The Market Square

[Reliant]

Directly north of the docks near the centre of the merchant city of Abestat lies the packed-dirt square famous for its markets. Almost every brightening of each era, the field is awoken with the dawn by the comings and goings of hundreds of merchants and their wares from around the country and sometimes beyond. Centripax, Arakmat, Enamoria all have delectable goods sold on the grounds from wealthy businessmen to the people of Abestat.

Tents of various sizes and colours and shapes line well-beaten pathes that keep, amazingly, a roughly straight and symmetrical pattern. Men and women of many a culture and race bark at passerbys as they attempt to grab the eye of any wandering wallet.

Art, foodstuffs, and more line the hallowed grounds, all for the picking...if you have enough funds.

A few key tents draw the most business. Ester's Farm Goods, as the sign proudly proclaims in front of the elderly lady, feature food products that are fresh from the immediate area and a few from reaches beyond. These includ fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, and even milk. The rickety old tent has become a mainstay, as has the woman's temper and flair to draw a crowd.

A second tent, ornate in it's design and pattern, draws the attention of the wealth and the wishful poor alike. Within it's windchimes-filled cover lay treasures of jewellery and ornaments alike from around the world. All could be bought for the right price. A smiling man, with a nametag reading: "Horatio of The Finest Jewellery," greets every onlooker with a pleasant "Serale."

Beyond that tent comes the wafting smells of drying leaves. A tobacco sales shop, with a pretty katta woman guarding its wares, lay snuggled between two other large tents. The smell, though, was what drew smokers to its tables. Hanging from the roof of the Pipers's Love company are many a leaf variety, drying so that the pleasure of those who enjoy a good pipe may be fulfilled. A few pouches for carrying and some ornamental pipes for sale are also on display.

In one corner of the marketplace, a unique tent stands made of reptile skin by the patches look and textured feel to those who dare nears its borders. Inside The Dragon's Maw sits cages as far as the eye can see of lizards and snakes and reptiles available for sale, all rattling and yapping and snapping at those who get too close. Even a lizardman stands there, ready to make the sale, completing the look. "My petsss are ssspectacular!" he yells across the busy paths in an attempt to draw business.

Zigger's Petorium, one of the grandest of all sales areas, stands tall and proud in royal colours and grandeur beyond most of the other merchants. Selling animals of all sorts, save for the lizards of the Maw or the cattle of another tent, the roly-poly man and his sons that own the place make it a jolly place, even if one isn't attempting to buy something. "A pet can be found for you here!" beckons the man, laughing at seemingly nothing, but drawing a good chuckle from passerbys as his girth ripples with the chortling frame.

Nearby, a carpenter's shop stands out of wood, eschewing the tent completely. The temporary structure seems to be made by the hands of the labourers themselves who put on a show for those who watch for a time. Their expert dwarven hands carve statues and carts and other wooden things in a flash---and make them solid to boot. "Is that all you need? Nay, you need something BIGGER!" claims the leader, Dworin of Dwarven Wood Studios. His attitude for stronger and bigger things being better is legendary around the city.

His brother, Torin, owns Cattlealot, a sales place for oxen and cows and bulls and the like. The mud pit (that has absorbed a number of spots that might have been tents otherwise) turns and twists with goo as the animals prance about, awaiting to be sold to the highest bidder. A rivalry exists between the two dwarves, but they keep it between themselves most of the time.

An apothecary, a young upstart businessman that seems to be new in town, has the unfortunate position to be next door to the cattle. Apothecary Supplies is the only sign, but the young human is a friendly sort and claims to have travelled the world collecting goods and drugs of all kinds to treat any ailment.

The infamous Guilo's Weapons is another attraction as the owner, a human named Guilo, is an expert in swordsplay and often puts on a show for the crowd even at the expense of a potential customer. A favourite trick of his is to lower a blade right behind someone, then call to them and have them turn to face it's pinnacle in surprise. No one has lost any eyes...yet. An assortment of weapons and armour are what he has to sell, and a good job he does doing it.

