Meet the Townsfolk

Most of the following types of NPCs can be found in towns. Smaller outpost towns will usually be inhabited by a less diverse variety of non-player characters—a merchant, a Xunlai storage agent, one or two quest-givers or storyline figures—while the larger hub towns (which are distinguished by a larger icon on the map) usually have a larger and more varied population. Mission towns—signified on the map by the large shield icon—are geographically large, but like outposts they have a limited variety of NPCs. http://www.guildwars.com/gameplay/exploring/townlandscape/