Saltmarsh

Saltmarsh is a small settlement on the southern coast of the Island of Strasnek. The town is a sleepy little burg relying mostly on fishing, but with many smuggling operations running through here as well. It is the focus of the recently empowered Kingdom of Erikadia as it is believed to have potential to become a great port giving the navy an outpost against the Black Sails Brethren to the south.

Demographics

Saltmarsh’s roughly five thousand residents are predominantly Humans, with the Dwarven mining contingent of about two hundred workers the largest non-human faction in town. Elves and Halflings draw no special notice, since the Silverstand hosts a Wood Elf enclave and a few halfling villages are tucked in the hills around town. The residents react to other visitors, especially tieflings and dragonborn, with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

Government

The town is governed by an elected body of townsfolk who are charged with the administration of the town, dealing with matters of taxation, justice, and defense. Currently the Town Council consists of:

Eda Oweland: The longest serving member of the council, and owner of a large fishing concern.

Gellan Primewater: Local shipping baron and the richest man in town.

Eliander Fireborn: A local hero and knight in service to the crown.

Manistrad Copperlocks: A dwarf who represents the newly opened mine and its workers.

Anders Solmor: A young inexperienced man and recent inheritor of a fleet of ships, well liked by everyone in town.

Generally the council is divided between more traditionalists who wish to let Saltmarsh remain a prosperous fishing village (and gateway for smugglers), and those who wish for the town to take a greater role in the region and become a major center of trade and royal navy outpost for forays against the pirates to the south.

Law and Justice

The town guard arrests lawbreakers and imprisons them in the town jail. In most cases, criminals pay a fine and are let go. Those who cannot pay are required to work off their debt, usually put to work sweeping streets or helping with construction projects. If a crime requires a trial, the town council hears evidence and renders a verdict. Crime breaks down into three basic categories in Saltmarsh.

Petty Crime. Public unarmed brawling, pickpocketing, and other crimes that cause up to 50 gp in property damages are classified as petty crimes. The accused pays a fine, or one day of hard labor per gold piece owed.

Minor Crime. Armed assault, defined as any nonfatal attack made with a weapon, along with any other assault or property crimes that cause more than 50 gp in damages, but less than 250 gp, are minor crimes. The perpetrator must pay a fine of 100 gp and serve a few years in prison or at forced labor.

Major Crime. Crimes more severe than those outlined above, including murder, are major crimes. The criminal faces many years of imprisonment, though serious cases earn the death penalty. In most instances, these crimes are dealt with in Strasnver, the provincial capital located east of Saltmarsh.

Defences

One hundred trained warriors serve in the town guard. Each of them wears studded leather armor marked with a town guard’s badge — the green reed of Saltmarsh — and is armed with a club while patrolling in town. The guards work in pairs, operating from two guardhouses built near the road into Saltmarsh. A smaller station at the docks quells the fights that break out there nightly. The captain of the town guard is Eliander Fireborn.

The guard also patrols the area around Saltmarsh on horseback. Groups assigned to this duty are more heavily armed and armored; they wear chain mail and wield longswords and heavy crossbows.

A militia of five hundred residents can be mustered to take up the defense of the town if it comes under attack. The militia members have undergone minimal training, since they are expected only to keep an enemy at bay until the king’s forces arrive.

A small force of marines watches over the docks and, if needed, can take to sea to meet the threat of a pirate ship or sahuagin incursion. The marines are hardened veterans of several battles against the Black Sails. They are led by a married couple, Tom and Will Stoutly, veterans who have fought dozens of engagements against pirates, raiders, and monsters.

The guard is seen as something of a meddlesome force, since most of its members are drawn from the military veterans who migrated here with the crown’s blessing. Townsfolk tend to see them as brutish thugs, though they are quick to call them when trouble arises.

Industry & Trade

The town mostly relies on fishing, and much of the catch here is shipped off to other places. The second most important commercial aspect of Saltmarsh is the many smugglers who run good through the town to get passed tariffs and royal restrictions.
More recently was the discovery of small deposits of precious metals in the cliffs east of town leading to the creation of a mining expedition ordered by the King and the Royal Companie of Goldsmiths and Assayers. The success or failure of this operation could result in a huge shift in the local economy.
There is also local guild halls for the Carpenters Guild and the Mariner's Guild as well.

Infrastructure

The docks of Saltmarsh are the beating heart of the town. The fishing trade and related commerce that keep the town alive are based here. The docks have recently undergone a series of expansions intended to lure larger merchant vessels into the port. Two primary piers are used to load and unload large ships, while a series of smaller ones accommodate humbler vessels.
This part of Saltmarsh is almost constantly busy; it’s rare to see the large piers unoccupied. Guarded warehouses are a common sight in this district, and it is considered suspicious behavior to walk near those places at night.

Guilds and Factions

Generally the town is divided between more traditionalists who wish to let Saltmarsh remain a prosperous fishing village (and gateway for smugglers), and those who wish for the town to take a greater role in the region and become a major center of trade and royal navy outpost for forays against the pirates to the south. The recent intrest from outside groups has upset some the locals. The easiest example of this is the recent diggings down the coast lead by Manistrad Copperlocks and the Royal Companie of Goldsmiths and Assayers. These outsiders are looked on with suspicions and dislike by the locals, who view them as threats to the established industry.

Maps

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  Saltmarsh

  The small fishing town of Saltmarsh.

Type

Town

Population

5000

Location under

Strasnek

Owning Organization

Viceroyalty of Traxan

Characters in Location

• Anders Solmor
• Eliander Fireborn