The Grand Bazaar

[Anne]

The people of Arakmat busy themselves with their own problems, errands and needs. They do not wish to trouble anybody. The sun-dry land, cracked and baked by the elements has been and forever more is going to be trampled by the people going on with their lives. Tropical birds are imprisoned in rude wooden cages and call out in shrill voices, the hoots of fury black and brown rats and mice and other exotic animals fill the streets. Loud murmurs of citizens blaze as loudly as the heat of the suns. The flap of sandals and the shrieks of little bodies hurtling through the crowds, children playing with scruffy dogs, everybody dusty and dirt encrusted fill the dry water-deprived air.

A dusty, cracked brick well stood in the middle of the Grand Bazaar, surrounded by women pulling up water in large, thick warped buckets by swollen chords of frayed rope. Not a single drop of water was dropped, and if there was a drop splashed on the flaming caked sun-dry ground, not only would it evaporate at once, but the other women would hit the one that had dripped it. Even a tiny drip was worth a beating because water was so scarce in the golden desert that Arakmat stood in. The well itself was surrounded by a few stunted palm trees laden heavily with small coconuts. Several small boys dressed in dusty brown trousers and threadbare shirts scrambled up the trees and threw the occasional dirt clod or pebble at a passing girl, laughing madly when they actually hit one.

Hawkers cried out their wares, pressing bolts of light cloth and various pins and ribbons under one's nose. ”A dozen crowns for a good steel cauldron! Only a dozen crowns!”

”Fresh mince pies and pins! Hot, spicy and good! One crown!”

Booths held fat men and skinny women, some dressed like prosperous merchants, others like ragtag ruffians. People swarmed over the dusty square, each looking ahead with the stare that says even if they see you, in the next minute you will just be a blur in the crowds, just a single brown, white, or furry face melted into the wax mold of the people rushing about the square. A wax mold that was melting every so slowly as the day poured on. The sun scorched the ground, people and products. The odd merchant caravan and wagon struggled through the crowd, yelling into oblivions about some rare stone or medicine, or silk or gunpowder that only they had at half the price others set. Of course, like all merchants, this was a lie, but they still called out, most of their words swept away from them by the sand and wind as they sat high atop the benches on their wagon seats as they whipped their sweating mules or horses to move.

Surrounding the Grand Bazaar were multitudes of shops, tiny and gargantuan. Some with warped wooden doors, others with brightly colored beads clacking as people pushed past the shop or inside it. The wafting smells of hundreds of spices and dried flowers cast aside air and replaced it with their fragrance. Huge pots and medium post and small posts for decoration, cooking and hauling water made up one shop as well as spread out across dusty blankets all over the Bazaar. Glassware and silver and gold items under lock and key in one shop glittered and reflected rainbows of color onto the streets and onto people's faces as they passed. Small and large caged animals. Some common, some not. Hairy monkeys, screeching and squabbling about this and that, tails whipping in and out of their cages. Goats and sheep rambled about, bleating about the heat and chewing cud. Small, bright-eyes furry creatures with long pink tails that resembled rats and monkeys with their ears and tails, but were not, for they had purple, blue and green fur that was as curly as a goats'.

One would have to push through the crowds to get where one wanted, probably having to scream at a few people to get out of the way as well. But then, ti was all worth it, for the in Grand Bazaar of Arakmat, it was all worth it.

[Gouperbruss Thronp]

Timestamp: Late afternoon First brightening of the first cycle in the Month of Imperos, (1/50) in the Season of Autumn, Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.

go to the Brrazzar, look for old Mischa kept going through Gouperbruss's head as he staggered along the Bazzaar. He went to the first shading looking katta merchant he saw and asked, in his old gruff voice, "I be looking for Old Mischa... Do ye know were she might reside? Or sell her goods?"

He said as he took out a banknote for 5 crowns and put it on the counter. He needed to find the old hag, he needed to learn the ways of the adjurator, but he also planed to dabble in the magic priest hold. He did not want to ruin his reputation by talking to some upstanding powerful merchant.

[Darkmavrck]

It took a while for Gouperbruss to actually find a merchant that didn’t look upstanding. After all this was the Grand Bazarr, shining pride of Arakmat and one of the finest shopping establishments in the empire. People didn’t come from all over the empire to buy from second class merchants. However, like all shops, one could find a rusted and broken dagger hiding in the corner if they looked hard enough. When the gnome had to jump in order to place the note on the high counter of the tattered katta’s stand the feline took notice and instantly swept up the funds. With a shrug he didn’t seem to care much about the man’s request and pointed toward the center of the market.

