Sword Coast

The Wide unfolds before you as a grand expanse of open cobblestones, bustling with the energy of Baldur’s Gate’s most vibrant market. Stalls and booths of every shape and size stretch out in an organized chaos, their colorful canopies billowing gently in the breeze. Merchants hawk their goods with booming voices—everything from rare spices and fine silks to dazzling jewelry and curious trinkets shines in the light of the midday sun. The aromas of roasted meats, fresh bread, and exotic herbs swirl through the air, mingling with the murmur of haggling and the occasional clink of coins. Nobles and commoners alike meander through the market, their laughter and chatter creating a lively symphony of sound. Around the edges, grand buildings loom, housing the city's elite, their polished facades a sharp contrast to the vibrant chaos below. The Wide feels alive—a hub of wealth, culture, and commerce where possibilities seem endless and treasures await the bold.

It is a place where citizens and outsiders alike gather to gossip, trade, debate politics and discuss issues of the day, or otherwise conduct their business within the city. Its reputation as a market and public forum is well-known across Faerûn. The main attraction are the vast number of stalls and booths that are operated by merchants, artists, artisans, fortune-tellers, hedge wizards, sages or whomever has a service or good to sell. A great variety of commodities are offered within, from textiles and spices from the Shining South to locally-made tools or silk from foreign lands. These stalls often feature brightly-hued awnings that catch the eye, and their purveyors offere prices that are lower than anywhere else it the city. Tables are set up between the stalls, upon which folks can sit and take a brief reprieve from the bustle of the crowds. The typically musky smell that permeats the Gate is masked by the scent of spices, tobacco and roasted meats that are prepared nearby.