The bargain store

"What even is a bargain!" The mountebank's question was clearly rhetorical. "In Doctor Samiana di Holberg's Big Book of All the Words it is defined as "something sold at a price that advantages the purchaser, while still providing advantages to the vendor that are all too often invisible."

There was muttering and nodding from the crowd.

"I however have a different definition, and after today, friends and strangers, I think you will share my understanding." Leia was really getting into her role now, feeling the spirit of the Mountebank grabbing her tongue and set her words aflame. She had the crowd in the palm of her hand. "For me - and for you folk lucky enough to be here in the markets today - a bargain is a once in a lifetime opportunity! A unique and never to be repeated chance for you to acquire the finest jewels of the far west! Magical treasures the like of which no Imperial artisan can hope to replicate! Spices that transform even the most mundane of street-food into a feast for the senses! And now... do I have a volunteeer to demonstrate the amazing properties of the merchandise I have to sell you today?"

She resisted winking at Mecuto, as he stepped up with a pugnacious expression and began his spiel about how he didn't believe any of this. Before he could really get into the swing of it however, a heavy hand fell on his shoulder and he was jerked back into the crowd. In his place stepped out one of the Lantern Wolf's agents, grinning from ear to ear.

"This sounds amazing!" she said, eyes wide with practiced innocence. "I'd be more than happy to volunteer to show these good people the true worth of your goods!"

Bugger, thought Leia, feeling the Mountebank's inspiration drain out through her feet like water from a bathtub when the plug was pulled. This was not going to go well.

Overview

• In addition to deals and serives, certain specific goods are available from the City of Gold and Lead during the Autumn Equinox

The City of Gold and Lead deals with the Empire through the use of a unique ritual - Ephisis' Scale - that allows trade in all kinds of valuable items drawn from all over the world. As well as general deals for familiar goods, the heralds of the eternal market sometimes serve as go-betweens for specific offers. These offers often come from mortal magicians looking to smooth over the challenges of transporting valuable goods over distances, but the Eternal Bazaar is equally happy to represent the other cities of the Iron Labyrinth.

Some arrangements have already been discussed in the Not from the benevolence wind of fortune which is a counterpart to this one. Here, we lay out some specific deals for Imperial traders to purchase specific goods from named buyers. Each is only available during the Autumn Equinox, and each requires the casters of Ephisis' Scale to clearly indicate the deal they wish to take advantage of.

Bonds and Bars

• The lictors have arranged for Imperial magicians to gain access to objects from the City of Bar and Bond
• These items will be delivered before the Winter Solstice 388YE

The Archmage of Autumn, Ashborn Trosk has apparently invited the City of Bar and Bond to arrange an Autumn market. The Brass Magistrates themselves have organised a bond auction in the Hall of Worlds, but they have also engaged with the City of Gold and Lead. While they are creatures of the Iron Labyrinth the Steel Judges are not merchants; but they see no reason not to make use of those who are. During the Autumn Equinox the Infinite Market will serve as go-betweens to sell goods provided by the Gaolers for use by Imperial citizens.

During the Autumn Equinox, any number of these deals can be secured with a single box. During the Equinox, any box that contains a 6" by 6" Hirmok rune will be processed by the brokers representing the Lictors. The rune must be included along with a list of which items it is that the magicians hope to purchase. The details will be checked during the Sunday meeting, and assuming everything is satisfactory, the goods will be provided before the Winter Solstice.

The following deals are on offer from the Masters of the Green Iron Prison.

Rod of the Gaoler

• A Rod of the Gaoler allows the wielder to cast the entangle spell and to do so three times a day without spending personal mana
• This item can be acquired for 25 Green Iron

This magical rod is used by servants of the Lictors to prevent prisoners from fleeing. The wielder - who must be a magician - can always cast the entangle spell as if they knew it, and three times each day they can do so without expending any personal mana. Usually made of heavy-duty metal, the rod can obviously be used as a bludgeon as well should it prove needful to perform a beat-down on a particularly recalcitrant prisoner. As with most items crafted by the Lictors, it also has a subtle aura that gently urges those wielding it to capture those who they suspect of breaking the law and hand them over to the appropriate authorities.

