The Avenue of Amusements is the entertainment area of White Willows. Section off from the rest of the city by a stone wall it is a loud and rambunctious place with comings and goings taking place at all times.
Grimskull Arena
A remnant from the time of the Invincible Overlords this old stone colosseum has gone through numerous upgrades and modifications over the years. Its roof can be opened and retracted, its field can flooded, and numerous traps and enchanted lights have been installed. While blood sports are rare other violent conflicts, like pit fighting, wresting and boxing are popular. Fall and winter the arena is converted for use for Bloodbowl and Iceblades and in the summer Disk Derby, a sport where wizards on floating disks race/fight their way to the end of a track.
The Dragons Hoard Casino
This large gaming hall, open 24-hours, is the only legal casino allowed in White Willows (the Thieves Guild runs a number of illegal ones). A statue of a large Gold Dragon sits atop a pile of false coins outside the entrance and at the top of every hour shoots a small blast of flame from its mouth. Inside the hall is filled with all sorts of gaming tables and as long as one has coin, no one is turned away. One can find bandits and guardsmen at the same tables. There is rarely conflict and cheating thanks to the large orc bouncers that roam the hall. Conversation here is based on the games and local rumors. The games are all rigged so that the house gets a profit (a profit which White Willows is entitled to a cut of). Losers have a tendency to blame the winners, and often seek vengeance after leaving.
The owner of the hall, a stout but friendly Halfling, who is always in a gilded suit has a secret, he in fact is a Coin Dragon and his hoard is below the hall in an elaborate vault system. Any intruder he catches he dips in gold and has a small ‘museum’ in is private quarters.
Nivet’s Winery
Originally this winery made spiced wine flavored with all sorts of spices, herbs, flowers, and even small insects. In recent years Nivet installed a huge wine tub where 3d6 beautiful women dance and smash grapes which draws in large crowds. The crowds are encouraged to buy the stomped extract which Nivet then ferments and gives to them at a later date. This establishment is seen as seedy, even by Avenue of Amusement standards which Nivet has hardily embraced. He plans on adding a wine wresting ring and mulled wine baths. Nivet can be found chomping on a cigar plotting future additions.
Le Saule Blanc
In addition to being a restaurant this is also temple to the God of Cooking. They server only the hardest to cook, most elaborate dishes, and rare foods to the ultra-rich in elaborate many course meals (3d10 courses). Menu items include iodized flailsnail escargot, eggs with kumquat foam, dry aged Owlbear steaks, cockatrice a l'orange, fried illithind tentacles, abolith sushi, etc. The head chef pays handsomely for exotic meats and ingredients and will even occasionally put out bounties. Secretly however the restaurant is just a front for an underground food pantry/soup kitchen well known to the cities poor.
Dome of Delights
A Catty prince runs this large dome structure fitted with dancing girls, endless goblets of wine, unlimited kebobs, and constant performances. The Dome of Delights is invite only, however uninvited guests will be brought up to the prince and asked to perform for him in shackles. If successful they can spend a day in the Dome of Delights, if unsuccessful they are robbed, beaten, and thrown into the street.
Larrson Massage
A group of Solvangers runs this sauna/massage parlor. Slaves toss an almost endless stream of water on hot coals filling this building with hazy steam. Popular with the middle classes there is often a line for the Northern Treatment, a beating with herbs, a scraping with imported sea shells, scented oil bath, and a rib fracturing massage.
School of Minstrels and Bards
The School of Minstrels and Bards is a large community of entertainers of all sorts (drama prevents them from forming a guild). Music can be heard from the building day and night, but most of its class rooms and performance halls are build underground to prevent sound from coming in (and out). The building itself is one of the oldest in White Willows and is made from gray stone with a high ceiling and thick pillars. The School has gone to great expenses to color up the building and along with the large stained glass windows bright tapestries hang from the pillars and the ceiling is painted with a vast mural. The pride of the school is its massive pipe organ, almost six stories in height with tubbing running throughout the building. It is rumored to be so loud that if brought fully to bear its song could be heard throughout the entire canton.
Entertainers are required to tithe 10% of every performance to the school to help pay for training of new preforms, general services, and the retirement fund. A small market for entertains can be found in the basement, selling not only musical instruments, but costumes and props from old plays, makeup, knickknacks, and commissioned works like plays, pomes, and songs (which the narcissistic noble class love).
Memory Lane
This building is filled with low couches separated by silk curtains. Its proprietor Cassie Brunweld serves a special wine that allows individuals to experience the emotions and memories of others. Cassie is able to ‘brew’ special versions of the wine that can help the weak willed or the cowardly. She can also make a version that implants a particular memory in the mind of someone for 500gp but will deny knowing how to. Cassie’s wine is made by a complex combination of herbs and run off from the psychoactive meads created in the Floral Sea.
Berlwin Candle Shop
This shop has been in the hands of the Berlwin family for over six generations. They sell all sorts of candles from simple tallow to exotic waxes and scents. Recently they have expanded into making scented oils, soaps, incense and other products. Well loved by the community they sell large religious candles to the temples and Botanica and gives candle stubs to the poor. Exotic candles can be special ordered that burn with strange colors or give off strange gasses.
Blue Water Bath
This large bathhouse goes heavy with the perfume scented waters. The entrance fee is 2sp and entrance is denied to all non-human, elf, or Halfling races. Blue Water Bath is extremely popular with the middle class.
Pangolin Theater
This large theater caters to the common man, playing simple comedies and tragedies. Occasional performances will lead to riots that the Town Guard are quick to quell. Seemingly always on the brink of financial collapse the theater changes hands often.
The Good Earth
This flower shop is run by a half-giant whose large size and fearsome appearance contrast greatly with his gentleness and nimble hands. If not in the shop he can be found tending to his flowers in any of the hundreds of flower boxes on the side of the building on the greenhouse on the roof.
White Willows Wondrous Wigs and Weaves
Popular with the nobility, thieves, and the bald this shop has a virtual monopoly of wig production in the canton. The wigs come in a variety of colors, shapes, and coifs and range anywhere from 1 to 100gp depending on quality and the hair needed. The shop will also buy hair for SP an inch.
House of Delights
Run by an odd shop keepers named Votrin this shop hosts an odd collection of items each designed for ‘pleasure’ Strange pantaloons, slippers, pillows, collars, stuffed animals, rocks, oils, potions, ‘herbal supplements’, unguents, whips, paddles, and outfits can be found amongst the disorganized shelves and tables. Votrin will claim that it is all magically imbued ‘for your pleasure’ when trying to upsell. He is also way too inquisitive about people’s ‘in most desires’.
Squid's Tattoo Parlor
Run by a heavily tattooed and bearded ex-sailor known only by his nickname of ‘Squid’ this is the premiere tattoo parlor in the canton. Squid was captured by the Inked Mages when a boy and has many stories to tell of the Sea of Wrecks. Prices for the tattoos run from 1 to 20gp depending on the style and colors. Examples of his work can be found on the walls.
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