Fretown
FreTown is a small backwater on the edge of civilization. It lies upon the Moon River and falls under the aegis of the Duke of Moonguard. It is a market town that serves the surrounding area and has connections via river traffic to the cities of Moonguard (upstream) and Lüneport (downstream). It also has a road connection north to Transylvania via the town of Freiburg.
A Quick Tour of the Town
FreTown is a small walled town situated on the banks of the moon river. Being so close to the chaos zones to the north, the presence of chaos is unavoidable in the town and indeed the state religion of Selene is a chaos cult but members of chaos races such as broo and scorpion men will not be admitted to the town.
The walls protect the town against raiding trolls from the south and encroachment from the nastier types of chaos to the north.They are patrolled by the city milita led by a cadre of elite Mithrate soldiers.
Huddled against the walls a permanent gypsy encampmant has sprung up, to the displeasure of many of the law-abiding townsfolk. The gypsies have added some colour to the town's nightlife and are a common sight on the streets providing entertainment to the gawking masses.
Though small, the docks are a hive of activity during the day. The docks area contains many warehouses and merchant concerns. The inns around the docks are frequented by the river boatmen and as such are no place for a chaot to visit as the boatmen share their god's hatred of chaos.
Across the river from the town proper is a slum settlement and is best avoided by any self-respecting townsman.
Moving up the hill away from the river are many modest buildings of one and two stories. The two main streets from the docks both end at Market Square. Here are found the town's most impressive buildings - the Guildhouse of the Mercers and the Temple to Selene. Also in the town square is a statue commemorating the salvation of the town from the Beast and is the centre of the annual festivities on Bonfire Beast Day.
Other buildings of note in the town are the Luciferan Temple, the Mithrate Barracks, Mustrum's Tower, the End of the Road Inn and Mad Hettie's Patent Tonic Shop and Tea Room.
Law and Disorder in FreTown
Fretown is policed by town milita under the command of an initiate of Rhadamanthus, currently Fiscal Mackenzie. Rhadamanthite law is not so strictly applied here as elsewhere in the world. By ancient privilege, citizen's of FreTown have all sentences passed upon them by the circuit judge moderated by a town official known as the Moderator. In general, this means that they will be subject to less severe penalties than they might expect in say Heliopolis. It also means that some crimes may go completely unpunished - such as revelling in chaos. Note that only citizen's are subject to moderation - visitors to town must face the full force of the Rhadamanthite justice should they break any law.
An outline of crime and punishment can be found in the description of the cult of Rhadamanthus.
In major cases of public disorder the FreTown Regiment may become involved. This is a body of professional soldiers employed by the town - it is not actually a full strength regiment.
This unusual legal setup is a source of some political friction between the town and the Moonguard Chancery, who would prefer the town to be subject to unadulterated Ducal Law. Pragmatism maintains the status quo for the time being.