Lawkeeper's Truncheon

• A Lawkeepers Truncheon allows the wielder to call ENTANGLE once per day while wielding the weapon
• This item can be acquired for 7 Ambergelt

A counterpart to the Rod of the Gaoler, this one-handed weapon can be used to call entangle once per day. It follows the rules for a heroic call rather than a spell, meaning it can be employed by a wielder who is not versed in magic or indeed one wearing full armour. The item bears a similar aura to the Rod of the Gaoler, urging the bearer to keep the peace and defend the law.

Binding Chains

• Binding Chains allow the wearer to cast entangle twice per day without expending personal mana, provided they already know how to cast the spell
• This item can be acquired for 9 Green Iron

A set of Entangling Chains are a mage armour component that is generally crafted in the form of literal chains, often with locks, worn crossed over the torso or bound around the arms and wrists. They function in a similar manner to a Splintering Gorget or Wyvernsting Spaulders, allowing a battle mage vesed in the entangle spell to cast it twice a day without expending personal mana. This is apparently the "least" of the mage armour sets the Lictors create in the Green Iron Prison, but they have not made any of their more powerful pieces available this season. It also comes with an aura that urges the wearer to actively encourage others to obey the law and abide by the strictures of society.

Mask of the Magistrate

• A Mask of the Magistrate provides a 2 rank bonus to perform Stance of the Constricting Scourge, Brazen Claws of the Lictor, and Inescapable Chains of Bitter Glass
• In addition the wearer can spend a point of personal mana to gain a source of spiritual strength to overcome roleplaying effects that cause them to doubt their judgement or abandon their duty
• This item can be acquired for 25 Green Iron

The Mask of the Magistrate is usually a full-face covering affair made of metal or leather, featureless save for eye holes. It is generally created to be as unsettling and intimidating as possible. A magical focus, it allows a ritual magician adept in Autumn magic to wield additional power when contributing to Stance of the Constricting Scourge, Brazen Claws of the Lictor, and Inescapable Chains of Bitter Glass. More subtly, the mask bears an influential aura that can be called on (through the expenditure of a point of personal mana) as a source of spiritual strength to resist roleplaying effects that would cause the wearer to doubt their judgement or abandon their duty.

Ritual Scroll

• The Lictors offer two ritual scrolls to Imperial citizens
• The first is a curse that weakens a target for a year but can be removed easily by the caster
• The second is an enchantment that allows a warrior to entangle opponents
• Any number of these can be purchased by people prepared to pay the price

The lictors are not only about magic items; they also have an interest in magic, especially that dealing with binding. They are already offering a mystic scroll that summons Furious Warders as a reward for capturing the fugitive Ringsnap who attempted to break into the Green Iron Prison. In addition they are offering two other ritual scrolls during the Autumn Equinox to magicians interested in purchasing their aid.

Ritual scrolls are a rare type of arcane document similar to a ritual text but much more limited. They can't be placed in lore or used directly to perform any magic - instead they are activated items that contain the knowledge of a ritual. When activated, up to a dozen magicians who are able to master a new ritual (have an empty ritual slot) can master the ritual they contain. The magicians don't have to be from the same coven, or even the same nation, but all must be present when the scroll is activated and the item generally has a limited shelf life before losing its effectiveness.

Claiming one of the scrolls requires an amount of material be placed in an Ephisis box, along with a request for the specific scroll. As with many such arrangements, if the box contains anything else it will be ignored by the heralds of the City of Gold and Lead. The box will be reviewed as normal and the magician will receive the scroll if they remain happy to make the trade.

The first ritual is Chains of the Guilty. This is a curse that was created by the Lictors for use on those suspected of a crime who are still being investigated. It causes the target to become weak, limiting their ability to resist capture or imprisonment. While under the effect of the curse, they feel chains around them that remind them they have been judged. The curse lasts for a year, but has an interesting removal method - anyone who contributed to the ritual can touch the target and verbally release them from its effects. The ritual is Autumn magic, obviously, and is of magnitude 52. To claim a copy of this arcane scroll requires the investiture of 200 ingots of green iron, and it will retain its properties until the end of the Winter Solstice 388YE.

