Double Cross




Double Cross
Double Cross is a frontier town, a coastal island in the Sea of Geraint, roughly halfway between the Humanoid metropolis of Highport and Zol Cavar, City of Sorcerers.  To the east, The Pirate Isles, to the West the trackless swamps of The Sinking Lands.
In recent times Double Cross has thrived under the leadership of the charismatic Mayor Savage, Savage is entrepreneurial gnome who has transformed a few fishing villages into the bustling frontier town.
Double Cross is a trading centre.  The Brethren trade, refit and parley here, (Pirates of the Isles refer to themselves as the Brethren and follow ‘the code’).  Rare spell components from the Sinking Lands are purchased by Zol Cavar (particularly the black powder found in the lava pits).  A myriad of watering holes and gaming houses cater to the passing trade. 
Double Cross has a number of mainstream operations; trade, entertainment, a Bank and now a Gold Mine, all presided over by Mayor Savage. 
The population ebbs and flows, around 5000 souls from every corner of the map live in the area.
The climate is tropical, summer monsoons, and deadly typhoons on the coast, droughts and heatwaves characterise the interior climate.
Law and order, more a suggestion than hard rule, the society feudal in nature, mayor Savage keeps the peace through the Redshirt Guard.  The most frequent disorder usually fighting between Brethren crews, which is generally left for the crews to sort out.  If locals and/or their property are hurt damaged the interlopers are punished with fines and time in the local prison, the Sandy Point Sanatorium.  More severe crimes punished by the drop, the guilty hung from the bridge and left for the crows and stirges as example.
Double Cross has a growing reputation as not only a neutral zone but also a city of sin, most indulgences can be satisfied.    
Inside Double Cross
The Town Square (and surrounds).


West Town is the bustling dock front centre of commerce in Double Cross.  Most traders set up shop here.
Points of interest, merchants and shops:
Dr. Yar Gnolls Imaginarium - The shop is shunned by the town folk, a strange and unnerving trader.  Potions can be purchased here.  The shop is often shut.  Barking can be heard inside.

Bingo, Bango and Bongo, Blacksmith’s and Iron Mongers Extraordinaire (NPC adventurers retired)
Cantrip, Components and Cartography, a busy shop run by Rohit.
The Flashing Cutlass - Weaponsmith
The Rum Factory – Dexter is the boss.  Open 24/7, The Rum Factory produces more barrels of rum than any other distillery known.  
The Fortress – The Bank of Double Cross, impressive security houses some very, very dangerous peoples loot.
Arrows by Elvis the Elf, thank you very much.
The Halfling Habberdashery
Bed Knobs and Broomsticks Ironmongers
Hawkers - Greasy Gristles for Goblin’ (dirty kebabs), Greggs Pies, The Nature Box (Vegan Hippies)
The Printing Press and Offices of the News Paper, The Islander.  Newspapers & Pamphlets printed and available for purchase at the Islander.
·        “Make friends and influence people” a charisma enhancing correspondence course by Captain Ash
·        Fighting Undead 121 with Captain Ash
·        A map of Double Cross   
Sven Svenson’s Rare and Exotica – Sven trades in the ‘rare’, animal pelts, gems, maps and other things.  He has links with the Sorcerers of Zol Cavar
Around Double-Cross
Other Drinking Holes, The Solstice, The Serpent, The Wicked Leaf, The Merrow, Trancios Treaure and Trancios Last Rest
The Rose in June – The number one entertainment complex on the island.  A multi-story building featuring the best in pleasure and luxury the island can offer.  Gambling, carousing, drinking, dancing, fighting and fucking you can find it all here, for a price.  The town guard double as security on big nights (when rival crews are in town).  Phil AKA Mayor Savage is very proud of the amphitheatre his newest venture, it’s rumoured he’s been advertising for champions in Highport.
Mayor Phil’s Tower is the biggest erection on the island. Phil’s Store house & armoury is reasonably well stocked.  
The Buccaneer – The Landlady and her horde of children are like family.  They borrow your stuff, never knock when they enter your rooms etc… The food is good, the ale decent and the lock ins are fun.
The Shades – seedy pub where oil of the poppy, dust, pipe weed, and poisons are sold, members of ‘the’ Guild are rumoured to meet here.
Old Rays Farm – Splendidly appointed farm with livestock and a very nice stirge free orchard.  Charlie the Bugbear lives with Ray and his grannie.

