17th Official Meet n Greet (Officially a Temporary Unofficial Event Name)

🏺 BOARD GAME NIGHT XVII – THE GOLDEN BAZAAR 🏺
“Where Knowledge Is the Rarest Spice.”

Beyond the dunes of forgotten games and the ruins of half-read rulebooks lies a place few travelers ever find twice — a sunlit maze of trade and legend whispered of only as The Golden Bazaar.

They say it appears to those in search of mastery — and on that night, it did. Through its gilded gates wandered a handful of familiar merchants and one brand-new adventurer: Sasha, the broad-shouldered wanderer from distant Ukraine, whose presence was as mighty as his kindness. He had heard rumors of a gathering — a brotherhood of gamers hidden among the sands — and strode up to our table weeks ago with a grin and the courage of a man walking straight into myth.

Waiting among the market stalls was Kelly — the Professor — scholar of strategies, collector of rules, and living compass of all things board game. She’d already proven her mastery during the Power Grid summit at John P’s house, where she’d routed entire cities with the efficiency of a goddess of infrastructure. Now she returned, cloaked not in electricity, but in the perfume of cinnamon, salt, and knowledge — ready to guide us through the twin trials of Century and 7 Wonders Architects.

The bazaar gates creaked open.
Spices shimmered. Dice rolled across the dust like desert wind.
And before anyone could say “Who’s got the camels this time?” — the trade began.
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💰🕌 The Trade of Ages 🕌💰

As the golden curtains of the Bazaar drew back, two challenges awaited us: the ancient markets of Century and the architectural wonders of 7 Wonders Architects — a duet of commerce and civilization, one demanding cunning trade, the other timeless vision.

Kelly, our resident Professor of Play, unrolled her scrolls like a seasoned merchant unveiling secret wares. Her hands traced the spice routes with such precision that even the camels paused to listen. She spoke of saffron and cardamom as if they were currencies of destiny, and by the time the first deal was struck, every traveler at the table swore they could smell cinnamon in the air.

Sasha, the newly arrived wanderer, took to the game with fearless instinct — his trades bold, his timing sharper than the desert wind. With sleeves rolled, laughter booming, and strategy gleaming behind his easy smile, he turned the act of exchange into spectacle. Even Kelly, ever measured and scholarly, gave a knowing nod: the student had arrived prepared.

John P, always the engineer, sought to optimize his caravan’s every motion, sketching invisible blueprints of profit in the air. Brad haggled with the flair of a street performer, selling copper for gold with little more than charm and audacity. And somewhere amid the spice and chaos, one confused traveler (that’d be Jason) was last seen bartering a handful of turmeric for enlightenment — or maybe for directions back to his own tent.

When the sun dipped low and the Bazaar lanterns bloomed, we left the markets of Century for the marble dream of 7 Wonders Architects. Scrolls became blueprints; merchants became visionaries. Kelly once again led the expedition, transforming chaos into clarity as we raised our miniature empires stone by stone. The Bazaar echoed with the hammering of ambition and the soft laughter of discovery until, at last, the final wonder stood gleaming beneath the lantern light.
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🌅🐪 The Caravan Moves On 🐪🌅

When the lanterns dimmed and the last of the spice had settled, the merchants of the Golden Bazaar packed their ledgers, their laughter, and their lessons for the long road home. But the Bazaar is never gone for long. They say it travels — shifting through time and map like a mirage that reappears wherever curiosity burns brightest. Kelly’s scrolls remain open, her notes on trade and empire ready for the next expedition. Sasha, the Gentle Wanderer, is already rumored to be charting a new route, his caravan restless beneath the stars. John P’s blueprints hum faintly with untested energy, and Brad… well, Brad may still be haggling with someone over whether dice count as a legal form of currency.

And somewhere out there, another gate is stirring — perhaps made of iron, perhaps of ice, or perhaps simply carved from imagination — waiting for this same band of explorers to step through once more and turn another quiet night into legend.

The Bazaar fades, but the spirit remains: wherever the light of a meeple lantern glows, the trade continues.
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🎲 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 🎲

· 🎉 New Players Welcome – First time in the Bazaar? You’re home. Rules are taught, patience is plentiful, and the Professor (Kelly) can turn sand into strategy.
· 🎯 Game Selection – We choose at the table. The market decides, the scrolls reveal, and sometimes the camels vote.
· 🎮 Got a Favorite Game? – Bring it and make your pitch like a seasoned merchant. Bribes payable in spices (or snacks).
· 🎭 Dress Code – Traveler-casual. Sand-friendly shoes optional; dramatic capes encouraged but may attract camels.
· 🍇 Etiquette – Haggle kindly, share components, read your cards, and respect the teacher. (Side deals are legal; chaos is not.)
· ⚠️ Warning – Goat-based economics and camel litigation trigger immediate Camel Union audits. Hydration compliance may be enforced.
· 📜 Fun Fact – Legends say the Bazaar appears to those seeking mastery; meeple lanterns glow brightest when someone finally understands the rulebook.
· 🧂 Table Talk – Strategy, banter, and tall tales’ welcome. If you trade away your victory for a good story, the Bazaar approves.

— Your Chronicler of Spice and Strategy

📜 SINCE OUR LAST MEETUP 📜

🪔 The Camel Union has announced a new “Hydration Level 3 Initiative.” Rumor has it the funding evaporated — literally.
🎃 Mel’s Halloween Party concluded with minimal casualties and one emotional support pumpkin still missing.
💡 John P. unveiled a prototype lamp powered entirely by optimism — it dimmed immediately.
🧮 Professor Kelly has opened an advanced course in “Applied Resource Trading.” Tuition: three spice cards and one regret.
💪 Sasha reportedly carried three crates of saffron by himself across the market square — just to prove friendship weighs nothing.
🎲 Brad attempted to corner the goat-coin market. The goats filed for bankruptcy first.
🧭Kyle remains officially missing, though a “Have You Seen Kyle?” poster was spotted in the bazaar — angled left and right, just in case.