Javan River Spire

The Javan River Spire is a large complex built into a rocky spire that rises out of the mouth of the Java River on the coastline of the Mere of Dead Men. It is the ancesteral home of the Sunny Shore Tribe and was occupied by sahuagin under Baroness Seklaz and Baron Kepmak in 1496 before being retaken by the multiracial Dunwater Alliance during the Battle of the Spire.

Alterations

Following the conquest of the sahagin in early 1496, multiple levels of the spire were intentionally sunk to make their living conditions more comfortable for the natively aquatic sahuagin. Other alterations included the transformation of a lower story room into a gladitorial arena and the use of captured slaves to create new hallways and rooms on the upper level.

History

The River Spire was the home of the Sunny Shore Tribe for decades before 1496 and was steadily expanded as the tribe's needs grew
In 1496, the Javan River Spire was captured by sahuagin under Baroness Seklaz, who was under the influence of the aboleth S'gothgah from a Banesmark on her body. Aided secretly by the aboleth, Seklaz conquered the Spire and intended on turning it into a fortress to launch raids across the northern Sword Coast.
During this period of occupation, all but one level of the spire was intentionally sunk, while the topmost level was in the process of being expanded by captured slaves from the Sunny Shore Tribe, Saltmarsh, and beyond.
On the Autumn Equinox of 1496, the Dunwater Alliance, comprised of lizardfolk, Marshers, locathah, and merfolk arrived to eliminate the sahuagin occupiers, taking advantage of a sahuagin holiday on the Equinox that involves over-gorging on food. During the resulting Battle of the Spire, the Heroes of Saltmarsh distinguished themselves by sneaking into the Spire and killing sahuagin, sealing access to their armory, eliminating a religious manifestation of Sekolah, and freeing numerous slaves. The Battle of the Spire was an overwhelming victory for the Dunwater Alliance, resulting in the death of Baroness Seklaz and forcing her non-Banesmarked husband Baron Kepmak to flee.
Following this victory, the Sunny Shore Tribe began moving back into the Javan River Spire from their temporary exile at the Dunwater Den, though this process took some time. The tribe also began expanding the spire's interior and sealing the flooded entrances to make the spaces livable again.

Type

Fortress

Parent Location

Mere of Dead Men

Owner

Proudscar

Owning Organization

Sunny Shore Tribe

Characters in Location

• Deeproot
• Proudscar
• Worldseeker