The Silver Saint’s Canteen

Not far from the Gilded Mesa, perched at the edge of the wastelands where salted sands shimmer under a pale sky, the Silver Saint’s Canteen is an isolated outpost of civilization sheltered in a bay facing the vast and empty Silt-Salt Sea. Its weathered, silvery exterior gleams faintly in the dusty light, an unassuming facade concealing a bustling hub of intrigue and desperation. Beside it looms the Eternity Tide, the last operational Iron-Breaker Steam skiff, black-hulled and immense, creaking softly against its moorings. This is where whispered deals, desperate gambles, and quiet betrayals dictate who earns a coveted spot aboard the Tide and a chance to escape Corrhéo’s slow decline or smuggle luxurious commodities worth fortunes past the What's Due tariffs gangs and merchant freighters.
Inside the canteen, smoke curls through the golden glow of hanging lanterns. Tables of mismatched wood and brass host crowds of travelers, merchants, and faction agents, their murmured conversations blending with the clinking of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter or argument. The air is tense as passengers barter and maneuver for scarce vouchers aboard the ship. Beneath this vibrant facade, the Silver Saint’s Canteen is a powder keg of ambition, corruption, and schemes, with its proprietor, Ilsen Moreau, at the center of it all.
Deeper: A Developer's Note - The Silver Saint's Canteen runs slightly differently from other landmarks. Here, PCs can strengthen ties with existing factions, create new relationships with new factions, or leverage their influence and assistance to gain favors from the powerful and influential. The list below contains the current conflicts and intrigues at this landmark - it is up the the PCs to decide how they'd like to respond. The GM must study the main cast of NPC to determine how PC actions will resonate with each NPCs motives. Resolving a conflict will secure a reward, but how that is done will create ripples that will further impact future interactions with factions and NPCs.

Current Conflicts and Intrigue (D6)

1. Labor Unrest: The dockworkers, led by Hesk, demand better pay and conditions, while Moreau scrambles to meet their demands without jeopardizing her profits. Markhov Slate’s manipulations heighten tensions, leaving adventurers to navigate the conflict—or take sides.
2. Scarce Repairs: The Eternity Tide’s parts are growing scarce, and adventurers may be hired to smuggle components, sabotage competing suppliers, or uncover why materials are disappearing before reaching the docks.
3. Factions at Play: Tassyn Vetch’s quiet dealings on behalf of the Clinchin Fold could be exposed, leading to a scramble among the Stand, Fold, and other factions to secure the lucrative partnership.
4. The Partnership Gambit: Markhov Slate’s offer of partnership with Moreau is fraught with danger, but his leverage grows daily. Adventurers may be tasked with uncovering his machinations—or silencing his dissenters.
5. Ticket Wars: With passage aboard the Tide in high demand, forged vouchers, bribes, and outright theft abound. Adventurers may be hired to secure vouchers, protect legitimate travelers, or expose Tassyn’s backdoor deals.
6. A Clandestine Shipment: A shipment critical to Zera Fenn and Markhov Slate’s smuggling operations has gone missing. Recovering it before rival factions discover it becomes a race against time. 

Cast of NPCs

The Eternity Tide and Captain Yaren Velshade: The Eternity Tide is an ancient Iron-Breaker Steam skiff that looms large over the docks, its hull scarred and patched, its gray stacks soot-stained and crusted with salt and age. Commanded by Captain Yaren Velshade, the Tide is the only vessel capable of crossing the Silt-Salt Sea. Yet the ship is ailing—parts are scarce, repairs are tenuous, and its future is uncertain. Moreau’s lucrative smuggling network, which supplies Zera Fenn and Markhov Slate, relies heavily on overseas goods ferried back to Corrhéo by the Tide. However, the rising costs of repairs and increased demands from dockworkers, led by Borran Hesk, have begun to eat into her profits, leaving her in a precarious position. Captain Velshade had always left these dealings to Ilsen Moreau, but recent pressures have forced her to rethink her arrangement with her partner.
Ilsen Moreau: Ilsen Moreau, the sharp-eyed proprietor of the Silver Saint’s Canteen, is a savvy and ruthless negotiator. While her smuggling empire is lucrative, the increasing difficulty of securing parts for the Eternity Tide has placed her in a bind. Hesk’s dock crews demand fair pay for their grueling labor, which cuts deeply into her margins. Meanwhile, unrest among Hesk’s dockworkers is putting pressure on Ilsen to accept Markhov offer of partnership in both the canteen and the ship. Moreau is acutely aware of the danger this represents—should Markhov's ambition attract the attention of the Saptan , it could ruin them both, to Markhov for his betrayal and to Moreau for her complicity in that betrayal.
Tassyn Vetch: Tassyn Vetch, officially representing the Corrhérric Stand, is tasked with securing a regular allotment of vouchers for the Stand's operations. However, his actions are subtly influenced by junior members of The Clinchin Fold, who see an alliance with the Stand as a path to a more stable future. Tassyn juggles his duties with quiet negotiations on behalf of his clandestine backers, hoping to establish a foothold in the growing shadow of the Corrhérric Stand's power.
Markhov Slate: A quiet storm in human form, Markhov Slate is a Saptan agent with ambitions that stretch beyond his current role. He has been carefully applying pressure on Ilsen through the dockworkers and has made subtle promises of solutions to her growing problems. Markhov’s ultimate goal is joint ownership of the Silver Saint’s Canteen and the Eternity Tide, but his betrayal of the Saptan would be a death sentence if discovered. He plays a dangerous game for now, orchestrating unrest and pretending to offer aid while keeping his true motives hidden.
Borran Hesk: The towering foreman of the Berrylman dock crews, Hesk is a staunch advocate for fair pay and humane treatment of his workers. His honesty and integrity make him a respected leader among the laborers, many of whom are Berrylmen seeking a better life. However, Hesk’s ideals often conflict with Moreau’s pragmatism and Slate’s schemes, leaving him in the crossfire of the canteen’s intrigue. Despite his frustrations, Hesk remains steadfast, refusing to compromise his values even as tensions rise.

