The Marketplace

When Caligo made the Denoctian capitol, she poured every bit of heart and passion she had to offer into it. She needed a place not only where she could feel safe--but also where her people, the equines of Novus who chose to stand beside her, would also be safe.

So she gave them the Markets.

Winding streets of cobble- and gemstones, twisting between the stands and huts and houses, spilling outwards from the castle. She was deliberate in building her Court within the very heart of Denocte, under the stretch of sky where the aurora borealis touches night after night.

The Markets are a creation of Caligo herself, crafted to  embody the community and passion the goddess cherishes.

Just beyond the castle walls sprawl a collection of stands, huts, and cobblestone pathways, far more sophisticated than any others found in Novus. Imbedded into the streets are a myriad of brilliant jewels of all colors: white, gold, red, blue, green, purple, and more. It’s as if the stars themselves have come down and spilled themselves the ground: the jewels sparkle brilliantly in the sunlight and nearly appear to glow on clear nights. Galaxies and constellations decorate every inch, creating a celestial walkway that may appear almost three dimensional to those who are not familiar with it.

At the center of the markets is a large circle carved into the ground, covered with glowing opalescent jewels. However, these jewels do not glow all at once: they reflect the moon cycle, creating patterns each night that shift between crescent moons and half moons and full moons and back again. The streets extend outwards from this point, reaching into every depth of the capitol.

Iron seems to erupt from the ground in the form of light posts and fire pits, their welding catching and reflecting the light in an opalescent manner. The flames within never appear to die out; they burn day and night, casting light and warmth to the streets and vendors. Bonfires light up every corner, their brilliant flames nearly as wild and untamed as the citizens, raging against their confinements.

The Markets have always been a part of Denocte, beautiful and glistening at the heart of the Court.

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Caligo crafted the Markets, laid out a path of stars for them to converse on—but it is the children of Night who truly bring the streets to life.

They come to the Markets by choice, not by necessity. Some are born within the borders of Denocte, but others have wandered in and found home. Here is community, filled with joy and passion and laughter. Denocte is a family, in all of its chaotic glory, and the Marketplace is where they come together each night.

Bonfires light up nearly every corner, smoke weaving through the streets and mingling with the smell of spices and perfumes, of delicacies and exotic foods. Expensive silks and colorful scarves drape the tables, vibrant backdrops for every possible ware and good that could be offered. Items from all over Denocte are shown in full force—but the stalls also feature the best of products from all over Novus and continents across the sea.

While the stands themselves are rough, made of wood and occasional stone, it’s what decorates them that makes them unique. What the Market has to offer is dependent upon the citizens and traveling merchants who open their stalls to the public. The streets are their canvas, and they the artist—what Denocte is, and what it becomes, is their’s to decide.

Merchant Stands
Rows of tables and small huts line the streets, waiting for the next trader to set up shop. No matter what you’d like to sell, it’s guaranteed that you’ll find both a place and a customer. Food and drinks, clothes and silks, jewels and jewelry and perfumes and spices—you need only the imagination and the vision to make a decent profit.


Wares from Across the World
Despite its history of closed borders, Denocte’s small port allows for exchanging of goods across continents. The Night Court’s traders have an eye for only the finest of products, and seem to have stopped at nothing to acquire them and bring them back to the markets to sell. Here you can find a wide variety of items not only from within the Night Court’s borders, but also from the rest of Novus and the outside world. If you’ve got your eye out for something specific, you need only to stop by the Markets! Oftentimes you can even find a traveling merchant who would be willing to go out and find your items for you… for a small price.


Celestial Decorations
In the middle of the Marketplace is the carving of the moon, its opalescent rocks shining in reflection of the moon. It shifts each night according to the movement of the heavens, a constant reflection of the real-time moon cycle. The carving is huge, with a radius of 15 meters.

Additionally, you can find many moon and sun symbolism throughout the Market, be it carved into the stands themselves or painted upon the streets and walls. Depictions of Caligo are also abundant, the peoples’ way of keeping their patron goddess nearby.


Performances
The area directly surrounding the moon carving at the center has been cleared, making way for dances, meetings, storytelling, ceremonies, performances and more. While organized concerts are frequent, it is not unlikely to see impromptu acts of horses getting up and showing their skills! No matter the occasion, anything you might need to put on a show can be found nearby.


Caligo’s Pygmies
Pygmy dragons of every color have returned to the Markets. Once thought to be extinct, they have made their reappearance since the Summit of 502. They add liveliness and joy to the Markets, a representation of Caligo herself as they flit back and forth and add flashes of fire to the sky. The dragons range in size from hamsters to large cats.

While many are feral, it is not uncommon to find some friendly faces; occasionally the dragons will lounge across the merchant’s stalls or nap on the backs of horses. They especially appreciate shiny objects or gold, and may be coaxed or bribed into acting tame. But watch your pockets, or they may decide to take more than what you willingly offer.