Zeriak

The furthest true settlement of the civilized north, Zeriak is a town of stone and lumber situated in the south-western region of the Plains of Dust and the end point of the Old Coast Road that runs down from Tarsis. Once a coastal town and the safest place to dock on the southern coast, Zeriak was prosperous and safe. Since becoming landlocked it is rarely travelled to nor even thought of by others, and has become a favoured hiding sport for bandits, brigands and outlaws. As such, a party coming through this town will likely find it rude and uncooperative, the majority of people eyeing them the moment they enter Zeriak and weighing up whether it is worth robbing them or not.

The town’s major industry is in fur, gathering deer and bear hides from the Plains of Dust and bartering them with travelers who plan to go north, or have need to survive the local cold climate.

Merchants in Zeriak can offer any simple equipment, so long as the item is worth 1gp or less. There is a slim chance that the store will have a specific item worth more than that, but it will definitely not stock anything worth more than 5gp.

Merchants of Zeriak have little use for coin and gems however, and will ask for barter rather than currency. Specifically, they will ask for weapons in exchange for their wares.

Zeriak has no centralized or even organized structure of government, but order is maintained by a strong willed human woman named Galeswept.

She imposes simple rules, mostly concerning keeping things quiet, not overstepping, and not bring greater authorities to their doorstep, and charges a simple tax on all travelers and outlaws who come to stay within her walls. That tax is used to pay for essential supplies which she can then barter to other residents, and to make one-off payments to anyone willing to help deal with unruly elements and law breakers. By this system she has earned respect, and a sizeable stash of coin.