Knifeman's Slough

Originally a small smugglers hideout Knifeman's Slough rapidly expanded to take up the low land that the original hideout was built on. At this point the settlement had garnered a small reputation as being a safe haven particularly for people trying to move or fence stolen or regulated goods.  Further expansion continued and the once small outpost grew into a town with much of it built on stilts over the shallow water or stacked on top of already existing buildings.  
The main draw of Knifeman's Slough is the through traffic of shady individuals has allowed many otherwise difficult to find professionals to set up shop in a permanent location where they can be easily found by interested parties. This structure makes finding someone to fence illegal or launder stolen goods much easier. It also offers a place for forgers and counterfeiters to actively advertise their skills and for anarchists, thugs, pirates, cutthroats, and other more unsavory characters to gather exchange equipment, information, and other services. 
Knifeman's Slough is also known as a good place for people to lay low until whatever trouble they have gotten into blows over. It has also become a common place for criminal professionals to retire.
New comers to Knifeman's Slough are viewed with little interest as people come and go all the time, and it is likely that they are just looking to purchase a less than legal service or professional.  However anyone who causes to much trouble is either ejected from the town and barred from entry or made an example off.

Government

No formal government with a few local thugs poorly enforcing a loose set of rules.

Defences

Built on a low rise of solid ground, Knifeman's Slough is naturally defensible due to the swampy terrain and shallow weed choked water surrounding it. This limits access to smaller shallow draft boats preventing larger more powerful ships from directly attacking the town. The town itself is defended buy the unscrupulous denizens who are not keen on having to relocate or loosing their places of business.

Assets

Assets very wildly as the inflow and outflow of goods is constantly in flux based on legality and outside regulation of materials.

Type

Slum