Wood Cross

The common people are predominantly human, but other races are generally accepted (see below). The commoners admire hard work and honesty. They are a simple bunch, content to living out their life in the foothills. They are known to be rather stubborn and keep to themselves. Despite these traits, gossip is a favorite pastime for the common folk, and they especially love talking about the richer members of the town.

When the lumber business was booming in Wood Cross many people came from all over the place to work here. There were a variety of races, particularly strong, hearty races that made good lumberjacks. Now Wood Cross is mainly composed of humans, with a few outlying homesteads with different races who managed to stay or had skills not dependent on lumber. So even though humans are by far the majority, other races are accepted.

The commoners of Wood Cross value hard work, thus, hearty races are viewed better than the more fragile ones.

Humans fit in with no problem.

Dwarves are valued for their heartiness and work ethic.

Dragonborn and accepted due to their strength and size.

Halflings are considered decent folk, especially the Stout version.

Half-Elves are viewed decently enough but are considered a bit frail. Half-elves with a more human appearance would have no trouble fitting in at all.

Elves are viewed in a positive light but are considered frail and not serious enough. Although welcomed enough by most folk, they may be subject to playful teasing about their build.

Gnomes are considered a bit too frail, frivolous, and concerned with odd pursuits, but generally are viewed in a positive light.

Tieflings have a rough time gaining acceptance in the town. They are considered frail, as well as connected to otherworldly, potentially evil, powers. Most townsfolk will avoid them.

Half-orcs are not welcome here, due to the many incursions of the Akulhai orcs. However, as the town has never been directly targeted in these orc incursions, a half-orc of renown could feasibly make a good name in Wood Cross

Wood Cross was originally governed by the Vasile family. Argul Vasile (76 – 131) and his wife Latecia (Conley, 80 - 138) built a castle southeast of town on Crow Hill overlooking the confluence. Argul's parents were first generation immigrants from the Eastlands (Old World), and woodsmen by trade. Latecia's parents were second generation Westlanders (Toleshi) and rich traders from Point Royal. With the dowry they started the town in 98 YR after construction of Castle Vasile. Their firstborn, a son named Heirgly (born 98) joined the King's Army as an officer and was killed in the Battle of the Gap in 117 after a distinguished (but too short) military career. The second, a daughter named Ivonly (born 100), died of influenza at the age of 5, and the third child, Guasin (born 101) took over the family business and lived in Vasile Castle until his death in 159. Gausin's son Argulo (born 121) was killed by poison during the Guild War. His wife, Hildga and daughter (and only child) Rine, closed the castle down and left after Argulo's murder. No one knows where she went, but the Conley family is still prevalent in Point Royal, so many assume she moved there.

Upon the departure of the Vasile family, Heslo Confin (born 131), the bailey of Castle Vasile took over as mayor of Wood Cross until his death of natural causes in 181. To keep from being assassinated, Heslo formed a city council of headed by the Mayor (a lifetime appointment), with seats given to the three remaining guild houses (appointed by the guilds), an elected representative of the people (elected every spring), and a representative from the King's Army (Appointed by the King's Army garrison at River Meet). After his death Arlo Hemmer was mayor until he abrogated in 193, then Heissu Kallin took over until his death in 208, Garvin Lundly unit 218, and then the current mayor Aelphious (Alphie) Emmerson. Generally speaking, the mayor is usually the richest person in town, and the guild representatives normally run things, making the mayor a figurehead, basically. A guild member (active, or retired) is by law, not allowed to be mayor, due to conflict of interest concerns stemming from the Guild War.

Most of the inhabitants now are farmers or hunters, but the declining lumber industry still supports a good portion of the economy. Many townsfolk still operate shops in Wood Cross but sell their goods to re-sellers in River Meet or operate a storefront or stall in River Meet. Wood Cross goods (especially wood products, furniture, handles, barrels, etc) are still considered some of the best in the region.

The Society of the Axe – A lumberjack guild that allied with the River Pigs This guild is still in existence and is generally perceived as the most powerful guild in Wood Cross.

Timberman's Guild – A lumberjack guild that allied with the Log Driver's Union. This guild is closed now, many of its members were slain during the war.

Log Driver's Union – A log driver guild that allied with Timberman's Guild. This guild is still operational.

River Pigs – A log driver guild that llied with The Society of the Axe. Nearly all of the members of this guild were slain, and it was closed.

Bankmen – A dock workers union. Due to the loss of material being shipped after the Guild War, this guild closed down.

Horse and Harness – The Society of the Axe now hauls their own timber, and there was not enough material being shipped out for this guild to survive.

Wood Cross Boatmen – This guild still exists, and they largely avoided the Guild War.

The Wood Cross lumber boom (105 to 172 YR)

In its heyday Wood Cross was a bustling frontier town with lots of promise. Lumber was cut from the nearby hills to the east of town, then floated down the Isole River, to the Palsar River, and eventually to Point Royal some 150 miles to the south. Point Royal (the capitol of the empire) and the adjacent Warfton was in need of large amounts of lumber.

The Decline: Part I – A Changing Economy

The demand for lumber has been on the decline for the past 50 years or so. With Point Royal and Wharfton completely built, and only needing lumber for maintenance the demand for lumber has lessened quite a bit. Lumber towns closer to the capitol can supply the necessary lumber much cheaper than towns further north like Wood Cross. The lumber export business has slowed also, as the market becomes saturated. Towns closer to the coast can ship lumber much cheaper than towns like Wood Cross, that rely on long river trips to get the lumber to the sea. Also, the Royal Falls at Point Royal are a problem for getting lumber to the sea for towns along the Palasar River.

The Decline: Part II - The Year of Axe and Peavey (178 YR)

Even the downturn in lumber business probably wouldn't have been so bad for Wood Cross if it hadn't been for the guild wars, known as the Year of Axe and Peavey. There were seven major guilds in Wood Cross at its peak. This included two woodsmen guilds and two log driver guilds. These four guilds allied against each other (One woodsman and one log driver guild per side) and tried to eliminate the other so that they could share in a bigger piece of the shrinking pie that Wood Cross was generating. After a short, but horrifically bloody war, one guild on each side was completely gone due to attrition (murders), two other guilds folded because they relied on the closed guilds, and the remaining three guilds were mere shadows of themselves (due murders and less work because of the other guilds closing). This greed and discord eventually killed any chance Wood Cross had to surviving the economic changes. It also changed the way the townspeople thought. Many people simply left Wood Cross for one of the lumber towns along the Palasar River. Others turned away from the lumber business altogether to escape the greed and infighting and because farmers or hunters. The common person viewed this war as a rich man's fight that the poor man died in.

The Decline: Part III – Location, Location, Location

Wood Cross is on the eastern side of the Palasar River, and the King's Road is on the west bank. As the massive trees and deep forest are on the east side also, this was a great place when the lumber industry was booming, now it is a curse. Since Wood Cross in not on the King's Road, it gets very few visitors. To make matters worse, to get to the King's Road from Wood Cross you must cross the Isole River via a bridge, and the Palasar River, via a ferry. The town of River Meet (est. 93 YR) sprung up around Hierlan's (HI-er-lan) Bailey (est. 77 YR) along the King's Road near the ferry crossing, so even long-distance travelers have no need to stop in Wood Cross.