The other ritual is Brass Magistrate's Arrest. This is a potent personal enchantment of magnitude 20 that allows the target to use a hero point to call entangle while wielding a one-handed spear or polearm they are proficient with. To claim a copy of this ritual scroll costs 200 measures of ambergelt, and it will likewise retain its properties until the end of the Winter Solstice 388YE.

What isn't clear, and perhaps reflects something that will influence whether the magician chooses to complete the trade or not, is what assurance is associated with the rituals. The Lictors are not averse to sharing the two rituals more widely, but any such discussion would require a plenipotentiary before the costs involved could be discussed.

Runesmith Law

• The Runesmiths of Wintermark

The items offered for sale here are just some of those created at the City of Bar and Bond. They do not produce items on the same kind of scale that they do in the City of Fire and Stone, and they are currently quite pleased with the way Imperial Citizens are exploring new legal procedures such as the judgement or proscription. As such they are prepared to offer a rare boon, specifically to the artisans of Wintermark. They model their offer on that which the Forgemistress presented three years ago. There are four schema available, and the smiths of Wintermark may choose to acquire any, all, or none of them; each will cost 12 rings of ilium. The items avaulable are:

• Rod of the Gaoler
• Lawkeeper's Truncheon
• Binding Chains
• Magistrate's Mask

If more than one magician pays for a schema, then half of the contents of all such boxes will be returned and the heralds of the Infinite Market will negotiate other deals for the remaining contents. SOMETHING SOMETHING

Imperial Guild of Artisans

• If the Senate recognises the Imperial Guild of Artisans (by whatever name) before the end of Saturday they can secure schema for Imperial artisans
• The Speaker of the Guild, Xanthius Storm's End, will be empowered to send a single Ephisis box to acquire all four schema

The Lictors are aware that full recognition of the Imperial Guild of Artisans is being Discussed by the Senate. As with many of the eternals of the Autumn realm, the Lictors are... keen would be the wrong word for such phlegmatic beings. "In favour" is probably closer. In the event that the Senate chooses to recognise the Imperial Guild of Artisans (by whatever name) before the end of Saturday Night during the Autumn Equinox, the Lictors have arranged a special deal with the City of Gold and Lead.

The current Guildmaster of the Artisans, Xanthius Storm's End is empowered to send a single box using Ephisis' Scale containing 48 rings of ilium, along with a signed statement that they will do their best to ensure that the Guild operates within Imperial law at all times. In return, the Brass Magistrates will provide Xanthius with a complete set of the four schema for use by the Guild - or the Empire if they decide to give up their monopoly on such things.

Jarms is known for magical items and unique spices, as well as for the touchiness of its leaders.

The Mila Offers

• Prince Mila offers three particular deals from the Principalities of Jarm
• Each deal involves exchanging Imperial currency for items from the Principalities
• A single box can purchase from any or all of these opportunities but must include a scroll that details exactly what is wanted
• These offers cannot be combined with any other offer

Prince Mila of the Violetinu Mishkas is by all accounts an ambitious and energetic Jarmish Magician-Prince. THey were involved in the recent arrangements around Radosmo that allowed Imperial traders to visit the Jarmish satellite state and trade with merchants there. The Senate has since embargoed that trade, as they have trade with Jarm as a whole. Inspired apparently by the words of Ibiss Briarheart, Prince Mila has reached out to the City of Gold and Lead to provide evidence that Imperial merchants are eager for Jarmish goods. Their hope is that if the deal with the Eternal Markets goes well, it will convince the Senate and the House of Princes to bring their ongoing disagreement over trade to an end.

Star Jewels

• Jarmish Star Jewels allow a magician to perform spells they already know more often
• Prince Mila has secured promises to produce some common star jewels for sale to Imperial magicians
• Each star jewel can be bought for 16 crowns apiece but the purchaser must specify which jewels are wanted

The artisans of Jarm focus most of their efforts on making things that empower magicians, both ritual masters and those who favour the use of spells. Among the best known of their particular tools are the star jewels - magical foci that allow a magician who has mastered a given spell to perform it many more times each day. There are a great many variants of star jewels, with rival guilds and Magician-Princes having their own proprietary models, but there are also items that are more commonly available - some of which have been granted to Imperial traders visiting Radosmo or the Jakhalsmart in the Sarcophan Delves.

