7. River Huts

Perched on the northern outskirts of Nulb, just before the bridge leading into the village, lie a cluster of ramshackle river huts. These homes, cobbled together from discarded boat parts, salvaged planks, and thatch, belong to two interwoven families of fishmongers and trappers. While they appear as simple folk eking out a meager living, the River Huts hide a tenuous balance of survival and scheming, as their inhabitants navigate Nulb’s murky politics between pirates, bandits, and smugglers.

Physical Description of the Huts

• Primary Structures: Two huts, each home to a different family.
• Fishing Operations: The families operate several rowboats and nets, trading fish, eels, and mud crabs.
• Secluded Location: Tucked near the riverbanks, they see little direct oversight from Nulb’s powers.
• Smuggling Potential: Their riverside position makes them a prime drop-off point for illicit goods.

Daily Life & Trade

• Fishing & Trapping: The two families supply fresh fish, smoked eel, and crabs to the taverns, market, and bandit camps.
• Boat Repairs & Salvage: Broken boats find their way here, often repurposed for new use.
• Smuggling & Secrets: The huts serve as a convenient hand-off point for smugglers operating along Imeryd's Run.
• Political Balancing Act: The fishermen are forced to deal with both bandits and Nysera’s forces, playing each side for survival.

"The church gives us some hope, some feeling of belonging to something greater, especially when the nets come up empty."

Political Relationships and Religious Affiliations

• Followers of the Cult: Both families are followers of the Cult of the Elder Elemental God, participating in village religious services presided over by Yatic whenever possible, indicating a spiritual layer to their otherwise pragmatic lives.
• Interaction with Lady Nysera’s Regime: The families maintain a cautious relationship with the political powers in Nulb, primarily focused on survival rather than involvement in village politics.

"Lady Lmag keeps the peace, sort of. It’s a harsh peace, but better than no peace at all."

Views on Bandits and Pirates

• Concerns About Safety: The families harbor concerns about the bandits and pirates who frequent Nulb, viewing them as direct threats to their safety and livelihood.
• Bitter Opinions: They are particularly bitter about the disruption these groups cause, feeling that their presence undermines the stability and security of their community.

"Those bandits and pirates bring nothing but trouble. They scare the fish and the folk alike."

Faction Relationships

Nysera Krivaltis & The Iron Talons

• Nysera’s forces rely on the fishermen for fresh food.
• Jorvas feeds them information in exchange for protection.
• Karn wants nothing to do with them but knows resisting would be dangerous.

The Crimson Reapers

• The bandits extort fish from the families, making life miserable.
• Toris Eelcutter has secret dealings with Felix Fahnor, occasionally helping move stolen goods.
• Fenna despises them and dreams of finding a way to drive them out.

The Broken Blades

• Kepala’s mercenaries avoid the huts, seeing them as beneath their notice.
• However, they respect Karn’s ability to navigate the river and sometimes pay for his guidance.

Temple of Elemental Evil Agents

• The Temple has no official dealings with the fishermen but keeps an eye on them.
• Rumors circulate that the fishermen’s boats may have unknowingly carried Temple shipments.
• Jorvas suspects something darker lies beneath these waters but keeps his mouth shut.

Adventure Hooks

• Vanishing Cargo: A shipment meant for the Temple goes missing—both the Reapers and Nysera’s forces suspect the fishermen.
• A Desperate Plea: Fenna hires the PCs to sabotage the Reapers, hoping to disrupt their hold over her family.
• Targ’s Secret Map: The half-mad old pirate swears he knows the way to a hidden stash of treasure—but is he just rambling, or does his map hold truth?
• Bandit Tensions Boil Over: The Broken Blades, fed up with the Reapers’ control over Nulb, start raiding their supply lines—including fish meant for Nysera’s men.

Conclusion

The River Huts are more than a collection of humble fishermen—they are a tangled web of alliances, grudges, and underhanded dealings. Whether the PCs seek allies, information, or a quiet place to rest, they will quickly find that even the most unassuming people in Nulb are forced to pick sides.

Ladro fisherman by 3orcs

Nulb Fishing Huts by 3orcs

"Life in Nulb is tough, but it's our home. The river gives, and the river takes, but we always find a way to keep the nets full."

Jorvas & The Eelcutters

• Jorvas Eelcutter (Male Human, NE): Patriarch of the Eelcutter family, a leathery old fisherman with a greedy glint in his eye. He runs the primary fish trade but secretly moonlights as an informant for Nysera’s men, Iron Talons: The Men of the Baroness.
• Merrin Eelcutter (Female Human, TN): Jorvas’ wife, tough and sharp-tongued. She manages the drying racks and smoking fish, ensuring that product reaches the markets.
• Harl & Toris Eelcutter (Male Twins, CN): Their sons, broad-shouldered and quick-tempered, who double as part-time poachers and occasional muscle for smugglers. Toris is rumored to have ties to the Crimson Reapers.

Alternative Names

Fishmongers

Type

Hut

Parent Location

Nulb