7. & 8. Mistwatch Huts – Smuggler’s Outpost

In the murky shadows where the sluggish Imeryd's Run meets the dark marshes at the edge of the Fens of Tor lies Mistwatch Drowned, a stilt-raised hovel of rotting timber and woven reed. Beneath its façade of mold-covered fishing nets and tangled crab traps pulses the hidden heart of Nulb’s river-smuggling and espionage network—a shadowy enterprise thriving under the watchful eyes of pirates, brigands, and the malignant priests of the Water Temple.

This hut operates at the fringes of Nulb’s criminal underbelly, working closely with Belsornig’s Water Temple, supplying exotic creatures for dark rituals and poisons for assassins. It also serves as a discreet waypoint for Captain Tolub's river piracy, moving stolen cargo through hidden waterways.

Compound Layout:

• 7. Mistwatch Shack: A decrepit hut, sagging and rotten, shrouded in thick, perpetual river mist. Suspended on wooden stilts above the riverbanks, it creaks ominously with every gust of wind. Its interior reeks of mildew, dried fish, and the acrid tang of hidden alchemicals.
• 8. The Drowned Net: Adjacent is a slightly larger structure fashioned from warped driftwood and aged river stone. At first glance, merely a fishmonger’s shop; beneath its loose floorboards lie concealed compartments packed with contraband goods, rare fungi, and caged creatures meant for sinister rites.

River Facilities:

• Dock & Boat Landing: A narrow plank dock extends over the muddy waters of Imeryd’s Run, facilitating covert nighttime transfers.
• Hidden Channels: Concealed waterways through dense reeds allow discreet travel to and from the broader Velverdyva network, ideal for moving stolen merchandise and secret messengers.

The Drowned Net & Its Operations

At first glance, Mistwatch Huts appears to be an ordinary fishing hut, albeit a run-down and stench-ridden one. In truth, it is a cleverly disguised front for smuggling, with concealed storage beneath the floorboards and a secret back-channel leading to hidden river routes.

Primary Trade:

• Fishing, trapping of swamp creatures, harvesting rare fungi and venomous river life used in poisons and dark rituals.

Smuggling & Informant Network:

• A critical waypoint for stolen goods flowing from pirate captain Tolub’s Iron Dagger crew and other river pirates.
• Serves the Water Temple by delivering exotic aquatic creatures and hallucinogenic swamp fungi to Canon Belsornig’s priests for use in their depraved rituals.
• Vital lookout point: meticulously tracks river merchant traffic, relaying detailed information to pirates at the Boatman’s Tavern.

Security & Enforcement:

• Protected by hardened brigands, spies, and smugglers, notably operatives from the feared Crimson Reapers, ensuring security and rapid retaliation against threats or infiltration attempts.
• Connections: Linked to the Water Temple and Captain Tolub’s The Iron Dagger crew.

Illicit Dealings & Power Struggles

The Smuggler’s Outpost is not just another fishmonger—it is a hub of secrets, betrayals, and backstabbing alliances. Many criminal factions and temple cultists rely on its operations.

Dealings with the Water Temple

Dependence upon rare aquatic life and fungi grants Borric considerable protection, though failure risks Belsornig’s wrath.

• Borric regularly delivers exotic creatures for Canon Belsornig ’s priests—venomous toads, swamp leeches, and deep-water eels.
• Darra supplies ritual herbs and hallucinogens for their dark rites.
• Velwyn moves goods to and from the temple via hidden riverways.

"Belsornig pays well for things that slither in the dark. Don’t ask what he does with ‘em."

— Eel-Blood

Smuggling for Captain Tolub

A tense alliance sustained through mutual profit, constant suspicion, and carefully balanced betrayals.

• The Drowned Net acts as a middleman for stolen cargo, passing it through before sending it to safer drop points along the Velverdyva.
• Occasionally shelters pirate crews who need a place to lay low after a heist.
• Borric and Tolub distrust each other, as Borric believes Tolub underpays for goods, while Tolub sees Borric as a swamp rat not worthy of respect.

Rivalries in Nulb

• Madame Selentis: Occasional supplier of poisons and rare ingredients; cautious, guarded trade relationship.
• The Crimson Reapers do not trade here, after a failed shakedown attempt that led to Borric poisoning one of their enforcers.
• Ivar Maddok of 6. Wainwright of Nulb resents Velwyn, believing the river smugglers should pay him a cut for their work in Nulb.

'"The Crimson Reavers tried to rob me once. They buried their man in the bog, but he weren’t quite dead yet."

— Toad-Mother

Adventure Hooks

• Stolen Cargo: A valuable shipment bound for the Water Temple has gone missing, and Borric desperately needs it recovered before Belsornig’s wrath falls upon him.
• A Toxic Trade: Darra has discovered a deadly new strain of swamp fungus, and multiple factions are willing to kill for the secret.
• Mutiny Among the Smugglers: Velwyn’s pirate allies are plotting against Tolub, and the PCs must decide which side to back.
• A Shipment Gone Dark: A critical shipment intended for Belsornig’s priests vanishes into the marsh. Borric’s desperation presents a dangerous opportunity for coin or leverage.

'"Tolub’s a great captain, sure—but he ain’t the only one who knows how to cut a throat and steer a ship."

— Blackfish

Final Notes

The Mistwatch Huts is more than just a fishmonger’s hut—it is a gateway into Nulb’s criminal world and a key player in the Water Temple’s ambitions. Whether the PCs come looking for information, contraband, or a fight, they will find danger and deception lurking in its murky waters.