All around him, regular size people were crowding about different stands, looking at the wares and not paying much attention to the gnome. As he moved he was constantly bumped into, and nearly stepped on. Only the many children running around and begging for coins from wealthier patrons made point to dodge around Mr. Thronp. A few even smiled and said hello, but outside of those small pleasantries, it didn’t appear anyone felt the need to do favors for a five crown banknote.

[Gouperbruss Thronp]

Goupberbruss thought for a moment. As a few of the children who did come close enough to say hello, made there greetings, Mr. Thronp made a point to ask, "There may be some cash in it for you if you are kind enough to take me to where old Mischa works, it would be a great help!" stated the gnome with a grin. Children, espcielly those of the streets tend to know there way around towns the best, seeing as it was their home. Also, these little people being children, they probably at least heard of the witch, there were always people claimed to be witchs by children who didn't know any better, this time he hoped that the person they claimed to be a which was actually a which, so he himself could Live up to his own title as being witchlike.

[Darkmavrck]

The human child rubbed his head with a mischievous grin and seemed to have a look of thought on his face. Dusting the sand off his face he smiled a little wider and poked the gnomes shoulder talking a little louder then was needed. “You mean that crazy old katta. She is nuts, why do you wanna see her. Whatever though, you give me some crowns and I will take you to the old bat.” He kicked at a bit of sand and waited for the gnomes response. Soon after he grabbed the man by his arm and drug him down the street in a jog to a darker alley way off to the side of the bazaar.

“You go ahead, she scares me, I will be just behind you, we need to go down the alley and turn left.” The child almost pushed Gouperbruss down the way. It certainly looked like a place one might find shadier types. Quiet, off to the side of the street, dark, somewhere nobody could cause problems. It was even in the direction that the ragged old katta had pointed. Suddenly the human child called out to a dorin boy standing a few shops over talking to a Nairu male. “Alukar, this crazy gnome wants to go see Mischa, c’mon maybe if we are lucky we can see her turn him into a chicken!”

The dorin cub ran up and smiled and the two boys followed behind Mr. Thronp, when they were nearing the corner they slowed down a bit. “Rememer Alukar, you stay back they don’t like dorin we don’t want her to turn you into a chicken too.”

[Gouperbruss Thronp]

Gouperburss grinned as he handed the child a banknote for 10 crowns, then was abruptly led down to a darkened alley. He took a big whiff of the area, with his mighty gnomish nose and listened with his acute gnomish ears, trying to discern if anything he had heard on his travels had been correct. He had heard that witchs burnt a lot of incense in their homes, and he should be able to smell it as he neared where the child led him. He also kept his ears peeled for chanting, another thing related to adjurators and witchs.

His grinned widdened as he heard what the child said... Hoping that it was only a myth. As the children said that they neared he intended to call out, "I wish to learn some of ghosts and the like, and i am willing to pay for it... I heard i could find one of your type here Mischa... I was told i could find you here..."

[Darkmavrck]

The gnome could sniff and smell all he wanted in a desert city the air was plagued with incense, and unless you were right up on what you were trying to sniff in the open city it would prove frivolous. The boys followed at arm length and looked around the alley the dorin slowing with each step until they were just around the corner and he stopped, staring back at the street. “Just like we talked about Alukar keep your eyes pealed.” The first boy whispered to the dorin just before running up behind the gnome. Then, suddenly, and completely unexpected, the boy shoved Mr Thronp, Hard.

The gnome was forced forward and while he may have been able to keep his balance, he would soon find himself surrounded by the first boy, a second dorin who was bigger then any of the other three and a Nairu boy with a bald head. The three encircled the small man as Alukar kept watch down the path leading into the passage. The three boys chuckled and cracked their fists as they slowly circled the man like a pack of hungry dogs licking their chops and staring at the man with malevolent intent.

“You sure he has money Osa?” the older dorin called to the first boy Gouperbruss had met. Osa replied with a smirk holding up the banknote Thronp had given him. “Trustworthy outsider gave me this to take him to that crazy katta oracle, and I saw him give one to a katta merchant. Seems he likes those fur balls Tien.” The dorin only snarled and the three drew closer and closer watching Thronp’s every move.

[Gouperbruss Thronp]

Gouperbruss didn't like this one bit. He was starting to hate dorins even more because of this, a prejudice was forming against them now, much more than the one he had exaggerated about back at the bar.

