Table of Contents

NEWPORT CITY FEATURES

The majority of the town is made up of individual houses, each inhabited by 5-10 people. These houses are either strictly residences, or, more commonly, contain a workshop for weaving, sewing, candle-making, basket-making or some other handicraft. The wares produced are sold in the weekly market, rather than directly from the house.

Castle District

Castle of the Viscount: a solid keep on an imposing, steep hill Viscount Nedwyn oversees defenses and law and order of Newport from here. He is served by a band of 20 household knights, 10 of whom are present in the castle at all times, and 2 companies of mercenaries (about 75 men each) act as the garrison of the town, 25 of whom are present at the castle at all times. There is a chapel to Bor used by the Viscount and his knights, run by Father Claude. There are also 3 professional armorers in the castle who maintain the armor and weapons of the knights, they work full time for the Viscount and don’t do outside work.

Sultan’s Palace Inn and Casino: the nicest place to stay in town. Any character who pays for Wealthy or Aristocratic living expenses for the month, and does not have his own house or is not a guest of the Viscount at the castle, must stay at The Sultan’s Palace Inn. Entertainers all want to play the main room at the Palace.

Wizard Tower: William Monoculus is the official wizard-counselor to Viscount Nedwyn, and as such has his own tower to conduct his studies. The tower is guarded by mysterious cloaked and armored servitors.

The Grand Habidashery: Langston Hatmasterson runs the finest clothing store in town. A good place to buy and sell rare, exotic and high-quality clothing.

Golden Fred’s House of Wonders: one of the most vocal of the Rock Gnome inhabitants of Newport, Golden Fred runs a jewelry business near the castle. This is the place to buy and sell (non-stolen) gems and jewelry for fair market value.

The Town Bakery: the Viscount has a monopoly on baking in the town. Residents bring their loaves (with their mark on them) to the town bakery in the morning and pick them up later after they are baked. Even businesses like Frank’s Awesome pies send wheelbarrows of uncooked wares to the town bakery every morning. The Viscount also has a monopoly on milling flour in the entire 12mile x 12 miles square (Newport County) around the town, but the mills are located outside of the town walls.

Market District

Mort’s Mining Supplies: Tiefling Mort runs a business where he sells mining supplies: picks, shovels and the like, and also “registers” “mining claims” or a “processing fee.” He will also buy used mining supplies and uncut gems and unprocessed ore.

Market Grounds: The large open-air market field holds a farmer’s market every Friday, and a livestock auction every Saturday. From Friday to Sunday there is also a flea market in one corner of the grounds, where anyone can buy and sell various pieces of junk.

Blacksmith: Step Hemmertime is the town’s blacksmith, he has a half dozen journey men and a dozen apprentices working for him, they provide most of the nails, simple tools, horse shoes and the like for the town. Given a few days’ notice, they can make simple metal melee weapons, but it isn’t their main function.

Frank’s Awesome Pies: Frank buys all sorts of animals and carcasses from the local farmers and hunters. He uses the flesh to make the town’s favorite meat pies and sends the hides to his own tannery, located a safe smell-distance outside the walls. The leather goods produced are also sold at the pie shop. Frank’s is a favorite meeting spot for legitimate business in town.

All Things Dwarven: Skip Dwarverson always says “If it’s not dwarven, it’s crap,” and so runs a thriving import shop, selling weapons, armor, dwarf art and the like, imported from his clan in the mountains.

Dicken Pickle Inn: an eatery and lodging house famous for its Spotted Dick dessert and its variety of pickles. Rick Bickle runs the place (just as coincidence) and always seems to be in a hurry. Any character who pays Comfortable or Modest living expenses for the month lives here, unless he has his own place.

Main Gate: the Main Gate is open from sunrise to sunset, but is watched by 10 mercenaries and 10 members of the Town Watch at all times (open or closed).

Garrison Barracks One: The first company (pole-arm and pike armed Hundermen mercenaries) of the town garrison are lodged in this sturdy stone building. 5 of them will always be at the front gate, 10-15 will be at the castle, and half the remaining will be roaming the town on patrol or spending their pay. Captain Norwood Funk is the commander, and will be here about half the time.

The Bottomless Mug: a drinking establishment popular for new colonists, mercenaries and merchants who, for now, have enough coin for a decent drink. Located in the Mug is the famous “Job Board”, listing possible employment for mercenaries, scouts and adventurers looking for legal work. The owner is a “charming” woman named Old Maggie Penthouse.

Harbor District

Salty Dan’s Thrift Emporium: Dan buys anything of any quality for 1/3 list price and sells it for ½ list price. However, since the quality is so variable, there’s a 1 in 6 chance the item is defective.

