Saltmarsh, Town of

Saltmarsh is a small yet significant fishing town in the Viscounty of Salinmoor, located in the southernmost part of Keoland along the Azure Sea. Once a sleepy settlement, its proximity to dangerous frontiers has drawn adventurers and traders alike, pushing it toward an uncertain future.

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Overview

Saltmarsh lies nestled among three low hills where the Kingfisher River meets the sea. Nearby regions include:

• The Dreadwood (to the north)
• The Hool Marshes and Dunwater River (to the west)
• The Drowned Forest and Silverstand Woodlands (within 30 miles)
• Nearby Towns: Burle (20 miles northwest) and Seaton (20 miles east)

A notable feature is the abandoned Makaster House, perched on the edge of a cliff, rumored to be haunted.

Establishment and History

During Keoland's Imperial period (c. 286 CY - 488 CY), expansion primarily focused northward, leaving the southern coast underdeveloped. In 465 CY, four adventurers, unaided by Keoish military forces, defeated a vicious tribe of lizardfolk and used their wealth to found Saltmarsh.

Recent History

Saltmarsh was once attacked by slavers of the Sea Princes, forcing thousands of refugees from Seaton to flee here. Around the same time, adventurers plundered wealth from the sahuagin of the Hool Marshes, triggering an economic boom.

Now, King Kimbertos Skotti has turned his focus to the south, aiming to expand Saltmarsh into a major port. His ambitions have divided the town into loyalists, who support progress, and traditionalists, who resist outside influence.

Demographics

Saltmarsh is predominantly human, though it houses a dwarven mining faction (about 200 strong) and enclaves of wood elves and halflings. Other races—especially tieflings and dragonborn—are met with curiosity or fear.

Population growth:

• 576 CY – ~2,000 residents
• 591 CY – ~3,000 residents
• 595 CY – ~3,850 residents
• Current – Estimated 5,000 residents due to trade expansion

Government

Saltmarsh is governed by a six-member town council, led by the Lord Mayor. The position is held for life and can only be revoked by a unanimous impeachment vote.

Current council members (as of 595 CY):

• Lord Mayor Erolin Timerkitos (descendant of a founder, in power for nearly 30 years)
• Egan Lassiter, Hoskin Lashti, Lira Tolivar, Lyra Ivessa, Toren Aerakin
• Former notable members: Eda Oweland, Gellan Primewater, Eliander Fireborn, Manistrad Copperlocks, Anders Solmor

Economy & Trade

• Primary industry: Fishing
• Secondary industries: Small-scale farming, mining, and trade
• Imports: Silk and brandy (subject to a 25% excise duty, fueling smuggling operations)
• Resources: Rich fish stocks from the Azure Sea and growing mining prospects

Religion

Saltmarsh hosts places of worship for Procan (god of the sea) and Obad-Hai (nature deity). Other deities commonly revered in Keoland include:

• Heironeous, Phaulkon, Saint Cuthbert, Fharlanghn, Ehlonna
• Lydia, Osprem, Zilchus, Kord, Xerbo, Norebo, Olidammara
• The Seldarine (elven pantheon) and Trithereon

Legends & Threats

• The Haunted House (east of Saltmarsh) – Once home to an alchemist of sinister reputation, now abandoned and feared for its ghastly shrieks and eerie lights.
• Smugglers use hidden coves along the coastline, willing to kill to protect their secrets.
• Sahuagin, lurking beneath the waves, plan to overthrow coastal settlements.
• Undead sailors, animated by dark magic, prowl the waters seeking vengeance.
• A forbidden cult, operating from a decaying port, seeks fresh victims and new recruits.

A Town on the Brink

Saltmarsh stands at a crossroads—will it rise as a beacon of progress or fall to treachery and darkness? Only the bravest adventurers can determine its fate!