Deathlight Cove

Nestled between storm-carved cliffs and black coral reefs, Deathlight Cove is a secluded inlet once feared by sailors across the seas. Known to be originally cursed it is now the home of seafaring folk looking to trade, and an undead populace going about their days.

Description

History

For more than two centuries, it was the prison of the Undead Pirate Lords—a court of cursed corsairs condemned to endless undeath after they were betrayed by Le Croix in his youth. At their head stood Captain William Hamitas, the infamous Pirate King.

That curse has since been broken.

Now, the undead remain—but not in torment. They walk freely, no longer bound by madness or undeath’s hunger. Although all are welcome now to the cove, Hamitas and his lords have reclaimed their court in the sunken halls and wreck-strewn ruins of the cove, establishing it as a neutral sanctuary for pirate crews, smugglers, and sailors of ill-repute. They call it “The Deathlight Accord.” A strange light now burns at the cove’s highest cliff—a ghostly blue/green flame within a lighthouse that never dies, visible for leagues across the sea. It marks the cove’s new role: a gathering place for outlaws, undead, and those who seek to parley beneath the laws of sea and shadow.

Government

Rules by a council called the "Deathlight Accord", where pirate lords hold seats. The center most seat being taken by the Pirate King, William Hamitas, who has the tie-breaker vote. Whilst some say that William Hamitas is the "leader", in actuality he is more of a figurehead for the council.

Economy

Deathlight Cove doesn't operate on traditional national currency systems. Its economy is fluid, reputation-based, and heavily barter-driven, but still surprisingly organized due to the Deathlight Accord and the oversight of the Tidemarked. Whilst hard currency is used by surface dwellers and visiting pirates. Adventurers have found there are alternative ways of bartering. The only found alternative at this moment being soul debts. These soul debts take the form of memory tokens (bottled moments or knowledge), life essence (blood or breath freely given), or body parts (can only be your own).

Climate

Cold, with heavy rains and fog.

Population

Deathlight Cove has a sizable undead population.

Districts

Due to the fact that adventurers only recently regained entry into the city, the populace has just begun opening the districts. Not truly knowing if they will bring too much chaos to their more important locales. Therefore the following are the only districts currently visitable by those who have gone to the cove.

The Shanty Spiral: The Cove’s most chaotic district, it spirals upward along the cliff walls, made from a cascade of taverns, dens, and brothels built atop each other. The Spiral is the Cove’s beating heart of conflict, culture, and celebration. Many disputes are resolved in the Brawl Cages, and many songs sung here carry ancient power.

Seaglass Keep: The half-sunken fortress of Pirate King William Hamitas, the Keep sits at the heart of Deathlight Cove, overlooking the sea. Built from the fused wrecks of legendary pirate ships, black coral and bone, the Keep is the political and magical center of the Cove. The undead pirate lords meet here in a shadowy court, deciding the fate of disputes, laws, and curses.

Dead Lantern Docks: Once a graveyard of ships, it’s now the main hub for sea traffic entering Deathlight Cove. The lanterns hung along the docks glow with ghostlight—ritual fire meant to ward off sea spirits, but also guide undead vessels safely to harbor. Ships both living and spectral berth here, with crews from across the planes. The undead often crew the docks themselves, offering no words but expecting exact payment.

Nightmare Market: Accessible only during moonless nights or by special rite, it exists in the heart of the Cove’s subterranean warrens. Merchants—some living, others far from it—sell wares both wondrous and wicked. Currency here takes many forms: coin, memories, oaths, pieces of fate. The Nightmare Market is watched carefully by the Tidemarked, but rarely interrupted unless the laws of the Deathlight Accord are broken.

Factions

Tidemarked: The official law enforcers of Deathlight Cove, the Tidemarked are appointed by Pirate King William Hamitas himself. Bound by both magic and blood-oath, they serve not a government, but the balance—keeping the fragile peace between the living, the dead, and everything in between. Their name comes from the spectral tattoos (known as Tidemarks) that glow like phosphorescent ink across their bodies—magical brands that bind them to their oath and mark them as agents of the Cove’s will.

The Brine Cartel: Rumoured to control the black-market flow of exotic goods, magical contraband, and soul-debts between the surface world and Deathlight Cove. Whether they truly exist or were birthed from one to many crews going unchecked is not yet verified.

The Hallow Archive: The Hallow Archive is where the scholars collect, trade, and preserve forbidden knowledge, ancient maps, and arcane truths.

Trivia

• Adventurers are often treated as tolerated guests, only due to the fact that they often bring discord with them.
• “Whether you are alive or dead, you will always be caught in the Whale’s Wake. So come on down to the tavern!”.
• “If you seek brine search where the salt originates"