[Cheapside] The Cheapside Market

[Aesha]

This location can be peer- or self-moderated as long as the transaction has been approved by the GM beforehand. Please remember to Timestamp your post. This location was written by kowaiyoukai.

The Cheapside Market

Taking up a large majority of the east side of Cheapside, the general marketplace is where small booths have collected in order to simplify the shopping experience. The marketplace is a sprawling, unorganized mess that is negotiable only by experience or willpower. There is no discernable path through the booths, although somehow as soon as patrons turn away from one booth they often find another waiting directly in front of them, appearing as if by teleportation.

The many booths are, on average, long and rectangular pieces of wood propped up on stacks of crates. Each booth is piled with multiples of every item that is for sale there, with plenty more extras hidden in other crates just to be safe. Some booths have a tablecloth covering the wood, others leave it empty. All of the people standing behind the booths, regardless of race or gender, shout at the passersby to come and buy from them. The end result is an overload of sounds, scents, and sights that only the general marketplace can provide.

The marketplace is normally packed with all types of people. Poor humans looking for a cheap meal, dwarves looking for new clothes, servants of the wealthy looking for frivolous decorations—all of them and more congregate here on a daily basis. Most stay only as long as they absolutely need to, though, since the crowds can easily become overwhelming just mere seconds after having stepped foot into the marketplace. There are, however, the patrons who love to linger over every item as well as the hagglers who love to argue the price down as low as possible.

Most people, when approached by a potential customer, will stop their shouting for a second and nod encouragingly. Their first comment is often something similar to “What d’ya need?” or even the dreaded “Wha’choo gittin’?” If the reply is not forthcoming within seconds, the owner of the booth is likely to go back to shouting while maintaining eye contact with the patron, resulting in a very odd experience indeed.