Masthead

On the surface, the city state of Masthead, seems to be ruled by a nonchalant monarch, sitting in The Black Palace - known for its ominous obsidian halls - feasting and doing nothing for his kingdom. However, underneath, the city is run by a guild of theives and assassins, headed up by the Hammershaft siblings, a family of Half Orcs who escaped trial for murder in their hometown in the mountains and singlehandedly overthrew the previous monarch, instating King Romen I as his replacement.

The city itself is dirty, and dangerous, cutpurses on every corner the least of a traveler's worries. The city guard is of no use either, often the cause of some of the worse violence in the city. The inhabitants live in constant fear, but they do experience benefits. With the lack of law comes freedom, and the city attracts trade from all over Celdon, making its inhabitants deceptively prosperous.

For an unknown reason Masthead has a reputation for deep distrust of magical ability, especially those whose very nature is based on it, and as such the Planetouched are rarely well treated, being lucky if they ever leave the city alive.

Sovereignty
The city state of Masthead is a part of The Rested Coast Confederacy.

Laws
Laws in this city are decided on a whim by the city guard.

Industries

 * Trade: arms and poisons;
 * services: assassins and thieves.

Points of Interest

 * The Black Palace;
 * docks.

General
CN large city

Corruption +4; Crime +6; Economy +6; Law -5; Lore +4; Society +1

Qualities notorious, prosperous, racially intolerant (all Planetouched), rumormongering citizens, strategic location

Danger +20

Demographics
Government secret syndicate

Population 50,000 (48,200 Humans; 1,400 Gillmen; 400 other)

Notable NPCs
Head of the Guild Nargen Hammershaft (CN male Half Orc rogue 10)

Captain of the Guard Marzok Hammershaft (CE male Half Orc fighter 8)

Harbourmaster Malkroza Hammershaft (N female Half Orc expert 2/rogue 3/bard 1)

Puppet King King Romen I (N male Human aristocrat 3)

Marketplace
Base Value 13,600 gp; Purchase Limit 100,000 gp; Spellcasting 7th

Minor Items 4d4; Medium Items 3d4; Major Items 2d4