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Starting Location Document

A Starting Location Document establishes a detailed, manageable setting within a larger world, creating a focal point for initial gameplay and story development. This document outlines the local culture, economy, social structure, and significant threats or mysteries in the area. By providing an immersive foundation, it allows players to engage with a richly detailed environment from the start, giving Game Masters (GMs) a consistent reference to guide character interactions, introduce plot hooks, and build layered storytelling that naturally expands outward as the campaign progresses.

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Sable Harbor Overview Document

 

General Description

Sable Harbor is a coastal port city caught in the grip of elemental decay, where the once-thriving fishing industry is dwindling, and livelihoods are slowly slipping away. Fisherfolk Guilds serve as the backbone of the community, comprised of independent fishing families who rely on their guild customs and collective resilience to protect their homes and waters. Despite the creeping decay, Sable Harbor maintains a sense of dignity, rich in customs and lore that hold the community together.

Social Structure

The social organization of Sable Harbor centers on Fisherfolk Guilds. Each fishing family operates independently but follows long-standing guild rules and customs, uniting under a shared commitment to defend their waters. Loyalty to the guild takes precedence, with families vowing to support and protect each other in times of need.

Economy

The effects of elemental decay have taken a toll on Sable Harbor’s economy, with the fishing industry steadily declining. To adapt, residents have turned to:

  • Trade Adaptation: Families diversify into small-scale crafts and salvage work, repurposing materials from ancient shipwrecks and driftwood.

  • Maritime Salvaging: With traditional fishing in decline, some families take to exploring decayed shipwrecks, recovering goods and materials that can be bartered or sold, though this practice carries significant risk.

Cultural Beliefs & Customs

Sable Harbor’s culture is defined by three major customs, celebrated at different times of the year:

  1. The Blessing of the Tides: Families offer part of their catch or salvaged items to the sea, seeking protection and paying respect to the waters. This ritual fosters a deep bond with the sea, instilling reverence and gratitude within the guild community.

  2. The Lantern Vigil: Every year, families gather along the shore for a night of remembrance, lighting lanterns to honor lost sailors and celebrate their resilience. This tradition allows the community to mourn, remember, and renew their commitment to survival.

  3. Harbor Oaths: New families joining the Fisherfolk Guild take solemn oaths to protect each other’s boats and catches. These Harbor Oaths bind them to the guild and uphold loyalty and unity, providing a foundation of mutual trust in times of trouble.

External Forces/Threats

The relic within the dilapidated temple at the harbor’s edge is surrounded by mystery and speculation, drawing interest from both locals and outsiders. Two main legends circulate about its powers:

  • The Legend of Eternal Bounty: According to local lore, the relic holds the power to restore the harbor’s depleted fish stocks, bringing hope to those who believe in its potential to reverse the town’s decline.

  • The Cursed Artifact: In contrast, other residents see the relic as dangerous, a source of decay for any who disturb it. This rumor has attracted a pirate fleet known as the Crimson Tide, a group rumored to worship decay as a twisted force. The pirates believe the relic to be a source of power, though they may not be aware of its potential dangers.

The people of Sable Harbor are torn between fighting to protect their homes and fleeing from the impending threat, making the temple and the relic a point of intense local debate and unease.

Points of Interest

  • The Temple of the Forgotten Relic: This crumbling temple stands as both a place of reverence and fear. Some believe the relic inside holds the key to prosperity, while others see it as a cursed artifact best left untouched. The temple’s location near the docks makes it a focal point, drawing rumors, adventurers, and the ominous interest of the Crimson Tide.

  • The Fisherfolk Guild Hall: The hub of community life, where guild meetings, celebrations, and debates are held. The hall represents the unity and resilience of Sable Harbor’s people, standing as a bastion of collective strength.

  • The Driftwood Market: Located along the coast, this market showcases the salvaged goods and crafts of the Fisherfolk families. Unique artifacts, weathered wood sculptures, and other handmade items are sold here, offering locals and visitors alike a glimpse of Sable Harbor’s resourceful adaptation.

Themes and Conflict

Sable Harbor embodies a struggle between preservation and survival. The Fisherfolk Guilds hold onto their customs and loyalty to each other in the face of growing challenges, torn between their heritage and the practicalities of survival. The Crimson Tide’s approach presents an immediate threat, and the looming question of the relic’s true nature pits hope against fear.

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