Saltmarsh
Description
Saltmarsh is a somewhat nondescript fishing town on the Sword Coast, roughly 10 miles off the High Road, about 100 miles south of Neverwinter and 250 miles north of Waterdeep. Being convenient to almost nothing, including traffic along the High Road, Saltmarsh exists primarily because of its fishing industry, although it's isolation and the apparent indifference of any law enforcement interests have also made it a very useful access point for smuggling operations. Even piracy, usually the bane of any sea trading settlement, has little impact, for fishing ships do not carry much that pirates care to steal. For the most part, the citizens of Saltmarsh are content with this, as maintaining a low profile helps avoid political entanglements and even keeps the criminal element unwilling to to do anything likely to attract unwanted attention.
The bigger issue is that the town is only 20 miles north of the Mere of Dead Men, an unnavigable region of swamp, 100 miles long and 30 deep, renowned for being filled with monsters and uncivilised seafolk. While forays from the Mere into the township are rare, many a ship has been assaulted or even lost to attackers that are presumed to reside in that dank quagmire.However, Saltmarsh itself is not without unrest. Recently, a band of dwarves arrived and began to excavate the hills and seaside cliffs not far from the town, looking for precious metals. If their work bears fruit as expected, the mine stands to become a major factor in the village's - and, indeed, the entire region's prosperity. Naturally, not all of Saltmarsh's residents feel this would be a positive change to their community, as the promise of wealth brings a lot of greedy new eyes gazing in this direction.
Further, the merchant houses of Waterdeep are beginning to take a greater interest in crimes that funnel profit from their treasuries, even investing in enhancing regional constabularies to take more proactive steps in stamping it out. This has not only provoked visible, and occasionally violent, reaction from syndicates now under threat, but overtly attempting to interfere politically in town councils and other ruling bodies has created deep-seated resentment. With the access it provide through to Triboar, Yartar and the more distant cities to the east, rumours that Saltmarsh could be turned into a major trading subsidiary of Waterdeep do not sit well with all.
Saltmarsh, remote though it might be from any center of power along the Sword Coast, is entering a new phase of its life.
Government
Progressives
Progressives believe Saltmarsh can be much more than a minor fishing village, and they want to expand its industries and eliminate the commercially destructive influences of smuggling. They are focused on two primary goals: ensuring that the dwarven mine is a success, and clamping down on smuggling and piracy that compromises other commercial activities.
Preliminary excavations south of the town show great promise, and could potentially generate far more prosperity than the relatively limited capacity of the town to get more out of fishing, so the Progressives do everything they can to support it. Smuggling, piracy and other crimes steal wealth from those that deserve it, and this is a threat that should be met resolutely and with whatever force is required.
While both of these goals are arguably in the best interests of Saltmarsh, they are also driven by external commercial interests, particularly from Waterdeep. For some Progressives, the potential to attract investment from the deep pockets of Waterdeep's trade empires is a boon in itself, but others believe that Saltmarsh has the capacity to manage its own best interests, and can be left alone to do so.
Anders Solmor is ostensibly a Progressive and tends to support Eliander Fireborn, although his endorsement may vacillate according to the nature of the issue. While he supports diversification of industry and trade, and limiting unlawful pursuits, he is reluctant to allow other commerical establishment to infringe on his newly burgeoning business. Eliander Fireborn firmly believes that lack of law and order is the root of evil in any community and a disciplined hand is essential if it is to survive. He also believes that Saltmarsh has tremendous potential for properity and, having far more "worldly" experience than any of the others, plus ties to Waterdeep, is not reluctant to see others contribute to its growth. Manistrad Copperlocks is exclusively focused on matters that will benefit her and her business. She sees Saltmarsh as nothing more than a convenient location to provide food and shelter for her official base, and she only supports iniatives that she feels may contribute to her success.Traditionalists
Traditionalists believe Saltmarsh's future is best served by adhering to its core strengths and the successes of its past, and passionately resist external interests gaining a foothold in the town. They comprise most of the prominent fishing families and merchants in town and the workers who rely on those industries for a living. In a political sense, this includes the smugglers who operate in the area and through the town – smuggling has long been an easy way to make money in Saltmarsh and locals generally look the other way, seeing it as a victimless crime from their perspective.
The Traditionalists would prefer that the dwarves' mining efforts fail so that Saltmarsh's dependable fishing trade can thrive and expand. They openly resent the intrusion of outside commercial interests seeking to transform Saltmarsh and drain influence and wealth from the local family-based enterprises that have always been the backbone of the community and, in that sense, most want the smugglers in the area are left alone as they are the anthises of those outside interests.
Eda Oweland is the mayor of Saltmarsh and the only Councillor genuinely attentive to putting the town's interests first. She is distrustful of anyone from "outside" and does not believe the town needs to be anything more than a safe, successful village with seafood as its primary industry. With fishing fleets mostly ignored by pirates and smuggling being both inconsequential to fisheries and a long-established faculty in the town, Eda sees no benefit to designating resources to combat them, a view that is similarly held by the majority of the populace.
Gellan Primewater is enormously popular due to his underwriting of public festivities and entertainment. Despite it being almost universally presumed that his wealth is a result of undertakings that range from shady to blantatly criminal, his willingness to liberally use it to benefit the townsfolk make the means of acquiring it generally acceptable. Gellan resists any intrustion into town affairs that might make his enterprise vulnerable.
Industry & Trade
Persons of Interest
Ned ShakeshaftSanbalet
Inns & Taverns
The Wicker GoatThe Empty Net
The Snapping Line
Shops
Akurda ShipwrightKester's Leather Goods
The Dwarven Anvil
Winston's Store
Daily Market
Green Market