Silcost

Silcost is a city in the Astran League, one the southern shorn of the Inmer. It is well known for it's white-golden beaches, making it a beloved getaway destination for the wealthy. The city is also one of the biggest trading hubs on the southern shore of the Inmer as it serves as the main port delivering goods to and from Rivemont.

The city consists of some ten-thousand permanent residents, though this number is known to increase during the annual Day of Lunar Renewal.

Silcost's main economic driver is shipping of food and precious materials to Rivemont and jewelry, fine clothes, and cultural artifacts from the local capital. While fishing provides a large portion of its food, the local land is cultivated to yield many fruits and vegetables, and supports a number of vineyards.

Points of Interest

• The harbor on the shore of the Inmer, with room for over a dozen large ships to dock at once and warehouses to stock non-perishables.
• The Hall of Commerce, run by the Merchant's Guild, is the place to sell and buy goods coming into Silcost.
• Silcost Lyceum, an offshoot of the Lyceum in Suhder. The Lyceum is the local source of higher education, and center of learning and knowledge in this area. Specialty is the Inmer - its history, current ecology, and ties to the Crepuscular Annihilation. Access to their library is expensive and temporary.
• The Gilded Shore, referring both to the white-gold sand beaches and the expensive villas about a mile from the city.
• The Swimming Seamen, the best known sailor's tavern and whorehouse in Silcost - a large, three story building with the best view of the Inmer.

History

Lorem Ipsum etc etc

Services

Inns / Taverns

The Swimming Seamen Inn

• A tourist attraction all by itself. The massive tavern sits at a stone toss from the harbor and offers any service a sailor might want; hard liquor, live music, and pleasures of the flesh.
• The owner is Ioan Tavrel, a middle aged human. He is one of the bartenders. The tavern has several barmaids walking around the place as well.
• Patrons are rowdy, drunk, and generally enjoying themselves. Barfights may occur.
• Security at the front door is taken care of by a large goliath woman and a dragonborn man. Security inside is handled by a large, muscular ogre called Grumish.

Loaded Clipper tavern

• A pretty worn down dive bar with only a few guests every day. The drinks are very cheap and pretty shitty.
• The barkeep is a grumpy old Dwarf named Gramnum Buzzohk.
• There are a couple of patrons drinking and reading by themselves. They keep an eye on any new patrons coming in.
• The loaded clipper is a front for the local Stalkir base. The stairs into the base are located in the storage behind the bar. The Password is "A good deed will always be rewarded".

Silcost Stalkir Hideout

• This chapter has about 20 people. It is lead by Grief Dumein. Devon Presto is also part of this chapter.
• A thin, winding stairway leading down into a wide underground room with a low ceiling. There are at least 5 people here at any given time.
  • The Room leads into a couple of sleeping quarters, a storage, and into another hallway that connects to the center sewer tunnel that leads down into the Inmer, and connects to some sewer grates around the central street of Silcost.

NPCs

• Dereck Solsokar, adventurer and former gladiator. A human in his mid twenties. He is handsome and muscular, but looking somewhat disheveled and worried as he walks around the town looking rather lost. He will ask the players if they have seen a woman named "Serrula". See Quests for more info.
• Halvard the Barbarian, mercenary. A human in his early thirties. He can be found in the Loaded Clipper tavern, drinking and with a stone in hand. Players entering will find him staring at them continuedly. Paying attention to him players will see him whispering to a rock.
• Genn Pehl, A half-elf man and wealthy merchant, owner of the Silcost Transport Fleet. A town crier makes it known that a man called Devon Presto now has a bounty on his head for breaking into his house and attempting to molest his daughter. The bounty is 500 gold and the golden tip, or the man delivered to the Lawmaster's office will be rewarded with said bounty. Genn resides in his mansion in the very center of town.
• Devon Presto, thief and fence of the local Stalkir. Devon is a young half-elf in his early twenties.
• Faelin Pehl, a young half-elf woman and daughter of Genn Pehl.
• Ioan Tavrel, owner of the Swimming Seamen Inn. A jolly and jovial man in his fifties with a love for the people around him. He employs many people others wouldn't take a chance on and where the ladies of the night would otherwise be unsafe he gives them a place to safely practice their work.
• Galsys Woonnar, Silcost Lawmaster. A gnome in her early 200s. A warm woman with a deep care for Silcost and its inhabitants - even those judged irredeemable by others. Galsys' goal is to see to it that the laws are applied equally to all, no matter their standing.
• Ivellios Suithrasas , Silcost Scalewatch captain. An elf in his late 200s. A stern man with little patience for those that waste his time, but generous to those who have earned his trust. Ivelious' goal is to weed out the rotten underbelly of the city, both criminals and corrupt(ing) officials.
• Grief Dumein, head of the local Stalkir chapter. A dark-green skinned Tiefling in her late 40s. Intelligent, cunning, perceptive - with a good sense of humor and a mind for business. Grief's goal aligns with the larger Stalkir goal to be the bridge between legitimate and illegitimate business.
• Morrigg Drankehr, beggar. A dwarf in his early 90's, although he may look near 200. Morrig is hopeless alcoholic, but has found a twisted sort of pride in his uniqueness - thinking himself as some sort of prophet of truth. Morrigg's goal is to show everyone how wrong they are about him and make it in life.
• Phaele Stamaraster, Lyceum Archivist. Human in her early 30's. Secretly a kleptomaniac and has a hoard of books belonging to the Lyceum at home.
• Hama Mostana, Lyceum Vault Keeper. Earth Genasi in her late 30's.
• Sutha Hrend, Wealthy merchant and owner of about a third of all buildings in Silcost. An orc in her late 50's.
• Jheluum, Silcost Dock master. A goblin in her late teens.
• Anakis Lackman, Captain of the Breezerider. A red skinned Tiefling in her 60's.
• Snoring Mountain , Captain of the Tailwind. A Tabaxi in her early 20s
• Aial Rek'Ta, Purveyor of the Gilded Shores. An Aarakocra in his late 50s.

