Your Guide to Seaton

As my campaign shifts from Saltmarsh to Seaton, I felt I needed a good map of the town. I did lots of searching but couldn't find a good map I liked so I made my own. I created it using the Medieval Fantasy City Generator.

The folk of Saltmarsh point to Seaton as an example of the fate they want to avoid. For years, Seaton was about twice as large as Saltmarsh and enjoyed prosperous fishing and shipping industries. When King Kimbertos Skotti turned his attention south to deal with the Sea Princes, his admirals chose Seaton as the location for an important military port. Today, Seaton has been transformed from a robust fishing town into a drab fortress. Seaton’s harbor is heavily fortified, and a large garrison of naval ships, infantry, and cavalry serves as the primary defense point for the region.

Duke Marik Feldren  rules over the town in his capacity of governor of the southern province that includes Seaton. King Skotti actually granted Marik’s older brother, the war hero Obertus Feldren, governorship of the province. But the affable duke’s reign was short-lived, for he fell ill and died a year later. The title then fell to Marik.

During Obertus' governorship, focus was placed on mercantile trade. Obertus allowed several structures to be constructed outside the city's walls. These buildings would be a strategic liability in the event of a siege but were essential to serving the growing agricultural fields and burgeoning trade. The population increased from 1000 to 5000. 

Obertus died of a mysterious illness a little over a year ago. Marik quickly assumed control of Seaton. He quickly replaced Obertus' advisers with new military advisers from the capital. Chief among them was Admiral Kovensky who had for many years unsuccessfully lobbied Obertus on a plan of intense militarization of Seaton and a more aggressive posture towards the Sea Princes to the southwest. 

Marik ordered the confiscation and destruction of the buildings outside the walls, leaving bare earth and foundations. Following Kovensky's counsel, Marik ordered the construction of additional naval ships and pressed many of the civilian sailors into naval service. Marik reduced mercantile trade and dedicated those docks to the newly constructed naval warships. Many of the civilian and commercial interests of Seaton fled the town and the empty structures were converted to military barracks and storage.

It was recently discovered that the death of Obertus was staged by his twin brother Marik. Obertus did not die. In fact he was poisoned by Marik and trapped within a magic mirror housed in a secret vault beneath the monastery of corrupt monks on Leper Island. Marik hired a ship by Captain Horatio Vile to secretly transport him to the monastery every few months.

Two months ago Marik appeared in Saltmarsh with mild amnesia. He had been betrayed by Captain Vile . Marik had been captured and held prisoner by Captain Vile - it was later discovered that Vile was in league with the same forces he had employed to imprison Marik's brother Obertus. The unconscious bodies of both Marik and Captain Vile were found near Saltmarsh by an anonymous group and turned over Eliander Fireborn.

Marik regained his faculties and returned to Seaton with Captain Vile as his prisoner. The following two months marked a shocking change in Marik's long-term strategy. After his return to Seaton Marik recalled the navy from their patrols and dismissed their crews and officers. He sent the soldiers of Seaton on missions into the Dreadwood. He dismissed his advisers and courtiers. In their place he appointed Gellan Primewater, a merchant from Saltmarsh. Marik imprisoned Admiral Kovensky without trial. He then pardoned Captain Vile for his crimes and placed him in charge of the naval fleet! Marik gave safe harbor to known pirates and smugglers. The most shocking surprise, however, came when he dismissed the citadel guard and replaced them with hobgoblin mercenaries of unknown provenance! 

Obertus was eventually found and rescued by a band of adventurers in the employ of his daughter Lemundo. Obertus, Lemundo, and their band of insurgents confronted Marik in the audience chamber of the citadel. Marik's hobgoblin guards were defeated. Gellan Primewater was killed. Admiral Kovensky, having been freed by the insurgents, died in the battle. Captain Vile was captured and imprisoned. Marik was likewise imprisoned for his treachery. 

The days following the miraculous return of Duke Obertus Feldren were marked with looting as the pirates and mercenaries sheltering in Seaton fled before the return of the reactivated citadel guard. Since then Obertus has reinstated his original advisers and bureaucrats and has begun rebuilding the military forces of Seaton. Obertus invited the merchant houses to return to Seaton and has restored confiscated land to the original civilian owners. 

Seaton is rebuilding and is on its path towards a full recovery.