The Sandy Songbird Music Shop

[Whisper]

-=| The Sandy Songbird |=-

Not many shops in the Grand Bazaar sell instruments. In the fierce heat or howling winter winds, the wood of delicate creations like violins often cracks, rendering the beautiful instruments useless. But if you listen carefully enough, you can hear the sound of gorgeous music coming from a little stone building just beyond the bazaar...

The shelter, little more than a thick gray stone shell, serves as a shield for a stone passageway, through which one may access a set of downward curving stairs. At the end of the stairs lies a veritable paradise of music, a bard's fantastical dream.

No two instruments look alike. Wooden flutes of dark, light, red, black, green, and white woods hang on racks on the walls. Fretless lutes are suspended on stands, their beautiful surfaces lined with mother-of-pearl. Three harps stand in a row, from child-sized to what might very literally be giant-sized. The strings are as thick as a man's finger. The whole establishment is refreshingly cool all era long, presumably from the insulating stone in which the underground space is housed. Curtained doorways lead to even more rooms, in which one might think to find even more exotic and unheard-of instruments.

Piles of sheet music are stacked here and there, some still shining with freshly used ink. Pots of polish and wood treatment balm lie scattered all over the countertops. Black music stands hold everything from sets of finger cymbals to colorful live singing birds who can only caw a perfect 'C.' And somewhere, from the depths of the shop--if one could call this cove, this warehouse such a thing--comes the soft sound of tender music, perhaps played on a gitara or a kanun.

If a prospective customer were to call for help, or perhaps pluck just one string on a nearby harp, the music would immediately cease and a ruffled-looking woman would poke her head out from between a hammered dulcimer and a giant gong. Andora, the elderly Nairu woman, appeared to be the owner of the shop. She was, hunched over, only about four feet tall, and her long grey hair was streaked here and there with white. Her face was kind, and her voice was reminiscent of that of a classical singer. She would shuffle out to meet the customer, delicately stepping over a pile of songbooks, and ask in her lovely tone, "May I help you?"

An old chalkboard was mounted on the wall. When it wasn't obscured by instruments lying in front of it, it could be easily read. The prices were smudged here and there, as if they had been edited frequently. As with many other stores in Arakmat, shopkeepers were more than willing to negotiate with willing customers. The art of bartering was one not unknown to longtime Arakmatan resident Andora Ilulain.

Instruments All of our instruments are for sale. The prices below are guidelines for basic instruments. Additional fees will be added for custom-made, embellished, or specially imported instruments. Instruments may also be rented for a monthly fee. If you don't see an instrument listed here, simply ask! Native Instruments drum (doumbek) 50c flute (ney) 25c finger cymbals (zills) 10c/pair guitar (gitara) 80c hammered dulcimer (santur) 40c harp (qanun) 70c lutes fretless lute (oud) 50c long-necked lute (buzuq) 60c tambourine (riq) 20c violin (kaman) 90c zither (kanun) 40c Imported Instruments cello 120c Charismean horn 100c chimes 50c lyre 90c trumpet 80c tuba 100c Lessons We offer lessons in every instrument imaginable, even voice! Use your own instrument or rent one of ours.

Although the message board spoke in the plural first person, there appeared to be no one other than Andora in the shop. However, the old woman was more than equipped to handle the low amount of activity in the tucked-away little music shop.

OOC: This location cannot be self-moderated. It must be moderated by GM Nimbrethie.