Onyx Market (Chyril 27, Tradetide)

[Charlotte Estella Riddens]

The entire structure is enveloped in dark shrouds the colour of the night sky, and without the pinpricks of starlight to illuminate the darkness. From the outside, it looks like the last veil of a temptress, almost gossamer yet undoubtedly solid. There is the seductive pull of the open tent flap, for the Onyx Market is in reality a massive tent, and at the same time the realisation of the dangers inherent in dealing with unofficial markets. Purchasing from vendors whom the law labels as criminals is seldom the wisest move, but it is often the most alluring. This large canvas and wood structure served as the marketplace for all the goods and most services available in Nether's Gate. Legal or illegal, if the right price was paid it could be had.

Inside stalls crammed in every conceivable position that still allows room for the gathered masses to mill about. A veritible maze of stalls stretching as far as the eye can see, merchants hawk their wares, thousands of throats cry out prices and sales - all of them insisting that they have exactly what one might need. Of course, the place is not without security - and all but the most foolhardy merchants have at least two bodyguards waiting, and most of the stores are warded through guile and, in rare cases, magick.

A map. When at sea, Estella had always preferred to know where she was. And this was true in particular if she were to sail to a destination allegedly known only to two Mouthie prisoners and a man called Pudding. Besides, this destination was somewhere in the Greater Rands, seas she had never before sailed in, and that she knew very little of.

A map could, in other words, be handy, she had concluded back at the Hydra, as well as perhaps some information on this part of the Dusk Sea. After all, orscars, volcanoes and some crazy stories of islands popping up from the waters was pretty much all of what Estella knew of the Greater Rands.

Thus, stepping inside the Onyx Market, the young woman began looking around for cartographers, real or fake ones, or other merchants dealing in such. Obviously, there were few things as valuable as a reliable map, and a good one may well exceed her purse by far in price. There was no hurt in looking around, though, and a less accurate one could be useful too. "Besides," Estella mumbled to herself, "I need a pair of boots in any case."

[Grant]

There were many places in Tazlure where one might purchase...well...things, and in virtually all cases, what was typically available depended heavily upon the location of the market. Glassware and clocks were commonplace in World's Mouth markets...fine horses, tapestries, and breath-taking woodworks could be found in Kislovan...rums, ales, refined hides and leathers (and more tapestries, though no self-respecting collector would consider a Dortese tapestry quite yet!) could be found easily in Dort. In every case, goods arriving from afar tend to demand far higher prices...if it would even be available at all...but markets were commonly built upon goods manufactured or harvested locally.

The average consumer quickly found Nether's Gate to be an exception. Not only did the Gate offer no local industry upon which to build her economy, but all goods arrived from afar...and were brought in at considerable expense and risk by the merchant (which, in most cases, would have to be a smuggler). For this reason, Estella was not only confronted by the most bizarre collection of goods...but also some of the most strange pricing she had yet seen. Some goods of clearly high value were rather reduced in price, perhaps due to the genuine lack of sophistication among the consumer base...while other goods were amazingly expensive compared to where they should be, such as steel crossbow bolts, tools, and even nails.

Clocks (including high-quality Ship Chronometers that simply had to have been stolen from a navy ship), fine silver, weapons (everything from the usual, local epees to the mundane cutlass, the outlawed crossbow, and even the occasional horn of powder), casks of liquor, bags of sugar, tobacco, soap, perfume, silks, spices, medicines, jewelry, clothing (including a very ripe selection of lovely boots and shoes), pelts of every conceivable type (some of which even appeared to be human in shape), gems and crystals (some of which glowed, some looked like ice, some were a curious, dull red and resembled a rose), expensive musical instruments (including violins, a new trend in the West despite the extreme difficulty to master), and of course, the ever-present works of art, ranging from tapestries, statues, paintings, rugs, and charms hailing from such places as Roque d'Ancourt, Pan's Isle, the Citadel, and Gods-know-where-else.