He turned to the child and frowned. Time to act like he was branded. He took out his knife and ran it along the scar that ran across his face and nose. And started laughing in a very disturbing, old gruff voice. "YOU!" he pointed to the child holding the money, "YOU DARE TO MESS WITH A BOGGAN! A BOGGIE MAN as you big nobs call it! I SHALL EAT YOU ALL FOR BREAKFAST!" he cackled licking his lips and advancing a little holding the knife by the handel as if he would stab the person he was walking towards.

"DID YOU REALLY THINK That I asked You to come with me for no reasone?!" he cackled again, "NO, Now you are in my friends land! I came to my old Freind Mischa the Witch when i saw you all! HEHE! I saw you all and thought to myself, what a great gift to bring to Mischa! What a grand feast we shall have!"

He laughed again, and continued to advance towards the first child, and began a scold them, "Didn't your parents tell you to watch out for the boggieman? "Run to yer beds little ones, and go straight to sleep otherwise the boggieman will come and eat you" you never heard that story?"

He cackled again, chanting for real this time, "Come to me Mischa, Feast with me Mischa, Dine with me Mischa, for i have found a fine meal for us!" When he spoke Mischa he was sure to have a loud voice, hoping she would come out and help him.

[Darkmavrck]

The boys slowed their pace and looked at one another, it seemed that Thronp had plucked a cord. Osa slowly started backing away as the gnome paced deliberately toward him, his eyes widened a bit, and it was obvious that they were by no means professional bullies. The boy slowly backed up until he found himself pined against the wall and just as Gouperbruss was within striking distance, something struck him.

It was small and stung a bit when it hit but wasn’t enough to really disorientate him. Then without warning a second one came and hit his head again. “Throw more Tien, we gotta save Osa, Alukar get some bigger rocks!” The nairu boy cried out as he picked up another pebble and flung it at the gnome. When the Gnome looked away, Osa the shaggy and apparently scared gave him another healthy shove and ran over by his friends just as the second dorin boy returned with a couple more rocks chucking them in the general direction of the gnome.

“Get out of here you crazy boogie man, go away!” They continued chucking rocks at the man until they suddenly found themselves without any more ammunition, only empty hands and gaping mouths at their disposal. Quickly without hesitation the posse of hooligans took off in a sprint the way they came leaving the gnome in the approaching mid day sun, to bake and bleed from the tiny cuts the rocks had given him. At least now he would be able to resume his search for Mischa

[Gouperbruss Thronp]

Mr. Thronp laughed as they ran away, "The Boggan will get YOooU!" shouted Gouperbruss as he brushed himself off and turned around. It was time to continue his search. He was thinking of leaving the alley way, as this might have well just been a trick to get him alone, but then again, the raggedy katta merchant had pointed in this direction as well.

The tall gnome, but little man turned and began walking down the alley way again trying once again with his mighty nose to smell his way to his destination. He closed his eyes and took several steps forward, concentrating on his nose. If the smell of inscence got stronger he had a pretty good idea he was going in the right direction, the other rich he had run into had used incenses.

He continued to use this method until hopefully he ran into his destination. As the scent got stronger if it did, he would shout out "Mischa, I am in need of your services!"

[Darkmavrck]

It just seemed the desert didn’t like the gnome. He wandered the bazaar for nearly 3 candlemarks before the soft chants of an elderly woman could be heard in the distance. If Gouperbruss walked closer to them he would recognize that he was now heading toward the same direction he came in. The chants grew louder almost to the tone of a normal voice until he stood before an old Jagara woman sitting cross legged on a large mat with rich incense burning around her and a deck of card laying in one palm.

Before Mr. Thronp could make a sound the old black cat silenced him with an open palm to his lips. Her voice was soft and worn and as she spoke cards were slowly drawn and laid before the gnome. “You travel great distance to a land unfamiliar. A tragedy awaits you here, but yet you can not see the path you travel. Speak child old mischa has heard all of your words this brightening.”

As the gnome made a response the old woman’s hand plucked a long white feather from her blue and black headband, one of an assortment of colors and ran it along her muzzle humming as the gnome spoke.

[Gouperbruss Thronp]

Mr. Thronp truely did hate the dessert with a passion by this time. He had hated it when he arrived and he hated it even more now as he wondered around in the heat, following his nose and ears. He gave a sigh of relief when he heard chanting and smelt the faint scent of incense, and as he neared the old woman was very glad there was no dead halfling or gnome hanging anywhere near by, or that the incense was so much it was unbearable.

He was rather surprised when he was cut off from the witch, though in hindsite he knew that he shouldn't have been. He waited and listened to what the old cat had to say, which went right along with the first prophesy that was given to him; that following the trade of adjuration would get him into trouble.

