[Abe Sargent]

The town of Saltmarsh has about 2000 people in it, making it much smaller than Regalsford, the first place Alzar bunked up for a while so long ago. The river here is flat and wide and slower and very deep – it can take ocean bound ships all the way up to Chonae to the north, and all the way south. This town specializes in fishing the river and makes a lot of money from the wealth of the river. There are also a few loggers here, cutting and timbering logs in the nearby forest. There are also some farms on the outskirts. The place is relatively quiet, all things considered.

The ship arrives, and Alzar, party, and things are dumped here. It leaves tomorrow for the rest of the journey down the River Storm. The Mermaid’s Gullet is the only major inn here, but there are a few smaller ones. They rest in the Gullet and get lodging for a few days. There is a town council, led by a mayor. Alzar has a meeting arranged with him the following day. For tonight, they relax and enjoy the small town, although it is a bit big for Aleigha.

The next day, the mayor’s assistant, a short woman of 30ish, brings Alzar to the mayor – Rogart Battenbridge, son of Valza Battenbridge, who hired Alzar. He brings in Alzar and tells him the issue. For decades, about four miles up the coast, there has been this old house. There were strange sightings and rumors of ghosts and the undead lurking about. No one went there. However, recently, the ghosts have gotten worse. People who walk near there claim to have increased sensations of unease, and strange lights have been seen there at night.

The previous occupant was a mage of sinister reputation, and most believe that the dead man may be haunting the joint, or that his creations or evils have gotten the best of the place. The house is unwholesome to the eye and long abandoned. In fact, despite the fact that all of the land inland is great farming land, no one grows anything there.

Alzar agrees to check it out today, and grabs Estaish, Aleigha, and a few horses and heads out.