Sprawling across twelve acres at the western edge of Alchester, the King's Stockyards are a testament to the city's economic importance in the region. Established in the year 286 by royal decree of King Merric II, the Stockyards serve as the primary livestock trading hub for the entire region. The facility's strategic location—positioned where the Silvercross and Whitecrest rivers meet—allows for the convenient transport of animals both overland and by barge.
Unlike the haphazard livestock markets of smaller towns, the King's Stockyards operate with military precision under the joint oversight of the Animal Husbandry Guild and the Crown's Agricultural Wardens. This dual governance, while occasionally contentious, has created one of the most efficient and regulated animal markets in the known world.
The Stockyards are enclosed by a ten-foot stone wall topped with iron spikes—ostensibly to prevent animal escapes, but equally effective at controlling access and enabling tax collection. Four massive gates mark the cardinal directions, each adorned with bronze reliefs depicting the primary livestock traded within: cattle at the North Gate, sheep and goats at the East, pigs at the South, and horses at the West.
Inside the walls, the Stockyards are divided into distinct functional zones:
1. The Grand Trading Plaza
The heart of the Stockyards is the massive flagstone-paved central plaza, large enough to accommodate several thousand animals and hundreds of traders. Wooden viewing platforms rise on all sides, allowing buyers to observe livestock being paraded for auction. The King's Pulpit—an ornate stone platform where the auctioneer stands—rises at the center, constructed so that its acoustics carry a strong voice to every corner of the plaza. Permanent wooden stalls line the periphery of the plaza, leased at considerable expense by established trading houses. These feature private negotiation rooms on their upper floors, where the largest deals are often struck away from the public auctions.
2. The Holding Pens
Radiating outward from the central plaza are specialized holding areas divided by species. Each section features progressively smaller pens, allowing for sorting by quality, age, and size. The cattle section alone contains over two hundred individual pens, while the sheep pens can hold upwards of twenty thousand animals during the busiest seasons. A sophisticated drainage system—one of the engineering marvels of Alchester—keeps these areas relatively clean despite the volume of animals. Sloped stone floors and covered channels direct waste to underground cisterns, where it is collected for sale to farmers as fertilizer.
3. The Slaughter District
Discreetly positioned behind high walls at the southern end of the complex lies the slaughter district. This area contains:
- Twelve large slaughterhouses operated by master butchers who hold royal licenses
- The Tanner's Court, where hides are processed in the initial stages before being transported to the city's Leather Quarter
- Bone and Horn Works, where craftsmen begin processing these materials
- Rendering facilities that produce tallow, lard, and other animal by-products
Despite its grim function, the slaughter district operates with remarkable efficiency and cleanliness compared to facilities in other cities. This is mainly due to the Sanitation Guild's constant oversight and the ingenious water-pumping system that brings fresh water from the river for cleaning.
4. The Merchant Quarter
A village unto itself has grown within the Stockyards' walls, catering to the needs of those who work and trade there. This includes:
- The Stockman's Rest, a sprawling tavern famous for its enormous servings of meat
- The Registry House, where all transactions must be recorded and taxed
- Guild offices for the various trades associated with livestock
- Stables and carriage houses for traders' transportation
- Seasonal housing for drovers and herders
- Several specialized shops selling tack, tools, and equipment specific to animal handling
5. The Auction Hall
A newer addition to the Stockyards, built in the year 498, the Auction Hall is a grand stone building with tiered seating surrounding a central showing floor. Used primarily for breeding stock and premium animals, particularly horses, the hall allows for more controlled and prestigious sales than the open plaza. The hall features specialized lighting from skylights that can be adjusted using an elaborate system of shutters, allowing animals to be displayed to their best advantage.
Governance and Operation
The unique dual-authority system governing the Stockyards creates a complex bureaucracy that somehow manages to function effectively despite regular tensions.
The Animal Husbandry Guild handles the commercial aspects of the Stockyards. Their responsibilities include:
- Setting and enforcing trading standards
- Arbitrating disputes between traders
- Maintaining facilities used by merchants
- Managing the auction schedule
- Licensing traders and brokers
- Collecting guild fees
The guild is headed by the Master of Trade, currently the formidable Lady Eliza Hawthorn, a former cattle magnate known for her encyclopedic knowledge of bloodlines and uncompromising stance on fair trading practices.
