Wandering Emporium

The Wandering Emporium was a traveling bazaar of merchants, creatives, and miscreants that wandered the infernal realm of Avernus in the Nine Hells. The master of this marketplace was the rakshasa Mahadi, a servant of the devilish god Asmodeus.

The emporium was a welcoming place in the otherwise perilous and horrifying plane of Avernus. It was considered neutral ground that offered respite from the hell's many conflicts, most predominantly the Blood War.

Description
The emporium traveled across Avernus using nine massive infernal war machines. When Mahadi chose, the monstrous vehicles came to a halt and formed a semi-circular perimeter. Within this makeshift barricade the market's vividly-colored tents were thrown up and the emporium opened for business.

It was illuminated by dangling lights, emanated exotic scents, and featured rhythmic music that drew in nearby denizens and travelers.

Geography
The emporium had no permanent location in Avernus, but wandered around under the direction of its master.

Trade
First and foremost, Mahadi used the emporium as a means to gather souls for his master Asmodeus. The rakshasa did this by presenting mortals with an infernal contract that had to be willing signed. The contract granted them a boon, such as a powerful magical item or the resurrection of a loved one, in exchange for their eternal soul.

To fulfill this duty and complete his deals, Mahadi was allowed to openly travel between Avernus and the Prime Material plane. While in Avernus, the merchants of the emporium offered various items for sale, such as hellish arms and armaments, demon ichor; yugoloth larvae; a devilish courier service; currency exchange for soul coins; and even a barber's run by a Calishite woman named Burney.

Notable Locations

 * Firesnake Forge: The salamanders that serviced the emporium's war machines also sold weapons and armor to its patrons.
 * From Here to Avernus: Fhet'Ahla the amnizu offered currency exchange and messengers in exchange for soul coins, preferably those that contained the souls of celestial beings.
 * Ichor's Aweigh!: Owing a significant financial debt to Mahadi, the human mage Elliach sold ichor here. He had been grotesquely transformed by exposure to the ichor he sold.
 * Infernal Rapture: This restaurant and spa was run by Mahadi himself and existed as its own demiplane separate from Avernus.
 * Z'neth's larva farm: Ripped away from the battlefields of Toril, the warlord Z'neth was forced to run this piddling business pay back his debts.

Inhabitants
The emporium was occupied by the merchants who peddled their goods and services within, along with the devilish drivers who piloted its infernal war machines. Nearly all of them were indentured to Mahadi in some manner or another.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms