Cross
The town of Cross is a fairly quiet fishing town on the banks of Lake Moultrie. The wealth of the lake is often found in Cross, which has also developed its own farming industry around it to supplement the harvest of the waters. Although trade caravans and travelers on their way to Moultrie often stop briefly in Cross, very rarely do they seek to trade, as the community is fairly insular and less willing to deal with outsiders.
Government
All of the mayors of Cross are elected, typically upon the death of the previous mayor. The position is traditionally held by some of the wealthiest people in town, typically belonging to families that have resided in Cross for centuries. Each mayor oversees affairs in town directly with an administrative bureaucracy carrying from one leader to the next. Law and legal matters are managed by the Sheriff of Cross, who is elected every ten years into the office from the ranks of the local guards and judges.
Defences
The wall of Cross is in poor condition, and has been only barely maintained over the past hundred years. Flooding and erosion from Lake Moultrie caused the local castle to collapse partially into the lake, and it was abandoned by the town guard. The walls themselves are in constant need of repair and maitenance, and funding for the guard often takes every copper coin needed to keep it intact. There are one hundred and twenty full time guards in the city who act as the main law enforcers and protectors of the community, but a militia of nearly one thousand people could be mustered if the town was at direct risk of attack by Mersans or Populresi.
Industry & Trade
The fishing industry is the primary trade in Cross, relying on the harvests that come from Lakes Moultrie and Mary. Most of the local industry is designed to support the fishing that takes place here, and they often have to compete with the fishing fleets based in much larger Moultrie. Outside of the fishing, the rest of the populace makes their living from local farmsteads and plantations which primarily grow cotton and tobacco for sale elsewhere in the kingdom. There are some local weavers and tailors who make the cotton harvested here into clothing for local demand and demand in Moultrie.
Infrastructure
The town of Cross has seen many difficult and harsh years as of late, and occasional seasonal flooding often prevents the development of sewers for waste disposal. Previous efforts have been since abandoned, although the remains of the local sewage system are said to still exist, often flooded by the lake. Similarly, the roads and lanterns in Cross are in poor condition, with exception of those in wealthier neighborhoods. The fishing docks are kept well maintained, both by the local government and businesses interested in their preservation.
Assets
The marketplace of Cross is small and caters exclusively to the local population. Traders coming from the Long Road are typically heavily taxed on the sales they make within in the market, so they choose to continue on to Moultrie instead. The handful of items sold in the market are mostly geared towards citizens, and rarely can an outsider or adventurer come to Cross and find anything to peak their interest. The town does have two inns for the occasional travelers, but merchant caravans are encouraged to stay outside of the walls.
Guilds and Factions
There are two factions that compete for primary influence over the sheriffs and mayors who pass through the history of Cross. The first of these call themselves the Originals, consisting of the oldest families of Cross, some of whom claim their ancestry all the way back to the town's founding. They are the most isolationist of people, and argue for the town to keep high taxes on nonresidents and those who attempt to sell their goods in the market. They are also opposed to nonhuman residents, particularly snallygasters and dwarves, both of which are mistrusted in Cross, and often quickly sent along their way.
The second faction are the kingdom loyalists. They are those who predominantly support the sheriff and the reign of law and order. The Sheriff, a half-elf immigrant named Leonard Connor, has settled down into the community and retains very close ties with other members of the Assembly of Sheriffs. He has spoken out for the working classes of Recfrere, calling for the town mayors and leadership to abandon the isolationism of the past in favor of working more closely with surrounding communities.
Founding Date
137 AF
Type
Town
Population
10,900
Related Ethnicities
Inhabitant Demonym
Crossite
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments