Drachean Merchant Guide - Shops
You hold in your hands, gentle traveler, a guide to many of the businesses and services available in our great city of Drache. Herein you will find everything from smiths to shipwrights, ale houses to alchemical emporiums. Are you in need of something? Fear not, and let this Guide be your guide to finding your heart's desire. -Anson Elbridge, Arangothian Royal Ministry of Commerce
This page covers the various shops around Drache.
Antiques
Antiquity
This humble shop is located in the Merchant's Square District of Drache. It has pleasant, classic atmosphere with clear glass windows and a wooden front door. The proprietor of the shop is Old Chong, a man of Xiunlan descent about seventy years of age, and he is usually encountered wearing long, red, silky robes and soft black close-toed slippers. The main room of the shop is a simple, square affair, usually full of well-kept antiques, making the shop one of the more popular 'gifts-for-sale' establishments in Drache. A wind chime is hung over the doorframe so the door makes a ring every time it's opened or closed. A counter is set to the front of the room, where a simple wooden abacus is kept. Hard to locate items can also be found in Old Chong's extensive inventory, which mostly consists of imports from far off places mostly from the Near West and the Far East. Old Chong is also an herbalist, and a very good alchemist, but only choice circles (such as Drache's Magic Community) know about this particular to-the-side profession of the quiet, soft-spoken old man.
Little Panguro
A small store located near Old Chong's in the Merchant's Square District, Little Panguro deals in herbal medicines and goods from the Far East. Run by an aged immigrant from Nipangu by the name of jo-Takiguri-ia-Shira, the store is renowned for its effective drugs for mental illnesses. Takiguri is Chong's principal business rival, and he has been reprimanded and fined several times for Public Defamation and vandalism against Old Chong, whom he hates with a passion. Though both men seem intent on putting the other one out of business, most people will agree that it does not seem likely that either one of them will succeed at this goal.
Morris Mandarin's Mansion of Mystery
The "Mansion" of Mystery is a curio shop in the corner of the Market Square owned by a human named Morris Mandarin, a collector of antiquities. The place bears a closer resemblance to a museum than it does a shop, but everything under the roof is for sale. He can also read and write several ancient tongues, and is often used by less honest scholars at the Royal Academy to forge ancient documents. An alchemical laboratory takes up all the space in his back room, and he also works on mixing customized potions for his customers, though he has no shortage of competition in that aspect of his business.
Magical & Alchemical Items
Edgar's Alchemical Emporium
Located in the BlkDragon District near the Royal University, this store caters to wizards and alchemists. The proprietor is a young man named Edgar, who inherited the business after his uncle unexpectedly died in the year 469. Since he was still only a journeyman alchemist, Edgar changed the focus of the business from selling potions and elixers to supplying wizards and alchemists with the supplies they need to practice their craft. He made the shrewd move of allowing the Royal University's scribes to copy his uncle's secret alchemical reference tomes for the Royal Library, and now he does a profitable business selling alchemical ingredients, spell components, glassware, and other laboratory supplies to the School of Arcane Studies' faculty and students. Edgar is always in need of some exotic item or other to satisfy the needs of his magic-using clientele, so he is always willing to hire people to track down said items for him.
Rummi Gummi's Magic & Pawnshop
Located in a rather run-down building in the Merchant's Square District, this shop is known for buying, selling, and trading anything magical. The inside of the shop is filled with shelves and tables crammed with bottles, rings, wands, and other sundry magical items. He stocks everything from healing potions to love elixirs, magic wands to gem-encrusted scepters. Rummi also offers to track down items not currently in stock. In the words of the owner, "If you want it, I got it. If I don't got it, I can get it for ya." He will even buy discharged magical items, such as rings and wands, recharge them, and resell them.
Other Specialty Stores
Tara's
This shop is owned by a retired rogue that goes by the name of Tara Morningdawn, a pawnbroker and purveyor of used goods. Tara's is a favorite among those with tight budgets, since one can find almost anything within this crammed and cluttered shop if one knows where to look for it, and find it for a very reasonable price. All goods come as is, with no warranties or guarantees, and no returns are permitted. Most of the items for sale are of decent quality, but Tara is certainly not above making money off those foolish enough not to inspect something closely before buying it. Tara's motherly, amiable demeanor is just an act; she is an extremely shrewd businesswoman that always seems to get the best end of a haggling session. There is one additional caveat to consider when purchasing from Tara's establishment: the previous owner may not have willingly parted with a particular item. Occasionally servants will sell items cast off by their masters rather than disposing of them (as often the case with apparel that has been only worn once or twice by fickle aristocrats), and some things have been outright stolen. Tara does not ask questions about the sources of merchandise sold to her, nor does she answer questions on the matter put to her by prospective buyers.
Annie's Toys
This quaint little shop is located in a modest two-story building. The first floor of the building is the residence of the owner, an old woman called Gentle Annie by the locals. The house is a cheery, comfortable place, filled with examples of Annie’s handiwork, exquisitely carved and decorated wooden toys. On the second floor is Annie’s workshop, where she creates her marvelous toys. Everyone who has seen her work marvels at the intricacy and delicacy of some of her items, undoubtedly the work of a master carver and painter. Some claim that it is impossible to get such detail without magical means, but this would make her toys prohibitively expensive. While her creations are highly sought after by the wealthier residents of Drache, Annie has become very popular throughout Drache through her custom of giving away toys to poor children for free on holidays. There have been a number of unpleasant rumors about Annie circulated through Drache, but most people dismiss them as simply the jealousy of rival toy makers whose prices she undercuts and whose workmanship she outdoes. Even if one is not looking for a toy, Annie is always glad to receive company, and will take a break from her work to have a cup of tea and chat with visitors.
Mudropessa Ceramicwork
One of the older, but finer craftsmen of the northern Wharf District, the seventy-odd year old Folvati Mudropessa has been operating his pottery store in Drache since it was only a fishing hamlet. All pots, vases, and other ceramics are made by hand behind the storefront, and the kiln can be seen lit most days except sundas, when Mudropessa is at the local temple. The old potter's eyesight and memory are both fading fast, but his fingers are still nimble and capable of doing even the smallest work.
Whatever your pleasure, it can likely be created at Carved in Stone. Whether your desire is a painting of the sunrise over the harbor, a carved wooden figurine for your desk, a tall vase artfully glazed to hold your favorite plant, or a commission for an alabaster bust, the two ladies of Carved in Stone can very likely meet your request. They also offer a small but quality selection of loose gemstones available to be carved and used for a signet ring (proper and official documentation must, of course, be presented before they will take on such a commission).