"If you heard everything i said madam, then i guess you know what i am." he stated as he unconsciously traced the scar across his nose. "I am here to learn about the ways of the adjurator and adjuartorists. I also heard that you can teach me... which i would appreciate greatly if you could. Ghosts had gotten me into trouble before, and I intend to help as many as i can to cross over to what ever comes next, so that they will no longer be able to play any nasty tricks on us poor unfortunate mortals, as well as try to pronounce a good name for the adjurator... So that i may go back and join my clan once again..."

He sighed and waited for her response. As she hummed he began to hope that this trade didn't make one senile, and that the crazed witchs he had run into before had only been singular cases. Still he smiled, happy he had finally made progress.

[Darkmavrck]

Mr. Thronp, your thread will be continued HERE

[Lirael Galanodel]

Day Six of the First Week of The Month of Cryxatum

Lirael wandered through the bazaar with wide eyes, taking in each of the shops her eyes could catch -- after all, one couldn't look everywhere all at once, and so she was sure to miss something. She was trying her hardest not to do that, but .... well, laws of nature and all that.

She found herself stopping at shops here and there, but never stayed long; nothing catching her eye long enough to make her reach for the money purse carefully hidden within the folds of her clothing. Her hands itched to reach for the money pouches hanging loosely from those she passed, but she quelled the urge. She was turning into quite the respectable citizen lately, with her own business and all -- she couldn't be caught now.

Eyes glancing this way and that, Lirael finally found what she was looking for -- Art. Yes! Smiling brightly, she pushed and shoved and cuked and squeezed until she was at the shop, eyeing the different signs and paintings carefully before finally picking up one of the small signs, smiling at the words etched out in common. "Kalimera!" Simple wood, an elegent script in the common tongue ... yes, it would do nicely.

Reaching for her money pouch, Lirael stopped as he eyes lit upon a small sign tucked away amongst the others, eyes opening wide in surprise. It was mostly hidden among the others, a small circular piece of wood with a simple design etched onto it -- mountains rising up, clouds surrounding the peeks. And, in the tongue of her own mountain people, a single phrase. "Strength in Family".

Yes, it would be well worth whatever they asked for it!

Turning to the proprietor of the small shop, Lirael smiled brightly as she brought forth the two items, hand dipping into her money pouch. "'ow much for 'dese two?"

The proprietor -- a rather large dorin woman -- eyed the two items for a moment, before nodding. "10 crowns for the both of them."

Lirael nodded happily, quickly counting out the money and paying it without a single thought as to the rather extravagant price for such simple designs. She would have paid double -- triple, really, though, especially for her second find. Smiling, she gave one last nod to the woman before carefully tucking the small-ish items within her pack, disappearing among the crowds once again.

OOC: Self-modding, hope that's alright. I didn't notice a post saying it wasn't allowed. If there is a problem with the pricing of the items, just let me know and I'll adjust my expenses to reflect that.

[Calanon]

Early Evening, Brightening 3, Cryxatum, Era XV Post Fractum

As the elf stepped into the Grand Bazaar he looked around him in mild panic. So many people bustling about,jostling and shoving. An elbow caught him in the ribs as a large Dorin squeezed past. At once, Calanon flinched and drew back to a spot where he had a little more room to survey the scene.

Raising a hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling sun he felt a sheen of sweat upon his forehead. By Aslan it was so hot! And so many people! The caged animals saddened him, so helpless in their litle prisons. Look at those monkeys and.....his eyes widened a little, he had absolutely no idea what that other creature was.

Stepping back quickly, he narrowly avoided being run down by a trader wheeling a barrow piled high with clay pots, and was the recepient of a few choice Arakmatian swear words that he didn't understand. Muttering his own curses in elvish, Cal's dark eyes drank it all in and he felt utterley lost. He loked to the the women drawing water from the well and suddenly wanted to immerse himself in one of the cool springs of the Sylrosyan forest.

This place and his home were poles apart; one dry and arid with pungent incense and spices hanging heavily in the air, the other cool, lush and verdant. It caused an ache deep within to think of his home and for a moment Cal allowed himself to let his mind wander, before being brought back to the present when an irratating tickle began in his nose and throat.

His head grew heavy for a moment before an almighty sneeze escaped him. The elf just managed to snatch his hands over his face before another sneeze overcame him. There were tears in his eyes now, and he leant forward, pinching his nose to stop the infernal itching. It must be the spices. That or the sand that seemed to cling to his every pore. What the elf needed was a bath.

Standing straight again, he looked around him and spoke to the next person that passed, barely getting his words out before he sneezed again

"Vedui.....I'm looking for a bath house or such?"