10. Fishing Shack

Perched precariously along the muddy edge of Imeryd’s Run, not far from the chaotic docks and dark dealings of the Boatman’s Tavern, lies Bracken’s Reach—a dilapidated fishing shack home to a desperate family, trapped by poverty and debts. They scrape a grim living from the marsh waters, their lives shaped by whispered secrets and fearful allegiances.

Physical Description

Exterior

Constructed from salvaged timbers, warped planks, and broken boat hulls, Bracken’s Reach looks as though the river might claim it at any moment. Its sagging roof is draped in damp fishing nets, and cracked lanterns hang from rusted hooks, casting a gloomy light that barely penetrates the thick, persistent fog rolling in from the river. Tattered fishing boats, bobbing unevenly against a small ramshackle dock, complete the bleak scenery, symbolizing the hopelessness and decay prevalent in Nulb.

Interior

Inside, the shack is cramped, dark, and rank with the odors of mildew, brackish water, and smoked fish. A makeshift table and stools crafted from driftwood dominate the small central space, surrounded by piles of torn nets, hooks, and other fishing tackle. The family sleeps on straw-stuffed pallets crammed against one wall, beneath faded banners salvaged from wrecked merchant vessels.

The Fisherman's Family

Bracken Haddar (Male Human, CN)

A lean, hardened man aged far beyond his years, Bracken’s eyes constantly dart, wary of pirates, brigands, and the grasping agents of Madame Selentis. Forced into near-indentured servitude by mounting debts owed to Nulb's rulers, Bracken’s quiet desperation simmers beneath a stoic exterior. He is a skilled fisherman and trapper, capable of navigating the most treacherous waters and marshes.

• Traits: Cautious, resourceful, fiercely protective of his family, deeply distrustful.
• Relationships: Grudgingly serves Madame Selentis by surrendering most catches to the Temple of Elemental Evil’s logistical chain. Has cautious dealings with Captain Tolub’s pirates, selling information in exchange for protection or coin. Secretly despises both Selentis and Tolub.

Annya Haddar (Female Human, CN)

Bracken’s wife, Annya, is quiet but strong, the emotional anchor of the family. Her skills in making herbal remedies and potent moonshine have earned her minor favor among the rough populace of Nulb. She dreams quietly of escape but has accepted the harsh reality of their situation.

• Traits: Wise, resilient, subtle negotiator.
• Relationships: Maintains connections with the Boatman’s Tavern through her trade in moonshine. Occasionally supplies remedies to Mother Screng’s Herb Shop in exchange for small favors or needed goods.

Edran Haddar (Male Human, CN)

The eldest son, Edran, is spirited and rebellious. His hatred for their servitude makes him impulsive, sometimes reckless. Skilled with a fishing spear, he secretly scouts the movements of pirate ships and temple wagons for opportunities to gain leverage or revenge.

• Traits: Reckless, passionate, fiercely independent.
• Relationships: Holds a dangerous personal grudge against the pirates working for Captain Tolub, after they brutally disciplined him for interfering in their operations.

Mira Haddar (Female Human, CN)

Mira, the youngest daughter, possesses a sharp mind and a quick tongue. Her gift for mimicry and eavesdropping makes her invaluable for gathering whispers along the docks and tavern. The family protects her fiercely, knowing her talent could draw unwanted attention.

• Traits: Intelligent, observant, secretly brave.
• Relationships: Often gathers intelligence at Boatman’s Tavern, providing her father with valuable secrets. Has inadvertently caught the attention of Skole, who considers recruiting her as an informant, increasing the family's vulnerability.

Relationships & Politics

Madame Selentis (Nysera Krivaltis) & The Temple

The Haddar family lives under constant threat of losing their home or worse if they fail to deliver sufficient tribute from their fishing operations. They provide regular shipments of fish, smoked eels, and mud crabs directly into Madame Selentis’s logistical chain, feeding the dark appetites within the Temple of Elemental Evil.

Captain Tolub & Pirate Faction

Though despising their cruelty, Bracken quietly trades river intelligence and sightings of merchant vessels with Tolub’s pirates in exchange for protection and minor financial relief. However, this relationship is tenuous and fraught with mutual suspicion.

Boatman’s Tavern

The Haddars maintain uneasy friendships at the 4: Boatman’s Tavern and Nulb Market, exchanging fish, moonshine, and whispers for small comforts and vital necessities.

