North Province

North Province

Founded	830 TA
Size	Minor Kingdom
Fealty	Eastern Reaches
Ruler	Governor Nicholas Clay
Hex	3414

Overview

Portsmith is the capital of North Province, and the largest town on the Inner Sea. The port lies along the southern coast of the Inner Sea between the dwarven lands of Balinshold to the east and the Eastern Reaches to the west. The town was founded along the shipping trade route for ore and iron coming from the dwarven forges headed to the Reaches.

Portsmith consists of a harbor, docks, a small keep, and a military garrison. The harbor is protected by high, grassy cliffs which create a natural protected inlet. Warm springs keep the harbor waters from freezing except during the most extreme weather. North Province has a small garrison of foot and mounted soldiers at Portsmith, but a sizable fleet of warships harbor here with the mission of protecting merchant trade from the Sea Barons and others.

The current ruler of Portsmith is Nicholas Clay, who was elected in 908 TA to replace Jana Blackfire. Blackfire and many of her paladins and clerics were killed in the Demon Raid of 907 TA. Nicholas is a prominent citizen and a member of the Order of Merchant Keymasters. He is focused on trade and has been known to turn a blind eye towards pirates, smuggling and dark dealings. Clay rules from a newly-established merchant center, a coffee house known as the Java Bird, replacing the previous governor's house destroyed during the demon raids.

City of Portsmith

Portsmith (originally the "Port of Smiths" - referring to the early ore and iron trade) has a population exceeding 1,800 inhabitants including the permanent garrison. The port has about twenty warships. Typically, two warships are in port at any one time. Numerous fishing boats and pleasure craft dot the coastline near the city.

After the death of Jana Blackfire, Nicholas Clay retained several of Blackfire's officers, although their roles are greatly diminished:

• Amelia Wood - Captain of Guard, Order of the Crusaders
• Henry Meekson - High Justice, Order of the Silver Throne
• Faith Bladevale - Captain of the Vault

Merchant trade is the lifeblood of the city, and the caravan to and from Portsmith carry all manner of goods - well beyond its humble beginnings of ore and iron. It is rumored that the local branch of the Family is run by Jon Singleshadow and the Dark Path is headed by Gabriel Gloommantle, both have recently escaped imprisonment by the Blackfire administration.

Map of Portsmith

Establishments, Buildings, Shopkeepers and Notable Natives

Establishment Name Type Purveyor/Owner The Adder's Sting Poisoner Niko Bassett & Sons, Coffinmakers Furniture Maker Basil Bassett The Bookseller's Tale Bookseller Aaron Holmes Calvin's Cleavers Cutler Calvin Fuller Chapel of the Gyre The Gyre Sienna Bell, Priestess The Cheese Press Cheese Shop Kiara Bradley Church of the Hearth Church Father Cannon Church of the Silver Throne Church Robin Marsh, Henry Meekson (confessor) Clayware's Kiln Potter Justice Clayware The Cooperage Cooper Fennimore Deep Ship Arms Tavern Arianna Rumblebrow Dock Master Docks Old Alfred Duncow's Milkmaid Dairy Nadia Hill Fellmonger's Tannery Tanner Jacob Fellmonger The Flotsam Orphanage Orphanage Theodoric Flotsam Gaffer's Glass Glassblower Jenson Shaw Graceberry, Barber Surgeon Doctor Halyard's Ropes Happy Halyard Hardstone's Gems Jewelers Keymaster's Guildhall Merchant Bailey Springblood J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Alchemist Jonson Burkholder Lantern & Gargoyle Pub Sternbrew Long Star Inn Inn Remy Shadewood, Montgomery Walsh Louise the Alewife Brewer Louise Longdraught Master War Bows Bowyer Merfolk Point Lighthouse Lighthouse Nocks and Feathers Fletcher Ayden, Clara and Erin Rees Nocks and Feathers Fletcher Catherine Hill Old Lord's Mill Miller The One Ring Goldsmiths The Paladin's Oath Lawyer The Pitching Door Stable The Quarrymen Mason Rawhide Treasures Leatherworker Regent Woods Carpenter Woody (gnome) Scaled and Skinned Fishmonger Shoemaker's Shop Cobbler Sternpost's Maritime Shipwright Maggie Sternpost The Stick Horse Stable Vincent Woods Strong Steel Metalsmith Oliver Hilltide Sundered Anvil Armorer Sweetbreads Baker Taylors of Portsmith Pub Conor Swift Thirsty Eel Pub Leila Lane, Frederick Harper Tinplate Tinkerers Tinkerer Twill's Textiles Weaver Sarah Twill The Vault Prison Faith Bladevale, Captain of the Vault Vine to Wine Vintner Wards and Locks Locksmith Wax and Wicks Chandler Wheel of Fortune Wainwright

