Gateway is a free trade city located at the mouth of the Oganz River where it empties into Butchers Bay. Due to it's central location to the three major kingdoms Humans, Dwarves, and Elves, Gateway was originally a neutral trading and meeting place. 

Over time, merchants and settlers decided to stay year round. Eventually, the small outpost started to resemble a village. This lead to the founders deciding to announce their independence and the desire to be self governed. 

The creation of the free city of Gateway was agreed on by the three kings of the major kingdoms, mostly because none of them had any claim to the neutral ground without starting a war. 

Many decades later, Gateway has become a thriving community and an economic powerhouse with a robust population of all races and religions. 

No kingdom may claim rule and no citizen can rise above merchant status. Nobility and lord/ladyship has been outlawed to the extent that within Gateway's borders, visiting nobility is considered no higher than that of a common merchant.

Gateway is made up of seven districts - Docks, Poor Quarter, Law district, Merchants Way, Religious District, Market Square, and the City Gates. 

Taxes are collected at the Docks for goods entering the city via ship, and for storage at the many city owned warehouses along dock street. Goods entering the city through one of the three city gates are also taxed. 

In addition to income generated by taxing goods coming into the city, Gateway also generates revenue by charging rent to the various shop keepers, and merchants. In lieu of being taxed for their goods or services they pay rent to the city for using the space where they perform their service.

All buildings and land inside of the city walls are owned by the city. If you reside and/or do business inside the city walls then you must rent the space. 

Rentals can be daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. The yearly rental is usually reserved for established businesses. Outside of the city walls, individuals may own land and conduct business tax free. 

Taxes and rent are kept quite reasonable as Gateway wishes to encourage trade and commerce to pass through the city. 

The city offers a buyback program to any landholder to purchase their land at a fair market price. The land is typically then resold and any profits from the sale are added to the city coffers. 

The city does own a fair amount of land, most of which is the immediate vicinity of the city walls. This extends out roughly a quarter of a mile in all directions. 

Gateway is ruled by an elected Governor. The current Governor is Johnu Seaward, a well respected Paladin of Arom. 

Governor Seaward has a talent granted by his god to hear the truth when a lie is spoken. This ability is not precise in a sense that it is black and white, but it gives Governor Seaward a sense of truthfulness in a speaker. 

The Governor works directly with The Council to oversee the day to day duties of running the city. 

The governor makes a modest salary that is taken out of the city coffers. 

The Council is a group of elected citizens that work with Governor Seaward to assist with administrative duties for the city of Gateway.The Council works for and represents the people of Gateway. 

There is no limit to how many council members can have a seat on the council. Any religion, race, class, group etc. can nominate an individual to represent their interests on the council. 

Once nominated the nominee is responsible for gathering enough support from their peers to trigger a vote by the council. 

There is not an exact amount of support required to be considered for a council seat, Governor Seaward will determine how much support is sufficient based on all the circumstances surrounding the nomination and the vested interests of the current council members, including any overlapping interests that may already be present among the sitting council members. 

A simple majority vote is required to pass the council vote and then it goes to Governor Seaward for final approval.

The council members make a small salary that is taken out of the city coffers. 

Most council members have other professions and only supplement there income with their Council member salaries. The real rewards are getting their agendas pushed through with the support of your peers. 

The City Watch are the day to day peace keepers inside the city proper. They are responsible for patrolling the streets within the city walls. Their jurisdiction ends once outside the walls with few exceptions, including but not limited to, active investigations or to apprehend a suspect that has fled the city.  

The City Watch is commanded by the Watch Captain, each district is overseen by a Lieutenant. The Lieutenants report to the Watch Captain and the Watch Captain reports to the City Council.

The Watch mainly consists of retired soldiers or common citizens that make it through three months of on-the-job training. They make a decent wage that is paid from the city coffers and can live quite comfortably if frugal with their coins. 

The city watch is sometimes referred to as "The Second". This is a derogatory terms used to reference their inferior training when compared to the City Guard. 

The City Guard, these are the elite trained soldiers that patrol the perimeter of Gateway, outside of the city walls and at the gates leading into Gateway. 

The City Guard is tasked with patrolling the routes into and out of the city and the surrounding lands and to protect the city from outside threats and attacks. 

The City Guard is commanded by the Captain of the Guard and patrols are led by a Lieutenant that reports to the Captain of the Guard. The Captain of the Guard reports to the Governor. 

On occasion, the City Guard can be called in to support the Watch in cases of severe unrest inside the city walls, to transport a dangerous criminal, or any other circumstance the Governor sees fit to require reinforcements. 

The City Guard is sometimes referred to as "Turds". This is a derogatory terms referring to their brown uniforms.

The City Guards make excellent pay and can retire at a relatively young age if they survive and are thrifty in their spending.

The black market

The undersewer