“If the Docks are the door, the Seaside Market is the hall.”
—Aulvant Brine, Peddler
The Docks are home to countless small shops and pubs, all catering to the varied tastes and interests of those who brave the seas to reach Freeport. Although, only the Seaside Market comes close to reflecting the cosmopolitan nature of the Docks. This thriving corridor is the true crucible of the Docks, for here is where most merchants sell their wares and most travelers make purchases. Goods from all over the world change hands beneath the tents and out of the backs of carts. Exotic fruits, grains, livestock, and other perishables can be found here, but this place also holds great treasures for those with the coin to spend.
One vendor may deal in priceless relics brought forth from the ancient tombs of Hamunaptra, while another may peddle silks brought from far-flung Narajan. Weapons, armor, curiosities, and treasures are all for sale. Of course, there’s no shortage of cutpurses and thieves who’ll get their coin through less honest means, but this is a busy and important part of Freeport, forming the very spine of the city’s economy.
shoppers can find almost anything they might want—for a price.
The entire area is crammed full of tents, tables, and stalls, all filled to overflowing with all sorts of merchandise ranging from fresh fish and imported vegetables to live cattle to books to weaponry of all kinds.
Goods of a magical nature can be found here as well, and spellcasters come from all over the city to acquire weird ingredients for their sorcerous pursuits.
Wherever there’s such a large amount of unbridled commerce, there are also thieves and con men of all stripes. The Seaside Market is not the safest place in the city, even in broad daylight, and the Watch is notorious for ignoring anything short of an outright brawl in the narrow aisles between the merchants.
Even with the risk of theft, people come here in droves. The prices are generally much cheaper than elsewhere in the city, so many people make regular pilgrimages down to the Seaside Market for necessities.
k
eyf
iGuresThe Seaside Market is packed with people from sunrise to sunset.
No matter their station, occupation, or purpose, folks from all walks can be found strolling through the maze of tents and stalls.
b
runnorW
AllinGston Brunnor Wallingston (male dwarf apprentice) runs a small business selling a broad selection of potions, elixirs, unguents, incenses, and more. Everything from virility concoctions to love potions to more magical substances can be had for the right price. Brunnor claims to brew all his own wares, but in truth, he has two wizards working off their debt of passage in the basement of his home a few blocks over. He’s probably the biggest mage smuggler in the region, bringing renegades and exiles from the Continent to Freeport in exchange for a year of service, brewing alchemical substances and magical potions.On the side, Brunnor also dabbles in poisons, but he keeps his side business secret, dealing only with referrals.
A stout dwarf, Brunnor stands just under five feet tall and weighs approximately two hundred and fifty pounds. He has black hair that he wears in long braids, his beard is full and black, and he has an onyx stone inserted in the socket of his missing left eye.
h
Alkost
remiirThe Halfling Benevolent Association has many eyes and ears scattered throughout the city. One such spy is a barber and physician named Halkos Tremiir (male elf journeyman). Nearly penniless and on the brink of destitution, Orm Redleaf (see Eastern District) offered to pull him back to his feet, so to speak, in exchange for keeping an ear out for any rumors or gossip that might be of interest. Halkos had had enough tragedy in his life, so he agreed. The Halfling Benevolent Association set him up with a stall in the Seaside Market and a tenement nearby. In exchange, they want information.
Halkos puts on a friendly face to his customers, and he enjoys his work, eavesdropping and gossiping about other people’s business. He keeps his head shaved to the scalp, has long, pierced ears, and has a pale complexion. While working, he wears a long, white coat overtop of a mail shirt to ensure he’s protected from any disgruntled clients.
j
Aminys
WiftA notorious thief and scamp, Jaminy Swift (male human apprentice) is an adolescent that roves the Seaside Market. He’s in charge of a gang
of urchins who share his talents for larceny. A former stowaway who happened to land in Freeport, Jaminy has survived by his wits, speed, and cherubic looks. A few fishwives have tried to reform the boy, but all attempts have ended in disaster. Despite their failures, Jaminy is well liked in the market, and most folks pay him a few coins each week to keep him and his thieves away from their merchandise.
Jaminy controls a gang of two dozen orphans ranging in age from six to thirteen. He’s the undisputed leader, and none of the children would dare cross him. The group lives with a pack of aggressive dogs in an abandoned warehouse, buried beneath a jumble of buildings in the Docks.
