North Province
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| 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
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Items unique to Portsmith are included below.
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