The Bridge Market of Medcarr
Location
In the southwest of Alven, near the frontier with The Frencal Republic, is the cosmopolitan walled city of Carrhelm.Since the two-century-old peace with Frencal, Carrhelm, the keep of Clan Badgorsen and its surrounding villages and neighborhoods have grown exponentially in stature.
During the long and costly war with The Southern Kingdoms, Carrhelm was an impressive walled fortress that was instrumental in repealing the soldiers from the Empire. Nowadays, Carrhelm is a bustling trade center at the crossroads of increased exchange of goods between Frencal and the Clanlands of Alven.
There are several centers of trade within the city, The Medcarr Docks on the navigable River Cravon see incessant traffic of goods and people coming and going across the border, and are one of the major arrival ports to Alven.
From Medcarr, The Yarma Wooden Bridge spans the River Cravon and provides one of the most arresting sights of Alven. The Wooden bridge is one of the most ancient constructions of Alven: it resisted the passing of time due to its magically enhanced timber. It sports remarkable carvings and is in itself a work of art.
Not only is the bridge indestructible, but it is also the widest (6 rods) and longest (3 furlongs) bridge known on the continent. Over the years, a bustling market place has been established on its wide pavements. Shops and stands have been built and goods from all over the continent can be had for a reasonable amount of coins.
It is said that there is nothing one cannot find within the reach of its ten spans.
Specialties
There are different sections on the market. One of the most well-known sections contains the Spice shops and stands. They are posited on the third and fourth spans of the bridge. The spice trade has been booming since goods have legally been allowed to come in from the south.Some spices can only be grown in the balmier southern parts of the continent, and have recently proved popular with the middle-class Alvenites who can afford them. One of the most well-known spicier herbs is the Corrawy. The spicy seeds have proved a great hit with clan cooks all over Sutherlands and Lowside.
Another section that is very popular on the bridge is the Clothier section. This section spans the last arch of the bridge as you step off the bridge into the town of Newcorgate.
Alvenites have always taken pride in their appearance, and now that martial fashions are being replaced by peacetime trends. The vibrant southern silks and linens have become all the rage. The most wealthy of Alvenites like to have their clothes made in the lighter and brighter cloth of the south if they can afford it.
Many dressmakers send envoys (or even make the journey themselves) to peruse the new arrivals of material to try to get hold of the best for their fashion establishment.
] As well as the two sections mentioned above there are many others, too numerous to mention: for example, as well as spices, you can find all sorts of dried herbs, and potions sold as 'medicinal' concoctions. There are also many stands for pottery and marble objects, as well as jewelry, furs, perfume, and other luxury goods.
Because the goods sold on the bridge can be worth a lot of money, the different guilds represented on the market have pulled resources to build a Guard Tower at each end of the bridge. The Bridge Militia attached to the guarding of the bridge is very much present and active during the day and evenings when the market is in full swing.
The militia is also paid to patrol the bridge at night to prevent unwanted intruders. The Militia is partly paid out of the coffers of the Badgorsen clan. The clan gets a lot of its revenues from the taxes it gains from the different markets in Carrhelm. However, the Bridge Market is the most lucrative market in Carrhelm.
Most militiamen are easily recognizable on the bridge as they wear a uniform in the colours of the clan. However, some of the militia are hidden in plain view and wear 'normal gear' to blend in with the crowd and look for pickpockets and other unsavory types attracted by the well-to-do clientele.
One of the advantages of having a market on a bridge is that it is easy to control entrances and exits and to root out anyone up to trouble and there are stories of a few unworthy individuals who have found themselves drowning in the Cravon under mysterious circumstances.
Layout
The width of the bridge makes it possible to construct buildings on its sidewalks, but the carriageway is still wide enough to let carts and horses move freely along the bridge.Because of the huge amount of people frequenting the bridge, guards will only let certain carriages through during the day. It means that customers can enjoy their shopping experience without worrying about being trampled by an endless procession of carts, carriages, and horseriders.
As well as shops being built on its sidewalks, there are sections of the bridge reserved for stands and more transient merchants. Certain days of the week will be dedicated to specialties: for example, on Brightnight, the first day of the Alven week, a flower market will set up its stall on the fifth span of the bridge.
In recent years, The Wooden Bridge of Yarma has become so popular that a few inns and tea shops have been allowed to set up their trade there. These establishments do not offer board and lodgings - as no one is allowed to sleep on the bridge at night - but are used extensively by weary shoppers to enjoy food and drink during the day.
The terraces that some of the more fashionable establishments boast of over the River Cravon have even become the 'in' place for the young crowd of well-to-do clansmen and clanswomen - definitely, the place to be seen during the day.
The bridge is closed by sunset at night, it reopens at sunrise in the morning. It has been known for a few silly hot heads to brave the night interdiction and spend the night on the bridge for a dare. However, some of these daring young men and women, are sometimes not to be found in the morning. Not to be recommended.
Still to do:
Make a list of notable shops, merchants and stands .Make a list of the inns and tea shops.
Make a map of the market and the bridge
Develop the 'haunted' reputation of the bridge and its more sinister ancient past
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