Listen to this song while you read. Seriously. It will help.OVERVIEWDjemaa El Fna is a large, traveling gypsy caravan and night market. The Djemaa is extremely large group, sometimes with wagons lining up for several miles and numbering in the hundreds. While smaller groups of traders, performers or travelers sometimes take up with caravan for brief periods, the main purpose of this group is selling, buying and trading goods of all kinds.
They trade jewels, sapphires, silks, jades and rubies, furs and peacock feathers, and fruits and spices, jewelry and baskets, carvings, paintings, rugs and tapestries, exotic animals—anything that will captivate buyers. There are often many dancers, story tellers, acrobats and other performers that travel within the group as well. There are also plenty of chefs and bakers who set up food stalls when the Caravan finally stops.
HISTORYThe Djemaa was started several generations ago by the Kereškedevo Gypsy clan. Initially it was a single family of Gypsies that dedicated themselves to selling and trading handmade and purchased goods. But soon, other families and trade groups joined them and over the course of a generation or two, they became the massive group that they are now.
They have a very specific route they travel across the plains of Archea-Gaea so it's very to predict where they will be and when. Though they make stops in the major cities, they also do business mid-travel if they happen to meet any other travelers on the ground.
Because the traders are constantly selling and trading, many of them have actually amassed large amounts of wealth (usually kept in banks in the cities though some carry it with them) and are very, very rich people despite their simple, nomadic way of life.
CULTUREThe group started out as Gypsies and many people within the caravan are still Gypsy or have a strong Gypsy heritage. By the nature of their work, the Gypsies in The Djemaa are far less concerned with the laws of purity and impurity, if at all but many of their superstitions are pervasive throughout the group, even in the non-gypsies simply by association.
However, they have picked up so many different cultural tidbits from other regions that they can hardly be considered pure Gypsy culture anymore. They are friendly, openly hospitable toward others and their entire group revolves around buying and selling. They will try to peddle their wares to anyone and everyone or try to buy the shirt off your back (at a very fair price) if they think it's worth while.
Because the group is entirely merchants and tradesman, many of them are very focused on making and creating beautiful things and have something of an obsession with anything and everything that is unique or beautiful from items to people to unique skills or talents.
The Caravan's official colors are red and gold--any wagon painted red and gold or person wearing those colors is known to be an official member of the group. Some members also sport tattoos or face paint in various shades of red. Gold bangles and accessories are popular and rubies are prized. They also have red and gold standards they fly when their market is open.
The Kereškedevo head family branch wears a special arrangement of red and gold beads in their hair to denote their status and help others tell them apart from the rest of the caravan. The side branches of the family wear special red beaded belts, necklaces or bracelets but do not wear the beads in their hair.
MARKETThe Djemma market functions at night. Because water is scarce on the surface of Archea-Gaea, the group travels at night when it's generally cooler so that they can avoid the use of water during the long miles between cities. And since they keep a nocturnal schedule on their travels, it's only natural that when they stop to set up their booths and Market in the cities, it lasts from dusk until dawn as well.
Even at its smallest, the Caravan has a very large number of booths with a huge variety of goods and entertainments. Usually the booths are run by individuals and families and sell a single service or type of goods. Everyone in the market keeps their eyes open for cheap goods to buy--supplies for their crafts or any items they might be able to sell later.
The booths are well maintained and the paths kept wide, clear and very well lit. Open areas are left for performers and the like and every night, a number of sturdy young men make rounds through the area to stay on the look out for thieves and trouble makers. These 'security guards' are well trained and quite strong. Most people familiar with the Caravan know better than to tangle with them.
RULESThe Djemaa merchants are
reputable traders and business men (and women). They do not permit thieves or rogues in their midst and will immediately eject any one from their group if they are caught cheating customers or selling stolen merchandise. They care a great deal about their reputation and before a merchant is allowed to become an official part of the group, they must have traveled with them through at least one full route so that the Kereškedevo family can watch their behavior and work ethics.
They are not charitable (IE, you don't get things for free from them) but they are honest and good people. If you want something from them, you must have something you are willing to trade--even if it's agreeing to work for them for a certain amount of time. They are always willing to make any sort of deal.
Non-merchant groups and performers can travel with the Djemaa temporarily for safety and convenience but they are required to work--taking care of animals, setting up camp, hunting, etc. Everyone in the group shares all the work.
The Kereškedevo clan is still the ultimate authority in the group. They make the rules, they uphold the rules. They are highly respected and no one questions their judgment. They are a good, honest family. No exceptions.
They hold their merchants to a very high standard and do not permit violence or rowdy behavior. Anyone caught breaking the rules risks hefty fines (which then go toward supplies and such for the caravan--not for the profit of the main family) and/or expulsion from the group.
((Please talk to Angela Celeste before creating a member of the Kereškedevos. The
head family branch is NOT open to other players and will be NPCed if needed but secondary relatives--cousins, aunts, uncles and such are fine.
And anyone is welcome to create a character for the group that is not related to the Kereškedevos. MOST of the caravan is not related to them. They just run it.))
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