Cantyn Light
Cantyn Light refers to the 170-foot-tall lighthouse overlooking the entrance to the Binjerin River as well as the town of Cantyn Light nestled in the shadow of the limestone tower. Experienced mariners recruited from Bard’s Gate’s navy operate the lighthouse under the direction of a representative from the city’s Wizards’ Guild. These individuals serve Sea Lord Sir Argus Hamille, the town’s ruler. The blowhard naval officer constantly toots his own horn, regaling bored listeners with his fanciful accounts of his daring exploits on the high seas. The young man in his mid-30s attributes his premature retirement from active naval duty to the amputation of his lower right leg from a wound suffered during a sea battle. However, truth be told, he lost the limb to gangrene after neglecting to care for an infected toe. Furthermore, the sea lord’s stories only took place in his imaginative mind. After less than six months in command, the high admiral grew tired of Hamille’s cowardice and incompetence. He relieved him of his duties and relegated the braggart to his current backwater assignment.
Bard’s Gate maintains a significant naval presence at the mouth of the Binjerin River. At any time, at least one frigate patrols the waters around the important harbor. The metropolis also stations a sizable contingent of ship’s marines and Waymark cavalry in the town. Cantyn Light serves as the port of call for oceangoing vessels as well as the scows and swoops in the River Watch that patrol the Binjerin River. In keeping with the town’s maritime tradition, the town of Cantyn Light has numerous warehouses, fish markets, ship repair facilities, taverns, and less-reputable establishments that cater to these professions. The town also boasts an ancient library that pales in comparison to the one found in Elise, yet still attracts its share of scholars and researchers. In another local cottage industry, stories about ghost ships sailing on the waters beyond the lighthouse and shipwrecks littering the sea floor spur sales of souvenirs, memorabilia, and guided tours of these areas. The Blue Mermaid, a caravel that vanished 250 years ago during the Night of the Deathly Fog, is the most famous and celebrated of these haunted vessels. Sculptors sell miniature replicas of this ship to curiosity seekers and collectors alike. According to legend, the ship appears on the horizon on moonlit nights when the ghostly spirits aboard the vessel walk atop the sea as they presumably search for lost crewmembers or the lighthouse’s obscured beacon.
Settlement
Cantyn Light, Town of
Type
Lighthouse
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