The Gallows

The Gallows is a teardrop-shaped island some 450 miles to the southwest of Martyn’s Nest in the Crescent Sea, with an extension on the northern end that gives it the vague resemblance of a hangman’s noose. The island runs 20 miles north to south and eight miles east to west. Light pine forest dots the entire island, except for the center, where a craggy hill known as Dead Man’s Head resides. The eastern beach holds the remnants of a village and cemetery of unknown origin.
Previously known as God’s Tear Island, for many years it was an important trading port and safe haven for merchants in the midst of the Crescent Sea. Though surrounding reefs make the waters around the island perilous to navigate, the islanders learned the passages and would row out to ships arriving at the island and lead them safely to the docks.
About a hundred years ago, however, the baron at Martyn’s Nest learned that the island was the haven of a group of fierce pirates that had been terrorizing the sea lanes out of Reme. The baron mobilized a large fleet and seized the island. The islanders mysteriously vanished before he arrived. Four months later, the baron’s fleet sank or captured each and every one of the pirates’ ships. It is said that, as they looted the vacant island, the baron’s soldiers reported seeing strange shapes lurking in the shadows and hearing disturbing noises. At first, these reports were dismissed, but then soldiers began to disappear in the night. Their bodies would eventually be found with fearful expressions on their faces, but no marks on them to indicate how they had died. By the time the baron’s soldiers left the island, rumors had spread that it was haunted by the ghosts of the dead pirates. The baron’s soldiers returned to tell the tales to their families and the name of the island became known as The Gallows. To this day, the island remains uninhabited, and sailors refuse to go there, as they believe the island is cursed.

Alternative Name(s)

God’s Tear Island

Type

Island