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- NPCs
- [[Captain Griswald]]
- [[Rhys(sie) Boii]]
- Shops
- [[#Brownwater Tavern]]
- [[#Herbert and Gherbert]]
- General store
- Smithy
> [!info]- Slateford Map
> The air is heavy with the scent of salt and fish, mingled with the earthy aroma of rain-soaked stone. A light, persistent drizzle falls from the pewter sky.
>
> **Slateford** is a maze of narrow, winding streets paved with smooth cobblestones. These roads, slick with ever-present rain, require a careful step, especially when the occasional gust of wind sends rainwater cascading from the eaves above. The buildings press close on either side, their upper stories seeming to lean towards each other.
>
> The architecture is a hodgepodge of styles, unified by the omnipresent slate roofs that give the city its distinctive silhouette. Most structures serve dual purposes—the ground floors house an eclectic array of shops, taverns, and businesses, while the upper levels provide modest lodgings for the owners and their families. Colorful signs swing in the breeze, competing for attention.
>
> The streets teem with life, weather-beaten sailors with sun-bleached hair rub shoulders with quick-fingered urchins darting through the crowd. Sharp-eyed merchants haggle with customers, their voices adding to the cacophony of street cries, snippets of sea shanties, and the occasional clash of steel from a mock duel or an all-too-real disagreement.
## The Docks
> In the harbor, ships of all sizes and origins bob at anchor or tie up at weathered wooden docks. The waterfront is a hive of activity, with sailors unloading exotic cargoes, fishmongers hawking the day's catch, and grizzled captains seeking crew for their next voyage.
## Brownwater Tavern
The sign outside depicts a mug overflowing with murky liquid, swinging gently in the breeze. The faint sounds of laughter and clinking glasses drift from behind a sturdy oak door. This is the **Brownwater Tavern**, a local favorite known for its potent house brew and colorful patrons.
> As you push open the heavy oak door of the **Brownwater Tavern**, you're enveloped by a wall of sound, smell, and warmth that's a stark contrast to **Slateford**'s damp streets. The air is thick with the aroma of spilled ale, pipe smoke, and something vaguely fishy.
>
> The tavern is larger than it appeared from outside, with a low-beamed ceiling and walls of dark wood that have soaked up decades of stories and secrets. Mismatched tables and chairs, some bearing scars from old brawls, are scattered throughout. In one corner, a group of grizzled sailors huddle over a game of dice, while nearby, a pair of merchants argue quietly over a contract.
>
> The heart of the tavern is its long, polished bar, behind which stands an impressive array of bottles, kegs, and mysterious containers. [[Rhys(sie) Boii|The bartender]], a strange creature with a surprisingly small head, deftly pours drinks and keeps a watchful eye on the room. Several barmaids weave expertly through the bustle without losing a single drop from the mugs of ale they carry.
## Herbert and Gherbert
Herbal sandwich shop and apothecary. Serves cold sandwiches and slightly less cold sandwiches.
[[Lili]] works here, having been taken in by the shop's proprietor.
> In the cramped space between a bookbinder's shop and what might be an entirely normal wall, **Herbert and Gherbert**'s storefront squeezes into existence like an afterthought. The hand-painted sign features two identical gherkins wearing different hats - one sporting a top hat (Herbert, presumably), the other a bowler (obviously Gherbert).
>
> Ghersephone, the local hedge witch proprietor, insists there's a crucial temperature difference between the "cold" and "slightly less cold" sandwiches, though customers rarely notice and are too charmed by them to care. Inside is a cozy muddle of mismatched furniture, hanging herbs that occasionally sneeze, and a counter that seems to rearrange itself whenever you look away. Every sandwich is wrapped in paper covered with hand-scrawled protection charms, which Gersephone swears keep them fresh.
---
## Random Encounters
### Dock Brawl
#combat
Sailors and local workers clash over accusations of stolen cargo
Harbor Watch is overwhelmed and needs assistance containing the situation
### The Night Watch
#combat
Smugglers have infiltrated the Harbor Watch
During a night shift, they plan to eliminate loyal guards and secure a smuggling route
### Oh Ship
#roleplay
Three merchant vessels have drifted out into the harbor, crew nowhere to be found.
The Harbor Watch needs help getting the ships back to port before they damage other ships.
### Missing Manifest
#mystery
Ships have begun to arrive at port with unlisted cargo, but none of the captains claim to know how they got there.
> [!question]- DM Note
> This leads the party towards finding out more about the crime body that runs the "underground" of the city.
> Further clues will lead them towards finding out [[Emrae]]'s true intentions as well as dethroning the current crime boss.
### The Winter Plague
#mystery
Several ships arrive with crews suffering from a mysterious illness
Symptoms only appear after they've already docked and unloaded cargo
Local healers are baffled by the disease's selective nature (could lead to [[Slateford#Herbert and Gherbert]])
Investigation reveals links to a specific trade route and possibly intentional contamination
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