Markebundt - Talagaad

On the southern side of the Talabec, immediately beyond the docks, is where the bulk of Talagaad’s business is truly done. The Markebundt covers most of the southside of Talagaad. It is entirely dedicated to merchant shops and warehouses. Where the Old Forest Road passes into Talagaad, it runs along the edge of the Markebundt, with one branch locally known as the Wizard’s Road heading through the port towards the river and the other splitting off to head upwards in a series of switchbacks along the Taalbaston crater wall called the Wizard’s Way.

Every day sees countless shipments passing from the Markebundt up the Wizard’s Way, which is wide enough to accommodate several wagons travelling side-by-side and leads to the single heavily-guarded passage into Talabheim – a city the greater bulk of Talagaad’s populace will go their entire lives without ever laying eyes on.

The heart of the Markebundt is the Market Square, an open-air market where local farmers and traders from lands as distant as fabled Grand Cathay regularly sell their goods. This practice started long ago, as Talabheim’s convoluted laws regulating entry into the city to conduct business caused such frustration that many merchants gave up and decided Talagaad was close enough. The market is officially held three times a week, but trading never truly ends here. The majority of business happens out of the backs of carts, but those who can afford it may erect stalls, tents, or even grand pavilions on occasion. There is no telling what one may find in the Market Square of Talagaad, for nearly anything imaginable might be for sale here. Talagaad’s corrupt watch has little interest in patrolling the market, and theft is common, so the Market Square has fairly competent guards paid for by merchants with contributions from Talabheim to keep things from getting out of hand.