Michael back later than usual with the next Earthdawn blog. I’ve been consumed with working with one of our great freelance writers putting together a sourcebook encompassing Throal’s Grand Bazaar. It’s been a while since I mentioned it via this forum and a few things have changed since then. Now felt like a good time to give the fans an update on the major narrative that is being weaved through this upcoming book. We’ve also working to reorganize the marketplace a bit, so I’ve added a short overview of the various locations that the Bazaar is planned to feature.
With the Second Theran War finally at a close, Throal’s new king turns his attention inward to handle domestic issues that had been pushed aside in recent years. One such problem is the Grand Bazaar. After reaching a dilapidated state in the years following the Scourge, the haphazardly constructed marketplace has become the means for House Neumani to garner favor with the current monarch. The appointment of one of their members to oversee the Bazaar was met with some hostility, most notably due to the new Chancellor’s plan to bring in foreign investors to finance the restoration. This not only increased House Neumani’s political influence, but also hampered rival trading houses who will now have an influx of foreign merchants to compete against. The Neumani Chancellor executed this plan perfectly and appointed each of his major investors as “governor” of the various districts inside the Grand Bazaar.
The new Grand Bazaar will feature seven renovated districts offering a wide variety of goods and services to meet nearly any need a potential customer may have. Fine dining and rare ingredients are the focus of the Culinary Plaza, which hosts an annual completion to crown the district’s best chef. The renowned armorers of Forge Square produce quality arms and armor to suit the needs of any adventurer in need. Little Agora has general household goods on offer, though the shift towards buying at the best price rather than getting the best quality have caused a shift in priorities for traditional craftsmen. The as yet to be named arts, tavern, and housing districts are still being fleshed out, but each fulfills a necessary role in the Bazaar. The Central Market district, a collection of open-air stalls encompassing any vendor who can afford to rent space, rounds out the area as an ever-changing exchange where anything can be found and everything has a price.
I hope you enjoyed this short overview of the book’s major narrative and featured locations. The project is still a work in progress, but hopefully you are excited to see the final product once it’s ready. This sourcebook should end up full of interesting details and colorful characters that Gamemasters can use whenever players find themselves wandering the Grand Bazaar. There may even be a few hints and rumors of things to come in the future, but you’ll have to try and pick those out on your own. Until next time, thanks for reading.