History of Portsmith

Founded in the early eighth century TA, the small port quickly grew into a place for the dwarven goods from the east to be unloaded for transport along the Lesser Farthing Road. The original village grew into a large town.

In 830 TA, the port was granted a title by the Crown, although the citizenry opted for an elected governor instead of a hereditary lord. The stability of Portsmith has varied over the decades with a number of factions vying for power. In addition to the elected government, The Family has a strong presence in the area, and it is rumored that members of the Dark Path can be found in the shadier corners of the port. Additionally, the mercurial Sea Barons challenge the North Province warships, when the opportunity arises. Typically, these sinister forces are balanced by the Order of Merchant Keymasters who seek to keep commerce flowing and law and order in place. The ever-shifting power in North Province has led to some periods of great unrest.

From 898-904 TA, Portsmith was ruled by Governor Linpool Lastra, a questionable merchant rumored to dabble in the black arts and demonology. Under his rule, the shadier elements gained power in the town with increases in murder, robbery and kidnappings. Linpool was killed during the Great Storm of March 904 TA when he was seen at the end of the great stone pier during the height of the storm's fury. Eyewitnesses said that he appeared to be summoning the weather, and several accounts tell of enormous octopus-shaped beasts hovering in the storm clouds - illuminated only by flashes of lightning.

So terrifying were the stories that the local population elected Jana Blackfire, a fanatical paladin of the Order of Crusaders to governor in April 904 TA. Nicknamed the Crusader of Portsmith, Blackfire invoked an edict she called "The Gavel" to bring order to the city's chaos. In addition, a large contingency from the Order of the Silver Throne descended on Portsmith to execute the edict. Order was kept through mounted patrols - called derisively the Hexmen - consisting of a cleric of the Order of the Silver Throne, a paladin of the Order of Crusaders and four guards. Crime dropped as the jails filled.

On December 11, 907 TA, Portsmith was raided by demons. The reason for the raid remains unclear, but Jana Blackfire and most of her order were slain before order was restored by the arrival of Hylax and a company of Eastern Reaches knights. On, January 1, 908 TA, the people of Portsmith elected a merchant, Nicholas Clay, as the governor of North Province. Clay has relaxed Blackfire's iron-fisted rule. Clay is currently neutral towards the Crown and at odds with the Sea Barons.

Purchasing Equipment in Portsmith

Portsmith has a number of merchant and craftmen providing a wide range of wares at competitive prices. Adventurers may purchase any items from the Pathfinder Core Rulebook equipment list (pp. 140-163) with the exceptions noted below for the listed price without roleplaying. Portsmith has a number of magic items available from its vendors, but it does not contain a Ravenswood Trading Post, so powerful items are not available here. All magic and unusual items need to be roleplayed.

Silver Weapons

Characters may buy masterwork versions of all weapons and armor. In addition, any normal weapon may be bonded with alchemical silver using the following costs. Creating items with special materials such as adamantine, darkwood, dragonhide, cold iron, mithril, etc. must be roleplayed.

Item Cost Shop Ammunition add 2 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Light Weapon add 20 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large One-handed Weapon add 90 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Two-handed Weapon add 180 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large

Magic Items

There are a fair number of magic items for sale in Portsmith. Adventurers must roleplay buying these items as their purchase may alert important NPCs to party actions. And, clever adventurers may want to try and bargain for a better price. The items listed below can be bought for any sized creature.

