Goal (if they find out): Use the missing tome to discredit Eliander and the Loyalists, framing it as a failure of crown-appointed leadership and a threat to Saltmarsh’s autonomy.

Response to the Party:

• Politely curious, but clearly trying to extract information.

• May pressure or bribe the party to share what they’ve learned.

• Spins the theft as proof that Loyalists can’t protect Saltmarsh.

Goal: Keep the theft quiet and contained, to avoid public scandal and maintain confidence in Keoland’s authority. Their priority is preserving order and protecting the reputation of Eliander and the Guard.

Response to the Party:

• Supportive but stern, urging discretion at all costs.

• May offer resources or official backing, but expect results quickly.

• Emphasize that the matter must not become ammunition for the Traditionalists.

Goal (already aware): Exploit the theft to destabilize Saltmarsh’s leadership, pit Loyalists and Traditionalists against each other, and undermine confidence in Keoland’s control—all while remaining unseen. The chaos serves their larger plan to eventually control the town through manipulation and division.

Response to the Party:

• Secretly observe and manipulate their investigation through subtle misinformation.

• Redirect suspicion toward convenient scapegoats (e.g., Gellan, Keledek).

• If needed, intervene indirectly, using other agents to nudge events toward maximum disorder.

Goal (if they learn about the theft): Uncover whether the Marshal's wreck holds lost treasures, relics, or intelligence from Azure’s Tide. If the book truly reveals the location of the wreck, the Sea Princes will seek to acquire it, either to plunder it first or to keep others away from sensitive secrets tied to their past.

Response to the Party:

• May send agents or mercenaries to track the party or steal the book if recovered.

• Could offer coin, false friendship, or threats to learn what the party knows.

• Treat the situation as a chance to reclaim lost history—or erase it.