redcaps lounging around and offering assassination or torture services in exchange for shiny stuff. Hags I personally consider as Fey-ish entities, though there would certainly be plenty of them too.
Another 10-15% is going to be undead, mostly vampires (who love the eternally night schtick) or more intelligent ghouls or wights (the ones who can restrain their urges). Liches would be present, though liches are sufficiently rare in general as to attract attention. You probably would not find much in the way of spectres or ghosts or such, they tend to be tied too much to the past, and not much in the way of mindless undead, though the idea of someone selling zombies, or using a pack of skeletons as porters, appeals.
A further 15-20% is going to be mortals, I would think. The main advantage for mortals comes from the fact that at the Market, they can meet with otherwise very dangerous creatures on relatively safe terms. Plus due to the nature of the place, most of the mortals who shop or sell are usually going to be of a somewhat malevolent or unscrupulous bent. Evil wizards, as you said, or people like Simon who think they can make a profit.
As for the remainder, that's just the odds and ends of the Demiplane. You won't find many werewolves, but some might get into the business like Conall. The Created are rather rare inherently, but one who is both reasonably intelligent and has a service or goods to provide might enjoy the ability to walk amongst people who really don't care what it looks like. You might have some aberrations, perhaps a trio of Mindflayers from Bluetspur shopping for fresh brains, or the Skum emissaries of some Aboleth-lord from the deeps.
The Market could also be a good place to use some of the myriad humanoid races that D&D has come up with, with a slightly Gothic sheen on them. Perhaps a kuo-toa in a foul-smelling robe offers the PCs secrets from the lost ruins of Shay-Lot, cheap, yes, for only a little favor, yes.
Ultimately, the Market is admittedly a stylistic deviation from standard Ravenloft. It
can be eerie and unnerving, but it is creepy in a somewhat different way than, say, Strahd's castle is creepy.