Goblin Markets

You have a discerning eye! Most of these pieces have a fascinating history that makes them – if anything – more unique than they first appear. These pieces, together, tell a tale of mystery and betrayal, of ancient magics and oh, so much value for the customer. And if you don’t like those histories… I have others!

• Glim the Merchant (2004 A.T)

Strictly speaking, the idea of a ‘Goblin Market’ is not unique to goblins; existing in a space somewhere between a swap meet, an estate liquidation, and a rummage sale, Goblin Markets are similar primarily in how they differ from one another. One does not go to a Goblin Market to find things one already knows about; the wares available at a Goblin Market will almost never be the same, market to market.

The term ‘Goblin Market’ stems from the goblin traditions of hospitality; a guest who bears neither malice nor weapon, who seeks shelter and aid in earnest, and who can be trusted (however this is calculated), should be offered whatever foodstuffs are available to the host. Often, this means scrambling, especially if guests were not expected, to put together a meal suitable for said guests, and pantries and cellars are raided – sometimes, even the host’s own.

Legend says that the first so-called Goblin Market occurred when the goblin Ciscus of Marius was asked what wares she had for an earnest customer while she was heading to the local tavern to eat. Not wanting to risk her reputation as a merchant, and not wanting to betray the tradition of hospitality, she asked for a few minutes to lay out her merchandise, and then spent those minutes frantically knocking on nearby doors, offering to clean out unattended cellars and sheds, and quite literally horse trading, until she had a large array of seemingly unrelated goods. As she lay them out for the buyer, each item had a story that… may have been true, and ought to have been true. The bemused customer ended up richer a great deal of merchandise that Ciscus had not possessed before she had been asked for it, and poorer a measure of coin.

In this tradition, in Harodom, Michian, and a few of the other Lakes Region nations, a ‘Goblin Market’ now refers to the sale of many goods, perhaps with no real relationship between them; some old, some new, and some storied indeed. In place of one seller, the modern goblin market has many; on clement days, entire communities may turn out to exchange their goods for other goods, or more often, for coin, with the goal that each seller might not return home with most anything that they left it with.

Out of Game

Goblin Markets will typically occur between 1-3 times per year. Such markets exchange real goods for out-of-game money, and will feature handicrafts, second-hand items, and thrifted finds from the community. These are great opportunities for players to source new costume pieces, props, and equipment, or to clear out their closet of the same.

Authored by: Andrew Dunlop
Fantasy Alive Lore Team 2026
Copyright © Endless Adventures Ontario