Trade District

The Trade District is one of the newer parts of the city. The first buildings were constructed here a few years after the relocation of the Furyondian capital to Chendl. Broad sections of this district feature shops, restaurants, and taverns, often with the owner living on-site in a small apartment above the business. One section is called the Common Market and is nothing but rows upon rows of tiny wooden booths with colorful awnings reserved for merchants and traders. Other sections have larger buildings, including warehouses, homes, libraries, guildhouses, inns, apartments, temples, theatres, and jails. The more affluent non-nobles of Dyvers make their homes in this district, including wealthy merchants, retired military officers, adventurers, merchants, and diplomats. The river­front of the Trade District is mostly clear, with only a few small, private docks and piers. The homes along the waterfront are larger, more grand, and more expensive than in any other part of the lower city. The watch' s presence here is primarily to deter petty crimes during the day.

The collection of tents outside the eastern gates of Dyvers is considered part of the Trade District. The city does not allow merchants to assemble outside any other part of the walls, and requires them to pay a small fee for the watch to patrol the area-equal to 5% tariff and a 5% tax on goods sold. When the tent town first began to appear, crime deterred buyers, and so the Magister decided to corral these foreign merchants into one area and generate revenue from them. The fee is less than the cost of renting a booth in the Common Market or buying a storefront, and so the foreigners tolerate it.

Lighthouse Street marks the border between the Trade District and the Dock District. The buildings in that area tend to be a little smaller and more run down than in the rest of the Trade District. Most of the eastern and southern border is the city wall, which extends into the river for nearly a hundred feet, while the Royal Grounds hill defines the southwest corner.

TD I. Thrommel's Arch

Of the two gates suitable for large traffic, the eastern one ( which connects to Greyhawk Road) is called Thrommel's Arch. Named for Thrommel I, this wide gate is topped with an arch of stone decorated with Furyondian heraldry. The bronzewood gate is closed every night and can be barred from within. Four members of the watch stand guard at the gate, alert for any unacceptable persons ( such as evil humanoids, monsters, or evil cultists) or tent-town merchants trying to sneak into the town with goods for sale.

TD 2. Spice Guildhouse

While this building is truly a guildhouse for spice merchants and traders, it is more important as one of the Alliance's legitimate business fronts. Individuals with no obvious association with the spice trade are often seen coming and going at all hours of the day. Most thieves in Dyvers are aware of the connection to the Alliance and can refer people wanting to contact the Alliance to this place. The code phrase is to ask for "cinnamon from Blackmoor." They'll be directed to Max the Lucky, one of the middle-rank bosses in the Alliance, and his boss V el Ashandrin.

V el Ashandrin is one of the high-ranking Alliance bosses, overseeing most of the racketeering that goes on in the city. He is the Slavelords' liaison to the Alliance, having a personal interest in the downfall of Greyhawk because the Thieves Guild had his wife assassinated. He can most easily be reached by contacting Max.

TD3. Common Market

The shops that run the length of Black Street are run by independent merchants. The prices are cheap, and the product quality is average. The watch is more visible in the Common Market than in other parts of the Trade District. One unusual shop is run by a redheaded Suel woman named Kendra. She sells toys and games from many different countries and cultures, even some from as far away as the jungle conti­nent of Hepmonaland.

TD4. Four Legs Are Better

This unusual business is run by a gray elf, with centaurs as employees. The elf, an enterprising woman named Filanda of Courwood, left Celene due to disagreements with Queen Yolande's isolationism, stayed in Verbobonc for a time, then left there over religious differences and moved to Dyvers to start up an enterprise with a few centaur friends. Four Legs Are Better hires out centaurs to work for the Carters and Cabbies Guild, hauling freight for the merchant family of Lamontek ( of whom former slavelord Lamonsten the Lazy is a member), guarding caravans through the Gnarley (south to the Wild Coast and west to Verbobonc ), carrying news and packages to cities within a week's travel, and even as field plowers and livestock herders ( although the last two are considered low-grade work). The company is making a good profit and plans to expand its operations into Verbobonc and Narwell in another year or two.

Type

Neighbourhood