Page 168 - ghosts-of-saltmarsh

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1: Harbor Master
2: Frother's lamp
3: Marketplace
4: City Garrison
5: City Hall
6: Refrum's Workshop
TO LAMDGRAVE'S 7: Dory's Warehouse
8: Rashlen Manor
• FOLLY 9: Thornwell Tower
10: Mortuary
11: Hopene'er Asylum
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M/\P 8 1: THE 5TVES

LIFE IN THE STYES TAVERNS AND I NNS
Taverns are everywhere in the Styes, ranging from large
In better days, the fact that the Styes was sheltered from
public houses to holes-in-the-wall with two tables and
offshore winds was one of its more desirable qualities.
nothing but acrid, home-brewed rotgut on tap. The cli-
Now, the Alchemists' Quarter spews a permanent mi-
entele are uniformly glum and morose, and brawls and
asma of acrid. rancid yellow vapor that hangs above the
fights are common. The best taverns in the Styes would
district and coats its walls and roofs with a greasy film.
be considered dives in most cities- and its inns are no
The dense population of the decaying district makes
better. Visitors are advised to bring their own bedding
the waters around the port swirl with sewage, blood
to avoid bugs, and to move the bed in front of the door to
and offal from butchers. lye and fur from tanners. and
keep out burglars and unscrupulous innkeepers.
indescribable chemical mixtures from alchemists. In the
eastern portion of the Styes, the pollution is so bad that RELJCJON
the river's flow has been diverted, leaving a large portion Though religion is important to many of the Styes' cit-
of the district's boardwalks suspended over a wallow of izens, no public temples operate in the district. This is
rancid mud. partially because the councillors impose steep taxes on
the faithful, to prevent religious leaders from becoming
MERCHANDISE
too popular and eroding the councirs authority. But
Most items for sale in the Styes can be had for standard
beyond this, even the most dedicated members of the
prices, but they are of noticeably substandard quality.
clergy are eventually overwhelmed by the region's emo-
Anyone who walks around in fancy clothing. brightly
tionally fatiguing problems.
colored accessories, flashy jewelry. or with expensive
Disease. famine, cruelty. and brutality weigh so heav-
weapons or armor on display is bound to attract un-
ily on the Styes that well-meaning clerics are driven to
wanted attention from thieves, opportunistic merchants,
despair. Small temples dedicated to gods of healing and
and any local willing to commit a crime of opportunity
charity operate quietly in nondescript buildings, and
(which is to say most of them). Bartering is common
tiny shrines can be found in alleys and cul-de-sacs all
in the district, and characters will find it difficult if not
over the district. Beyond these, only one organized faith
impossible to sell anything with a value over 75 gp for
exists in secret in the Styes. and it plays a central role in
cash. Local merchants don't have that much coinage on
the adventure- the cult of Tharizdun.
hand. or won·t admit it if they do.
c 11 'r• 1 PR s I 1111 "rn s