Wandering Emporium

The Wandering Emporium is a roaming trade caravan on the plane of Avernus, the first layer of the Nine Hells, run by the enigmatic Mahadi.
Despite the brutal reality of life in Avernus, the emporium offers one of the few places of genuine respite to travelers and is recognized by most devils and warlords as neutral ground.

History

Sometime in the early 15th century, the hollyphant Lulu, recently released from the Bloody Cyst she was trapped within, came across the Wandering Emporium. Recognizing the value of hollyphant tusks, Mahadi drugged Lulu with water from the River Styx to keep her docile, shaving down her tusks as they grew back.
In time, Mahadi learned that Zariel, Archduke of Avernus, had a connection to a hollyphant, and he presented Lulu to her as a gift.
Decades later, the Emporium was again visited by Lulu, this time in the company of the Lost Star Detectives, who were trying to undo the Damnation of Elturel. Mahadi hosted the adventurers and alluded to a history with Lulu, but the effects of the Styx were long lasting and Lulu did not remember who Mahadi was. While making use of the emporium's services, the Detectives met Burney the barber, who offered to take the Orb of Dragonkind off their hands in exchange for a Sunblade, a Book of Clear Thought, and a token of aid, marked with Bahamut and Torm's symbols.

Points of interest

Traveling in the emporium are the following attractions and individuals, among others:

• Firesnake Forge: Run by three salamanders, Firesnake Forge both maintained the warmachines of the caravan and provided warmachine modifications, weapons, and armor to customers.
• From Here to Avernus: A money exchange that converted soul coins, both infused and spent, into gold and vice versa.
• Infernal Rapture: A spa and restaurant run by Mahadi himself that existed in a demiplane separate from Avernus, allowing for the serving of food unspoiled by Hell's magical effects.
• Ichor's Aweigh: A catch-all store run by the human mage Elliach who specialized in demonic ichor. Elliach also suffered from multiple mutations from the ichor, most notably on his ears, which grew wings and circle around his head.

Additionally, the caravan used to include Burney's Barbershop, run by the eponymous Burney, who appeared to be a woman from Calimsham but was in fact a copper dragon sent to Avernus by Bahamut to spy on Tiamat.

Geography

Due to its nomadic nature, the emporium had no set geography, adapting its stall layout to each new area it settled in.

Founders

• Mahadi

Alternative Name(s)

Mahadi's Emporium

Type

Caravan

Location under

Avernus

Characters in Location

• Mahadi