Blackwater

Located on the edge of the Rusted Sea , Blackwater is a decaying settlement known for its role in salvaging wrecks from the toxic waters. The town's population consists of scavengers, mechanics, and traders who specialize in stripping down derelict ships and industrial rigs for valuable components. The settlement is built on stilts above the rusting shoreline, with makeshift walkways connecting various shanty towns.

Blackwater is the primary gateway for anyone looking to explore the dangerous depths of the Rusted Sea . It is also a center for black market activity, with traders dealing in illegal salvage and stolen goods. The town has earned a reputation as a haven for smugglers and criminals.

Government

Blackwater is governed by a loose coalition known as the Salvage Guild Council of Blackwater, which consists of influential salvagers, traders, and corporate representatives. This council oversees the day-to-day operations of the settlement, handling disputes, trade regulations, and basic law enforcement. The council's authority is limited, however, and much of the town operates under an informal, almost anarchic system of governance where deals and personal alliances often hold more power than the council itself.

• Laws and Taxation: The laws in Blackwater are minimal and primarily focused on maintaining order around the town's key trade hubs and docks. Salvaging laws, which dictate who has the rights to specific wrecks or industrial debris, are enforced through the Salvage Guild Council of Blackwater. Taxation is loose, with fees collected on transactions related to trade and salvaging operations. Individuals can operate fairly independently as long as they pay a percentage of their earnings to the guild.
• Corruption and Power Plays: Corruption is rampant in Blackwater, with guild leaders often making deals with underworld factions and smugglers to maintain control. Disputes over valuable wrecks or resources are common and can escalate into violent confrontations, particularly when corporate interests are involved.

Defences

Blackwater has rudimentary defenses, reflecting the settlement’s constant need to fend off opportunistic raiders, pirates, and rival salvagers.

• Salvaged Turrets: The town is protected by a series of salvaged turrets and automated defense systems, built from scavenged weaponry. These turrets are positioned along the docks and around key infrastructure points, providing minimal defense against small-scale attacks or raids.
• Private Security Forces: Various factions in Blackwater, including the Salvage Guild Council of Blackwater and corporate interests, maintain small, private security forces. These guards patrol the docks and key salvage sites, but they are often poorly trained and underpaid, leading to rampant corruption. The security forces are mainly concerned with protecting the interests of those who pay them.
• Guild Enforcers: The Salvage Guild Council of Blackwater has its own enforcers who ensure that the guild’s laws regarding salvage rights are upheld. These enforcers can be brutal, and they operate with impunity, often shaking down independent salvagers or eliminating rivals.

Industry & Trade

The economy of Blackwater revolves entirely around the salvage industry, with trade and commerce driven by the materials pulled from the Rusted Sea.
Key Industries:

• Salvage and Dismantling: The primary industry in Blackwater is the salvage and dismantling of wrecked ships, industrial rigs, and other debris from the Rusted Sea. Workers strip these wrecks for valuable metals, components, and machinery, which are then sold at the Bazaar or exported to larger cities.
• Scrap Trade: Blackwater is a major hub for the scrap trade, with traders from across Acheron Prime coming to the settlement to buy and sell salvaged materials. The Blackwater Bazaar is the center of this trade, and it’s here that deals are made for rare and valuable parts.
  

Imports:

• Food and Supplies: The town relies on imports for basic necessities, including food, water, and medical supplies. These goods are brought in by traders from nearby settlements or larger industrial cities.
• Industrial Equipment: Blackwater also imports specialized tools and equipment needed for salvage operations, as well as spare parts for the ships and machinery used in the dismantling process.
  

Exports:

• Scrap Metal and Components: The primary export of Blackwater is scrap metal and salvaged components, which are sent to larger industrial centers for use in manufacturing or construction.
• Rare Materials: Occasionally, valuable materials such as rare minerals or advanced technology are pulled from the wrecks in the Rusted Sea, making their way onto the black market or sold to corporate buyers at a premium.

Infrastructure

Blackwater’s infrastructure is functional but dilapidated, reflecting the town’s focus on salvage and survival rather than development. Built around the decaying remains of a once-thriving industrial port, the settlement is now little more than a sprawling scrapyard with buildings perched precariously on rusted stilts and platforms over the toxic waters of the Rusted Sea.

• Residential and Commercial Areas: The residential areas of Blackwater are composed of hastily constructed shantytowns, with makeshift homes built from salvaged materials. Small commercial areas exist in the form of shops, bars, and markets, all catering to scavengers, traders, and visitors. The Blackwater Bazaar is the main market where scrap and salvaged goods are bought and sold.
• Docks and Salvage Yards: Blackwater’s docks are a chaotic sprawl of platforms and landing pads, where salvaged vessels and cargo ships unload their goods. Large salvage yards extend from the shore into the water, filled with rusted wrecks and industrial debris. Workers strip down derelict ships for parts, while traders haggle over the remains.
• Power and Utilities: Blackwater runs on a patchwork of power sources, with small fusion generators and scavenged industrial equipment providing electricity. Water is recycled through rudimentary filtration systems, as fresh water is scarce and most available sources are contaminated by the Rusted Sea. Infrastructure is decaying, with little investment in maintenance beyond what is absolutely necessary to keep the settlement functional.
• Transportation: Blackwater is connected to larger settlements by a network of rough roads and a single, heavily used maglev line that transports goods and materials to and from the Rusted Sea region. The settlement also has a small landing zone for ships, though it’s often congested and poorly maintained.

