'' Welcome to The Merchantplace; an overgrown garden abandoned by the wealthy twolegs who inherited it. Amongst the bushes and marble, a group of cats make their livelihood - but beware, they trade in more than coin. '' History - Beginning as more of an unofficial hangout spot, this group formed as a central area for cats with an interest in trading to gather. A marketplace, of sorts - though there is considerable variation in what each cat seeks out and accepts as payment. Because of their loose formation, the Merchants are very welcoming of outsiders and travelers. Anyone is welcome to join their ranks, without consultation (though greeting and introducing yourself to the speaker is considered polite) TERRITORY DESCRIPTION - The Merchantplace is largely abandoned by twolegs. Perhaps once a lavish garden, the marble pillars that surround the courtyard have long since cracked and weathered. Plants have reclaimed the area, pushing through between tiles and covering the ground in a blanket of wildflowers and green. Contributing to the absence of Twolegs is a small pack of stray dogs that frequent the area - neighbors the cats have learnt to coexist with. It's not uncommon to see one or two of these canines relaxing among the market stalls. VALUES - Cats within this group are often bilingual (though be aware of Gens rules surrounding multiple languages! AKA please actually speak any language you want your cat to, WITHOUT the use of translation software.) because of their status as kittypets - these cats have more chances to interact with and originate from other areas than the relatively secluded clan cats. Sign language (unofficial) is also a widely spread and appreciated skill within the merchant group. Merchant cats are generally very open and chatty - though their questions may be motivated by curiosity rather than friendliness. Some cats even choose to trade entirely in secrets and whispers of gossip - a choice which has become more and more common as the group evolves. For this reason stealth is valued highly above strength. ROLES/LEADERSHIP - As kittypets, Merchants do not have clear cut roles the way that clan cats do. They refer to their members instead by their age group - kits, juveniles, adults and elders. Adults will often choose to take younger cats under their wing, and are affectionately given the unofficial title 'guides'. These guides may help younger cats set up their own stalls, teach any necessary skills, ect. Every two oorp months, a new 'speaker' will be elected by vote. This speaker is the representative of the group, who communicates with outsiders and resolves any internal conflicts that may arise. There is no limit on how many times a cat can stand in as speaker, though the cat must be over six moons old. LINKS - Studio [ ] Credits .. This group was formed based on the input and ideas of a huge and wonderful group of people - from the appearance of their territory to their core concept. These people include: Aegis . Ryn . Cameron . Raven Corp . Riot . Autumn . Dragon . Carpa . Logan . Mothyca . Azzy . Rory . Twilight . Kasscabelle <3 Characters featured in this project belong to: Riot . Twilight . Kasscabelle . Cameron . & Myself Music from the secret garden soundtrack
