The Grand Market Building / Landmark in The Twin Cities of Colcahir | World Anvil
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The Grand Market

The Grand Market lives up to its name; a massive construction of glass and iron that dominates the skyline. The Market was built reasonably recently and was a tremendously expensive undertaking jointly worked by the Fey and all of the Covens. The cost of the iron alone to hold the massive sheets of perfectly clear glass up was worth many times the value of all the trade in the city, and large amounts of coin were borrowed from neighbours to complete it.    The gamble has paid off, though, and the Grand Market is one of the busiest and most profitable trade centres in the world, and certainly the biggest on the continent. The easy access to water routes, and via Autumnfell a direct sea route to the rest of the world, plus the trade with the Feywilds and the easy access to the Cloud Docks means stock can be very quickly moved in and out of the markets. As it is jointly owned by the Fey and the city it is something of a neutral ground for both, and as such a good place for business to be done that doesn't necessarily involve the swapping of physical goods.   The market is divided into 4 main sections.   The middle and most obvious section on entering is the market proper, three floors of open space and balconies surround a planted green surrounded by trees and well kept planters. This is fastidiously maintained by the staff. The balconies are full of partitioned "shops" that hold semi-permanent wares and the bigger or more expensive machinery. Anything specialist or complex would be held in the The Artisans' Halls but the smaller pieces live here too. On the ground floor are the utterly transient shops; little more than blankets laid over the floor or wagons with their wares open to the air.   To the left are the moneylender halls, offices and vault space protected by the most potent magics holding thousands upon thousands in gold and jewels and priceless art. It is here that the great families and covens store all their public funds. It's also home to more than a few older vaults that are privately held, and nobody knows what's in them or how to access them.   On the right are the chambers of discussion. These include private rooms as well as larger meeting rooms and offices of officials. If there is a discussion to be had about large sums of money or goods this is where they'll be held. There's everything from legal clerics to accountants here to facilitate just these conversations, as well as multiple rooms enchanted with the finest anti-espionage spellcraft and truth-telling circles (not necessarily in the same room) depending on need.   Lastly through the Market and out the rear are the embassies. A large set of ancient trees that have grown together and weave through each other have been co opted, with houses built throughout their branches and trunks. It is here that ambassadors or visiting dignitaries, or just merchants with enough coin, stay. All of the rooms are heavily fortified with magic and almost completely tamper-proof, as befitting stately residence, but come at an eye watering cost.   Just outside of the market and to its left is a small set of stables for housing beasts of burden mainly, as well as a tavern on stilts over it where the drivers mostly stay, being unable to afford the fine housing of the embassy suites or the slightly less lavish rooms merchants use.
Type
Market square

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