Street Market
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1: The Street Market
Water Market: The stench of fish fills this narrow alley. Stalls—all selling fish (fresh, salted or smoked) of some sort—line one side of the alley.
Farmers’ Market: Held weekly, this market is dedicated to selling the provender of the surrounding countryside. The offering is seasonal and comprises both raw goods (wheat, fruit, and so on) and prepared foods (pies, ciders, and so on).
Joutsi’s Wandering Emporium: The merchant Nikki Joutsi wanders from town to town with his wagons and servants. He offers what is exotic and interesting to the commoners at good prices. His emporium also provides street entertainment for his customers.
Five Bells: By ancient law, this market is allowed to fill the town square for only five hours every week. Thus, for speed, most of the stalls are little more than one or more handcarts piled high with goods. Some stalls can comprise as many as a half-dozen handcarts.
2: Major Locale Features
The stalls line one side of the street; many are extensions of the shops fronting the street.
All the stalls in the market have the same colour awnings. The awnings flutter in the breeze, producing a pleasant susurration.
The market stallholders collectively pay for guards—five armoured mercenaries—to patrol the area. The guards are well-paid and motivated but won’t risk their lives.
The street is cobbled—a rarity in this part of town—and some of the buildings jut out over the street.
3: Minor Locale Features
Wind-blown rubbish—leaves, scraps of cloth and so on—drift through the market.
Birds perch on several of the stall’s awnings.
A small fountain gurgles away midway down the street. Shoppers gather here to listen to the water and chat.
The mouths of many small alleyways “puncture” the street; some of the stallholders use them to store their extra stock, wheelbarrows and the like.
4: What’s Going On?
The street market is busy, and many customers browse the various stalls and their offerings.
Several urchins linger in the market’s vicinity, waiting for the vigilant stallholders to be distracted. When an opportunity presents itself, they pounce, grab what they can and then flee.
Dark clouds hover over the town, and the street market is quiet—rain is in the offing. If the characters are browsing, they could get a good bargain.
A wealthy merchant is slumming it at the market and moving slowly down the line of stalls. Several servants carrying bags of purchases attend the merchant.
5: Other Folk
Leena Paaso (young female human) loiters at the street market. She has no money and is hungry. Her clothes are only one step above rags. Leena has quick fingers and is plucking up the courage to pick her first pocket. A perceptive character spots her attempt—which is successful. If they apprehend her, she begs for mercy and bursts into tears.
Tuomo Rautia (middle-aged male human) browses the market to get a feel for the common folk. Tuomo is a holy warrior and is wearing clothes he thinks will help him blend in. His bearing, courtly manners and obvious affluence, however, doom his attempt to abject failure. Tuomo is a good man and helps anyone in need.
Maalin Talvikki (middle-aged female human) shepherds her four loud children through the market. The children—darting about and shouting at each other—seem possessed of boundless energy, and Maalin appears exhausted. She carries a large basket, which she slowly fills with purchases.
Vilppu Miekka (old male human) shouts at a smallholder who he believes has just cheated him. The old man-his face scarlet with anger—waves his walking stick aggressively at the store holder. The stall holder, meanwhile, is trying to ignore Vilppu. Other customers give the two a wide berth.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Urban Locale #26: Street Market by Robert Manson. The book is available from DriveThruRPG and ragingswanpress.com.
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