¶ Details
¶ Overview
The Puddles is the poorest and most crime-ridden district in Absalom, known for its near-perpetual flooding. Originally prone to waterlogging during storms, the district sank permanently a few inches lower after an earthquake over a decade ago, transforming it into a semi-submerged slum. Now, many of its streets, businesses, and homes remain waterlogged, with its former central green turned into a brackish lake called the Little Inner Sea.
Those who could afford to leave did, leaving behind only the impoverished, criminals, and the stubborn. Property ownership records were lost, leading to an influx of squatters, con artists, and desperate settlers. Many homes rot from below, creating a health hazard, and the district is rife with filth fever, parasites, and mold-based illnesses.
¶ Key Figures
- Haigen Topkick – The Nomarch of the Puddles, leader of the Muckruckers, and Guildmaster of the Salvagers' Guild. He rules much of the district like his personal fiefdom, profiting from crime, extortion, and salvage operations.
- Lady Seichya of House Tevineg – The High Warden of the Brine (Absalom’s notorious prison) and Trademaster of the Salt Cartel. She maintains uneasy control over the prison and its connections to organized crime.
- The Green Strumpet – A witch rumored to be half-gillman, known as the Puddles' primary healer and wise woman. She only appears unpredictably from the water, aiding those in need.
- Zusgut, the Goblin King of Absalom – A self-proclaimed goblin king who has carved out a rooftop and catwalk network in the Puddles, challenging Haigen’s rule with his loyal goblin followers.
- Market Master Annavi – Proprietor of the Barque Bazaar, a floating market that barely survives by dealing with thieves' guilds and shady suppliers.
- Otto Smithfield – A private investigator and thorn in the side of the powerful, Otto digs into the secrets of the Puddles, exposing corruption while making both allies and enemies. His relentless pursuit of the truth may be the district’s best hope—or its undoing.
¶ Government & Law Enforcement
The Puddles is effectively ruled by Haigen Topkick, who holds multiple roles:
- Nomarch of the Puddles (officially recognized by the Grand Council)
- Captain of the Muckruckers (the corrupt local militia)
- Guildmaster of the Salvagers' Guild (which extorts struggling workers)
Haigen governs the district as a corrupt despot, enriching himself through bribery and crime while allowing lawlessness to fester. His main political rival, Lady Seichya of House Tevineg, controls The Brine, a decrepit prison that doubles as a front for the Salt Cartel, an illegal slavery operation.
A mysterious third power, The Green Strumpet, a half-gillman witch, serves as the district’s only real healer. She emerges sporadically from the water to aid residents and often latches onto adventurers as a guide.
Recently, Haigen’s grip on power has begun slipping, as new factions rise to challenge his authority, including:
- Zusgut’s Goblin Kingdom – A self-proclaimed Goblin King, who has recruited goblins to his “court” in a ruined playhouse and constructed catwalks above the flooded streets.
- The Skinsaw Cult – A gruesome murder cult has begun leaving flayed bodies in the streets, terrifying even the district’s hardened criminals.
- Activists & Neighboring Districts – Young reformers are appealing to the Grand Council, demanding intervention before the Puddles' crime and disease spill into the rest of Absalom.
¶ Notable Locations
- The Brine – A horrific prison, partially underwater and filled with human waste, disease, and filth fever. The worst prisoners are funneled into the Salt Cartel, a secret slavery ring.
- Aysepir’s Astounded Abyss – A grotesque freak show and carnival run by the Fish-Head Queen, a mermaid cursed with a human body and a fish head.
- The Little Inner Sea – The former district park, now a stagnant saltwater lake, filled with shipwreck debris and monstrous fish. Salvagers dive here for valuables, but must pay a tax to Haigen.
- The Barque Bazaar – A floating black market, drifting between the Puddles, Docks, and Precipice Quarter. It sells aged seafood, illicit goods, and stolen wares, and is closely tied to the Sewer Rats thieves’ guild.
- The Siphons – A network of flooded tunnels used by criminals, smugglers, and cultists. Many connect to the city's sewer system and crypts, making it a dangerous but lucrative hideout.
- Drippy’s Tavern – A dingy music bar, where locals drown their sorrows in cheap drinks. The constant dripping water and dim lighting give it a uniquely depressing charm.
- The Stilt House – The only dry building in the district, serving as Haigen’s headquarters. It houses the District Council, Muckruckers, and Salvagers’ Guild, making it the nerve center of corruption.
¶ Crime & Factions
- The Muckruckers – Corrupt "law enforcers" who extort protection money rather than prevent crime.
- The Sewer Rats – A thieves’ guild that uses the Siphons for smuggling and fencing stolen goods.
- Zusgut’s Goblin Kingdom – A goblin enclave thriving on makeshift catwalks and rooftop dwellings. Their chaotic rule disrupts Haigen’s authority.
- The Skinsaw Cult – A fanatical murder cult leaving dismembered bodies throughout the Puddles, challenging even the region's hardened criminals.
- The Platinum Band – A temple of Apsu, an unlikely beacon of law and healing in the district.
¶ Current Issues
- Crime is spiraling out of control – Haigen’s grip is slipping, and new factions are taking advantage.
- Floodwaters are rising – Many homes are structurally collapsing, worsening disease outbreaks.
- Activists are calling for reform – Appeals to the Grand Council are increasing, but reformers keep disappearing.
¶ Tables
¶ Locations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| The Goblin King's Court | A fun time for the whole family |
¶ Shops
| Name | Type | Description | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drippys | tavern | Dingy music bar in The Puddles | |
| Ted's Express | delivery | Delivery service with multiple locations owned by Ted Flanders | Ted Flanders |
¶ People
| Name | Status | Faction | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard | alive | Asshole Teenager who works at Ted's Express(Puddles Location) | |
| Bethany | alive | Bartender at Drippy's with a severe case of tide-foot | |
| Carl Weathers | alive | Old knowledgeable blues / jazz man that frequents Drippy's | |
| Hope | alive | Runs the Puddles Orphanage | |
| Marty | alive | Orphan from the Puddles Orphanage | |
| Quintus Tarentino | alive | Spy about Absalom. Otto's contact | |
| Zusgut | alive | The Soddenhouse Shankers | Pickle Provider and Purveyor of Political Populism |