Le Freeport Bazar (The Freeport Bazaar)

[Heartbreaker]

In mid-northeast of Jaedaxia, south of La Rangée Du Négociant, and north of La Petite Morte de Michelle, was a plaza empty of permanent buildings, but lined instead with booths, carts, wagons, and stands. Every brightening, from early in the morning to the creeping of dusk upon the Gift of the Empire, the large plaza and crossroad was a bustling centre of commerce, more important than even the Merchant’s Row, for it was the focal point of Empire-wide trade with Jaedaxia. It was where goods were shipped from both ports in the east and west, and from there traded, dealt, redistributed, and sent back to either port, or through the gates to the south to be traded onto the rest of the eastern Empire. Daily, deals were struck, contracts were made, and tariffs were collected. Furs from the Trident Isle were bountiful in the market, shipped from the island to the port, and from the port to the plaza. Gourmet beef from the slaughtered goats bred on the cliffs to the north were shipped by wagon to the market, where they would again be traded to grocers and food warehouses across Carmelyn, and even Prime and Abestat if it found its way onto a fast schooner or merchant ship. Fish and whale meat from the fishing grounds of the Libertas Bay and Northern Seas shipped from the twin ports of Jaedaxia hung from hooks in stands, or stacked in crates in wagons, creating a foul reek of seafood in the market. The stench rose into the nostrils, taking the senses by surprise before the fish were shipped off to more landlocked towns and villages like Diana, the Warsteed Downs, and even Midpoint should they not go rotten. Ambergris from the waters were also shipped and hawked there, along with the crops such as grain, fruit, and corn imported directly from the producers to the south. There were also stands selling wines and teas imported from the south, horses and cattle from the fields of Carmelyn, and wagons bearing lumber and iron ore from far off provinces to sell to the peoples of Jaedaxia. To add to the stench of fish was the overpowering smell of goats, herds of them being driven from that square further inland to places the beef could not be exported. All of these were sold at the second best price, at that awkward interval between manufacturer and retailer, the source of its importing and exporting; the middle-man. They were better than retail, and more easily accessed than the manufacturers: farmers, sailors, and fishermen who didn’t have the resources to ship their materials all across the Empire. What made it such an attraction to those to those in the northeast wishing to sell or buy goods and commodities were not necessarily its convenient position, but rather its excessively low taxes. Tariffs on livestock, furs, fish, ambergris, and imported commodities were unimaginably low, while certain foods were traded in the city without taxes at all. It was that incentive which made Jaedaxia the choice for so many handlers of goods, and what the city lost in tariffs they made up for in income taxes on the jobs created by the importing and exporting. To the average citizen it was a superb place to purchase goods at low prices and to many it was worth the hassle if it was raw goods one was looking for. Although finer items could only be purchased without much difficulty in the shoppes and rich merchant life that dotted the city, for food and materials that had yet to be crafted there were few better prices to be found. Were one to look hard enough, any raw material that circulated the north, and even some that were regularly imported from the south could be found in the plaza.

(OOC: Please note: there are no shops in the bazaar, as it is a collection of stalls and booths.)

Written by GM Wynd

[Xyltha Thanole]

Third Cycle, Melora, Winter, Era I, PF XV

Xyltha was excited! It was the beginning of a whole new adventure for him, agrarian-style. He had just bought a stretch of land from the Aedile for farming, but he had yet to pay his new holding a visit. First, though, he would have to prepare for the trek to his farm; there were seeds to purchase, livestock to inspect, merchants to haggle with.

He made his way to the Freeport Bazaar; it was rowdy now as it ever was whenever he passed by. Teeming with vendors of various kinds, with their wares for inspection; to the uninitiated, the stench was somewhat overpowering.

As he continued down past the various stalls, jostled and harangued even as he progressed, he passed glances at the wares on display. What kind of animals would be available for him, he wondered...