Representing royal interests, the Agricultural Wardens oversee:
- Collection of the King's Fifth—a 20% tax on all transactions
- Enforcement of health regulations
- Prevention of diseased animals entering the city
- Investigation of theft or fraud
- Management of the official registry of sales
- Regulation of the slaughterhouses
The current Chief Warden, Sir Percival Lamb, comes from a military background rather than an agricultural one—a controversial appointment that has nonetheless resulted in tighter security and reduced incidents of tax evasion.
The Stockyard Guard is a specialized security force of sixty men and women who patrol the Stockyards day and night. Neither city guards nor royal soldiers, these individuals answer to both governing bodies and wear distinctive green and brown uniforms. They are trained specifically in animal handling and security, allowing them to address both criminal activity and the occasional livestock escape.
Market Days and Operation
While the Stockyards see daily activity year-round, the traditional Market Days follow a strict schedule:
- Moonday: Cattle and draft animals
- Twosday: Sheep and goats
- Threeday: Pigs and smaller livestock
- Fourday: Premium breeding stock (all species)
- Fiveday: Horse market
- Sixday: General trading (reduced operations)
- Sevenday: Closed for cleaning and maintenance
During peak seasons—spring culling and autumn herd reduction—the Stockyards operate from before dawn until well after dusk, with torches and oil lamps illuminating the evening auctions.
Economic Impact
The King's Stockyards process an estimated 300,000 animals annually, generating approximately one-eighth of Alchester's total tax revenue. Beyond direct sales, the economic ripple extends to supporting industries:
- Feed suppliers bringing hay and grain from surrounding farmlands
- Transporters using both wagon trains and river barges
- Leather crafters who source directly from the slaughterhouses
- Butcher shops throughout the city
- Wool merchants who often make preliminary purchases before shearing season
- Inns and taverns catering to visiting traders
- Agricultural banks that finance large purchases
Beyond its economic function, the Stockyards hold cultural importance in Alchester life:
The Spring Fair
Each year during the first week of spring, the Stockyards host a massive agricultural fair. Regular trading is suspended as farmers showcase prize animals, new breeding techniques, and innovative farming methods. The coveted Golden Halter awards are presented by a member of the royal family, and receiving one can establish a breeder's reputation for years to come.
The Drover's Guild Initiation
Twice yearly, apprentice drovers who have completed their training undergo their final test at the Stockyards—managing a notoriously difficult herd of cattle through a complex obstacle course. Those who succeed receive their guild pins in a ceremony that traditionally ends with the new members being thrown into the cattle washing trough.
The Butcher's Tribute
An ancient tradition continues where the first animal slaughtered each Moonday is dedicated to the crown. The prime cuts are ceremonially presented to the royal household, with the remainder distributed to city orphanages and almshouses. While largely symbolic today, the ceremony dates back to the Stockyards' founding and reinforces the Crown's authority over the facility.
Notable Characters
Magnus Whitehoof
The undisputed master of the cattle auctions, Magnus has called sales at the King's Pulpit for over forty years. His distinctive rapid-fire auction chant is immediately recognizable throughout the eastern provinces, and his uncanny ability to assess an animal's weight within five pounds just by looking at it has become legendary. Now in his seventies, Magnus trains a select few apprentices, none of whom have yet mastered his particular style of auctioneering.
The Sisters Blackwell
Identical twins Marta and Marion Blackwell control the largest sheep trading operation in Alchester. Dressed always in matching outfits distinguished only by Marion's red scarf and Marta's blue one, the sisters are known for their ruthless business acumen and their ability to conduct separate negotiations simultaneously while somehow coordinating their prices. Rumors suggest they communicate telepathically, though the more probable explanation is their elaborate system of hand signals.
Warden Thaddeus Grimm
The most feared of the Agricultural Wardens, Grimm is responsible for health inspections and has the authority to condemn entire herds if disease is detected. His somber demeanor and black leather gloves (which he never removes in public) have earned him the nickname "Death's Hand" among the traders. Despite being universally dreaded, his strict standards have prevented several potential epidemics from spreading through Alchester's food supply.
Eli "Three-Finger" Peck
Officially employed as a pen cleaner, Eli serves as the Stockyards' unofficial information broker. His network of stable boys, apprentice butchers, and junior clerks ensures he knows about every animal coming to market before it arrives and every deal before it's struck. For a few copper coins, he'll share this knowledge—though wise traders know his information is often sold to multiple parties.