Freeport Docks

Locals call the Docks the Door to Freeport because its the easiest place to moor ships. From the pre-dawn light ill after sundown, this is one of the busiest parts of the city. Half of the Docks are the wharves that stretch out into the harbor to accommodate the deeper water vessels. The wooden walks connect to a boardwalk that runs across the entire district, extending from the Warehouse District to Scurvytown . You can find just about anything you'll ever need here, as clever merchants like to get the jump on their customers before letting them move deeper into the city. The rest of the district caters to Freeport's particular breed of clientele: seamen. Pubs, flophouses, taverns, gambling dens and bordellos offer countless diversion in which to sink a sailor's pay. Crime is a constant problem, as brawls spill into the narrow streets, pickpockets and cutpurses worm through the crowds and bravos and tough lurk in the shadowy alleys waiting for the perfect mark to stroll by. Murders happen, not as often as some claim, but a body appears in the harbor often enough for people to think little of it. The Warehouse District  and Scurvytown offer places of port, but most ships dock here. Along the crowded wharves, one can find ships hailing from all over the world, bringing unusual peoples, customs, goods, and animals to this city of adventure. It is here that orc pirates rub shoulders with elven corsairs. Human sailors brawl with those of rival nations, while exotic peoples from as far away as Chi-Cshura stare in wonder at travelers from legendary Sinia.
A number of shops, pubs, and brothels that cater to travelers face the wharves. From the moment a visitor disembarks from the ship, locals assail him with ways to spend his money. Many people are flat broke within minutes of arriving. Behind these initial establishments are more taverns, brothels, apothecaries, and other businesses that cater to sailors. Flophouses are common, offering low-rent accommodations for those who aren’t too choosy about where they sleep. Although most buildings in the Docks are for entertainment or retail, there are some residences. Homes cluster together and form small communities bound by ethnicity. Most folks, though, reside in apartments above their shops, retreating there at the end of a trying business day.
Structures in the Docks are wooden atop stone foundations. Some incorporate stone—mostly near the shore, but even these are few and far between since the material is expensive and rare on the islands. Nearly all the buildings in the Docks have some form of damage or another, incurred by the frequent storms that lash the island. The buildings fronting the wharves form a row all across the district. There are a few wide avenues heading off to adjacent districts, including one crowded road that travels through the Seaside Market. Most streets, though, are narrow alleys that wind into the darkest depths of the district or to nowhere at all. These labyrinthine paths may lead to ambushes, dangerous pubs, or bizarre shops that sell suspect or illicit goods.
As one would expect, the Docks are active. The district is empty in the morning after crews depart for their next destination, only to fill again with another round of vessels in the afternoon. While few ships come to port after the sun has set, the night is filled with raucous laughter, screams, and carousing.

Type

District

Location under

Freeport

Included Locations

• Bliss
• Eddies
• Kergan's Cradle
• Longshoremen’s Union Headquaters
• Rose Alley
• Seaside Market
• The Bilge Rat
• The Black Gull
• The Broken Mug
• The Cracked Pot
• The Dented Helm
• The Diving Fin
• The Doxies' Lap
• The Freeport Times
• The Freeport's Pirate Museum
• The Hidden Hide
• The Honey Pot
• The Lost Lass
• The One Ring
• The Rusty Hook
• The Society of Lobstermen Headquaters
• The Star Of The Sea
• Urian's Forge

Characters in Location

• Driskoll Layton
• Janis Hawthorne
• Kaddaceous Serlin
• Xach of Freeport

Related Reports (Secondary)

• Something's Strange in Freeport Conclusion Report
• Who is Cross Eyed Jack, Part I