A loud voice, booming from halfway across the grounds seems to get a few eyes itself. The methods of one Jack of Jack's Adventuring Supplies are not traditional, to say the least, and often include horseplay with the customer and a voice that could slay the undead themselves with its intensity. "AM I RIGHT, SON? I ALWAYS AM!" claims his trademark saying as he finishes deals. Rations, rope, and more hang in his tent all for sale.

Lady Jule's Fine Stitchery, a place abuzz with faes flittering here and there is one good place for embroidery or just a plain old button needing to be attached. A flighty she-fae, the owner Jule, she no doubt can still complete any task you require!

One tent seems quite secretive, though, for it seems to lay empty save for a man behind a desk and two well-armed guards. Upon approach most are turned away, but a few do enter the shaded tent and disappear behind the veil of the place simply known as Wonders.

The Guiding Light Candle Shop is dark when first entering it for it takes time for most customers eyes to adjust to the low lit very large, one room tent. Shadows dance around the walls from the brilliant candles that are lit through out the room. Tables and shelves are littered with different shapes, sizes and designs of candles as well as scent for many are of a pleasant variety. The shop keeper, an elderly human man with long gray white hair and a long gray beard, wanders around checking the lit candles. As he passes customers, he greets them with a simple "Serale, tell me if you need anything."

Perrine and Hoppela are two standbys of the marketplace, female human and fae respectively. Their dress shop, Spectacularly You, draws woman from around the province, let alone the city. Fashion shows are commonly put on by the two women who enjoy their work far too much, some would say.

The Essentials Bath Shop is another quaint location, filled with goods meant to soothe ones skin while relaxing in a warm tub filled with water or milk or even mud. Soaps, salts and bath oils line the racks of the walls and browsing is encouraged by the salespeople within. Relaxation of the customer is their number one goal.

A tailor, somewhat in competition with Hoppela's shop, stands next to the bath shop. The Busy Thimble is local standard for making clothes of various sizes and types, for rich or poor...even for lizardman! Premade garments also hang from racks along the walls of the tent, and a fitting area lies in the back. Pleasant faces meet every customer with friendly greetings.

Even entertainers wander the pathways, sometimes paid for by local merchants but often just out hoping for tips or quick buck. Magicians, singers, musicians, poetry readers and tricksters all abound and help to weave the entertaining fabric of the Abestatian Marketplace.

Even more attractions line the hallowed square, if only a curious shopper were to hunt them out.

OOC: If you are looking for something more, feel free to request a new type of store by doing an IC search for one.

Originally created by Cherish, edited by Jester and Reliant.

[Yarrow]

Timestamp: Before Vincent's Journey Begins

Yarrow walks the market place in a hurry and bites her lip, worried. She know there is a place here somewhere...then she hears the loud voice, booming from halfway across the grounds and knows she is almost there. Yarrow had never been to Jack's Adventuring Supplies, but have heard of the place and about Jack. Jack is not very traditional with his customers, she had been told. She heard that he liked to play with the customer, but could only guess what that means.

"AM I RIGHT, SON? I ALWAYS AM!" Yarrow has found the tent. Rations, rope, and more hang about his tent and they are all for sale. Yarrow steps in, not knowing what to find there.

[Reliant]

As Yarrow stepped into the tent, a large man with a thick beard and hands the size of hams stepped up to her, his voice booming. "Welcome ma'am, WELCOME! I trust you will find ANYTHING here you will need!"

He slapped the woman hard on the back and turned to another customer. Her back stung for a few seconds before the pain went away. She couldn't she liked the man, but she had to admit he was good at his job. Yarrow looked around the tent to find things hanging from every nook and cranny. She noticed climbing picks, stacks of rope, climbing boots and gloves, tents and mats, bags and packs, and almost anything else she could possibly need. If Yarrow didn't see what she needed right away, all she needed was to ask Jack, which was much easier said than done.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow shook her head at the climbing shoes and wondered if she would need them. It would mean one more thing Chestnut would have to carry... She paused and then picked up some that would fit her. Better to be safe then to be sorry I guess. Then Yarrow looked for rations. If she were ever to be separated from the group she would have the supplies at hand... AH...BUT WHAT IF YOU ARE SEPARATED FROM THE HORSE? She ignored the horse and went to find out where the rations were. She waited patiently wincing at what might be another "pat" on the back.

[Reliant]

As Yarrow moved around the tent, looking at various things to add to her inventory, she realized that she relied on everything the horse would be carrying. There was the extreme possibility that the horse could be seperated from her, and in that case she would need rations. She started to walk over to ask Jack where the rations were, but while wincing at another pat on the back, her eyes saved her the experience.

Right behind Jack was a large crate labeled rations. Jack moved to the right, following another customer, yelling loudly about a wonderful new type of axe. Yes, it was clearly visible now, two crates. One labeled 'Iron Rations' and the other labeled 'Regular Rations.' It seemed she found what she was looking for, but if she didn't know what the difference in the rations where, or wanted to inquire of the price, she would have to ask Jack, not too pleasant a thought. But it didn't matter anyway, she would have to pay for them anyway.

[Yarrow]

Yarrow sighed. She did not know what the difference was between the two. The price didn't really matter because she didn't think rations could be so expensive that she could not afford them. She sighed another sigh and turned to Jack.

Excuse me, sir? She tried to make her voice as "military" as possible, but the squeak in her voice probably ruined the effect. She waited for him to turn her attention and then... What is the difference between the two types of rations? My second question is how much are these boots? She held up the climbing boots and glanced at them...trying to avoid Jack's eyes. She felt very ignorant indeed.

My third question, sir, is are you well supplied with traveling clothing? Yarrow had some good travailing clothing, but nothing that might due for cold weather. Better to be safe then sorry... She reminded herself. Her eyes shifted up to meet Jack's. She didn't know what to expect from this man and she didn't like the feeling.

[Reliant]

Jack smiled brightly as the woman approached him once more. He slapped his large hands on her shoulder and bellowed.

"What can I do for you?"

Yarrow outlined her problems and the man grinned back.

Well now, as for the rations, the regular are much tastier, but don't last as long, and cost much less. But on the other hands, the iron rations don't taste too good, but will last you a while longer than the regular, and they are a few crowns more expensive. As for the boots, aye, I'll let them go for 30 crowns for the pair. Heavy duty those boots, you know. The spikes help you cling to slippery surfaces and mountain trails!"

He pointed to the boxes of rations as he spoke, then tapped the botos as he explained them, and and then scratched his beard at her third question.

"Hmm, clothing you say? I don't believe we have some here. But you might want to check out The Busy Thimble." He pointed off down the street. "There you will find plenty of clothes. The seamstress there can make anything, so just tell her what you want, and she can help."

[Yarrow]

Yarrow winced at the slap. It hurt more the second time around. She let it go. She had to. There was nothing you could say to a man who was just being friendly...even if it gave her some pain.

Thank you for your advice. I will take the boots...four brightings worth of the regular rations and seven of the iron rations. She figured that she would eat the iron rations as a last resort. How much do I owe you then? Yarrow fingered her hidden purse. It had plenty in there. She didn't think she would have to go to the bank to withdraw any money over this trip. At least I hope this is true.

[Reliant]

The large man towered over the woman and smiled his toothy smile. He took a moment to look at the rations crates and the boots, then appeared as though he was thinking, a difficult task for this simple man.

"Hm, let's make it 30 crowns for the boots, aye...the rations would come to about another 30, but since you buying so much, I'll bring it down to 20. That's a cool 50 crowns."

The man smiled and got a bag for Yarrow and placed some iron and regular rations in the bag and handed it over.

"Me thinks that is all there is. Have a nice brightening!"

[Yarrow]

Yarrow nodded. It seemed fair enough, but then again she had no way of knowing these things. She was, after all, no trader.
"50 Crowns it is then." She pulled out her purse and quickly counted out the crowns in her hand before handing it over to the man. "Thank you so much for your help, sir." She told him as she took the bag and left. One more thing to add to a growing pack...