The Undermarket

The Market Below the Market

The city of Sicerrone is well known for having the largest market outside of Nioyaathep. Being both centrally located in Jerun's Strait and bearing roads connected to all nodes of western civilization, it is a veritable hub of all forms of commerce. Naturally, with the exorbitant amount of merchants and customers passing through to hock their wares, there come traders who are searching to trade goods of a more illicit variety. The city holds a multitude of laws barring a variety of products including unlicensed scrolls and poisons, protected magickal beasts, and slaves. Through either careful smuggling or a series of bribes and sometimes both, they manage to get it into the city. After that, it is a short trip down a hidden entrance or through into the underbelly of the city streets to reach The Undermarket.
While Sicerrone was in its original location upriver and further inland there was virtually no way for a black market to form. It wasn't until the city was moved after the Fourth Grand Archmagi razed it and the Duke decided to build the new city on top of a series of canals that illicit vendors found a lucrative position for their market. Being located beneath the city and the watchful eyes of the guard suited them greatly. Though, they had no idea how quickly the Undermarket would explode into popularity. Before they knew it, the original canal coverage spread through two, then an entire intersection, then needing a fully established area to fit a large number of people trying to get in.
The Undermarket is located in a large series of intertwining sewers and canals that empty into a drainage bowl located directly below the legitimate markets in the center of Sicerrone. The drainage area has been altered for the use of the market dealers to establish a solid foundation to construct a multitude of stalls and fixtures to accommodate the various needs of their patrons. A massive black market second in size only to Vanderbrook, it is very welcome to those who are already passing through Sicerrone or do not necessarily possess the bravery required to travel into that den of louche behavior. The goods sold here are still illegal and potentially extremely dangerous, but the market has a strict code that is upheld with intense scrutiny. Both vendors and patrons alike are taxed upon entry by the elite who run the market to fund a security force for those within. All who step within the market are held to a set of rules and shop with a notion of safety, as long as they remain within the confines of the Undermarket. Those who would dare go against them are said to be smuggled out of the market in pieces.

A Not So Hidden Secret

With the sheer size of the Undermarket being what it is, it was only a matter of time until the Sicerrone Guard caught wind of it and located the establishment, driving everyone out of the drainage bowl for a single day. This was the only day in the history of the Undermarket that it has not conducted business. The elite running the market called a meeting with La Patrian aristocracy and struck a deal. So long as the Undermarket kept all of its problems internally and peacefully conducted itself, it would be allowed to continue its business underneath the city provided it lined the pockets of those who watch over them. Thus a second protection tax was enacted on top of the vendors of the Undermarket. While some grumbled and complained that they would simply move to Vanderbrook, many were happy to pay knowing that they no longer ran the risk of getting arrested in a sting operation. Besides, a small portion of their taxes was nothing compared to the profits they were reaping from their products.
Even the Duke of Sicerrone himself knows of the existence of the Undermarket and the deal his guards have struck. Instead of reprimanding them or calling for reform within his city, he called for a grand majority of their hush payments to be redirected into city welfare. Through the profits the city makes from both legal and illegal markets, Sicerrone maintains its status as one of the cleanest and most well-developed cities in all of Nora.

Market Laws

1. No violence is allowed inside the market nor within the city markets in a relation to Undermarket business. 
2. The use of Magick outside of quality of life improvements or approved services is not allowed. 
3. All sales are final outside of approved merchant warranties. 
4. All promises and exchanges are final, so long as they remain within Sicerrone. All agreements to be enacted outside of city limits are completely on the danger of those parties.

Type

Market square