Mochington Spice Market
Mochington, the Aricos's oldest and most influential district, holds the planet's biggest spice market. What was once a series of temporary stalls thrown together on a whim is now a plethora of tightly packed buildings, each owned by an artisan desperate to share homemade spices and other cooking ingredients.
The market continues to grow to this day, seeping into streets and alleys far beyond the market's original territory. Some stalls stick out into the Kettle River, balancing precariously on stilts and piers. The market remains active both at day and night, although the latter sees much more mysterious, illicit activity.
History
Mochington Spice Market dates back to the late 1550s, to give people space to sell their goods. It quickly grew in popularity, foods and ingredients becoming the most abundant things to purchase.
In the 1620s the use of spices in Aricosian cuisine became a staple, and no meal was complete without being stuffed with countless aromatic herbs and flavourings. As a result, spices became more abundant in the markets, each family-run market selling their own homemade spices.
It was around this time when criminal activity began to manifest in the market. Council officials were alerted to dealings of illegal tea flavours, arriving from faraway lands. They kept watch, placing hidden guards all around the market space. In the 1650s over two hundred illegal tea dealers were apprehended, and the council believed this activity would halt from then on.
Tea dealings fluctuate from time to time, but remain a consistent business around the markets. Dealers have only become more subtle, organisations hidden in the darker corners of these enclosed markets.
Presently, in the 2140s, the market has quintupled in size, growing from just under two hundred temporary stalls to nearly a thousand permanent stands. These range from multi-story buildings to tiny pop-up stands.
Location
The market is located in the north of Mochington, bordering the Kettle River. Two small bridges connect the market to the other side of the river, in Cerala and its own spice market. The market area is massive and covers the entirety of the Mochington Oasis, a large open space nestled between towering rows of apartment complexes on three sides.
There are no large roads to get into the market, only small footpaths squeezing between buildings. Despite this the market is not easy to miss, as neon signs, giant banners, and small pop-up stalls creep out of these alleys and flash passerbys, drawing them into the market.
Goods & Products
How long did you spend carving this teapot?Five days. Another day for the handle, that was its own headache.Wow.
Artisans from around the world enjoy selling their most beloved, handcrafted items. Each vendor has their specialty, renowned in their craft.
Spices and foods are the most popular items sold in the market. Barrels of spices are propped up against one another, carefully stacked into tall pyramids solely for the shock factor.
Customers are encouraged to try out samples of homemade spices and taste unique teas, although some vendors then squeeze out some money in return, afterwards.
Small domestic animals can be acquired from a number of stalls. The owners take great care of their animals, making sure the critters are comfortable in the markets. It is that type of care that encourages customers to purchase these animals, reassuring them that they are in good condition.
Was Mochington named after a saint or a ruler, perhaps..?
Maaaaybe ;)