Crosstreams

Avlis Countries: Atlas | Blandenberg Protectorate | Brekon | Deglos | Drotid | Dubunat | Ferrell | Galdos | Jechran | Khanjar Kuro | Kurathene | M'Chek | The Seven Cities | T'Nanshi | Toran Shaarda | Tyedu | Underdark | Wastelands

Avlis Cities: Andarr | Brekon | Bullwark | Crosstreams | Dormiria | Elysia (city state) | Grantir (city state)| Kitanya Hill | Kuras | Le'Or T'Nanshi | Malekia | Mikona | Myleah | Qwanderal | Qwandovia | Red Gate | Sharis | Stalwart | Toostan | Verloghokbol | Visimontium (city state)

Seven Cities: Andarr | Bullwark | Crosstreams | Dormiria | Malekia | Red Gate | Stalwart

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Crosstreams
Other Names:	Center of the World
Society:
Nation/Territorial Area:	The Seven Cities
Population:	2,678,300
Languages:	Common, Romini, Elven
Deities Worshipped:	The Nine, and other minor deities
General Alignment:	Lawful Neutral (Good)
Head of City Government:	High Commander Regina Terlan
Races:
20% Human, 20% Dwarf, 10% Orc, 10% Elf, 40% Other

Map of Crosstreams

Map of the Seven Cities

As it flows from east to west, the Divalok River splits, with one portion forming the Blackwater River and continuing off towards the city of Andarr and the ocean beyond. The other portion which retains the river's name flows southwest towards another city called Malekia. Crosstreams sits right on top of that split, and is the largest city on the continent of Negaria.

While the cities of Andarr and Red Gate act as hubs coming in and out of the the Seven Cities, the city of Crosstreams acts as the hub within the region, and by default a center of commerce in the wider western part of the continent. This central location makes it a cosmopolitan and openminded haven of ideas which give rise to many centers of learning, music, and art within the city walls.

History

Early Settlement

In in the early 400's A.O.D, a young Kurathene knight named Sir Jayden Mourden purchased a tract of land in the southern area of The Kurathene Empire as part of the Empire's efforts to populate it against invasion. The Mourden family acquired influence over the next two centuries, eventually acquiring their own charter, establishing the County of Crossing Streams in 643 O.D. The city of Crosstreams became the provincial capital a year later, named for its location on a spot where three waterways intersect.

The volume of trade between Crosstreams and the Charter Cities increased exponentially over the next several centuries. Much of it flowed in the form of raw materials and manufactured goods. These goods were then shipped out into the wider world through Andarr to the west and Red Gate to the east, creating an economic hub in Crosstreams that accounted for nearly a quarter of the Empire’s total trade by the 12th century.

Because of their relaxed immigration policy, the Charter Cities like Crosstreams began to attract settlers from all across the continent in search of wealth. As these new citizens assimilated with the existing population, the Crosstreams began to incorporate a variety of foreign customs ranging from religion, language to art. With emphasis on different trades and types of immigrants, Crosstreams began to form its own cultural identities distinct from the The Kurathene Empire.

Independence

The gradual drift away from The Kurathene Empire came to a head in the 1300's A.O.D. As the original human population of Crosstreams was now a minority within the realm, and many of the recent immigrants began to question the need to pay taxes and tithes to the Imperial Crown. This agitation was particularly strong in Crosstreams which had long since shed the vestiges of Imperial nobility in favor of a merchant led oligarchy.

Crosstreams and the other Charter Cities had established a Provincial Council in the 12th century, and had begun to take many of the functions of government from the traditional estates. With the outbreak of war with Dubunat in 1320, the Council elected to form the Charter Militia Legion, an army independent of the Imperial Army detachments. Over the next two decades, the Council expanded its privileges as the Imperial government became increasingly bogged down in the war in Dubunat.

When the war with Dubunat ended in 1360 with the The Kurathene Empire’s defeat, the Provincial Council led by Governor Sir Michael Hawke of Crosstreams took the first steps toward independence. In 1362 he and the Council signed an oath affirming their commitment to the independence of the Charter Cities. Later in the same year, the individual estates of each city ratified the call for independence.

On New Year’s Day in 1363 the Provincial Council of the Charter Cities, with Governor Hawke in the lead presented their declaration of secession to the Imperial Army garrison commander, Legate Warren Hale. Rather than risk bloodshed, Hale accepted the declaration and departed with his garrison for Brescant. When word of the declaration reached the ears of Joral Kuras, he paused, nodded his head and was the first leader to acknowledge the independence of the city-states which included Crosstreams.

With independence, the Provincial Council quickly found itself superseded by local interests. The city of Conselia was the first to secede from the alliance as it renamed itself Malekia. It was quickly followed by Dormiria, Red Gate and Stallwart, who sought to avoid paying the costs associated with maintaining the army. With the obligations to the central council removed, the cities quickly started to squabble with one another, leading to an escalating round of trade barriers and skirmishes over territory lines.

