Aineth

Aineth can be found between near the border of Varios, just far enough in to qualify for that country's tax code, but not so far in that visitors will necessarily be confronted by the usual nonsense that goes on in that country.
It's not a particularly special town, to look at it, which is probably part of the appeal. The main attraction of the place is the central market, which nearly exclusively features items related to magic and potions and spells. This probably came about because it's relatively equidistant between the various major magical centers, and it's in a country that traditionally hasn't had a lot to do with the sciences.
On the surface it's a pretty standard medieval-style town, with a stockade that's more for show than anything. There are a number of inns scattered through the place, to leave ample room for the many visitors that the town gets. Most of the houses are scattered between. Hundreds of people will visit in a week, potentially thousands, and a lot of the city's economy is devoted to supporting that constant influx of people who will only need to be there for a day or so.
The market is located at the center. There are, essentially, three areas of it. One is the standard open-air market, populated by smaller stalls. This is generally where visiting vendors will set up shop. The second area is three large buildings, with stores built into them. These are clean while still maintaining their unusual and unique aspect, and this is where the more impressive items can be found. The third area is a series of deliberately darkened alleyways and external stores, that are intentionally given a threatening aesthetic to make it more obvious for those who plan to work with darker magics.
Government spaces are found underground, because the building that used to be the central point of government was gradually co-opted by the market when it was constructed, and there wasn't enough space left to create a new building. Some suggested having the mayor and his staff move into the spaces over the market, but the symbology of that left people decidedly uneasy, so the decision was made to rework some of the city catacombs and make those into government spaces. This has proved to be an excellent decision, because it gives the market the air of something that is completely unfettered and uncontrolled, leaving only room for the best bargains and the most dangerous and arcane ingredients and objects.

Alternative Name(s)

The Magic Market

Type

Town

Population

10,000