The Wild Roses have grown for as long as anyone can remember. Well, for as long as any Lost can remember. The market has been serving the local Lost community for generations, and in all its existence, has never proven a major issue for the Lost of Tamarack Falls. Of course, it is located on the East Bank trod. Getting to the market and leaving is always a risk. But once inside, so long as the rules are followed, safety is nearly assured. At least, safety from briarwolves. More than a few traders have came through and lost something far more precious than the skin off their back.

The Market is run by a single family of hobs, though not all of the family is related by blood. Some married in, some were ‘adopted’ in. There is fierce loyalty within the family, and they’re intensely protective of each other and their family’s interests. They’re also highly protective of their status as the ONLY decently sized permanent Market. They will deliberately and with great prejudice go out of their way to sabotage any other markets which try to pop up.

There is a Market truce in place, where those entering agree to abide by all Market Laws and to not attack anyone, whether friend or foe. To this end, all weapons must be tied with a white ribbon, string or something similar, as a symbol of this acceptance.

The Wild Roses actually live in the Market. It’s their home and territory, so there are parts of the Market that are closed off to the public, and that hold the residences for the Marketeers.

Location

Located on the very north end of the East Bank Trod, the Wild Roses Grow in a clearing surrounded by thick trees, impossibly thick thorns, and a wall that no one has ever managed to approach to say what might be on the other side.

Broad, tangled bushes of pink wild roses delimit the edges of the market proper, aided by a sparkling stream on one side, towering trees upon another and a tall, meandering fence toward the back behind which the off-limit hob village hides. The sun always shines Where the Wild Roses Grow, and so the market never closes, the grand bazaar open around the clock.

Serpentine avenues, some wide and others narrow, wind around permanent structures, ambulatory carts and make-shift stalls thrown together at a moment's notice. The availability of goods and services at any given moment depends entirely upon the whim of the marketeers who operate the various booths and businesses. Though the hobs of the Wild Roses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, they all possess an odd family resemblance in their pixie-like features, their elongated limbs and their earthy skintones.

Every path filters eventually to either the exit back out to the Woodheart Fork or the open green in the center of the grand fair. The stage in the middle of the clearing plays host to odd musical or theatrical acts, bizarre burlesque, demonstrations of goods and services and, at least once a week, a slave auction.

H18 is redirected here.

Rules

• No Violence: No fighting of any sort is to occur on Wild Roses property.
• No Refunds: No refunds will be given once a deal is complete. If you wish to renegotiate a completed deal, you will need to initiate a new deal.
• No Competition: No one but the Wild Roses may conduct commerce on Wild Roses property. Marketeers wishing to work in the local area are Strongly Encouraged to discuss arrangements with the Wild Roses before setting up shop.
• No Roses: No one but the Wild Roses are permitted to wear roses or rose-colored clothing. This color--shades of pink ranging from fair to deep--and these flowers are reserved for staff and security.
• No Welching: No backing out of a deal once a deal is done. Failure to honor a deal, either by client or merchant, will be dealt with harshly.
• Truth in Advertising: Everything spoken about a particular good or service must be true to the letter. Everything sold by the Wild Roses is as advertised; we expect the same of our patrons and will not look kindly on those who speak untruly about their half of any given deal.
• Honor the Lady: Always offer tokens of respect--whether in word, deed or goods--to the Lady Day should you cross paths.

Punishments

• For minor offenses (i.e. mild brawl that doesn’t result in death), punishment may be as simple as being made to leave the market, if it’s the first offense. Repeated offenses may result in banishment.
• Those trying to operate as merchants within the Market without permission of the Wild Roses will be banned immediately.
• Those wearing a rose or rose-colored clothing will be ejected from the Market the first time. The second earns a month-long ban, while a third offense earns a lifelong ban.
• Those failing to honor a deal either face permanent banishment from the Market, or will be enslaved, depending on the severity.
• Those who lie about a good or service will be evicted from the Market, and if a Merchant, have that status revoked permanently. In either case, they receive a year long ban.
• Those who don’t honor the Lady will be evicted from the Market and banned for a week. Those who actually attempt to harm the Lady will be enslaved.