Districts

Blackwater is loosely divided into several informal districts, each serving a distinct purpose. The divisions are practical and often reflect the chaotic, disorganized nature of the town.

• The Salvage Yards: The heart of Blackwater’s economy, the Salvage Yards are where workers dismantle wrecks pulled from the Rusted Sea . The area is a sprawling scrapyard filled with the remains of ships, industrial machinery, and other valuable debris. The yards are dirty, hazardous, and filled with the constant sound of cutting tools and welding torches.
• The Docks: The docks are where salvagers bring in their hauls from the Rusted Sea . It’s a busy, chaotic area with cargo ships loading and unloading scrap and salvaged goods. The docks are also the primary point of entry for traders and smugglers arriving in Blackwater, and it is heavily trafficked by shady characters and black-market dealers.
• The Bazaar: The Blackwater Bazaar is the settlement’s main market, where traders and salvagers sell their goods. The market is filled with stalls and ramshackle shops offering everything from spare ship parts to scavenged tech and rare minerals. The Bazaar is also home to a thriving black market for illegal goods, including weapons and contraband.
• The Shantytowns: The residential areas of Blackwater are crowded and poorly maintained, consisting of makeshift homes and metal shacks cobbled together from scrap. Life here is harsh, with residents eking out a living through salvaging, manual labor, or trading. Crime is common, and the Shantytowns are largely unpoliced.

History

Blackwater was originally an industrial port, built to support the shipping and processing of raw materials from the Rusted Sea  region. As the Rusted Sea  became more polluted and its waters more toxic, the industrial companies that once thrived there abandoned the settlement, leaving behind a crumbling infrastructure.

In the wake of this collapse, Blackwater became a haven for scavengers, salvagers, and smugglers, drawn to the wealth of materials left in the decaying shipwrecks and industrial debris. Over time, the settlement grew into a key hub for the salvage industry, attracting corporations looking to exploit the region’s resources and independent operators seeking their fortune in the Rusted Sea .

Points of interest

• The Blackwater Bazaar: The settlement’s main market and trade hub, the Blackwater Bazaar is where most of the town’s commerce takes place. It’s a chaotic and dangerous place, where one can find anything from salvaged ship parts to rare minerals pulled from the Rusted Sea.
• The Sinking Pier: An old, decaying pier that extends into the Rusted Sea, the Sinking Pier is both a salvage site and a gathering place for Blackwater’s underworld. It’s a place where deals are made in the shadows, and it’s notorious for its dangerous collapses as the rusted metal slowly sinks into the toxic water.
• The Shipbreaker’s Yard: The largest salvage yard in Blackwater, the Shipbreaker’s Yard is where the biggest and most valuable wrecks are dismantled. It’s a hub of activity, with workers cutting apart rusted ships and extracting valuable parts.

Tourism

Tourism is rare in Blackwater, given its hazardous environment and lack of amenities. However, a few types of visitors are drawn to the settlement:

• Scavengers and Salvagers: Independent scavengers and salvagers come to Blackwater looking to stake claims on valuable wrecks in the Rusted Sea. These visitors are usually temporary residents, living in makeshift camps along the docks while they wait for their turn to dive into the toxic waters.
• Adventurers and Treasure Hunters: Some adventurers come to Blackwater in search of lost treasures or forgotten technologies believed to be hidden within the wrecks of the Rusted Sea. These thrill-seekers are often well-equipped but rarely stay for long, as the dangers of the area are immense.

Architecture

The architecture of Blackwater is utilitarian and decaying, built from the remains of the old industrial port that once thrived there. Most buildings are constructed from rusted metal, salvaged parts, and whatever materials could be scrounged from the nearby wrecks.

• Makeshift and Temporary Structures: The majority of homes and businesses in Blackwater are built from scrap and rusted metal, with little regard for aesthetics or durability. The settlement has an impermanent feel, as if it could collapse into the sea at any moment.
• Industrial Ruins: Many of Blackwater’s older buildings, including the docks and processing plants, are in a state of decay. These structures, built during the town’s industrial boom, have been repurposed for the salvage industry but are slowly crumbling due to exposure to the toxic environment.

Geography

Blackwater is located on the southern edge of the Rusted Sea , perched precariously above the toxic waters. The settlement is built on stilts and platforms that extend into the sea, creating a network of docks, salvage yards, and landing pads. The landscape surrounding Blackwater is barren, with little vegetation and a constantly polluted atmosphere.

Climate

The climate in Blackwater is harsh and unforgiving, shaped by the proximity of the Rusted Sea.

• Extreme Heat and Cold: Like the Rusted Sea  itself, Blackwater experiences extreme temperature fluctuations, with scorching heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night. The air is thick with smog, making breathing difficult without filters.
• Toxic Rain and Fog: The settlement is frequently blanketed by toxic fog that rises from the Rusted Sea, and acid rain is a common occurrence, further corroding the settlement’s already decaying infrastructure.

Type

Large town

Population

18,000

Location under

Rusted Sea