Some curious absences among the goods were the usual kind of wilderness equipment, such as backpacks, ropes, spikes, and such...and literature. Given that this was the item of Estella's immediate preoccupation, she quickly learned that precious few merchants had any kind of books, scrolls, or parchments at all...and the ones that did boasted no accurate map of the Dusk Sea. Oh, there were many that claimed to have a complete and accurate chart of the region...but Estella was knowledgeable enough in navigation to know that none of them were either complete, accurate, or even decently incorrect. Even were she to collect copies of every chart available on this day and combine them into one, she would be left with something far from accurate...and also cluttered with the effort of the combination.

The best chart she could find was limited to charting information gathered from the Greater Randes only. There were figures and numbers upon it that made no sense to Estella, but it seemed rather accurate, if somewhat incomplete. The date upon it was 1208ad, making it at least reasonably accurate, though she couldn't find any reference to any settlements or ports whatsoever...something of a surprise, considering that the Pirate's Duchy should have been about there in 1208AD.

Naturally, the chart would be expensive...no doubt in the area of a coronet or more...and judging by the shrewd and stubborn look of the owning merchant (a rather fat and swarthy man wearing a skull cap and matching, bright-red vest over his blue pantaloons), he would no doubt haggle high.

[Charlotte Estella Riddens]

As always, the smuggler stock of the Onyx Market comprised a diverse assortment of the strangest goods, ranging from entirely useless stuff to stuff that had no conceivable function in the first place, and to...now and again...handy and useful stuff. Somebody ought begin importing entirely mundane functional things to Nether's Gate, reasoned Estella, possibly even in a perfectly legal manner, and they'd make a fortune. Problem was they were likely never to get as far as the Gate before the goods would change hands, and that with cannon balls, grappling hooks, and murder as payment, most likely in that order.

At least the place had plenty of solid, good boots, Estella noted, a pair of which she would need to pick up afterwards. On the issue of maps, however, the choice was limited, and the young woman soon found herself staring at incomprehensible charter figures and numbers that might as well have been a child's random drawings to her.

Estella had never considered it a matter of much importance that she didn't know how to read and write...she had generally been able to read normal maps well enough without it, simply by memorizing the looks of important names and symbols...but it was just in a situation like this that literacy might have come in handy. Then again, it might require more than knowing one letter from the other to understand the figures and numbers in this one. Whichever was the case, she would need someone to explain this to her if she were to have the slightest use of it. This thing might not even be worth it...

"What do you know of the Greater Randes, my good man?" asked Estella, halfway ironically, looking skeptically from the chart to the merchant. "Appears even more deserted for people and ports than was my impression." The girl was no expert haggler, having only limited experience with such, but she supposed discrediting the effectiveness of the sales object in question might be a good place to start. Besides, maybe the man knew something of this particular region of the Dusk Sea, and Estella would be interested to collect some more general information on the Greater Randes before she were to set out in just that direction.

[Grant]

"Is not map of peoples, little garl," waved the Sabatan (he was indeed Sabatan, though it was clear he got his start in Amun Rah). "Is map of waters. Is illuminated with measures of water and tides and..." the merchant lethargically paused as he dug into his rather impressive memory "...sal-in-i-ty."

Whether or not the merchant had any clear idea what was meant by salinity...or whether he knew how measuring such a value could be at all useful...was clearly questionable, but the marks did appear to be numbers of some kind, paired with sampling marks dotting the chart. All told, it might be worth a coronet to someone...but perhaps not to a navigator seeking to find her way around.

Somewhere down the little row of vendors, an ebullient man lead a small parade of youths, locals, and a few people that appeared to be fishermen down the line of merchants. The man seemed remarkably out-of-place, with his rich, ermine coat, brand new boots made of what might have been seal hide, and a stick...upon which was mounted a perfectly hideous casting of an eagle struck in bronze. All told, he lacked of any taste whatsoever...but he had money, and he was flinging it around like he had never had it before. It was a ludicrous sight....but not ludicrous enough to distract the merchant in front of Estella from countering her initial appraisal.