Maybe goat, sheep, or cows. Or ducks and chicken. Hmmm....A bit plain. Anyone can get those livestock. I want my farm to be truly special, one of a kind in Jaedaxia, or even in Carmelyn! I wonder if they have anything exotic in these places like silk worms. Or Ariumite beetles!

Engrossed in thought, he continued his walk, passing the stalls whose wares held no interest for him. He was a man on a mission.

[Heartbreaker]

The sights and sounds of the bustling bazaar were enough to make most people fall silent for the sheer fact of being overwhelmed. People buzzing here and there, shouting from stalls to the customers walking by…even the smells, equal parts good and bad.

Exotic animals is what the elf was looking for and if anyplace in Jaedaxia was to have the, that place would the bazaar.

Before he had much of a chance to go much father, his thoughts were disrupted as a young girl plowed straight into him after looking over her shoulder at something else.

Both dazed for a moment, she managed to regain her footing, giving him an apologetic look.

“ Monsieur! I am so sorry…Pleaze forgive me. I was not watching were I was going and did not see you. Are you alright? Iz zere anyzing I can do or help you wiz?”

Despite being clumsy and unobservant, the girl -did- seem to be rather helpful.

[Xyltha Thanole]

The collision took him entirely by surprise, engrossed in his musings and fascinated by the cluttered stalls as he was. What on Telath...?! The elfling clambered back on his feet, fired up and ready to tell the assailant where he could stick his feet up. He was surprised when he saw it was a girl, apologetically regaining her own composure.

He looked at her, seeing if she was injured, while dusting dirt and mud and all sorts of rubbish off his shirt. He silently cursed his bad luck - he had just cleaned that shirt this brightening, and he hated doing laundry. Now, he'd have to soak it again, and re-wash it.

"Just a bit battered and bruised. Are you alright, my dear? You should watch where you're going next time. Would you happen to know if they sell any silk worms in the bazaar? Or Ariumite beetles?"

Or drakes and unicorns and phoenix and giant treants, he wanted to say. But that was sheer day dreaming, and he knew it. Perhaps, one of these days, he would expand his farm, and build a paradise of fantastical creatures to befriend and play with. For now, he was just looking for his next slimey worm.

[Heartbreaker]

The girl looked confused for a moment but quickly got her bearings and gave him an impish smile.

“ Of course…once again, please forgive me. Silk worms? I’m not sure about that but perhaps over at Monsieur Armis’ booth. He comes a few times a year and knows all about animals of Telath. He might know something about them. I thought they liked the warmer climates, myself.”

The girl waved her hand for him to follow her, taking him to the northern part of the Bazaar, to a small booth with a white-haired man who looked to be skimming through a large book. Smiling, the girl glided up to him and introduced Xyltha quickly.

“He’s looking for silk worms or beetles of some sort. Could you help him?”

The man gave Xyltha a strange glance, closing the book slowly.

“ Depends. Silk worms wouldn’t survive well in this climate so I guess it hinges on the question where he plans to care for them. I’m not sure what beetles we are talking about but only the hardiest varieties would live up here and most of –those- are rather fierce. No..Carmelyn has it’s own host of animals…griffins, banded salamanders, nimrban and prin faun. I suppose I should ask what the animals are needed for first though.”

[Xyltha Thanole]

The elf looked keenly at the booth-keeper. He seemed worldly, well-versed in the affairs of trade and livestock - someone Xyltha was inclined to trust. As he listened to the man prattle on about the various fauna inhabiting the locality, his face lit up. He wasn't aware there were such magical creatures living so close to his new home.

"Well, I just bought myself a little farm outside Jaedaxia, and thinking of turning it into a hobby farm with livestock to take care of. Nothing too serious or extensive. But I wanted to get some exotic creatures to rear up."

He took a breath before continuing on. There was much he wanted to know, and hoped the old man didn't mind being peppered with questions by this inquisitive elf.

"I'm not really very familiar with all the animals and such that live around these parts, much less how to care for them. You mentioned griffins, salamanders, and those others... Are they hard to obtain? Where can I get them? Can they be tamed?"