Cromlin

Originally a trading post created by House Shom, the village of Cromlin has prospered despite the decline in its founder’s fortunes. The silt sailors of Cromlin have charted hidden paths through the treacherous dust of the Bay of Maray, giving them easy access to the villages on the bay’s northern shores. Light cargoes bound for Raam or Draj (or heading southward to Nibenay) can go by silt skimmer, shaving weeks of time from the normal journey.

Although House Shom still runs Cromlin, at least nominally, the village’s unique position means that Shom’s leaders overlook most infractions that do not affect the house’s profits. Stealing from Shom’s emporiums brings harsh punishment, as does raiding a caravan heading to or from the village, but it’s fair game to rob unaffiliated travelers or attack caravans that pass through the Black Spine Mountains. These lax laws make Cromlin a haven for smugglers, slavers, pirates, and elves—rogues and scoundrels of all sorts call the place home.

The principal source of entertainment in Cromlin is the inn known as the Dirty Lizard. Jaksot Han, a thickset mul of middle years, owns the place. Han is a former silt pirate, and his common room attracts a similar clientele. Bar brawls occur daily at the Lizard, and according to commonly held wisdom, a patron isn’t considered a regular until he’s been through a fracas.