Salinmoor

Greyhawk Realm

Salinmoor
General information
Region:	Keoland, Sheldomar Valley
Government
Ruler:	Viscount Cronin Secunforth III
Government:	Feudal province of Keoland
Demographics
Capital:	Seaton
Major towns:	Saltmarsh
Races:	Human (SOf), elf, gnome, halfling, half-elf, dwarf
Languages:	Common, Keolandish, Elven, Gnome, Halfling
Miscellaneous
Resources:	Fishing, whaling, agriculture
Coinage:	Keoish standard (griffon (pp), lion (gp), eagle (ep), hawk (sp), sparrow (cp))

The Viscounty of Salinmoor is a southern province of Keoland. It is perhaps best known for the infamous town of Saltmarsh.

History

Establishment

Salinmoor was established by House Rhola circa -242 CY prior to Keoland's imperial era, as an adjunct to the Duchy of Gradsul.

Decline

The rulers of Keoland largely abandoned Salinmoor following the disastrous Siege of Westkeep in 453 CY, in which King Tavish III was slain. Keoland subsequently withdrew from all territory south of Salinmoor, with the Duchy of Gradsul abandoning the defense and development of Salinmoor itself. Due to its proximity to the dangerous Monmurg, distance from Gradsul and relative poverty, the nobility in Niole Dra began to lose interest in Salinmoor.

During the subsequent reign of Tavish IV (ruled 453 to 488 CY), responsibility for the Viscounty of Salinmoor was given to the minor Suloise noble House of Secunforth, a distant relative of House Neheli who previously saw success in the Duchy of Dorlin. House Secunforth's puritanical rule soon saw a series of misfortunes which continue to the current day.

In the late 490s CY, a plague wiped out a quarter of the province's population.

In 501 to 502 CY, a series of witchhunts saw many killed on suspicion of being spellcasters, technically a crime in Keoland. House Secunforth were blamed for failing to intervene more quickly to prevent it.

Recent history

The recent recapture of Westkeep in 590 CY brought increased trade traffic to Seaton.

Geography

Borders

The Viscounty of Salinmoor is located in southern Keoland on the banks of the Azure Sea. It is south of the Dreadwood forest, and east of the Hool Marsh Protectorate. It is downcoast from the more northern Duchy of Gradsul.

Salinmoor contains a small part of the southeasternmost Dreadwood forest. The eastern extent of the Hool Marshes extends into Salinmoor.

Terrain and environment

Salinmoor is a predominantly coastal region. Much of the province is cloaked in a near-permanent fog, caused by the warm mists from the southern marshes and the sea air. Settlements here frequently see damage from storms which form over the Azue Sea and strike the southern coast of Keoland, disproportionately affecting Salinmoor rather than other regions.

Major settlements

The capital of Salinmoor is Seaton.

The fortress of Bale Keep is located at the northern edge of the Hool Marsh. It was established by the noble House Secunforth as one of their first acts upon assuming control of the province at the end of Keoland's imperial era.

Notable locations

The Hool Marshes to the south are dangerous and have been inhabited by lizardfolk, sahuagin, and similar humanoids. The human locals of Salinmoor tell exaggerated tales of this place, believing it haunted by demons, evil spirits with feed upon the souls of the living, and creatures which reach out to people in their dreams.

The Dreadwood forest is likewise inhabited by dangerous creatures, and is largely unexplored. The superstitious locals believe they are haunted, or cursed.

Makaster House, outside Saltmarsh, is an abandoned house, one of many places in the province believed by the locals to to be haunted.

People

Population and demographics

The inhabitants of Salinmoor are primarily humans, with a mixture of Suel and Oeridian heritage. They are stereotyped as paranoid and highly superstitious, and while these traits are somewhat exaggerated, they accurately describe many inhabitants.

Salinmoor has historically been a destination for those seeking to lay low and avoid scrutiny of the noble courts in distant Niole Dra.

According to the Keoland Census of 589 CY published by the Living Greyhawk Keoland website, the population of the Viscounty of Salinmoor is 19,021, including 14,650 humans, 2,502 elves, 1,710 half-elves, and 159 half-orcs. There also 44,878 poultry and 21,119 meat and dairy.[1]

Religion

Temples to many deities are located in the viscounty capital of Seaton. The town of Saltmarsh has a Temple of Procan, as well as a Sea Grove of Obad-Hai. Despite the historic prohibition on religion in Keoland, many deities are worshiped here.

Languages

The most widely-spoken languages in Keoland are Common, Keoish, Elvish, Gnomish, and Halfling.

Notable individuals

Salinmoor is best known for its ruling family of House Secunforth.

Government

The Viscounty of Salinmoor is a feudal province of the Kingdom of Keoland. As of 591 CY, it is ruled by Viscount Cronin Secunforth III. House Secunforth's rule has been characterized as puritanical, and they have long resented this duty.

Economy

Resources

The main source of income in Salinmoor is fishing, including some whaling. Salinmoor also produces some grain and cattle.

Currency

The Viscounty of Salinmoor uses the standard currency of Keoland: the platinum griffon (pp), gold lion (gp), electrum eagle (ep), silver hawk (sp), and copper sparrow (cp).

References

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image
Salinmoor, Viscounty of	Province	Keoland,	Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	64
Salinmoor, Viscounty of	Province	Keoland,	Living Greyhawk Journal #1	12, 16, 17, 19, 33