> [!infobox] > # The Tideworn Port > ![[Nuxvar.jpg]]<span style="display:block;text-align:center;">[[Nuxvar.jpg|Show to Players]]</span> > ###### Information > | | | > |---|---| > |**Region**| [[Zalfaria]] | > |**Mayor**| [[Dain Varros]] | # Overview Nuxvar is a rugged, wind-worn port town perched on the westernmost coast of Zalfaria, serving as the only sanctioned connection to [[Goulcrest]], the main port of [[Gloom Isle]]. A place of uneasy diplomacy and unspoken agreements, Nuxvar is where merchants, exiles, and daring sailors barter in trade, secrets, and sometimes even lives. Though technically under Zalfaria’s jurisdiction, Nuxvar operates under its own strict, self-regulated order, where coin is king and reputation means everything. # Geography & Environment: Nuxvar sits on a narrow, storm-battered strip of coastline, its docks extending into rough, often mist-covered waters. The town is built against a series of jagged cliffs, with wooden pathways and shanty-style houses clinging to the rock face. The sea around Nuxvar is notoriously treacherous, with sharp reefs and unpredictable currents. Only those with expert knowledge can navigate the passage between Nuxvar and Goulcrest, making local sailors and navigators some of the most skilled in the world. Due to its constant exposure to sea mist and storm winds, iron and wood corrode quickly in Nuxvar, and buildings are often reinforced with tar and bone—a practice likely influenced by Gloom Isle traditions. # Politics & Governance: Though nominally a Zalfarian port, Nuxvar is ruled not by nobility but by its Merchant-Lords, a council of powerful traders, ship captains, and smugglers who decide all major town affairs. The current leading figure is [[Dain Varros]], an aging but sharp-eyed merchant-lord known for balancing diplomacy with Gloom Isle while keeping Zalfaria’s more judgmental officials at bay. Unlike other Zalfarian towns, Nuxvar has no standing militia—instead, the town enforces order through private enforcers, hired blades, and a strict code of conduct that values business above all else. Those who disrupt trade or betray agreements often vanish into the sea. # Economy & Trade: Nuxvar thrives as a center for rare and exotic goods—some legally obtained, others less so. The town's economy is fueled by: - **Trade with Gloom Isle**: Exotic pelts, alchemical ingredients, and unusual crafts from monstrous humanoids. - **Pirate and Privateer Services**: Many ships registered in Nuxvar operate under "flexible" allegiances. - **Contraband**: Items deemed illegal in more "civilized" Zalfarian cities can often be found in Nuxvar, though discretion is required. - **Fisheries and Whaling**: The sea around Nuxvar is home to massive, nightmarish fish and deep-sea leviathans, providing rare meats, bones, and oils. Despite its shady dealings, Nuxvar remains essential to Zalfaria’s economy, and many officials turn a blind eye to its methods as long as the coin flows. # Culture & Traditions - **The Crimson Wake**: When a ship is lost at sea, sailors of Nuxvar pour wine into the ocean as an offering to Olos, the Captain, seeking his favor to guide the lost souls home. - **The Black Ledger**: A secret record of all major business deals and betrayals in Nuxvar. Some say it is hidden in plain sight, disguised as an ordinary shipping ledger. - **Night of the Hollow Tide**: Once a year, Gloom Isle’s merchants arrive en masse, bringing with them goods, performances, and strange traditions. Masks are worn by all, and it is said deals struck on this night are binding beyond death. # Religion The people of Nuxvar pay respect to Olos, the Captain, who they believe watches over sailors—both honest and dishonest alike. There is also a quiet reverence for Nixzotl, the Dreamer, particularly among those who claim to have seen strange visions in the deep waters. Some whisper that Vaaldin, the Cosmic, has worshippers in Nuxvar, especially among those who deal in the unknown horrors of the deep. # Notable Locations - **The Seabreak Tavern**: The largest and oldest tavern in Nuxvar, where captains broker deals over salt-crusted tables. - **The Bone Market**: A bazaar where exotic and illegal goods change hands, named for the whale and monster bones that decorate its entrance. - **The Maw’s Gate**: A jagged rock formation at the edge of town, resembling the open jaws of a beast. It serves as a warning—cross the wrong people, and you’ll be thrown into the Maw.