World of Cumae: The Orbis

The Strawmarket

Conveniently located between the House Absolute to the North, the Palerine to the west, and the Pan-Celestian cathedral to the south, the Strawmarket is an ancient and often-redesigned marketplace larger than the average regional town. Several hundred years back, the surrounding lowland around the outskirts of the market was excavated and filled via underground circulating pipes into a moat broad enough for service vessels to more easily move trade goods to and from the various parts of the market without impossible congestion of its narrow lanes and labyrinthine partitions.

Highlights of the market include:

  • The Grand Entrance, a stone-tiled archway covering a number of shops and the Astionel exchange, which is a fortified bank and currency market unto itself
  • Bretranel's Festower, a multi-level terraced building housing a number of food stalls, with ample outdoor and indoor seating
  • Phanuel's Fountain, an enormous monument to the angel of kings and the sun
  • Pool of St. Akion, a sheltered and sloped swimming and play area for children in the marketplace
  • Goblin Fountain, where dozens of soup goblins congregate and compete for business daily
  • Mages' market, where wondrous goods are bought and sold along a row of stalls competing for the best prices and most customers, often allowing for deals that would be unheard of at magic shops in town