The nations of Dubunat and Brekon found the squabbling city-states in the Divalok Delta to be an attractive prize. Over the next century and a half, both nations sent expeditions to annex one or more of the cities, which were driven off repeatedly by a coalition of militias from Crosstreams, Bullwark and Andarr. After a particularly large invasion attempt in 1518 by Dubunat, the Lord Governor Curtis Allendale of Andarr proposed that the seven city-states form a confederation as a common bulwark against their enemies, and to mediate disputes between the cities. Six months of tense negotiations later the final Confederate Charter was ratified by all seven cities.

With their security assured by their shared commitment to defense, The Seven Cities steadily gained influence and wealth. The death of Joral Kuras in 1815 and the subsequent collapse of the Second Imperium helped fuel this growth. By the end of the Age of Strife in the 22nd century, The Seven Cities Confederation had become the center of civilization and culture on Negaria, the envy of all civilized nations.

The prosperity of The Seven Cities led to the flowering of egalitarian values, particularly within Crosstreams. Though the wealthy mercantile families had steadily entrenched themselves as new nobility, there was a gradual move toward creating greater political opportunities for the common class. The governors of Crosstreams and Dormiria became positions chosen by popular vote, while the Confederate Estates-General was diversified with the addition of a third estate made of tax-paying citizens, with the franchise opened to all citizens of the Confederation.

The Seven Cities Confederation

Unfortunately, unity among the chartered cities did not last. Their squabbling degenerated into skirmishes and the council broke up into completely independent city-states, each responsible for its own defense and well-being. The nation of Dubunat to the south took advantage of this disunity in 1518 and invaded Bullwark and the rest of the cities, nearly conquering the entire realm, but were beaten back once the cities realized they must unite and work together. Later that year, Lord Governor Curtis Allendale of Andarr proposed a confederation of the seven cities for mutual defense and trade. Within six months the treaty was ratified and the The Seven Cities Confederation was born.

The presence of the confederation was a stabilizing force in the region that nearly halted war between Dubunat and the remnants of the Empire to the north. Trade flourished as well as the population and its diversity.

Districts

Crosstreams is laid out in three major sections connected by bridges. The city is shaped like a "V" laid on its side with the point of the "V" pointing east. The splitting river creates the "V" and city buildings are located either north of the river, on the middle part of the "V", or to the south of the river.

Northern Residences

This district comprises most of the area within the city walls that is north of the river. Row upon row of apartment buildings and individual tenancies form meandering streets up and down the main causeways of the district that move south toward the river. All manner of homes blot the streets, with the most expensive ones located more to the western end of the city and the poorer slums located more to the east. Wasteland Row and Crullath Crest number among the more notorious neighborhoods on the eastern side, characterized by high gang activity and the open operation of many illicit activities. Toward the opposite side of the city are higher-priced neighborhoods, such as West Divalok and Fairy Heights. Between these extreme ends of the city, there are a large number of middle-class dwellings, both owned and rented, that are popular with local traders and merchants.

Though residences make up the majority of buildings in this district, there are a number of taverns and Inns to service the local population. Most of the inns are located near the northern gates, with taverns dispersed throughout the north side of the river. On some streets, there are shrines to minor gods with small followings in the city as well as shrines to some of the evil Greater Gods like Aarilax and Maleki.

Capitol District

At the point where the river splits lie the main buildings of government that make up the Capitol District. The Hawke Building looms over the water to impress travelers on the water passing by the capitol, and this structure houses the main operations of The Seven Cities Confederation and the current government of Crosstreams. Other buildings within the district fan out from the Hawke Building and act as offices and places of meeting for diplomats, traders, regulators, and other government officials. Though no one lives in this district other than the High Commander of The Confederation, the quality, height, and majesty of the buildings within this district surpass all others in the city.

Though not plentiful, there are various businesses that function in this district to service government officials and diplomats during the day time. These include extremely opulent restaurants, high-class gaming parlors, and purportedly an underground arena or two for high-stakes games.

Temple District

As one of the most diverse Temple Districts in any city of Negaria, nearly every god in the pantheon of Avlis has some center of worship in this part of the city. For most of The Nine, there are temples ranging in size from medium-sized complexes to large cathedrals. Several minor gods also have large temples in this district, including The'ton, Hurine, The Harpinger, Evrak, Ingoren and Angadar.

This district is directly west of the Capitol District and borders on the Parks District to its opposite side. Being sandwiched between these two districts makes it a high-traffic area for politicians and diplomats to move to and from their business and pleasures so they can mingle with the religious leaders en route. Though the Temple District is nearly devoid of eating and drinking establishments, there are a smattering of supporting businesses there that craft items for use in the temples, as well as a few that source the unsightly sacrificial accouterments.