Sandy Point Sanatorium – the ruined light house now serves as the town jail.  Vincent the Sentinel guards by day, Old Dick by night.
The Boatyard (repairs and sails)
The Bridge and Barbican, Derek & Clive Guard the town gate during the day.  The Drawbridge and portcullis are closed at night.
The Captains Table is the finest restaurant on the east coast, it is run by Raygnome Blanc


Mayor Savage


















The Hurricane Church

The wreck of a large warship dominates Eastoke corner.  Situated rocky cove, the large warship is surrounded by worn rocks making a natural theatre. 
Legend has it the first settlers of Double Cross were the crew of the Hurricane.  The Hurricane was the infamous Pirate King Trancios’ flagship. 
Washed ashore during a tempest, the Hurricane now serves as a holy site to all cults of the Tempest and Storms.  



There is no standing priesthood, but there are many visitors from various Storm Cults, the region has many, most Brethren follow one of Storm cults. 
The Hurricane Church can be the busiest or quietest place on the Island, visiting clergy of fame draw large crowds (much like a rock concert), particularly at times of religious significance.

Double Cross Population
Double Cross is a cosmopolitan melting pot.  All races mix in the bustling frontier colony.  A bugbear tribe settled in Double Cross 50 years ago and are active in the town military. Whilst humans are the major influence and many Gnomes are active in its administration.  Halflings, Dwarves, Elves, Goblins and even a Gnoll wizard have settled on the Island.


Outside Double-Cross
Crossbones Graveyard – Sailors loved to be buried on dry land.  This cemetery caters to that.  The Sexton is a strange and creepy fellow.  He has reliquaries and rumour has it a few potions for sale.
The Hoof & Hound (located on the mainland) – Wently Balker trades horses, mules, hounds and other livestock.
The Gold Mine is a hard day’s fast travel into the winding stair mountains.  Captain Ash presides over the project and spends much time there.


The Shallows
Treacherous reefs, sand banks, sifting tides and rip tides all feature in the Shallows.  Fishermen, sailors and pirates alike shun the area.


The Sinking Lands
Goblin tribes’ nest in the wetlands around Lake Sina, followers of the Snake Cult the goblins worship the giant constrictors in hellish moonlight rituals.  Further to the west lies the White Plume Mountain in a cursed land of lava pits, scorched rocky desert, that is shrouded in stinking ash clouds.  Legend has it that meddling sorcerers of Zol Cavar split the very world apart creating the barren wastes and the stinking swamps of the Sinking Lands.



Double Cross Military
The Redshirts are the town guards.  Double Cross has 80 fulltime guards, although 20 (including the Captain of the guard) are based at the gold mine in the winding stair mountains.  Watches maintain a permanent presence at the docks, the Fortress and the Barbican.  The Redshirts come from far and wide, many have been pirates.  Their name is derived from the distinctive red clothing they wear, whether it’s their armour, coat, a bandana, sash or shirt, the Red Shirts are obvious swaggering around the town. 

Double Cross Redshirts

The Bugbear Guard. 
Double Crosses elite force, the Bugbear Guard numbers 20.  The guard recruits almost exclusively from the tribe settled on the island.  The BUGBEAR Guard is a potent force. Organised in the usual way for Bugbear kind the war band is led by its fiercest member Big Colin and his son Little Colin.

Dependable, the Town is their home and they thrive because of it, the tribe settled in Double Cross decades ago, after being saved by the Ranger Brown Eye.

Bugbears believe that when they die, their spirits have a chance to fight at Hruggek's side. They try to prove themselves worthy by defeating as many foes as possible.

Venal Ambushers. Despite their intimidating builds, bugbears move with surprising stealth. The Guard favours setting ambushes catching many a trouble maker and thief by surprise.
Big Colin



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