Current Conflicts and Intrigue Details

1. Labor Unrest

Conflicts to Resolve:

• Adventurers can negotiate and mediate between Borran Hesk’s dockworkers and Ilsen Moreau to balance fair pay and sustainable profits. They might also choose to expose or counter Markhov Slate’s schemes by protecting Hesk or leveraging his labor demands to weaken Moreau’s position.

Rewards:

• PCs could earn gratitude and aid from Hesk’s crew (e.g., dockside labor or intelligence), a share of Moreau’s profits if they help her, or payment from Slate for helping him destabilize Hesk’s leadership. Favors from workers could grant reduced repair fees or smuggling advantages.

Consequences Spectrum:

• Favoring Hesk: Gains worker loyalty but angers Moreau and weakens her business.
• Favoring Moreau: Secures financial rewards but alienates the dockworkers, risking future sabotage.
• Exposing Slate: Builds trust with Hesk and Moreau but risks retaliation from Slate and his backers.

2. Scarce Repairs

Conflicts to Resolve:

• PCs can locate missing parts for the Eternity Tide by investigating thefts or rival suppliers. Alternatively, they might smuggle parts through faction-controlled checkpoints or negotiate deals with powerful suppliers like the Saptan or Berrylmen.

Rewards:

• Payment from Moreau for recovered parts, free passage aboard the Eternity Tide, or leverage over the ship’s operations. Completing the repairs could also grant favor to Captain Velshade or key factions dependent on the boat.

Consequences Spectrum:

• Resolving Theft: Gains Moreau’s trust but risks reprisal from the thieves or rival suppliers.
• Sabotaging Rivals: Strengthens Moreau’s business but could provoke faction retaliation or destabilize local supply chains.
• Neutrality: Avoids faction entanglement but leaves the Tide vulnerable to further failures.

3. Factions at Play

Conflicts to Resolve:

• PCs may choose to expose Tassyn Vetch’s dealings, assist the Clinchin Fold’s quiet alignment with the Corrhérric Stand, or use this leverage to their advantage. Each choice risks upsetting one or more factions with a vested interest.

Rewards:

• Favors or payment from Tassyn or the Clinchin Fold, influence within the Stand, or leverage against rival factions. Revealing or protecting secrets could grant access to restricted resources or information.

Consequences Spectrum:

• Supporting Tassyn: Gains his favor but risks alienating rival factions like the Fold or Stand.
• Exposing Tassyn: Builds trust with the Stand’s leadership but makes Tassyn and the Fold enemies.
• Profiteering: Exploiting both sides for rewards gains wealth but paints PCs as unreliable manipulators.

4. The Partnership Gambit

Conflicts to Resolve:

• PCs may investigate Slate’s manipulations, assist Moreau in maintaining her independence, or help Slate maneuver into a partnership with her. They might also uncover evidence of Slate’s betrayal of the Saptan, creating opportunities for blackmail or leverage.

Rewards:

• Payment from Slate for securing his partnership or loyalty from Moreau for thwarting him. Blackmailing Slate could grant long-term influence while exposing him to the Saptan might earn rewards from rival factions.

Consequences Spectrum:

• Supporting Slate: Gains his trust and wealth but risks angering Moreau and the Saptan.
• Defending Moreau: Protects her independence but makes Slate a dangerous enemy.
• Exposing Slate: Gains short-term rewards but leaves a power vacuum that could destabilize the canteen.

5. Ticket Wars

Conflicts to Resolve:

• PCs could secure vouchers for desperate passengers, investigate forgery operations, or protect the Canteen from chaos. They might also forge alliances with corrupt officials or expose bribery schemes to restore fairness.

Rewards:

• PCs might earn free passage, additional vouchers to trade, or monetary rewards for restoring order. Exposing corruption could grant favor to passengers or factions while aiding forgers might lead to underground connections.

Consequences Spectrum:

• Aiding Passengers: Gains loyalty and goodwill but risks angering corrupt officials.
• Supporting Officials: Secures vouchers and wealth but fosters resentment among passengers and workers.
• Remaining Neutral: Avoids entanglements but risks leaving the Canteen’s stability in question.

6. A Clandestine Shipment

Conflicts to Resolve:

• PCs must locate the missing shipment before rival factions claim it, potentially negotiating its return or protecting it from discovery. They might also betray their employers and sell the shipment to a third party.

Rewards:

• Payment or favors from Moreau and Slate, access to rare smuggled goods, or leverage over factions involved. Selling the shipment elsewhere could provide immense wealth at the cost of loyalty.

Consequences Spectrum:

• Returning the Shipment: Gains favor with Moreau and Slate but risks conflict with rival factions.
• Selling the Shipment: Gains wealth but makes Moreau and Slate enemies.
• Allowing Discovery: Wins favor with rival factions but destabilizes the Canteen’s operations.