Going Ons

Quest 1: An Invasion of Privacy

A local merchant has put a bounty on the head of the man who snuck into his daughter quarters to defile her.

1. Quest giver: Town Crier / Bounty Board
2. Perceived problem: A man, Devon Presto, snuck into Genn Pehl daughter's quarters to defile her, he wants the man brought to justice.
3. Actual Problem: The man in question is his daughter's suitor and she invited him in.
4. Actual Actual Problem: Devon is a member of the Stalkir and wants to marry into the Pehl family to gain access to their wealth and connections. While Devon finds Faelin attractive, he does not reciprocate her feelings and only wants to use her as an in.

Information can be obtained at the Pehl Mansion from Genn or Faelin, or at the local lawmaster.

• Genn will paint a picture of ruffian with evil intentions, show his daughters room (Mostly clean, dc 20 investigation check to find a nickel-iron belt buckle under one of the drapes) from where he escaped, the damages rose bushes in the garden (dc 15 investigation check to find a scrap of white linen on one of the rose thorns), and the scuff marks on the metal fence.
• Faelin will only speak to the players if they are alone. She will tell them that she and Devon are in love, but that her father would never approve of their marriage. She tells them she wants to run away with Devon and that they have a secret meeting place; near the cemetery gates at midnight. She will only tell of this meeting place if the players promise not to rat him out (she is very naive).
• The Lawmaster will tell the players that Devon was found in Faelin's room, escaped out of the window, and disappeared into the night. She will share her suspicion that he might be a local thief as he matched the description given to her by multiple locals of a man stealing goods.

Devon Presto is laying low in the local Stalkir's headquarters below the Loaded Clipper tavern.

Quest 2: A Siren's Song

Ioan Tavrel needs help with some strangeness going on in his tavern...

1. Quest Giver: Ioan Tavrel, owner of the Swimming Seamen tavern.
2. Perceived problem: Men have been disappearing from the Swimming Seamen in the dark of night.
3. Actual Problem: One of the ladies of the night is actually a siren in disguise. She charms these men and makes them walk into the Inmer, where her coven takes them to their lair.
4. How does this relate to more story:

Over the last 3 weeks 4 men have disappeared. They were last seen at the Swimming Seamen, and their descriptions match with men who slept with one of three women. None of them seem to know anything about it, and all claim these men just got up in the middle of the night and walked out of the room.

• Lealla Springrun is a very attractive Half-Elf; Dark skin, dark hair, green eyes, and a body to kill for. She is also very soft spoken and knows exactly what men like. She slept with two of the disappeared men (Grennog Slosh, a half-orc sailor - and Hanno Lium, a human sailor).
• Qirana Bigbottle, is a voluptuous halfling with beautiful long blond curls, silky white skin, and big brown eyes. She's well known around the Seamen for her no-nonsense attitude and humor. She slept with one of the disappeared men (Valrin Fastbluff, a halfling navigator).
• Zenise Vehrial, is a red-skinned Tiefling with large horns running by the side of her head. Beautiful in her own right with completely black eyes and long, dark hair - she is most popular with those who enjoy her forked tongue, but most well known for her beautiful singing. She performs twice a week. She slept with one of the disappeared men (Velin Firewood, a traveling merchant).

Clues Zenise Vahrial is the perpetrator

• Following Zenise will see her walk out of town to converse with her Siren sisters (at around sundown). She does this daily if she has no clients that day. (Can decide or roll for this. 50-50 chance)
• Watching her performance will cause male onlookers to be charmed by her. This is a spell-like magical ability and can be detected using detect magic. Characters attracted to women roll a dc 13 will save.

Others will say this if asked

• Zenise is the newest member of "Sea Ladies". She started working here about 4 months ago.
• Her diet consists of seafood and fish exclusively.
• Zenise hides in her room for large portions of the day. When asked about it she (and others) tell her that she likes the quiet.