During the Autumn Equinox, Imperial magicians can choose to purchase star jewels directly from their crafters, supplied to the City of Gold and Lead by Mila's contacts. In return, Mila wants Imperial coinage. To take advantage of the offer, a box must contain only Imperial coinage, and a scroll detailing which specific jewels are desired. There is no limit to how many jewels can be acquired, but each one costs 16 crowns.

• Jewel of the Cup - Three times per day when you cast, but not swift cast, the heal spell you may do so without spending any mana
• Jewel of the White Palm - Three times per day when you cast, but not swift cast, the purify spell you may do so without spending any mana.
• Jewel of the Three - Three times per day when you cast, but not swift cast, the repair limb spell you may do so without spending any mana.
• Jewel of Wyrmscale - Three times per day when you cast, but not swift cast, the mend spell you may do so without spending any mana.
• Jewel of the Fire Bird - Three times per day when you cast the Empower spell you may do so without spending any mana
• Jewel of the Heights - Three times per day when you cast the Repel spell you may do so without spending any mana
• Jewel of the Shackle - Three times per day when you cast the Entangle spell you may do so without spending any mana

In each case, the freshly crafted jewels will be delivered shortly before the Winter Solstice by heralds of the Autumn realm.

Spices

• Prince Mila is providing a melange of Jarmish spices to Imperial buyers
• Every 2 crowns secures a random dose of one Jarmish spices, delivered at the Winter Solstice

As well as star jewels, Jarm is known for its magical spices. These consumables are a special kind of potion that are used by mixing them with a warm drink or hot food as it is consumed. Not only do they provide bold and vibrant flavours, the rarest are known to provide benefits to magicians such as filling them with energy, restoring their personal mana, providing remarkable healing, enhancing senses, and the like. Unlike potions they are not designed to be used on a battlefield - they require a little time to work their subtle magic but that is rarely seen as a drawback as they are intended to be used in a social setting. Indeed, some have relaxing drug-like effects that make them popular despite their limited power. Their only real drawback is that they can sometimes have negative side-effects on people who are not magicians, but that isn't seen as a drawback in the Principalities of Jarm.

There are a lot of different kinds of Jarmish spice, and rather than focus on specifics Prince Mila instead offers Imperial buyers to purchase samples of different kinds. For every 2 crowns, Mila will arrange for the buyer to take custody of a pouch of one of the Jarmish spices at the Winter Solstice. Once they have experienced the variety of magical spices available, Mila is certain that Imperial merchants will be eager to acquire more.

Crystal Mana

• Prince Mila can arrange for almost unlimited amounts of crystal mana
• Mana must be purchased in sacks which is a Jarmish unit of ten mana
• The box must contain the money and an indication of how much is desired
• Mana will be delivered before the Winter Solstice

Jarm is a nation of magicians, and magicians need crystal mana. A combination of great works, ready access to mithril, and of course Beloye zerno (pronounced very roughly as BYEE-el-o-yay zerr-NO, also known as "white seed"') means that they literally have mana to burn. Prince Mila offers some of the great wealth of Jarm's mana sites to Imperial buyers.

During the Autumn Equinox, crystal mana can be purchased from the Jarmish at the rate of 12 crowns for every 10 mana (a price of 24 rings per crystal). Prince Mila is not prepared to deal in "fiddly" amounts of mana and is only selling in "sacks" (an official Jarmish measurement apparently). As with the other two offers, a given box can be used to purchase sacks of mana from Jarm alongside spices and star jewels. Again though, the scroll included with the coinage must indicate exactly how much mana is required. The sacks of mana will be delivered before the Winter Solstice.

The artisans and wizards who work with the Blue Silk Scarf guild are masters of creating magical garb.

