A Minute With: A Mounted Peacekeeper of House Quarivve

I'm looking to start up a business in your world. What product is in the greatest demand? Where should I set up?

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BA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Oooh, you're funny: I haven't laughed that hard in...oh.
Oh no.
You're serious, aren't you.
BA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Okay, okay; since you're still standing there, I take it you're waiting for an answer. I must say, the look on your face right now is priceless. Give me a minute to catch my breath. Laughing like this while on duty is unseemly: if I hear about it, you'll still be alive when I gut you. Just so you know.
So let me get this straight: you want to start a business here. And you want to know where to set up.
You're really not from around here, are you.
I still have a patrol to do. You may walk alongside; if you can keep up, I will do you a favor and explain the absurdity of your...idea. I will warn you this once to stay clear of my mount's path. If you get in the way, the lizard and I both will think nothing of trampling you. Do you understand?
Good. Then come along.
The first thing you should know is that this is not the surface.
Make that face again, I'll remove it from your skull. And don't interrupt.
As I was saying, this is not the surface. Up there, perhaps, you could simply move in anywhere and set up whatever you like. But here, things are more...structured. All meaningful commerce is overseen by the Noble Houses, and in Ilindith, that mostly means House Dinfein.
Surely you've heard the saying, "Sooner or later, everyone deals with Dinfein".
No?
Your ignorance is astounding: how have you survived here this long?
'It's only been four hours' -- even that is surprising.
And what did I tell you about interrupting? Don't make me correct you again.
Now where was I. Right, Dinfein. They're a very old, very large merchant family, and a strange lot if ever there was one. Nevertheless, they're currently the second most powerful House in the city. They control District Four, easily identifiable by...well, you'd have to see it. And smell it.
No, that is District Five on the other side of the wall. This is District Six: I am of House Quarivve.
District Four contains The Bazaar, the largest marketplace here, and is where most of the shops are concentrated. The stalls all carry at least some goods that House Dinfein imports, so the House gets a cut of everyone's profits. The good news is that the House's reach is so vast, there's virtually nothing that can't be found -- or, at the very least, ordered -- there. So, you see, in order for you to open a business, you would first have to secure House Dinfen's permission. While they are disturbingly sociable with the lesser races like yourself, there's bound to be long line of better-positioned drow ahead of you. With your brief existences, you simply wouldn't live long enough to make it to the front.
What's that?
Speak up: we're heading towards a crowd, and you're well beneath me. Oh you insolent --!

The kick was for referring to me as an 'elf'. I should feed you your tongue so that you never make that "mistake" again! I am drow. To answer your question, of course we have better hearing than you; but for important things, not the mewlings of an idiot. Clean the blood off of your face, you look ridiculous. Now what was your other question.
Setting up in a different district? Oh, aren't you clever. There are, of course, businesses in the other districts, run by other Houses. House Jhulyr, for example, runs the slave market in District Seven. Have you been there? No? You should. You look like you would fit in nicely. Around the market proper, you will find businesses and services that either support the House's endeavors, or supply accessories for buyers. That makes sense. But should you duplicate any good or service in The Bazaar, why then you'd be competition to the House. And Dinfein does not like competition. Even if you got permission to operate from one of the other Houses, you'd likely be dead inside a week.
Oh, just a moment.
Ah, Jules! Don't bother trying to hide: I've already seen you. Come over here, worm. That's better. It's been a while. You look well. Nervous -- do you always tremble this much? -- but well. I trust you have something for me? And that you've learned the proper answer to that question in the wake of last month's unpleasantness? I would so hate to have to break something else on you. You really should be steadier on your feet: you probably still have months to go on those crutches, you surely won't want to damage that leg further. Ah, I see you have learned! This is a very nice sum. And all gold, too. Excellent! You're investing wisely in your business, you know: strange things do happen in this quarter, but you'll not have to worry about them -- at least for another month. Take care of that leg, now.
There.
Moving on -- oh now what is that look? You think this is extortion? Ha! Whatever you wish to call it, it's something you'd be doing too, if you wanted to do business here. Drow from outside Ilindith must pay a tax for a license. Non-drow from anywhere must pay one as well; but it's quite a bit higher, as they're being extended an exceptional privilege in their presence being tolerated. Was this the tax? Oh no, that goes directly to the House. This just ensures his relative safety. Ilindith is a terribly dangerous place for non-drow; wise ones know the benefit of...incentivizing...us to look out for them.
Oh-ho, watch this. No, right over...you can't see that far, can you.
Honestly.
Anyhow, it's a cutpurse. Skillful little imp, too; that whore doesn't feel a single thing. Stop him? Now why would do I that? She wasn't alert enough to keep it; he was quick enough to take it: it's his. Why do you look so surprised? You do realize that businesses are no different here: if you don't have what it takes to hold on to something, someone who does can -- and will -- take it from you. As they should.
Having second thoughts now, are we? I told you your idea was absurd. I will tell you this: you may fare somewhat better in the city of Omasorin. I don't know what happened to that lot during the Test, but they accept all manner of surface trash and degenerates there. Disgusting. But perfect for you. House Dinfein has a branch there as well, of course; but not quite the same hold that they have on commerce elsewhere. Overland, Omasorin is about two weeks' hard ride to the southwest. You would die in the tunnels without a guide. Going by ship would be faster and safer if you can secure passage.
You didn't know there were ships.
Why are you down here, exactly? I find it difficult to believe that someone with true business would be so ignorant of everything, which means you're really either a decoy or a spy. You thought I wouldn't figure it out, didn't you. If you so much as flinch right now, you will die where you stand.
Good choice. This stick and collar are meant as restraints, but should you take a single improper breath, I can easily break your neck from this angle. You and I will be heading to post for a little interrogation: rest assured that we will get the truth out of you, even if we have to flay you to do it.
Now move.