FAQs

• What is a troupe? A ‘troupe’ is a term used to describe a group of merchants. It could refer to the Marketeers of the Wild Roses, or wandering merchants who have banded together into a traveling Market.
• My PC is a merchant at the Market, am I a Wild Rose/Marketeer? In short? No. You’re tolerated, but you’re not part of the family. You may receive the protection of the Market, but you are not one of them. So wearing roses in the Market is still a Bad Idea.
• How do I become a Merchant? OOCly you put in a +request (and +xps to take the Goblin Merchant merit will open a job as well). ICly, you must approach the Lady Day and receive permission to operate within the Market, and upon receiving permission, will swear a Pledge to the Lady (see below). For those wanting a stall, the Lady will discuss selling one, and price haggling begins. A Market Stall is a Value 4 item, so it won’t come cheap. After an agreement is reached, all Merchants must take a pledge to uphold the Market Laws. For more information, see: PC Merchants
• What are the benefits to having a stall? You’re allowed to sell within the Market and have a better understanding of who sells what. You can store goods there that are protected by the Market (-4 to attempts to steal while the Market is open, and impossible when it’s closed. Items on display are exempt from this however.). You can also buy/sell abstractions (skills, memories, dreams, etc) as though they were physical property.
• What are the drawbacks? You can’t access your wares when the Market is closed. It’s just impossible. Stalls are also, as mentioned, not cheap. And you are bound by the rules of the Market.
• I’m a Merchant. Can I have my hollow linked to the Wild Roses? No. Again, you’re a Merchant, but not part of the family. You’re tolerated, but they’re extremely territorial. Only Wild Roses can have hollows within the Wild Roses.
• I’m a Merchant. How do I handle my stall’s inventory? Does it need to be on my sheet? It doesn’t, no. Each merchant should let staff know the type of thing they plan to sell (hedgespun, tokens, hedgefruit, information, etc), but most of the physical things that can be bought/sold need to go through staff in any case, such as Hedgespun and Tokens getting approved by staff. So essentially, a merchant having these items is hand waved, within reason. If there’s ever any doubt (largely for extremely rare items such as Rare ungardenable fruits or 5-dot Tokens/Hedgespun, as the latter are supposed to be nigh-legendary) please ask staff before assuming you have something.
• Is there anything I can’t sell if I’m a Merchant? Yes/no. In theory you can sell anything. However, there are a few things that you cannot be assumed to sell without staff’s permission. When setting up your stall, you will be asked for rationale on how you get your goods, regardless; do you have suppliers? Do you craft them yourself? Et cetera. The current list of items you MUST contact staff before selling contains only two items: Hera Pear and Pedicle Velvet.
• Great! Anything else I need to know? Yep! After a scene where you’ve sold something, don’t forget to +request to get your/your customer’s +activity for this. When you do, also include anything (such as goblin fruit, Hedgespun, Tokens, etc.) that needs to be set. For Hedgespun and Tokens of any kind (other than gewgaws/trifles), the customer is required to have the item’s stats approved BEFORE THE MARKET SCENE. For trifles, staff will need to know how many to add to the customer’s +inv, as they are a disposable item and must be gotten rid of with +inv/use when used. For fruits you do not actually have, staff will need to manually add them to the player’s inventory. For fruit that you already have in your inventory, you can +fruit/give.

Merchant Pledge

This is the pledge that everyone must pledge in order to operate in the Wild Roses. There are no exceptions.

• Type: Vow
• Tasks: Medial Forbiddance (-2, Don't Break Market Laws)
• Boons: Glamour (+2)
• Sanctions: Greater Curse (-3)
• Duration: Year and a Day (+3)
• Text: For a year and a day I will be a Merchant at the Wild Roses Market. For this honor I promise to never break Market Laws except in self-defense, and I will receive glamour from the Lady of the Day. But if I break these laws, in addition to my lawful punishment, the Wyrd will curse me to fail at my endeavors.

"Do you know where the wild roses grow
so sweet and scarlet and free?"

• Apr 07, 2017 - Finding the Quake Hammer Part 1
• Jun 18, 2017 - Pound of Flesh
• Jun 19, 2017 - Childhood for Youth
• Jul 28, 2017 - A Taste Of Home
• Sep 15, 2017 - Scarthistle and Bloodapple
• Oct 22, 2017 - Market Meeting

• Nov 07, 2017 - Boxes And Blades
• May 10, 2018 - The Church in the Wild: Mantle Mask
• Jun 01, 2018 - The Church in the Wild: Meet n Greet
• Jun 20, 2018 - Masks for Memories
• Dec 11, 2019 - Hien Goes to Market for Wind and Rain