The Undermarket

Pathwork of original flesh, things were added to it for places to get in, and dead things can’t heal so when a hole is punctured through it, embellishments.

 The Undermarket is a long tunnel that is always shifting under the earth of Oakarthel, the entrance only known to its patrons. Its points of entry are known only to its vendors and patrons, who wait by enchanted trapdoors for the Undermarket to pass them by. Its presence is signalled by the occasional rumbling of the ground, though not everyone knows the cause of it, assuming it is simply the natural shifting of geography of the region.

 The Market itself is bright and vibrant, earth seemingly still within despite the tunnel’s constant motion. It is illuminated by numerous colored lights. There always seems to be a crowd bustling within, wall-to-wall packed full of vendors selling many different oddities (magical or otherwise) on three different levels. Spots within the Undermarket are hotly contested- after all, it is only here where many of these items can be sold and purchased safely without the prying eyes of the authorities aboveground. Despite the commotion, disputes are quickly handled thanks to the watchful eye of its proprietor.

 Some speculate the Undermarket, as in, the tunnel itself, is alive. Locke, its mysterious keeper and manager, however, has not answered one way or the other. Locke, much like the Undermarket itself, is quite the enigma. Their gender is nebulous at best, and their form is hidden under heavy robes that flow easily as air nonetheless when they move. As for their face, it is hidden under a grinning, horned mask. Despite their ominous appearance, they’re generally an amicable individual, cheerful, with a calculating undertone. There are whispers of their dragonhood, but again, Locke neither confirms nor denies.

 Qui, their assistant, has less qualms about revealing her face, and despite her lack of the same panache as Locke, she is not one to be underestimated. A bespectacled, average-sized human woman, her hair appears a vibrant pink under the lights of the Undermarket. Her manner of dress is-- haphazard at best, clearly striving for comfort and function rather than the dramatics of her companion. Rumor has it that she can distinguish lies from truth- even lies by omission- if they fall upon her ears. A useful ability, especially to one such as Locke, if it’s true. In stark contrast to her companion, she is rather blunt and skeptical, less of a sweet talker than her companion and more of a snarker.

 Despite the sharp contrast of their personalities, the two get along extremely well (one may even theorize the two are more friends than business partners), coordinating to keep the Undermarket running as smoothly as possible. For the most part, they allow vendors to sell what they please so long as they get a fair cut of the profits for, essentially, leasing them a space within the Market. A couple of vendors serve as fences for the Syndicate, though there is no real indication that the Undermarket itself is run by the organization. Locke is not above purchasing items from the market, either, though they do not run any particular stand of their own.

### Important Undermarket Denizens

Locke - The Proprietor and Peddler of the Undermarket, Dragon mystery flavor gender. Orange?

Qui - Human Female. Living lie detector.