The Guards
Captain Arlen Vorth
Role: Senior Guard Officer (Retired Field Soldier)
Race: Human
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
NPC Type: Veteran (5e)
Appearance
Mid-60s, broad and weathered, with a permanent stiffness in one leg from an old battlefield wound. Keeps his armor polished and posture straight despite the limp. His expression rarely softens.
At the Table
Speaks bluntly and without decoration
Corrects sloppy behavior immediately
Carries visible frustration
Keeps hands clasped behind his back when thinking
Low tolerance for excuses
He feels like a man who remembers when standards meant something.
Overview
Arlen is a career soldier forced into retirement after a crippling leg injury. He took a post in Saltmarsh to serve quietly—but instead finds himself commanding a disorganized and morally uneven garrison.
He respects Eliander Fireborn’s push for order and shares his desire to root out corruption. He suspects Teagan of wrongdoing but lacks proof.
Hooks / Use
Source of guard-related tension
Potential ally against internal corruption
Can provide access to restricted areas
May request discreet investigation into fellow officers
Represents internal strain within the Loyalist structure
Secret
He feels increasingly isolated within the garrison.
If corruption spreads unchecked, he may act without authorization.
Olin "The Tankard" Greybuckle
Role: Disgraced Veteran / Town Guard
Race: Human
Alignment: Neutral
NPC Type: Guard (5e)
Appearance
Late 50s, weathered and red-nosed from drink. Broad once-powerful shoulders now softened by years of routine and ale. Keeps his armor functional but rarely polished. Smells faintly of stale beer and oil.
At the Table
Friendly and overly familiar
Rambles into long war stories
Laughs too loudly at his own jokes
Avoids direct questions about his past
Sobers instantly when danger appears
The soldier is still there—buried under drink.
Overview
Once a capable soldier in the King’s army, Olin survived a failed mission that ended his career. Haunted and unmoored, he took quiet employment in Saltmarsh’s guard.
What began as coping became habit. He drinks daily—but when real danger emerges, old instincts surface with surprising clarity.
Hooks / Use
Knows battlefield tactics and guard weaknesses
May accidentally reveal important information while drinking
Can rally during emergencies
Potential redemption arc
Emotional pressure point for Arlen
Secret
Carries deep guilt over the failed mission that ended his career.
If forced into real combat again, he may either redeem himself—or break.
Teagan "Silkhand" Varnell
Role: Gate Officer / Smuggler Asset
Race: Human
Alignment: Neutral Evil
NPC Type: Veteran (5e)
Appearance
Lean and sharp-featured, well-groomed despite his early 60s. Keeps his armor and uniform immaculate. Movements precise, hands steady. His nickname comes from the careful way he handles paperwork—and bribes.
At the Table
Speaks calmly and confidently
Maintains steady eye contact
Rarely appears rushed
Deflects suspicion with logic
Uses courtesy as a shield
Never overreacts
He looks like a model officer.
Overview
Formerly a quartermaster dismissed for skimming supplies, Teagan reinvented himself in Saltmarsh. From his position at the gate, he subtly manipulates patrol schedules and inspection routines to funnel contraband into town.
He works quietly for Gellan Primewater.
Suspicion circulates—but never sticks.
Hooks / Use
Source of manipulated guard schedules
Hidden entry point for contraband
Potential exposure arc within the garrison
Leverage target for political pressure
Could frame another officer to protect himself
Secret
Uses Arlen’s strict reputation as cover and Olin’s drinking as distraction.
Keeps minimal written evidence and spreads risk across multiple carriers.
If exposed, he will sacrifice lesser smugglers before admitting involvement.