"You will not find better chart of Randes here," boasted the merchant. He might have been right based on what Estella had seen...but then, accurate maps and charts of virtually anywhere in Tazlure were somewhat valued and rare...and while most ship captains or navigators might keep the best set they can collect, few could boast a complete set of any great value. "Is weer accurate...illuminated by scholars!"

[Charlotte Estella Riddens]

According to Pudding, the gold was to be found inside a barrier reef, probably resting underwater when the tide was high. That meant they would need to adapt to the tides to get in to it and to extract it safely. So while the Sabatan's chart might not be the map Estella had been looking for, that didn't mean it couldn't come in handy for other purposes. "By scholars, you say," she commented drily to the merchant. "What scholars would that be?"

From her background, the former fishing girl knew that salinity had to do with the density of salt in the waters - this allegedly had a major influence on fishing conditions between waters of high salinity vis-à-vis waters of low salinity. And she'd pulled in sufficient wreckage among the fish in her nets to know what effect salt waters (as opposed to fresh water) could have on metallic objects, and it might just be that the condition of Pudding's gold could be explained by long-lasting underwater exposure to salt. That gold certainly had looked worn, that much was clear. Regardless however, knowing the salinity of certain waters was hardly gonna save them if this Pudding had entirely different plans than what he claimed.

"This thing is pretty much as useful as piece of waste flotsam as long as no one can't decode the fancy art on it, man," Estella said finally, after studying the chart skeptically for a long time. She supposed Pudding might be able to read it, his coming from fancy and sophisticated Roque and all. But it wasn't granted he would know, and Estella preferred to know things herself. "Unless you tell me who on this island can explain this crazy lingo to me, I can't possibly give you more than a circlet for it."

Meanwhile, an idiotically enthusiastic and no doubt newly rich character approached with his little party, in an act that appeared intended solely for flaunting his new-won prosperity. Estella cast a sidelong glance at the congregation. If such a fellow can find his fortune just like that, she reasoned with an inward smile, then I'd consider my own odds fairly good.

[Grant]

"Scholars that know of the sea, of course. Scholars of the great schools of the West," countered the merchant quickly, pointing towards the various waterways within the Greater Rande. "And those with means to gather such measures. Perhaps it is of no use to you?" challenged the large man, folding his arms in a very typical bartering counter. "Perhaps you would find greater use with a more common chart of this delta? I have many designed for those with a more mean sense of the sea, and I could not part with such a treasure as this for less than three circlets..."

The merchant jabbed a finger at another "chart" that used large, descriptive pictures to mark such locations as The Kracken (a massive volcano poking out from the water, which it patently wasn't), Pyrate's Duchy (a town marked with a beached ship that seemed almost accurate by appearance, anyway, if somewhat out-of-scale), Le Bois Noir (which featured a lovely little image of an orc skull), and various other features...such as sea monsters (one resembled a great turtle, another a vast serpent, and a large group of mer people collected in another place) and ships (few of which sported rigging anywhere close to reasonable). All told, his suggested alternative was a map clearly meant to decorate a wall more than steer a ship of war. "This one I will give you for one circlet. Is it not far more lovely?"

The wealthy simpleton was closing...and Estella's impression of him only became more and more certain. He had clearly been a fisherman, the marks of his trade somewhat obvious and rather familiar to her (everything from the weather-beaten countenance to the scarred fingers to the narrow, squinting eyes...and of course, the faint scent of fish). His growing entourage clearly included a few additional individuals who eyed the imbecile's wealth critically, clearly waiting for any pretense to part the fool with his new-found coin.

[Charlotte Estella Riddens]

"I'll take it for two circlet - and that's as far as I'm prepared to go, man," said Estella, to finalize the deal. Though whether this thing will prove to be of any use, who knows.... The merchant was correct in one thing - the chart in question did look outright professional compared to your average illustrated romanticized seamap. Perhaps Ezekiel would know how to read the chart? Estella pondered briefly. She quickly discarded the likeable pirate, however. Firstly, while the fellow was no doubt an able sailor, he wasn't the type to be schooled in cartography. And secondly, there was no reason to let more people in on this venture than was strictly necessary.