Blue Silk Scarves

• The Blue Silk Scarf guild of Faraden provides access to unique magical coats

The Blue Silken Scarf is a guild of Faraden artisans and wizards who specialise in the creation of find quality garb. They have done business with the Empire on multiple occasions, often in pursuit of the Iridescent Gloaming they need to create their finest pieces of clothing. Building on past successes, they offer another trade deal to Imperial magicians to purchase some of their magically-infused coats. This time however they are more interested in acquiring Imperial coinage - which reflects an interesting shift in their priorities.

Purchasing one or more of the coats the Blue Silk Scarf offer during the Autumn Equinox requires a box contain only money and a sheet of paper with a butterfly or moth drawn on it. On the paper the buyer must specify which coats they wish to buy. Assuming everything is in order, the clothes will be delivered to the trader in time for the Winter Solstice. They are currently offering the following items, each of which is an enchanted mage robe.

• A Moonmoth Coat costs 22 crowns. This is a deep blue jacket with moonsilver embroidery. It can be invoked once each day by a magician to allow them to increase their ranks of Night lore by one (subject to the usual limits) for the performance of one ritual.
• A Windwing Cowl costs 24 crowns. This is a bright yellow hood with sungold embroidery. It can be invoked once each day by a magician to allow them to increase their ranks of Day lore by one (subject to the usual limits) for the performance of one ritual.
• A Nightfire Sash is more expensive, at 35 Crowns. It takes the form of a multicoloured silken sash that absorbs and stores magical energies. It functions much like an Ashen Mantle, but the enchantment also imbues the wearer with a particular appreciation for music, fire, and dancing.
• A Wildwind Coat can be acquired for the princely sum of 50 crowns. This padded coat is decorated with fragments of tempest jade and embroidered weltsilver thread that allows a wearer versed in its use to swift cast the purify spell at the cost of only a single mana rather than two. It also provides a source of spiritual strength for overcoming any roleplaying effect that relies on fear and despair.

The Blue Silk Scarf guild are confident they will be able to fill any orders sent by Imperial magicians with the aid of their contacts in the Silent Market. The Autumn herald will still need to confirm the order with the box-holder, and confirm any details as to where the garb should be delivered. They have however been instructed not to gossip about why the Blue Silk Scarf are looking for hard Imperial cash rather than iridescent gloaming.

OOC Note: Much as we'd like to we can't provide physreps for these magical coats, sashes, and cowls. They will be delivered as ribbons in the inventory of the appropriate character at the Winter Solstice.

Sarcophan Vallorn Stuff

• A Sarcophan scholar is interested in acquiring consumables and magic items related to the vallorn
• She has made an arrangement with the City of Gold and Lead to trade these goods safely

Catharina Gjullit, a scholar from the influential Gjullit family, has developed an interest in the vallorn and its creatures, especially the ettercaps. They have corresponded with some of the scholars who attended the Great Library of Hacynian, and developed a burning interest in the "fruits of the vallorn" but their poor health makes it impossible for them to visit the Empire. Having made an agreement with the City of Gold and Lead, they present an opportunity for those with access to such "fruits" to sell them for a reasonable price.

During the Autumn Equinox, anyone casting Ephisis' Scale can include a note indicating that the contents are intended for Catharina Gjullit. If they do so, the entire box will be evaluated only on its connection to the vallorn and its spawn. Offers will be made with that in mind. Catharina has laid out a basic list of the prices she is prepared to offer, but wishes to ensure that people know she is also prepared to make an offer on anything more esoteric. The known prices are:

• For a corpseblossom, a plant associated with ettercaps, she offers 4 crowns or two doses of Feverfail Elixir
• For each unique chaos fruit included in a box she offers 2 crowns, a single golden apple, or a vial of primsatic ink. She is cautious about receiving too many chaos fruit of the same type and believes this is one way to ensure she gets a representative sample.
• She is also interested in any unique items with a clear connection to the vallorn, but given she doesn't know what they are it is hard for her to offer a price up-front

The offer is only available during the Autumn Equinox, after which Catharina will have secured everything she wants.

Further Reading

• Ephisis
• Ephisis' Scale