Saltmarsh

Saltmarsh is a nondescript Port Town on the the outskirts of the Kingdom of Keoland, tucked away on the Southern Coast (The Iron Coast) of Grazoth.  It is the main hub of operations for the Salty Six and the main campaign setting for Saltmarsh: Call of the Kraken.

## History of Saltmarsh

### Recent Past

For the past few generations it has been left to its own devices by the Keolish Crown while the young Kingdom solidified power in the region and closed itself off to outside influence. The Crown's benign neglect allowed banditry and crime to flourish as well as free trade and Saltmarsh became a hub for mercantilist endeavors, smuggling, illicit activity, travelers, merchants, and adventurers. With the Crown worried about Northern Grazoth and consolidation, and dangers brought on by the 'Sunken City', the Dreadwood, and the unconquered wilds left the southern coastal regions of Keoland a backwater in regards to the central polis.

### The Rise of the 'Tide Princes'

While southern fishing towns and villages, like Saltmarsh, were content to maintain a low profile, the pirates who prowled the waters of the Azure Sea became strong enough to create to create their own realm. A loose confederacy known as The Hold of the Tide Kings. The rise of this nation of scallywags led to increased raids on Saltmarsh, Keolish trade ships, and other coastal areas. Tide Prince ships pillaged the coasts for slaves and deckhands to support their growing realm. Which caused Saltmarsh to suffer heavily.  The memories of those times loom heavily over the locals, and their hatred of the tide kings runs deep.

### The Ace's Eye: Control in the South

However in recent years the crown has completed it's consolidation of power and has set its eyes to its southern Frontier. An attempt to become more connected to the world stage as a trade power has led the crown looked to the South. Where it saw a warm water port with ties to the outside world, unchecked banditry, a rising pirate confederation, and untold ancient riches.  This led to the Ace of Iron, King Rex Eikar to set his eyes to the south, and began to exert more overt influence into Saltmarsh's warm water port in the south and it's ties to the outside world.

The Ace's strong navy, new iron clad ships, and ambition caught the Tide Prince's (who were used to meeting little to no real pushback) by surprise. And led a devastating blow to their fleet and their egos. But the shrewd Princes' were not dealt a death blow - and this conflict is by no means over.

### New Phase of Saltmarsh

The once far removed fishing village, has now caught the eye of the Crown.  Leading it to become a lynchpin in the Keolish's plan to grow into a larger trade power. The Crown's Agents want to expand the port and make it a prime location for world trade (with Jieshian and Angrezan traders, including the Flagship Trading Company, chomping at the bit). As well as trade, guards, marines, and workers have been ferried to coastal town to make it a 'proper' keolish settlement.  In recent development, The Rockseeker Mining Corporation, bearing a decree from the king himself, have arrived and begun to an excavation into the hills and seaside cliffs around Saltmarsh - searching for precious metals…and possibly something else. If their labor bears fruit as expected, the mine stands to become a major factor of prosperity in the town and the region at large.

### A Divided Populace

Naturally all of Saltmarsh's citizens and locals don't agree on the recent developments in and around their community. While recent changes promise to bring about new prosperity, many locals don't want to see their home and way of life changed. At the same time, an undercurrent sweeps below the obvious politics and opinions..