The little man with the stick, meanwhile, began to look suspiciously like a fisherman. Former fisherman, that was, now turned rich fool. Estella didn't like him already. She held little sympathy for people whose egos grew proportionally with their wealth - and this imbecile was way out of proportions.

"That's a lovely a stick," she commented enthusiastically, with just so much sarcasm that she expected everyone except the man himself to get it. While Estella was generally a well-meaning girl, that didn't mean she couldn't act downright cruel towards people whom she considered to deserve no better. In Estella's mind, this fisherman here and the black-haired beauty at the Hydra weren't really that different at all. Both thought far too much of themselves, and both would pay dearly for it. For the haughty girl, it had been a rough episode with Marcello. For this man, it was likely to be an unreasonably expensive episode with the Onyx Market traders.

"No doubt worth a small fortune," she continued. "You must have come upon a real treasure, sir."

[Grant]

There was never really any doubt, anyway. Oh, certainly it was the custom to haggle over details...but custom always gave way to practicality, and the fundamental truth was that the merchant needed to eat...and no one else had demonstrated any interest in this particular map. Two circlets it was...and while Estella might need assistance understanding some of the notes on the chart, the bulk of it was as self-explanatory as any map to her. After all, the artists might change...but the islands were largely the same as they ever were.

Nodding in agreement, the merchant deftly rolled Estella's new chart tightly, casting his glance around for a casing in which he could put it. This left her free to speak towards the roving, wealthy fisherman, a man who's attention was somewhat tricky to get at first due to his obviously distracted nature.

"Oh, a big catch!" proclaimed the fisherman, displaying all of his five teeth in a broad grin (wealth could buy many things, but certainly not everything). "Hauled up a wee bit of the shiny in me last net...so it's Jack's A-Dyin for me until I get to Roque!" he added. Roque d'Ancourt seemed to be the destination of choice for all suddenly-wealthy seamen around here, perhaps due to the perceived peace, quiet, and wealth represented by the place. It had become more a figure of speech than any real destination for a former sea rover.

A for a wee bit of the shiny, one could only mean gold. "Madam..." murmured the merchant, who had packaged up Estella's chart in a shabby but reasonably serviceable scrollcasing and presented it to her at last. The Sabatan gave the fisherman a critical look as well, but did not interrupt further.

""Come by the 'Hydra tonight, and I'll buy rounds for everyone!" proclaimed the once-upon-a-fisherman, waving himself forward towards the entrance to the Onyx Market and past Estella. While the fisherman offered very little regarding his story, it was rather clear that he had found a rather tidy sum...and it was also clear that at least two dozen people following nearby were desperate to find out where...and how. Such sudden, improvised "Gold Rushes" were commonplace in the area thanks largely to numerous ship wrecks, buried treasures, and valuables lost at sea or marooned on some island. Once word of such a find escaped, dozens upon dozens of local prospectors often responded, each hopeful to get their small share of the prize. In most cases, such a rush came up empty-handed. But not in all cases.

Marching forward, the fisherman smiled and nodded companionably at Estella (sparing a very brief glance over her person as if he thought he had recognized her or something) before marching past, followed closely by his massive train of courtiers.

[Charlotte Estella Riddens]

Apparently, lost golden treasures were to be found everywhere and anywhere these days. Estella exchanged her circlets for the chart with the Sabatan merchant and stuffed it down her satchel along with the rest of her small selection of belongings. The blissful fisherman, meanwhile, exited the market after studying Estella for a short moment, almost as in recognition. Herself, the young girl was pretty sure she'd never seen the fellow before. Strange.

It didn't take Estella long to pick up a pair of good boots at another merchant's, to complete her business in the Onyx Market. Quietly she slipped out of the massive tent for this time. I hope not for the last time, she thought ominously for a brief moment, as she made her way out into the cloudy day.