Brine Saltwright
NereidsSalt Merchant
"Salt is life, salt is preservation, salt is power. Control the salt, and you control the sea itself.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Trade Quarter, Nereidum
- Civilization
- Nereids
Appearance
• Physical: Thickset with scales weathered to a rough gray-brown from years handling salt. His hands are permanently white-crusted, and his voice is hoarse from inhaling salt particles. • Clothing: Wears heavy leather aprons over simple work clothes, always carrying samples of his various salt products in waterproof pouches. • Distinguishing Marks: His forearms are covered in salt burns; wears a necklace of salt crystals from his most profitable mine.
Relationships
- Family - Never married, dedicated to his business; his only brother died in a mining accident years ago.
- Allies - Trade guild members; wealthy clients who depend on his products; a network of salt harvesters across the seas.
- Rivals - Competing salt merchants; officials who want to tax his operations; former partners he squeezed out of the business.
Backstory
Brine built his salt empire from a single salt flat he discovered as a young diver. He's now one of the wealthiest merchants in Nereidum but has no one to share it with. He collects rare salts from across the world as a hobby.
Daily Life
Brine spends mornings inspecting his salt flats and processing facilities, afternoons negotiating deals, and evenings hosting dinner parties for potential clients. He works seven days a week.
Secret
He's been smuggling contraband in his salt shipments, using the legitimate business to cover illegal trade in forbidden artifacts.
Story Hooks
- 1 Brine needs adventurers to investigate sabotage at his most profitable salt flat, suspecting corporate espionage.
- 2 He's seeking the legendary Eternal Salt that never dissolves and will pay any price for information about its location.
Narrative Value
Source of trade goods and wealth; quest giver for investigation and retrieval missions; morally complex ally. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════