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House Rules Skill Specializations New Feats Prestiege Classes The World Gods of Freeport Freeport Technology |
Overview of FreeportDistricts See the Player's Map of Freeport. The Docks: This area includes the majority of the city's waterfront. It is one of the roughest parts of town, largely filled with taverns and inns with such apt names as The Broken Mug and The Rusty Hook. It is also home to the Seaside Market (an open-air bazaar) and the Shipping News (the town newspaper). Drac's End: This area was once jungle, cleared for more living space. Expansion ended prematurely, and the area remains the poorest in town--but one of the most honest. It is also home to the Freeport Institute, the city's only school. The Eastern District: This is the home of Freeport's middle class--those who have escaped Drac's End or Scurvytown but haven’t yet achieved the luxury of the Merchant District. The Merchant District: The wealthiest people in Freeport live here, in large townhouses, on well-maintained, paved streets. The top address here is Wave Avenue, which runs the length of the district. Businesses here include the finest in dining and entertainment, and the merchants' and jewelers' guildhouses. The Old City: The original city wall still stands, pierced by five strong gates. The neighborhood is a bit shabby in places, but the seat of power is still here: the Sea Lord's Palace, the Fortress of Justice (courts and jails), and the Wizards' Guild. Scurvytown: The "Freebooters' Quarter" is the meanest part of town, filled with flophouses, weapon shops, and the lowest sort of taverns. "Bad neighbor" businesses, such as tanneries and the town dump, are located here. Crime is rampant, and the Sea Lord's Guard only attempts to curb the worst excesses. The Temple District: Freeport has no official religion, but the pirate god Harrimast has more worshippers here than any other place in the world. The other favorite gods are Nasht (knowledge), Nodens (the sea), and N'tse-Kaambl (warriors), but this district also holds many smaller temples to serve the city's diverse population. (See Gods of the Dreamlands for more information.) The Warehouse District: Unlike the Docks and Scurvytown, this part of the waterfront is well guarded and maintained, for it serves to store and move the goods of the adjacent Merchant District's residents. The Municipal Auction House, Rhodes of Freeport (insurance), Office of Public Records, and Pilot's Guild are located here as well. In addition, Freeport has some locations of interest just outside the city proper: The Hulks are huge prison barges, decommissioned freighters used to house the worst criminals the city produces. The Crematorium, where the city's dead are burned, is located on a rocky isle half a mile to the west. History Freeport is a port city in the island chain known as the Serpent's Teeth. The original settlement was founded centuries ago, and soon became a haven for pirates. The town thrived because of a simple pirate code: Do whatever you want on the high seas, but don’t go against your brothers in port. Pirates ruled the waves until about 200 years ago, when the mainland navies began to hunt down ship after ship. The men of Freeport needed a navy of their own, so the captains united their forces. Leadership of this Great Raid was shared between the two greatest captains, Drac and Francisco, and after its success, both declared themselves Sea Lord. (The holiday of Swagfest celebrates the Great Raid to this day.) The other maritime nations united in an attempt to crush Freeport. This war lasted for ten years, before Drac hatched a new plan: He made a bargain to betray Francisco in return for a truce and recognition of Freeport as a sovereign city-state. The city went legit. Many surviving pirate captains left rather than work with Francisco's betrayer, but others stayed and helped Drac turn Freeport into a major trading center. Rather than claiming a title and starting a dynasty, Drac chose another old sea hand, Captain Cromey, as his successor, and gave the Captains' Council the right to approve future successors. Over the next hundred years, various crises resulted in the Council gaining more power. Sea Lord Marten Drac nearly bankrupted the city. He also instituted a succession law: Future Sea Lords had to be descendants of the first Sea Lord Drac. His successor, Anton Drac, repaired much of the damage, but did not repeal the succession law. He was assassinated 11 years ago, as Freeport prepared to join in a war on the mainland. His successor, the nearly unknown Milton Drac, cancelled all military aid and spent the war chest on a monument to Freeport's maritime power: The Lighthouse of Drac, called "Milton's Folly" for its extravagant expense. Calendar & Holidays Freeport uses the standard 12-month calendar (January-December), but reckons years from the Great Raid. The current year is Freeport Year (FY) 203. [The campaign begins July 9.] Freeport has three major secular holidays (in addition to the holidays observed by each religion in town). Though the city's open support of piracy is in the past, these traditions persist as celebrations of civic pride. Swagfest commemorates the return of the fleet from the Great Raid 200 years ago. Although only one day long, most residents take the next day off to recover from the revelry. Swagfest occurs in mid-spring (around May 1), just before the hurricane season starts. Captain's Day celebrates the birthday of the original Captain Drac, near the winter solstice (late December). Raidfest started as way to bid the fleet farewell as the raiding season started. It occurs in mid-fall (around November 1), when the hurricane season is safely over. Technology See Technology in Freeport for notes on special equipment available in the city. |