The sprawling marketplaces of Novigrad are a labyrinth of sights, sounds, and smells. From the open-air stalls flanking the narrower alleys to the grand covered bazaars, these marketplaces teem with vendors hawking wares sourced from across the known world.
Geralt and his friends often wandered through the Merchant Quarter's most famous bazaar, where crates of exotic spices—nutmeg, saffron, and cinnamon—competed for attention alongside bolts of vibrant silks from the south. Here, beggars jostled with wealthy traders, street performers entertained crowds, and guild officials in somber cloaks monitored trade licenses and tax collection. Haggling was an art form; a skilled negotiator could lower a price by half, while an inexperienced buyer might overspend by the same margin.
Beyond basic goods, apothecaries and alchemists set up stalls showcasing rare herbs, ingredient mixtures, and specialized potions. Visenna's keen eyes identified sellers of high-quality swamp bloom and rare nightshade, offerings that could enhance their forthcoming contracts.
Commerce in Novigrad is not a free-for-all. Powerful guilds govern every major trade, enforcing quality standards, managing trade routes, and regulating prices. The Merchant's Guild, the largest and most politically connected, maintained strict control over import-export operations, ensuring that taxes flowed smoothly into city coffers and that no competitor challenged their monopoly without consequence.
There were also the lesser-known but equally formidable guilds: the Blacksmiths' Guild overseeing weapon and armor crafting, the Carpenters' Guild managing timber trade, the Apothecaries' Guild regulating medical supplies, and the Mages' Circle controlling magical artifacts and arcane knowledge. Geralt saw how Vicky made discreet contacts among guild apprentices, practices that could provide low-cost components or insider information.
Guild membership carried privileges but demanded loyalty and tribute. For a fledgling mercenary group like Geralt's, forging connections within these guilds was essential for accessing lucrative contracts and supplies.
Novigrad's economy thrived on a mix of local production and international trade. The Pontar River allowed goods to flow from inland farms and mines down to the harbor, where they were loaded onto vessels bound for distant ports. Grain, timber, and ore formed the backbone of daily commerce, while luxury goods—furs, spices, silks, and jewelry—permeated the wealthier districts.
Geralt learned that the harbor bustled not only with lawful commerce but also shadowed by smuggling networks and black markets hidden in the labyrinthine docks. Precious metals and magical artifacts sometimes changed hands covertly, drawing both ambitious merchants and ruthless criminals.
Alchemy and magic intertwined deeply with Novigrad's economy. Potion brewers sought exotic ingredients from far lands to produce elixirs promising healing, strength, or clarity—a market Visenna knew well. Magical enhancements increased the value of weapons and armor, and exclusive contracts awaited those who could produce runes or signs imbued products.
However, magic also bred fear and suspicion. The Church of the Eternal Fire actively policed magical trade, suspicious of unregulated enchantments or sorcery. Witchers like Geralt relied on stealth and diplomacy to navigate these treacherous waters, using their Disguise Masks and forged mercenary identities to avoid unwanted attention.
For Geralt and his companions, the city's layered economy presented both opportunity and challenge. Odd jobs provided steady income—escorting loaded caravans through dangerous districts, guarding warehouses against theft, or investigating mysterious monster attacks disrupting trade.
Through months of work, they built a fragile financial base and honed their networks, learning which merchants were trustworthy and which factions—noble houses, guilds, or religious orders—held sway in different neighborhoods.
The apprentices realized that survival required more than skill in battle—it demanded savvy business sense, alliance-building, and the ability to maintain appearances in a city wary of outsiders.
Over time, Geralt grew aware of the precariousness of their situation. The city's wealth was tempting, but it slipped away quickly to bribes, repairs, and equipment upkeep. Without firm planning, their hard-earned crowns would dwindle fast, imperiling their efforts.
One evening around a flickering tavern fire, he confided in his comrades. "We can't just chase contracts blindly. We need stability—investments, savings, maybe even run a business of our own someday."
Eskel, sipping ale thoughtfully, nodded. "Agreed. We ought to start thinking like merchants as much as warriors."
Jacob mused, "Perhaps we expand Visenna's herbal remedies for sale? The city's rich and poor alike need healing."
Dick grinned. "And I can keep an ear open for whispered tips on lucrative gigs."
Vicky, always quiet but insightful, nodded. "A plan rooted in strategy and unity, like our Signs in battle."