Fishy Joe’s: for having a prime location near the docks, Fishy Joe’s tavern does little business selling booze. The quality is low, and the prices very high. What’s really going on is that Joe runs a clearing house for stolen and smuggled goods. “The Back Room” sells randomly acquired goods for various quality, and if you get on Joe’s good side, you can get access to “The Basement” where the good stuff gets sold.

Harbor Master’s Office: Nicholas Crabberson is the man charged with making sure shipping comes and goes properly in the harbor. He has a commission that makes him answerable both to the Viscount and the Factor of the Royal Company. He’s obsessed with things being done on time.

Is Good House of Pleasure, Yes?: Nasty whorehouse on the docks. It is run by Wang Chung, an immigrant from the eastern land of Wing Yang.

Royal Krondor Company’s Factory and Warehouse: The Krondor Company has been granted an exclusive monopoly over the export of Ginster Berries and Ginster powder from the island. All Ginster berries harvested on the island must be brought to this place and sold for 5gp per 10 pounds of raw berries. The ten pounds are dried and powdered down to a 1 pound portion of powder which sells for a minimum of 15gp on the mainland. Ginster Berries are harvested only in the months of Seventh-Month and Eighth-Month and the powder is exported by the end of Ninth-Month each year. During the months of the harvest and export there is an unsavory crowd of company thugs (at least 40) at the factory and a small fleet of company ships cruising the coasts looking for smugglers. During the rest of the year, there is a single company ship in the area and only 15-20 goons at the factory.

The Factor of Newport Station is Henri DeLaPorte, a ruthless bastard who uses a team of six or seven secret agents to track down smugglers and then his thugs and soldiers commandeered from the Viscount to destroy them brutally. During berry season, DeLaPorte’s commission requires the Viscount to offer him all due assistance in the trade.

The Company also has a “mail order” office, where one can order any list good from the mainland for twice normal price. It will take 2+1d6 weeks to arrive, with a 6 “acing”. No orders are completed from Twelveth-Month through Second-Month.

Garrison Barracks Two: The second company (crossbow-armed Myzantium mercenaries) of the town garrison are lodged in this small fortress facing the harbor entrance. There are two catapults on the battlemented roof to repel hostile ships. 5 of the soldiers are always at the main gate, another 10-15 at the castle and half the remainder will he roaming the town on patrol or spending their pay. Captain Lester Franz is the commander and will be here about half the time.

Wulfgar’s Mystery Hut: a strange barbarian magician sells all manner of bizarre objects and provides mystical services for coin.

Old District

Scabby Abby’s Taphouse: Known for its 1cp mugs of fermented crab juice, Scabby Abby’s is where people in need of work hang out. Farmers, business owners and the like will run round there to hire laborers.

Guildhall of the Dung Collectors: A powerful cartel charged with hauling waste and garbage out of the town. They see everything and know everything.

Sticky Vicky the Herbalist: Her shop is crammed with weeds, gums, saps, and all manner of potions and petty enchantments.

Grimey’s Flophouse: This is a large former warehouse that has been turned into a nasty crash dump for those without anywhere else to live. If any character pays poor or squalid living expenses, he must live here.

Fighting Pit: an old, dried-out, pond has been made into an open air arena for pit fighting. While dog-fighting and cock fighting happen almost every day, the more popular attractions are bear-baiting, death matches between captured orcs and goblins, and the ever favorite Owlbear matches.

Town Watch Headquarters: The town watch is made up of unpaid citizens who patrol the town at night and help man the town gate, towers and walls. Theoretically, all residents of the town should be taking their turns at the various duties, but over the last few decades the entire operation has ended up being crewed entirely by the local Rock Gnomes.

Temple of the Screamers: The Screamers are a mysterious cult of ecstatic worshipers known for roaming the town in bunches, screaming constantly. They have the only operating temple in town (apart from the Viscount’s chapel of Bor in the castle). They have not been known to cause anyone any harm and will cure wounds and diseases as best they can for money for any visitor to their shrine who can stand it.

The Cool Turnip/Timmy’s Messenger Service: the Cool Turnip is a drinking establishment that caters to Halflings and Gnomes, it has small doors, low ceiling and tiny furniture. It is owned by Helpful Timmy, an enterprising Halfling, who also runs Timmy’s messenger service out of the bar. A message will be delivered anywhere within in town or within the 12 mile surrounding square for 2cp per mile (minimum of 2cp), if message needs to go beyond the Newport square into the wilderness, then a price can be negotiated (typically 2gp per day the messenger travels out and back).