Jaminy has red hair and freckles, stands five feet tall, and weighs eighty pounds. He wears a fine white shirt, snug breeches, and a pair of soft leather shoes he stole from a disagreeable gnome last year.
n
evtAlAthien Owner of Nev’s Leather, Nevtalathien (female half-elf journeyman) is a veteran mercenary who settled in Freeport after spending a life as a sell sword. Remembering the city fondly from her infrequent visits in the past, she decided to try her luck at an honest life. She opened a leatherworker’s business in the Seaside Market and found Freeport was as good a home as any and retired here. Still, Nev sometimes goes away for a few weeks, only to return with a fresh new batch of scars.Nev resents her elven ancestry and is cool, bordering on rude to elven customers. She has bright green eyes and refined features hinting at her fey heritage. She’s pretty, but her experience in battle and her age has left her sour and cynical.
p
iousp
eteAnother famous character of the Seaside Market is Pious Pete (male human journeyman). This scruffy old salt claims to have once been a priest who had to flee the Continent after a misunderstanding.
Rather than draw undue attention by establishing a new order to his mysterious god, Pete gave up the cloth in favor of a life of drinking.
He had a great time, but he ran out of money quickly. He set out to find something easy to do, having no love for honest labor. Since walking was about the extent of his effort, he learned a lot about the city. In the space of a year, he had learned the names of most streets and alleys, figuring out short cuts and routes to avoid. Then it struck him. People got lost in Freeport all the time, and he knew the city. Why not get paid for leading folks around? And so, Pious Pete became a guide.
Pious Pete doesn’t look like much. He’s grizzled with a white beard stained yellow around the mouth, a red face, and a bald head. He smells a bit like sour milk and old vomit. He’s rarely far from a bottle.
He’s a bit obsessed with bottles. When he finishes a drink, he ties a string around the neck and hangs it from his shirt, the bottles clinking together as he walks. When deep in his cups, he sometimes speaks in a strange language and makes odd gestures as if performing some religious ritual.
A
dventures
eedsMost of the merchants working in the Seaside Market are honest folk—they have a reputation to uphold, after all. There are a few places, usually behind an innocent front, that cater to those seeking illicit goods. There’s a thriving black market here, and those looking for suspect equipment or dangerous information will find it.
A few days ago, a strange ship bearing odd markings docked at the wharves. The ship was white with white sails. It flew a few banners, but they were all the same: black with a white eye in the center. The ship had no cargo except for four masked men in white robes. They spoke to no one, paid their docking fee in mithral coins, and disappeared into the crowds. No one has seen them since. A few daring thieves boarded the ship, but they found nothing—no food, no water, nothing. Then, as abruptly as the ship appeared, it vanished. Since the arrival, Pious Pete has been a bit nervous, though he doesn’t explain why. He refuses to be alone, and he hasn’t slept in the same place for weeks, moving from flophouse to flophouse.
l AW And o rder
As with most other districts in the city, the Docks have a branch of the Freeport Watch to maintain order. Watch Captain Cadawar Creed (male human journeyman) recruits his watchmen from locals, drawing heavily from sailors and pirates, bouncers, and bravos. The result is an eclectic mix of morally ambiguous toughs who are more than willing to turn a blind eye toward crime if properly plied with gold.
Those who sign up with the Watch receive a blue armband and a stout cudgel. Armor, swords, and other necessary accoutrements are left to the watchmen to provide. As a result, the most suspicious sorts are the ones who wear a shirt of mail and have a sword hanging from their belts, since such luxuries are costly and are usually funded by bribes and pay-offs.
Patrols rarely follow a regular pattern. Groups of two to five watchmen congregate in pubs or in front of brothels to flirt with the ladies. The most dedicated may walk the wharves, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. These teams usually include a sergeant who has the authority and the grit to keep the wayward watchmen in line. The Watch never patrols at night, though a handful of men can be called upon at the Watch Station in case of an emergency.
Tainted Oysters Cause Chaos in Seaside Market
— T he Shipping News
The market is a common place to buy and sell illicit goods. The heroes might be able to find items or information they need here, but sometimes the sellers have agendas of their own. This would also be an excellent place for a gang war to break out, as it’s one of the most valuable pieces of territory for shakedowns and the like.