Thread: Taming the Gypsy Trade (Valanaer)

The loud sound of horse hooves hitting broken stone echoed through the kingdom. The long awaited, or dreaded, return of the travelling gypsy troop had come. They were stock full of goods to sell, barter and trade from food items to blankets and cookware. They had several new people with them, most of which were on horseback riding around the large caravan the group centred around. Inside held the children too young to ride on their own and the small selection of captured members they had picked up. The good number of them were used as servants for their own use, but one or two were available for trade, if the proper price came by. Villagers parted ways for the large Clydesdale horses with hooves as large as a child's head, and watched as the group passed by. The members on the side were riding much smaller, more manageable animals which weaved through the other streets, alerting everyone of their arrival and making sure they understood what all the gypsies could be carrying for them. The troop pulled to a halt in the same courtyard they always took over for a good solid week and swiftly began to unpack what they needed. This was their best location, which also allowed them to set up for as long as they needed to be there, knowing they'd make up in money there what they wouldn't get in travelling to other cities. The group began to unload several of the captured members, putting them to work hauling out the items and setting them in the proper display arrangement. These people had practice doing this type of work, it seemed, as they did it in a record time. Children were lining up, ready to see what the newest toys from other cities and 'worlds' looked like. They gypsies always had items for them to play with and food to sample. The travellers were just a friendly as they were charismatic and enjoyed a friendly, happy child more then anything in the world. Just like the rest of the troop, Tari Eluch'l was put to work. She had been captured several weeks ago and had been travelling as a member of the troop since she came to be apart of them. Although she had her few escape attempts, and still had plans to run at this location, she had become a help in the group. Her armour and weapons had been stripped from her in a disgraceful fashion, but her pride still stood strong and she was careful to keep that close to her. Being an elf, Tari stood at the typical height of 5'8, towering over many of the women she came in contact with. She had several decorated piercings from her tribe lining the bottom of her elongated helix, made of small gems with silver curves holding them closed. Attached to the lobe of her ear was a single, small gold hoop, which she refused to remove, no matter how many people it could feed. Her clothing was simple, just as the rest of her wood elf tribe wore consisting of leather pants and a shirt, exposing a good amount of midriff and her muscular, yet feminine arms. A single orange feather, seeming to belong to a phoenix, held tight to her bright ginger hair, bringing out the emerald colouring of her eyes. It was rare for the city to get any kind of elf other then the grand high elves, so many of the children were staring at Tari, amazed by the colouring she naturally had. Luckily the elf didn't seem to notice...