Merchants of Balic

Balic is a city-state based on commerce and trade, and hundreds of different businesses serve the citizens and vistor. Here are just a few of them.

Bonesmith

Those looking for quality bone weapons could do far worse than Ercus (Fighter 2 / Expert 4.) His small shop just north of King's Way a short distance west of the Agora is known for its consistently well-crafted bone weapons, especially bladed ones. He spends hours every day at his foot-operated stone grinder to sharpen the blades of new weapons or fix damaged weapons brought to him by the city's warriors.

Being a bonesmith is not without its health hazards. Because of the dust caused by sawing and grinding of bones, Ercus wears a silt screen across his face. The bonesmith has also developed a unique use for this waste product. He collects the bone dust and sells them in small packets to use as missile weapons. A successful strike forces the defender to make Fort 12 save or take -2 on attack rolls for 1d4 rounds, until their eyes can wash out the stinging dust. A packet costs a mere 4cp and Ercus has plenty is stock.

Silversmith

On Melesias Avenue, the collonaded arcade in Balic's soutwest side, is the shop of the silversmith Bereni (Exp 9). This store is virtually a gallery of exquisite works in silver, Bereni being the most skilled of his craft in the city, patricians across the city and peninsula consult with him to create beautiful works of art. At one time, Andropinis was the recipient of much of his work, as those honored with posts in the Chamber of Patricians would often give a Bereni piece as a tribute to their sorcerer-king.

Bereni's store is protected by two experienced guards (Fighter 4.) In addition, he has several magic and psionic defenses in place to protect his goods from the common and not-so-common thieves. The constant patrols of Rees guards down Melesias makes sneaking into any of the stores on the avenue during nighttime hours. The front room of the shop displays a few of his pieces for purchase, though much of his work is customized for his clients. A consulting room sits just behind the gallery, and Bereni's workshop is behind that.

Moneychanger

Dharestes Tomblador (Exp 5 / Psi 2), a cousin of Kaladon Tomblador (head of the powerful merchant House) operates as one of the city's profitable moneychangers. As travelers enter the city from their distanct city-states, they need to exchange their native currency for that minted in Balic. While some businesses do accept foreign ceramics, many do not, any exchanging coins is a necessity for doing business in Balic.

Dharestes's building is just inside the city walls on the north side of King's Way. A simple room with a counter greets visitors needing to exchange their coins. Should a customer demand privacy, Dharestes has an office in back with which to deal with them. However, Nuruustes (LE mhg Fighter 3/ Psi 6), the Tomblador's guard, is always nearby to deal with potential threats.

Since thousands of coins are on hand at any given time, magical defenses support Nuruustes the guard to ensure business is conducted safely. The coins are stored in an enchanted lockbox until transporters arrive to move them to House Tomblador. Dharestes trained at the Cerebran and has some knowledge of The Way, providing an additional layer of security. Enselvis (LE mhg Brute 5) stands just outside the door to further ensures customers good behavior. All three men possess magical silver whistles that can be heard by nearby Tomblador warriors, summoning them to defend Dharestes and the House's money.

Mosaic artist

Viesti (CN fhe Exp 8) is the leading mosaic artist in the city. From her shop in southeast Balic, she designs many of the beautiful works of art that grace the city's public buildings and patrician homes. She works closely with her clients to design an image that will enhance the beauty of the structure that will hold it. She then contacts Zeftis (N hm Exp 4) to create the colorful glazes for her design, after which she and three assistants create the tiles and apply the glazes. The tiles are then baked in the on-site furnace, and the final step is to assemble the mosaic at the client's location.

Viesti's shop is a two-room structure. The smaller showroom contains a small sampling of her work and is a place to speak with potential clients and discuss their needs. The much larger of the two rooms, the workshop, is where she and her assistants create the mosaics. The shop is divided into stations where the artworks are created. The room is quite dusty and hot, the kiln fired most of the day to meet the demand of her clients.