Merchant's Ward

"Close enough to keep an eye on the others, far enough way to not be kept up by the smell. We have the undeniably best bars and the most well curated storefronts, but one day we'll have a garden too."

The Merchant's Ward, where the upper-middle class reside, enjoying the finer things of life within reason and spend their hours constantly trying to make their way into the Garden Ward if they can ever afford it.

Merchant's Ward Locations

Taverns

Regal Respite: Velvet booths and gold-plated armrest chairs wrap around the walls with a 360-degree bar in the middle. While not providing the unique concoctions of Taps in Craftsmen's Corner, the Regal Respite is best known for their collection of imported wines and spirits. A leisurely and relaxed environment, there is often soft string music playing via a harpist or string quartet.
Trader's Trove: One of the only taverns in town that includes an upstairs section of rentable rooms, this is both a general goods store of imports as well as a fully-functioning tavern with patrons mostly only passing through Avraathe on their way back to Silverymoon. With this in mind, the rooms often cost several gold, both a premium due to the limited supply, but also a way of making sure their Merchant Ward customers don't believe it be filled with lesser rift-raft and thus hurt their local business. Operated by Sazra who is hospitable and upright, always courteous to a customer.
The Silver Plate: The premiere restaurant of the Merchant's Ward, the Silver Plate's chef is celebrated for his delicious chargrilled goat and delectable flat-iron steak as well as his spicy scalloped potatoes and slow-roasted corn accompaniments.
Canvas and Cup: An exclusive and expensive boutique bar that serves fine wines and drafts with a constantly evolving and carefully curated art display. Artists frequently serve in-residence roles so that patrons can see their creative process in real-time.

Stores

Apothecary Imports: Operated by Evelen Commonbrooke, this small and often musty store offers potions and a myriad of herbs and other components for medicinal, recreational, and experimental use.
Second-home Heirlooms: A consignment shop that offers antiques and other home goods for those who are transitioning into or out of the Merchant's Ward. It has recently become in vogue among the upper-middle class to purchase and display second-hand goods as a way of seeming more "down to earth" and to have a sense of "legacy," but this is really just an excuse to save money on custom work without seeming cheap.
Seasonal Spices: An imported goods store that offers fresh and ground spices for merchants who prefer to cook at home with their leisure hours available to them.
Shelve & Scroll: A book and magical scroll store, though most of the spells are of the illusion or practical variety, used like party tricks or for making simple tasks easier for the citizens of the ward. Managed by Kala, an older female dragonborn.

Other

Merchant's Guild Meeting Hall: An ornate and intimidatingly opulent building even for the Merchant's Ward, the Merchant's Guild require all of their meetings with others from town to be held here, believing it gives them an upper hand in negotiations and a perception of wealth that is still just beyond their reach. Currently led by Throden.

Type

District