Item Cost Shop Armor Studded Leather +1 1500 gold Rawhide Treasures Chain Shirt +1 1500 gold The Sundered Anvil Chainmail +1 1400 gold The Sundered Anvil Banded Mail +1 1700 gold The Sundered Anvil Full Plate +1 2650 gold The Sundered Anvil Shields Buckler +1 3200 gold The Sundered Anvil Heavy Wooden Shield +1 1400 gold Regent Woods Heavy Steel Shield +1 1400 gold The Sundered Anvil Simple Weapons Light Crossbow +1 2800 gold Master War Bows Heavy Crossbow +1 2800 gold Master War Bows Dagger +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Heavy Mace +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Morningstar +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Quarterstaff +1 3100 gold Regent Woods Martial Weapons Battle Axe +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Heavy Flail +1 2800 gold Rawhide Treasures Greataxe +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Greatsword +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Handaxe +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Longbow +1 2800 gold Master War Bows Longsword +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Rapier +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Scimitar +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Shortbow +1 2800 gold Master War Bows Short Sword +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Throwing Axe +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Warhammer +1 2800 gold Calvin's Cleavers Ammunition Arrow +1 60 gold Nocks and Feathers Crossbow Bolt +1 60 gold Nocks and Feathers Sling Bullet +1 60 gold Calvin's Cleavers Rings Ring of Protection +1 2400 gold Finegelder's Gold Ring of Feather Falling 2600 gold The One Ring Ring of Climbing 3000 gold The One Ring Ring of Jumping 3000 gold The One Ring Ring of Swimming 3000 gold The One Ring Rods, Staves and Wands Rod of Lesser Extend Metamagic 3600 gold Keymaster's Guildhall Rod of Lesser Silent Metamagic 3600 gold Keymaster's Guildhall Wand of Detect Magic 500 gold Tinplate Tinkerers Wand of Light 500 gold Keymaster's Guildhall Wondrous Items - Potions, Elixirs, and Oils Universal Solvent 60 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Cure Light Wounds 60 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Mage Armor 60 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Oil of Magic Weapon 60 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Elixir of Hiding 300 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Enlarge Person 300 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Blur 360 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Darkvision 360 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Delay Poison 360 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Potion of Invisibility 360 gold J Burkholder, Alchemist-At-Large Wondrous Items - Defensive Bracers of Armor +1 1200 gold Taylors of Portsmith Cloak of Resistance +1 1200 gold Taylors of Portsmith Amulet of Natural Armor +1 2400 gold Hardstone's Gems Wondrous Items - Adventuring Boots of Elvenkind 3000 gold Shoemaker's Shop Bag of Holding (Type 1) 3000 gold Rawhide Treasures Stone of Alarm 3200 gold Hardstone's Gems Rope of Climbing 3600 gold Sternpost's Maritime Wondrous Items - Scrolls Scroll of Remove Fear 60 gold The Bookseller's Tale Scroll of Bless Weapon 120 gold The Bookseller's Tale Scroll of Identify 150 gold Tinplate Tinkerers Scroll of Silence 240 gold The Bookseller's Tale

Miscellaneous Items and Services

There are also a number of miscellaneous items and services for sale. Again, any services from the Pathfinder Core Rulebook services list (pp. 140-163) can be purchased directly (exceptions noted below). In general, you will need to roleplay in order to get anything out of the ordinary.

In Portsmith, the following inns service travelers:

Service Cost Inn One night's stay, 2 meals, stable access (common inn) 2 gold/night The Deep Ship Arms One night's stay, 3 meals, stable access, and footman (good inn) 4 gold/night Long Star Inn

Items unique to Portsmith are included below.

Item Cost Shop Hobbit Elderberry Wine 806 TA imported 10 gold Long Star Inn Tegel Lemon Tart 10 gold Long Star Inn Resurrection cast by Father Cannon 12,500 gold Church of the Hearth