Her room The room is largely a regular room, with a bed, couch, and sofa. It also has a large mirror set above a beauty table, and a large closet.

• There are multiple caterpillar cocoons scattered through her personal belongings (Spellcasting component for Polymorph).
• Zenise has a large bath tub in her room (The others don't).
• Her large closet is entirely empty - she has no clothes whatsoever.
• If a player hides in her room while she is with a client, and the player is undetected (use her passive perception vs stealth role) she will magically charm her victim (which drops polymorph and reveal her to be a siren).

Quest 3: Ghosts in the Cemetery

1. Quest Giver: Morrigg Drankehr, a homeless Dwarf beggar - often drunk and seen as delusional.
2. Perceived problem: He has seen ghosts coming out of the cemetery mausoleum and is telling / screaming at people they should be aware of the ghosts that they should watch for ghosts in the streets. He saw these ghosts the night the night before.
3. Actual Problem: A small unit of Hobgoblin operatives, lead by a mage called Zarin Rhec, came out of the mausoleum and were seen by Morrigg. The group was made up of 4 hobgoblins. The group that accompanies them waits outside of the town.
4. How does this relate to more story: Zarin is looking for ancient teleportation circles embedded in the tombs of historical figures.

Quest 4: The Cursed Gladiator

Gladiator / Adventurer looking to be un-cursed.

1. Quest Giver: Dereck Solsokar is a human man in his late twenties. He is a handsome and charismatic man and used to be a gladiator in the Radion in Suhder.
2. Perceived problem: He has been cursed to feel everything his weapon does. Not a specific weapon - any weapon he carries. This makes his life very uncomfortable and he wants to get rid of this curse.
3. Actual Problem: That's it.
4. How does this relate to more story:

Notes:

• He says he has been cursed by a fan who's feelings he didn't reciprocate.
• He believes he has to be un-cursed by this fan, and only this fan. Him and his friends came up with this because that's how it goes in the fairy tails and stories about curses.
• The curse can be lifted by a simple "Remove Curse" spell, but he has not tried it because of the above.

Quest 5: ???

Missing people > all work @ resort > enslaved / sacrificed to entity (god, demon, warlock patron?) one person is a warlock and has promised power to others for these sacrifices but really they are only empowering their patron and by extension themselves.

1. Quest Giver: Missing People poster, the Lawmaster after having done another job first.
2. Perceived problem: A total of 9 people have gone missing over the last few weeks. While a missing person happens every so often, it is never this many and there is no apparent pattern.
3. Actual Problem: People working at the Gilded Shores have been captured by one of the rich guests to use in his demonic ritual. Other rich patrons of the resort have been roped in and promised great power if they participate, unknowingly becoming sacrifices themselves.
4. How does this relate to more story:

Situation

Aial Rek'Ta, purveyor of the Gilded Shore, has been roped into helping Chassath Delmirev, a wealthy patron at the resort. Chassath has requested people to be brought his chambers, where he conducts bizarre rituals with these people. While they do not die, they lose all semblance of self as they sit almost lifelessly in the room with Chassath, only able to do simple tasks when commanded to.

Chassath has shown great power, and has promised both Aial and two other patrons at the establishment a share in this power if they participate in these rituals. Aial has already been able to cast magic through this pact (Simple prestidigitation cantrip). Little do these people know that Chassath's patron - A Nalfashnee named Baroardagh is using the power generated from the souls of these people to open a portal into the Prime Material plane so he can consume their flesh.

Chassath needs 5 days from the moment the players arrive in Silcost to prepare the ritual necessary to open the portal to the location in the Nine Hells where Baroardagh is located.

Note; a low level party will not be able to defeat Baroardagh. Their only chance is to stop Chassath (a fifth level Warlock with Fiend patron) before he opens the portal, or use a spell like "Dispel Magic" on the portal before the fiend steps through.

People gone missing

• Mara Lackman, human woman in her 20s. Last seen three weeks ago. Worked at the Gilded Shores, the owner says she never showed up for work.
• Eida Honeypot, halfling woman in her 30s. Last seen three weeks ago when she went for a late night walk down the beach, heading north. Visited family in Silcost.
• Hogar Dedun, half-orc man in his 40s. Last seen two weeks ago.
• Vaunea Kalagiano, goliath woman in her 20s. Last seen two weeks ago.
• Krenaste Seerear, elf man in his 70s. Last seen two weeks ago.
• Eldeth Broodfist, dwarf woman in her 200s. Last seen two weeks ago. According to the report she was making a delivery to the Gilded Shores, the owner says she was never seen there. (Part of the Stalkir)
• Madislak Stayanoga, human man in his 30s. Last seen two weeks ago.
• Ikki, Aarakocra female in her late teens. Last seen this week.
• Merla Bigheart, halfling folk in their 40s. Last seen 5 days ago.

Quest 6

1. Quest Giver:
2. Perceived problem:
3. Actual Problem:
4. How does this relate to more story: