Getting Your Five a Day

The Fruitmarket lies at the heart of the Wynds, its stalls overflowing with fresh produce, herbs, and spices brought in daily from the surrounding farmlands. Farmers, merchants, and townsfolk mingle in a riot of color, scent, and sound, creating one of the most vibrant markets in Aranthaes.

Rows of baskets and crates spill with ripe apples, pears, melons, and exotic fruits carried in from distant ports. Herbs hang in fragrant bundles, while sacks of spices are weighed out by the pinch. The air is heavy with sweetness, undercut by the earthy smell of freshly turned soil and the tang of citrus peel.

Crowds bustle shoulder to shoulder, voices rising in constant chatter and haggling. Farmers boast of their harvests, spice merchants tempt buyers with exotic blends, and children slip through the throng clutching sticky fruits. For many, the Fruitmarket is more than simply a place to shop, but a daily gathering point, alive with gossip and the business of the Wynds.
 

Vendors and Trade

Most stalls are run by farmers’ families who have sold here for generations, though some merchants import rare goods from far-off lands. The market is also a proving ground for newcomers, offering space to those who can shout loudest and sell fastest. Adventurers sometimes pass through for trail rations, dried fruits, or the occasional unusual herb said to have healing properties.
 

Atmosphere

The Fruitmarket is lively and inviting, but the bustle and chaos make it easy for pickpockets to work unnoticed. Bargains can be found for those willing to haggle, though the best fruits often disappear quickly into the hands of innkeepers and wealthy households.
 

Encounters

The Fruitmarket is full of life – and not without its small dangers and dramas. Roll d10 for possible encounters…

  1. A farmer loudly claims his apples are enchanted for long life, that ‘keepeth the doctor parted’ daring anyone to prove him wrong.
    Farmer: AC 10, HP 8, staff (1d6), work clothes.
  2. A group of children dart through the crowd with stolen fruit, laughing as they scatter in different directions.
    Children (1d4+1): AC 10, HP 4, improvised weapons (1d4).
  3. A spice merchant insists a pouch of “healing herbs” is genuine, but the mixture smells strongly of sawdust.
    Merchant: AC 11, HP 9, dagger (1d4), fine robes.
  4. A crate splits open in front of the adventurers, spilling exotic fruits that roll through the market – some valuable, others rotting.
    Hazard: DC 12 Dexterity save to avoid slipping, possible profit if gathered quickly.
  5. A pickpocket blends with the crowd, targeting those distracted by brightly colored stalls.
    Thief: AC 12, HP 8, dagger (1d4), rags.
  6. A traveling bard performs a playful song about the Fruitmarket, drawing a crowd and creating a perfect cover for mischief.
    Bard: AC 13, HP 14, lute (1d4), leather armor.
  7. A squabble breaks out between two stallholders over stolen produce, each accusing the other in front of a growing crowd.
    Vendors (2): AC 11, HP 10, clubs (1d6), aprons.
  8. A strange fruit seller offers a spiky, glowing melon, claiming it comes from a cursed grove. No one can decide if it’s safe.
    Seller: AC 11, HP 7, club (1d4), patched tunic.
  9. A noble’s servant pushes through the crowd to buy the best produce, shoving commoners aside and stirring resentment.
    Servant: AC 11, HP 9, dagger (1d4), livery.
  10. A sudden downpour of rain sends the vendors working outside, scrambling to cover their goods – and creates chaos as shoppers push for the sheltered parts of the market.
    Hazard: stalls collapse or shift, possible DC 13 Strength save to avoid injury.
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