Adventure Hooks

• The Fisherman's Secret: Bracken overhears critical information about a significant shipment bound for the Temple of Elemental Evil. Fearful for his family’s safety, he seeks adventurers’ aid, offering to guide them through the dangerous waters and marshes.
• A Dangerous Favor: Annya asks adventurers to deliver a secret shipment of moonshine and medicinal herbs to 3. Mother Screng’s Herb Shop. Unbeknownst to the party, this shipment also contains sensitive documents stolen from Tolub’s pirates, implicating them in dealings with the Temple.
• Young Rebel: Edran is caught trying to sabotage a pirate shipment. The adventurers must choose whether to help Bracken free him, risking the wrath of the pirates, or use the situation to gain leverage with Tolub’s crew.
• Unwanted Attention: Mira attracts the interest of dangerous figures such as Skole or pirates wanting to exploit her skills. The adventurers must intervene to protect her, possibly drawing them into Nulb’s darker political webs.

DM Notes

• The Haddars embody the brutal pragmatism required to survive in Nulb. Their actions should reflect desperation tempered by cunning, and every interaction should carry undertones of distrust and fear.
• Encounters involving the family’s otters or river operations offer unique opportunities for dynamic combat or tense negotiation.
• The Haddars can serve as both allies and informants for the party, offering valuable insights into the sinister operations within Nulb and the Temple.

Roleplaying Encounter: Answers at Bracken’s Reach

The fog from Imeryd’s Run clings heavy around Bracken’s Reach, muffling all sound except the low scrape of fishing tools against weathered wood. Bracken Haddar and his family, wary from hard days on the river, pause their chores as the adventurers approach. Bracken straightens slowly, gripping his fishing spear tightly, eyes narrow with suspicion.

Bracken Haddar: (voice cautious, hard)
"Strangers ain't welcome in Nulb, less they bring coin or trouble. And you lot don’t look much like merchants. Speak quick—why're you here at my dock?"

Edran Haddar: (younger, defiant)
"If you're here sniffing for pirates, you’d best be careful. Tolub’s Iron Dagger crew's not known for bein' gentle."

Adventurer:
"What can you tell us about Tolub and his pirates? What's their business here?"

Bracken Haddar: (voice lowering, eyes wary)
"Tolub sails the Velverdyva like he owns it, and near enough does. Iron Dagger's docked regular at the Boatman’s Tavern. He keeps discipline tight. But Varg and the others—they're more beast than men, and they won’t think twice 'fore cuttin' your throats."

Annya Haddar: (quiet, solemn)
"Pirates aren't raiding for fun alone. They bring cargo up-river—ale, stolen steel, even chained folk—then hand it all off to Madame Selentis's men at the Old Mayor’s Manor. Pirates are brutal, but she’s something far darker."

Adventurer:
"What exactly is Madame Selentis’s role? How deep is her connection to these pirates?"

Bracken Haddar: (bitterly)
"Nysera—Madame Selentis now—controls everything passing through Nulb. She takes our catch and more—rare herbs, poisons, slaves—to send off to that cursed Temple. Pirates answer to her coin or something else she holds over 'em."

Edran Haddar: (scoffing with open contempt)
"They say Tolub’s own flesh and blood is hidden somewhere in Nulb. Madame Selentis holds 'em hostage. That’s why Tolub jumps when she whispers."

Annya Haddar: (uneasy, cautious glance toward Mira)
"Hush now. Gossip about Lady Nysera brings trouble. All we need is peace enough to live through another day."

Adventurer:
"Does the Temple have that much power over Nulb?"

Bracken Haddar: (grimacing)
"Ain’t no part of Nulb free from the Temple’s shadow. Priests, smugglers, pirates—all dance on Madame Selentis's strings. Folks like us, we fish, we trap, and we pray the Temple leaves us enough to survive another winter."

Mira Haddar: (soft voice, barely audible)
"If you're thinking about crossing them, be careful. They know when folks start askin’ questions."

Adventurer:
"What would it take to end the pirates' hold on Nulb? To stop Madame Selentis?"

Bracken Haddar: (laughing bitterly, humorlessly)
"An army. Or a miracle. You’d need more than brave words to pull Tolub from his ship and Madame Selentis from her manor."

Edran Haddar: (defiant, fierce)
"Or maybe someone willing to stand up, someone who ain't afraid of dying—someone who's had enough."

Bracken Haddar: (sharp, quiet rebuke)
"Enough, boy. Foolish talk like that’ll have us all gutted."

Annya Haddar: (gently, warning tone)
"If you do stir trouble, make peace with your gods first. And if you end up at the Waterside Hostel, tell old Dick Rentsch to mind the family’s debts."

The Haddar family quietly returns to their work—patching nets, sorting traps, silent and grim. Their wary eyes follow the adventurers, carrying a warning of the desperate balance between survival and despair that marks their lives in Nulb.