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A Visitor's Guide to Greatwall

by Assistant City Clerk Majoral Onuk

The city of Greatwall has long been the hub of trade and ship travel along this busy section of shoreline, though the area was once nothing more than a cluster of merchant warehouses huddled along the southern shores of Sandman's Bay. Many of those old warehouses still stand, now belonging to powerful and wealthy families, namely the Gherrens, the Maneras, and the Fedoruks. These are the three founding merchant families of Greatwall.

Many prominent businesses have since established themselves here, including Riddle's Tobacco Factory (maker of King Belvor’s favorite cigars), Lord Bob's Clothiers (which spins the finest cloth in all of Furyondy), and the illustrious Warren's Jewels (designer of Lady Bagatella's "breathing bloodstone" tiara). Greatwall boasts four dwarven master-smiths, who have stubbornly set up their business on different corners of the same intersection in a fiercely competitive rivalry. The city's only human smith wisely located his business far away from Smith's Corner. Smith's Comer is an excellent, place to purchase metal-goods.

But Greatwall is not merely a place of commerce. The city is well regarded for its thirteen colleges and universities. College Town, as it is locally known, is a small walled compound where the city's houses of higher learning are located. The walls, designed by the mage and engineer Nemodus Crassius (who maintains a tower in the city), are more decorative than practical in any defensive sense. They are nevertheless true architectural wonders - a fusion of magic and stonework. The entire area west of College Town to the main road is known as the Students' District, where many booksellers, scribes, and researchers make their living. The majority of the city's student population also lives here in rooming houses.

The city is also home to many learned sages, who ply their trade along Sages' Way, which runs from the main road to the War Tower. The street is lined with all manner of erudite and scholarly men and women. It is said that if a question cannot be answered on Sages' Way, then it has no answer. The city's foremost expert on history, Harriet Helmswood, makes a deliberate point of not locating herself on the street. She firmly believes that such a commercial atmosphere corrupts true learning.

The city enjoys relatively little crime, thanks in no small part to its enlightened leadership and strong military presence. There are two full barracks in Greatwall and a large complement of soldiers. It is even said that no prisoner has ever escaped the city's prison!! The seat of the city's government is, of course, Government Center, which lies on the north side of the river at the end of Sages' Way. Here one can find the Office of Laws, The City Congress, The Ministry of Defense, Commerce Hall, and The Civic Offices where our ruler, Count Jakartai himself conducts his business. Directly across the river is Temple Street, where the city's main churches are located.

Visitors can find many amusements in Greatwall. The famous Dockside Avenue is home to the nine most boisterous taverns in the region. The party here begins at supper and lasts well past sunset. Many famous bards, dancers, and entertainers perform here nightly. Directly east one can find the Brewers' Union, Brewer's Square, and Banshee's Beers, maker of the infamous Dark Mushroom Stout.

The city also enjoys public parklands inside the city walls for the enjoyment of citizens and visitors. The Whispering Vale is said to be inhabited by water nixies who will grant a wish if one throws a copper piece into the river. From Fedoruk Park, one can take a trail up the hillside to Overlook Point and its spectacular vista, as seen from the shores of Greatwall Reservoir. One must be careful, however, not to take the wrong path and stray into the private vineyards of the Warren family. Because of a recent spate of vandalism on the grape crop, they are heavily patrolled and trespassers are not tolerated. The public is, however, quite welcome to visit the winery where excellent vintages are for sale.

Visitors interested in purchasing the varied wares of Greatwall's shopkeepers are directed to the Gold District. Also on every seventh day, the marketplace around the city well abounds with all manner of goods.