Theater District

Directly south of the Temple District is the center of high-class entertainment for the population of Crosstreams, the Theater District. The area is dotted with playhouses large and small and larger buildings that house full operas and fully-produced live epics. Unlike the Capitol District which closes at night, the Theater District is nocturnal and comes alive when the sun sets. Well-lit streets make traveling through the district easy while street vendors and performers attempt to distract the show attendees from their planned activities. For the many festivals that occur throughout the year in Crosstreams, the Theater district is the most-preferred location for the richer population to attend festivities.

During the day, the district is well-guarded to prevent disruption of the buildings preparing for their evening shows. The city guard regularly patrols the streets and accosts any suspicious persons walking there during the wrong times.

Parks District

The beautiful Parks District contains a series of highly-curated botanical gardens located in strategic areas to receive just the right type of light and drainage. During their construction, soils from around Negaria were carted down the river to create specific top-soil layers to create perfect imitations of the different biomes found around the central portion of the continent on a similar latitude with Crosstreams. The Elven Gardens mimic the lush tree growth of T'Nanshi, while other areas of the district mimic the foliage of the jungles of Jechran and Drotid. Occasionally, there are signs of various fairy groups trying to make their residence among these gardens, as well as gatherings of worshipers from the various deities known to be closer to nature, such as Verossa, Pelar, Dru'El, and Balgar.

Estates District

If there was a contest for richest district in the largest city on Negaria, the Estates District would win far ahead of the nearest challenger. Some of the most opulent houses known to exist on the continent are sprinkled throughout this part of the city, most of which belong to the wealthiest merchants and politicians. Many of the estates have multiple structures on a single property for housing large families along with security forces and servants. This naturally makes the district a prime target for the more nefarious gangs and mobs who are locked in a constant struggle against the city guard and individual house guards. The largest chunks chunks of these conflicts occur at night, however. During the day, the Estates District is serene and peaceful most of the time while the politicians and merchants ply their trades elsewhere and the servants remain back with the security forces to maintain the properties.

Northern Docks

The secondary trade hub of Crosstreams is the Northern Docks. Barges from upriver and downriver converge here to offload goods for a relatively quick trip to the Market District to the southeast. As a place of shipping and trade, there are some rough neighborhoods within this district that cater to rivermen and sailors on their way to the ocean. These establishments are contained and separated by walls and fences from the richer districts to the south where the rough company is not appreciated. This creates tension between the poorer laborer class of the Northern Docks and the richer Parks and Estates Districts.

Merchant Residence

While this district was named for the middle-class merchants who first settled it, the name has become somewhat misleading in recent times. A large number of middle class residents from other professions live there now mixed in with the merchants who remain. These include former adventurers, successful ex-soldiers, retired mercenaries, high-ranking town guardsmen, and low-ranking nobility. That combination has given the area a reputation of being safe compared to most of the other city residential areas. Few of the lower denizens of Crosstreams society are willing to risk causing trouble there, though some still do.

The Docks

It is thought that this district is the largest non-ocean port in all of Negaria. When taken together with the nearby Shipwright District, it even rivals the size of some ocean ports in cities like Andarr and Mikona. Within the city walls of Crosstreams, the Docks district is perfectly positioned near the fork in the river, just above the Market District intersecting the main north-south thoroughfare of the city. Together, the Docks and Market Districts mark the center of life in Crosstreams and the rough geographical center of The Seven Cities. Within this district, there is also a healthy supporting infrastructure that caters to the river sailors and traders with accommodations ranging from rat-infested holes to establishments of fine quality.

Market District

Every manner of good from places near and far appears within the market stalls of the Crosstreams Market District. Since it is perfectly positioned along the north-south causeway of the city and all The Seven Cities as well as the east-west crossing of the Divalok River, the Market has acted as the central point of commerce for most of Negaria. Traders and merchants of every race and persuasion bustle about this district during the day, while at night the more elicit trades take place among closed stalls. Pickpockets are notorious in these parts for most of the lower-rungs of the thieving guilds make their basic living this way, and the city guard tries its best to stamp them out.

Religion

Some say that entering Crosstreams is like entering another reality, for the pace of life has a whole other purpose alien to the outside world. Traders abound here, conducting both pleasure and business. They attend the theaters and pubs that are plentiful within most city districts to exchange news and the latest gossip. Both freelancing bards and the followers of The Harpinger, who has his largest temple here, are freely encouraged to make their living entertaining the travelers and residents as they mix together. In Crosstreams, there's a festival almost every week, depicting some event that happened in the past, or commemorating one of the gods. Though the population is made up of all the major races, and most of the minor ones, tolerance is dominant as a social attitude, and religious expression is appreciated.

For times when religions just can't help but conflict, Crosstreams possesses one of the most skillful city guard units in the world, and though the people question everything here, for the most part they are happy with the government and nobles of the city.