On what was once the lonely crossroads of two rarely used roads sits the village of Lady Cross, a tight community of stone houses surrounded by a high stone wall. Now a popular rest stop for travellers and merchants alike, Lady Cross is known for the heady spirits distilled in the village and sold at the local inn, The Lady’s Rest. Unknown to most, it is a different type of spirit the villagers fear—a sinister secret wreathed in foul treachery and hysteria that speaks to the darkness and greedy lurking in men’s souls.

• Ruler: Alderman Jarsson Trond

• Government: Autocracy

• Alignments: NG, N, LN, NE

• Population: 86 (74 humans, 6 dwarves, 1 gnome, 1 half-elf, 4

  halflings)

• Notable Folk: Alderman Jarsson (location 1, The Lady’s Rest),

  Markus Vorgmann (location 9, The Gates)

• Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elven

Several years ago, Adalbert Gall—a brewer—came to Lady Cross with his daughter, Eadith, a beautiful girl coming of age with a bewitching smile and mischievous eyes. Within a day all the young lads were vying for her attention. She, however, had eyes for only one: Pepin—the son of Jarrson the tavern owner with whom her father sought to trade spirit recipes. Late at night, while the men discussed business in the taproom, the two lovers sneaked into the cellars to conduct business of their own.

Struggles of two different kinds broke out at the same time; as the lovers fell to the floor so did the two brewers, fighting over the valuable recipes that each held. With dreams of wealth and prestige dancing before his eyes, Jarrson attacked Adalbert and struck him a fateful blow to the head with a heavy pitcher. He then dragged the heavy body down to the cellar to hide his treachery only to interrupt the youngsters in their passionate embrace.

Feigning innocence, he blamed the attack on Eadith and accused her of witchery and of beguiling his son. He dragged the screaming girl into the village square where a vengeful mob quickly formed, enraged at the attack on their friend. Eadith was tied to a large oak tree and burned whilst the frenzied mob watched. Even now, her burnt skeleton still adorns the tree, which has now gained the name “The Sorrow Tree”.

Hoping things would return to normal, Jarrson prospered using the stolen recipes whilst his son slowly descended into madness over the guilt from the deaths. One year later, as the village celebrated a successful harvest, Pepin hung himself from a tree overhanging the mill pond. Soon thereafter, whispers began to be heard in the taproom at night and guests began to complain of fitful sleep in the guest rooms and of seeing a white lady stalking the common areas late at night.

Notable Locations

Most of the village comprises peasant homes. A few locations, however, are of interest to adventurers: 

1. The Lady’s Rest: This squat stone, rose-covered building is the centre of village life. Bordering the village square on two sides, it, and the spirits sold here, are the reasons most people stop in Lady Cross.

2. StoneHarrigan’s Stables and Forge: This large open-air forge also doubles as the stables for the inn’s many visitors.

   3. Stoneforge Distillery: Built of thick black stone bricks, this typical dwarven building houses several gin stills.

3. The Square: This cobbled open area is used for village celebrations and festivals.

4. The Book End: Small and innocuous, like its owner Grindin Well-Read, this small shop holds many books and maps.

5. Wundrel’s Tea Shop: Tucked away beneath tall juniper trees, this eatery provides accommodation for smaller clients as well as a larger common room and outdoor seating for all.

6. The Ruined Mill: Now unused, this old mill stands behind the village slowly decaying.

7. The Mill Pond: Hidden behind a large tangle of juniper bushes, this pond is now mostly ignored by the busy villagers.

8. The Sorrow Tree: Shattered by lightning in a savage storm, this burnt tree overlooks the village from a small knoll beside the road. Eadith’s scorched and weathered skeleton is still chained to the tree.

9. The Watchtowers: Each of the three village gates are built inside a sturdy stone tower. From here, guards can use their crossbows to great effect through the arrow slits or from behind the crenelated wall.

Want More?

Village Backdrop: Lady Cross is available at the Raging Swan Press store in GM's Miscellany: Village Backdrop III (in 5e, OSR, and Pathfinder 1 editions) here.