The town is absolutely bustling; the streets is packed with people shopping and mingling. Itās Open Market day and there are vendors lined up along the square selling their wares. In the distance, the airship dock is busy with foot and air traffic. This event doesnāt happen too often, but when it does, it really breathes new life into the town.Ā
You browse the booths one by one. You didnāt really have any intention of buying anything, but you wouldnāt be opposed to a nice trinket or maybe two.Ā
The vendors all seem friendly, whether it be by nature or by customer service faƧade, but none of their products catch your eye.Ā
You turn the corner and catch a glimpse of a booth significantly more ornate than the others. Itās a rather tall and wide countertop of dark, lacquered wood and a thick canopy of a dark, vivid blue fabric. Expensive looking products and antiques are laid out in a thoughtful and aesthetically-pleasing fashion. Definitely nothing you reckon you can afford, but you canāt help but pause to take a quick look.Ā
Your eyes trace the items lined up. A golden vase, adorned with intricate filigree and polished to perfection, a lid hovers above the lip of its opening spinning in place as if on display. A tea-set decorated with delicate detail set for two and apparently serving tea autonomously. A line of jewelry apparently gracefully showing itself off to some curious customers. Your gaze, however, stops as you meet a pair of ice cold eyes and a playful grin.Ā
Leaning over the counter lazily is an elven figure with hair so pale, it is almost iridescent in the sunlight and so long that sits over their shoulder and falls below and behind the counter top. The entire being is accented with gold from the spectacles balanced on the bridge of their nose to the rings are their fingers. They beckon at you, a gesture to bring you to the booth, but you hesitate. The place looks too expensive to approach... still, the curiosity gets the best of you and you inch your way to them.Ā
The vendorās grin widens as you get within earshot of their voice. They stand up straight and you notice just how much presence the figure carries.
āWelcome, worthy traveler, to the Lorienā They say in a liquid honey tone,Ā āWe are the finders of the continentās most valuable magically-touched curios and antiques. Nothing can be hidden high or low enough for us to get our hands on... for the right price. I am Salai."Ā
They reach their hand out to you; their hand adorned with half a dozen rings of different looks and builds, though all equally expensive looking.Ā
āNow, is there anything that you seek?ā