Saltmatsh
Saltmarsh is a nondescript fishing village tucked away on the southern coast of Shushar. Resting in the midst of an untamed region, Saltmarsh is a bastion of civilization, without it's stout defenders, it would have long ago fallen to the depredations of outsiders. Saltmarsh has passed through the hands of many rulers, and thus many different peoples and ideologies still live in it's walls. There is much to see, much to uncover and much that is broken in this nondescript fishing village.
Demographics
Predominantly human, with the dwarven mining contingent for about two hundred workers the largest non-human faction in town. Halflings and Kheltans draw no special notice, since the Silverstand hosts an Kheltan enclave and a few halfling villages are tucked in the hills around town. The residents react to other visitors especially, tabaxi and goliaths, with a mixture of curiosity and fear
Government
The town council is elected by the citizens and residents of Saltmarsh. The makeup of the current council is bipartisan, loyalist and traditionalist. The loyalists are supported by newcomers from northern Shushar, loyal to King Hiro. They feel the town should be a useful asset to Shushar and the Phoenix and value the good of the empire before the good of the region. They feel that Saltmarsh (and the Horse Clan) should rewrite their citizenship laws so that immigrants would not be Shu citizens. The other party is the traditionalists, they are an alliance of the prominent fishing families and merchants in town. The traditionalists remember the terrible time during the Sea Princes' raids and have no desire to see the Pheonix' ambitions lead to open war. The smugglers that operate in the area are almost all traditionalists.
Industry & Trade
Electrum - Electrum pieces are known as imperial currency, they were introduced in Saltmarsh less than a year after the end of the Sea prince's reign. Certain goods are restricted to certain groups, this is done through the use of Electrum. Crossbows, powerful poisons, combat medicine (potions), artifact weapons (magic items), and even certain colours of clothing can only be bought using Electrum pieces which can only be obtained by loyalists nobles or shu purebloods requiring identification at the money exchange.
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Electrum is commonly traded on the black market however as well as these restricted goods
Guilds and Factions
Saltmarsh is well known for its guilds and the power they hold in the city. When Saltmarsh was a city state, it was the guild leaders that made up the ruling faction, under the Sea Princes. Still now some of those on the Council are guild leaders, but many are not.
The Fishing Guild. The fishers of Saltmarsh provide a lucrative export for the city and are a hub of industry and trade. The Fishing Guild regulates the local waters of the azure sea, the price of fish, and the exporting of Saltmarsh fish to the rest of the world.
The Merchant's Guild. The Saltmarsh markets are home to many local and travelling merchants. Members of this guild are given priority access to the markets and increased notoriety among the city elite. The guild owns nearly all market areas in Saltmarsh with the notable exception of the black market (controlled by the thieves guild). The merchant's guild is deeply intrenched in the politics of Saltmarsh and being affiliated with them lends you a great deal of respect.
The Farmers Association. Farming in and around Saltmarsh is regulated by this once large, now small group of local farmers.
The Thieves Guild. Since the rise of the Phoenix, many nobles have tried to shut down the operation of the Saltmarsh Thieves Guild; however their presence and prominence has not decreased. The Thieves of Saltmarsh have no central operating base, though they are a large group with a sophisticated hierarchy. The Thieves Guild also owns and operates the black market, selling illegal, dangerous and magical goods.
History
Saltmarsh is a nondescript fishing village tucked away on the southern coast of Shushar. For several generations, Shushar was a formidable military power. Its superior cavalry and bold knights pushed the kingdom's borders outward to the north and east. Each successful campaign increased both the crown phoenix’s wealth and power, and each one in turn drew the kingdom's attention farther north. The southern coastal regions of Shushar remained a backwater.
During the Shu expansion, the phoenix's benign neglect allowed piracy and banditry to flourish. Saltmarsh and similar towns kept to fishing, content to maintain a low profile and avoid governmental entanglements. Decades ago, the pirates who prowled the waters of Saltmarsh grew strong enough to create their own realm, a loose confederacy known as the Hold of the Sea Princes. With the rise of that nation, came increased raids on Saltmarsh and its neighbours, the abandonment of Shu traditions and values, an economic boom abd subsequently a huge rise in immigration. The Sea Princes' raiding ships pillaged the coast for more slaves to support their growing realm. and Saltmarsh suffered heavily. The memories of those times loom heavily over the area, and the locals' hatred of the Sea Princes runs deep.
In time, Shushar’s victories in the north gave way to a string of defeats in which the Ammon Empire pushed the Shu back to their original boundaries at the borders of the Pillars of the Earth. With the world closing in, Shusho Hiro Fenikkusu looked to the south Saltmarsh's dependable fishing trade and saw unchecked banditry and a rising pirate nation which was taking over what was once the Horse Clan. Not wanting to repeat the losses of the Mantis War, Fenikkusu sent a significant portion of the Battalion to usurp the reign of the Sea Princes over the Horse Clan - but the conflict is by no means over.
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King Hiro has decreed that the pirates must be put down, the sea lanes secured, and trade cultivated. If Shushar cannot prosper as a military force, it must grow on mightier as a centre of trade. Saltmarsh, remote though it might be from the center of power in Shushar, is entering a new phase of its life as it reacts to the king's plans. The phoenix’s agents want to expand the village's port and make it a prime location for trade with the world beyond. In another recent development, a band of dwarves bearing a decree - from the King Hiro himself - have arrived and begun to excavate the hills and seaside cliffs near 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 the same way about the recent developments in and around their community, which is the key issue that affects their lives and livelihood. Although the recent changes stand to bring new prosperity to the area, many locals don't want to see their home changed. At the same time, as an undercurrent through all the goings-on, agents of the secretive and mysterious Scarlet Brotherhood work to thwart Shushar’s ambitions while advancing their own.
Alternative Name(s)
Sharkfin Post
Type
Large town
Population
5000
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