The Market District of Ravens Bluff was a small ward in the center of the city full of old warehouses and converted row-houses, which during the late 1300's DR, was inhabited by a motley group of vendors, merchants and performers.[1] It was one of two locales in the Bluff, along with Torchtown, that was legally-sanctioned for nighttime street vendors.[2] The market had an interesting reputation among Ravenians: it was the district that never slept, a place where someone could procure all sorts of items and creatures found throughout Faerûn,[1]
A shopper could find all sorts of curios within the market, ranging from live beasts that could serve as a familiar to books of lurid tales published in nearby Sembia. The "skilled" people of the district offered their share of services as well. Anyone who so required could find a skilled forger to have a near-exact copy of a desired item, be it cherished family heirloom or near-priceless ceramic vase.[1]
Description[]
The markets of Ravens Bluff were a rundown collection of decaying brick structures, crammed together with vacant city homes that had been repurposed by vendors who came from a tented shanty town outside the city proper. It was the only location of the Bluff that had been vandalized by graffiti and litter; the accumulation of thick stacks of assorted flyers, notices and playbills found stuck to doors or walls was not uncommon.[1]
These unpleasant sights were somewhat overshadowed by the performers that would show off for gawking Ravenians. Jugglers, acrobats and palm-readers, who may or may-not have practiced actual divination, would gather crowds in at night while their associates hawked wares from the multitude of stalls.[1]
At night, the district was nearly always alight from the glow of oil and candle lamps sitting in the glass-less windows of its dilapidated buildings.[1]
Notable Locations[]
- Businesses
- House of Cloevaerus: By means of a number of Sembian contacts, the importer Cloevaerus was able to being a fair amount of clockwork curious and Gond-inspired machinations into Ravens Bluff.[1]
- Mad Dolphin House: Nearly as large as a warehouse found in the docks, this large-item pawnshop had a small eatery where customers could relaxed while they gaze over wares that may catch their attention.[3]
- Nodder & Sons Safe Storage: This stone building[3] offered secure storage in the form enclosed lock-boxes that could be rented in the short, or long, term.[1]
- Landmarks
- Belltower: This abandoned stone tower was believed to have once been the temple of an old Ravenaar cult.[3]
- Purtil's tower: The city's water tower was built with unique, aerial-conveyances in mind and could accommodate the landing of a griffon or even a Halruaan skyship .[1]
- Residences
- Beldrid's house: This building was home to a local shipping investor who was known to hire adventurers in the city to travel out and hunt down pirates.[3]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 112. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 113. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.