Tick Tock SquareOn the edge of Hightower Isle, near the bridge, is Tick Tock Square. It is a large, but is not cobbled like many other parts of the city. The square is particularly crowded on Festag, when the toymakers in the city converge and set up market here. The hummings and clickings of a thousand clockwork baubles sings through the air, interspersed with the chatter of a hundred hopeful children. Each booth tries to be more colourful and appealing than the next, attempting to win the fickle hearts of their young customers. Some of the toys on display are truly astounding - clockwork birds that hover in the air, green jumping beans that have to be held carefully lest they escape and magical pellets that coat the target bright blue when thrown. The stalls are bursting with other strange oddments, each advertised with the greatest exaggeration. The best toymakers are invariably gnomes, who turn out treasures replete with embellishments and surprises time after time. They have a canny sense of showmanship as well, and the children love them. In one small corner of the square, groups of children can be seen squatting crosslegged, calling out name like traders. As you approach closer, it is obvious that they are playing marbles, and the names they call are for different kinds. For the rest of the week when the toy market is not present, these games spread out all over the square, and the shrill voices of children playing, the sounds of mock fights, and skipping games echo around the nearby streets. A list of Shops and People Around Tick Tock Square: Finished Locations Planned Locations |