Santa Quint

The town of Santa Quint curves along the southern shoreline of the isles, spreading across numerous bridges to a few small islands sitting in the deep-blue bay. Small wooden buildings ring the harbor that are all ramshackle in comparison to those found in the other ports. Because of the devotees of Besmara an emphasis is placed on plunder and reclamation, leading to less new construction and more of a haphazard array of buildings formed of a variety of looted objects. Whether made of a cabin off a ship or the hull itself, many ships-turned-buildings scattered the towns shore. Santa Quint is remarkably pleasant for a pirate port, with an emphasis on color and liveliness. When the plunder is good mass celebrations are held. Festive flower and palm-frond garlands hang from various buildings, bridges, and statues. Vessels of varying shapes and sizes jam nearly all the town’s long piers, and the great number of ocean-going ships lying at anchor render the outer harbor nearly impassible. Throngs of revelers, many wearing masks, carouse through the town while singing and drinking from frothing tankards. The town is ran by the fierce Pink, who despite having the smallest settlement commands the largest navy. An emphasis is placed on personal freedom, leading to personal disagreements with Rockley Hampton. It also has a large population of were-rats, while not particularly welcome it has proven impossible to drive them out. In an effort to create a peace between the groups, they have their own section of town and as long as they agree to keep their numbers in check they are allowed residence in the town. The town is welcome to all-comers who value personal freedom and reject the power structure found in Bards Gate, the Kingdom of Oceanus or the Foere Monarchy. Individuals.

History

The smallest of the archipelagos settlements, Santa Quint was founded only 30 years ago by two ship captains: Heilyn Preddy of the ship 'Dread Reckoning' and Gwlithen Pye of the 'Orange Horizon', both born and raised from the Kingdom of Oceanus. Devotees of Besmara, the pair felt a haven for the deity’s worshipers was long in coming, and with their pooled resources they laid the foundations for Santa Quint. Built upon the ruins of an ancient hyperborean port long lost to antiquity, they decimated the Slaad forces that called it home and claimed it for their own. The two pirate ships towed the wreckage of a destroyed imperial Man'o'war up the ridge and transformed the warship into a grand stone fort to the Pirate Goddess. The fearsome vessel overlooks the bay and is packed with siege equipment including some salvaged cannons, something extraordinarily rare on the Akados coast. When the war against the navy began, the pirates of Santa Quint joined the Dread Pirate. Gwlithen Pye fought bravely but was captured in the battle of the Coral Coast and executed in Darnagal. After the pirates were pushed back and lost much of their naval forces, Heilyn Preddy turned heavily to drink after being confined to port. A year later he was killed in an alcohol-fueled duel with a local fisherman, both duelists so intoxicated they were barely able to wield blades. Even drunk, the fisherman would have stood no chance but Heilyn stumbled off the deck and snapped his neck on the beach below. In a rage, his daughter strode to the top of the temple of Besmara and screamed the Goddesses name. As if responding to her rage, a devastating storm brewed and the new pirate lord set sail, the first vessel to sail from the isles in years. The blockade was broken and for the first time in years plunder was taken from the shores of Akados. In late 3517 an attempted coup was done by the The Stoneheart Valley Trading Company. Using their assassins, numerous strikes were carried out on the pirate captains and the pirate lords in an attempt to render them leaderless. A prominent captain of the isles named Pink and her allies prevented the assassination of many of Santa Quints other pirate captains but arrived too late to stop the assassination of Alicia Tattersail. In the aftermath, Pink assumed control of the isles and with Providence Bay and Paillaco leaderless, the pirates of those pirates joined her.

Locations

Sea Bastion of Besmara - This fortress overlooks the bay into Santa Quint. The incredibly unique building is made from a single large Man'o'war that was destroyed in the battle for Overlook Bay. The husk was painstakingly moved to the top of the hill and separated into chunks. A round fort was then built into the center with a large tower further in front. It now resembles a bloated boat with a stone fort in the center. Around the lower and upper buttresses lie numerous ballistas and crenellations for defending itself from all angles, as well as to defend the bay from enemy ships. It even contains a small handful of cannons, a very rare item in the entire world let alone owned by pirates. Pink calls this her home, leaving it to a handful of trusted Priestesses of Besmara when she is sailing. Founders' Square - Located on the southern point of a small island sitting in the deep-blue bay. Four bridges connect the Founders' Square to both the shore and one of the bay's other small islands. It is one of the common meeting places of Santa Quint, and often serves as an open market and site of town meetings. Whether one wishes to find food, a vendor, mercenary or information, almost all transactions in Santa Quint happen in the square. At the center of which is a 15 feet tall wooden statue of the pirate Goddess Besmara, erected by Alicia Tattersail after commissioning Hartha to carve it from a mast taken from a naval vessel she captured. Taryn's Planks - This is Santa Quints only lumberyard and has a constant flow of ships that dry dock for repairs. Its repair work is town’s primary and most lucrative draw to those traversing the ocean, leading those to risk association with pirates in an emergency. For this reason its owner, Iatho Taryn, has been appointed mayor of the town for the past 2 decades by Santa Quints pirate lord. Originally from Kennmouth, Iatho left for a new life free. The lumberyard provides wood for nearly every carpenter in town and ship at dock, and can perform repairs on smaller sailing ships (though it’s not a fully equipped shipyard). The Naughty Gull Inn - The Inn is one of the most popular drinking and entertainment establishments in the town. It is a two-story building made of old but sturdy wood. Benches are scattered around tables and crates on the main floor. Its famous fighting pit is located at the center. It is a recessed circle of hard-packed earth, just two feet deeper than the wood floor and ringed by a series of heavy posts connected by a railing rope. Because patrons can get their fill of violence in the ring, the establishment is remarkably free of bar-fights compared to other similar seedy inns. A second-floor balcony overlooks the fighting pit and part of the main floor, and is often a popular meeting spot for business discussions in the town. Larkem Thene, is the owner of the inn. If something happens in the town he knows about it, and charges a high price for his knowledge. Hartha's Headstones - This small square building has no sign advertising its name or type of business, but the door and support posts are heavily carved with images of gravestones, religious symbols, sea monsters, and sailing ships. Inside you can find the dwarf Hartha, a skilled craftsman who can carve nearly any intricate relief or statue that is requested of her. She can carve headstones, fancy coffins for local burials and decorative sculptures or mastheads. Baasims Breathtaking Baubles - Ran by Baasim, a trader who often travels to Khemit to buy unique items rarely found on Akados. He has numerous wares for sale and unique and rare magic items.

Demographics

82% humans; 8% Tiefling, 5% half-orcs; 2% half-elves; 1% elves; >2% Other

Important Characters

Pink - After exacting revenge on her mutinous crew, she has reclaimed her title as Captain of the Lady Matilda and is now Pirate Lord of the isles. With the assassinations from the Stoneheart Company she has continued on to conquer the remaining ports, and rallied them to her side.