Geralt felt a cautious hope grow. The streets and markets of Novigrad were intricate and daunting, but with careful foresight, the Romeld Company could carve out a lasting foothold—where strength of arm was matched by wisdom and prudence.
Novigrad's nobility comprised ancient families whose vast estates and ancestral lineages placed them near the apex of power. These houses occupied the opulent mansions of the Noble District, their fortunes built on centuries of land, trade, and political maneuvering. Though the Free City prided itself on some measure of autonomy and republican governance, noble bloodlines retained influence by placing scions in key administrative posts, marriage alliances, and secret councils.
Geralt observed that while the nobles claimed to govern for the city's welfare, their true priorities often lay in preserving privilege and expanding dominion. Many were patrons of the arts and charities on the surface, yet underneath schemed with mercenary commanders and guildmasters to suppress rivals and control lucrative contracts.
Many noble houses were deeply intertwined with the religious order of the Eternal Fire, and together they stoked fears of mages and outcasts to consolidate power. However, tensions existed among the nobility themselves, with ambitious younger branches challenging traditional elder houses for control over trade routes and city districts.
Guilds in Novigrad functioned as both professional organizations and political entities, wielding enormous economic influence. Membership was often a costly and tightly controlled privilege, granting monopolies on trades ranging from weapon crafting to herbal medicine.
The Merchant's Guild, the largest and most visible, regulated all major trade activities within the city and along the Pontar River. It imposed tariffs, mediated disputes, and maintained a powerful militia feared by many. Merchants outside the guild risked fines, exclusion, or worse.
The Blacksmiths' Guild controlled production of arms and armor, critical in a city rife with threats from bandits and monsters. Their workshops, scattered while concentrated in the Artisan District, shaped the weapons that Geralt's group frequently wielded or repaired.
The Apothecaries' Guild, tightly regulated by church and state, managed the distribution of potions, healing salves, and magical reagents. Visenna's interactions with this guild were crucial—it both constrained her herbalist work and provided opportunities through alliances and discreet sales.
Other guilds included the Carpenters, Masons, Scribes, and Shipwrights, each a cog in Novigrad's economic machine but also fiercely protective of their turf. Guildmasters often sat on city councils or served as advisors to noble families, making the line between commerce and governance thin and permeable.
Geralt learned early on that good relations with key guild figures could open doors to contracts and information. Conversely, crossing a guild could mean sabotage, blacklisting, or hired thugs.
The Church of the Eternal Fire dominated Novigrad's religious and cultural life. Its fiery sermons echoed through cathedrals and plazas, preaching order, purity, and obedience under divine authority. The church's zealotry often manifested in witch hunts and purges, targeting mages, nonconformists, and those suspected of heresy or demonic influence.
Visenna's presence in the city was often viewed with suspicion; as a sorceress, her healing was tolerated but monitored carefully. Geralt and his friends had to maintain low profiles, as witchers were sometimes conflated with mages or feared outright.
The church's hierarchy was intertwined with noble power; bishops and high priests wielded considerable influence in city governance. They controlled charitable organizations and educational institutions, shaping Novigrad's social fabric.
Conflicts within the church emerged as older, more dogmatic clergy battled younger reformers calling for tolerance. These internal struggles added layers of complexity to the city's religious politics.
Beneath Novigrad's glittering facades stretched a shadowy network of criminal syndicates, smugglers, and informants. The Slums and harbor district were riddled with black markets, gambling dens, and covert meeting places where deadly deals were struck.
Bandit gangs operated openly near trade routes, extorting caravans and merchants. Some criminal lords maintained uneasy truces with powerful guild factions or even certain noble houses, trading protection for profit.
Witchers like Geralt often found themselves walking a tightrope between legal contracts and the necessity of dealing with unsavory characters. Their Disguise Masks and mercenary personas helped, but the line was blurred.
Informants and spies permeated taverns and inns, making privacy scarce and information a double-edged sword. Control over information was a form of power itself—dictating rumors, intimidating rivals, and influencing politics.
Novigrad was officially governed by a council of elected representatives, but in practice, the decisions of powerful guilds, nobles, and the church often directed policy. The city guard maintained order, though corruption and inefficiency undermined their efforts.
City officials levied taxes and brokered contracts but were often pawns of greater interests. Witchers occasionally served as unofficial enforcers when legal channels failed, yet this role risked alienation or persecution.
Geralt and his team carefully studied these dynamics, learning when to trust officials, when to protect their independence, and how to navigate a city where law and power were often mercurial.