Sandpoint

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Sandpoint

(City)

NG

Town

Titles

Light of the Lost Coast

Nation

Varisia

Region

Magnimar

Level

4

Size

Small town

Population

1,240

Demographics

89% humans, 3% halflings, 2% elves, 2% dwarves, 1% gnomes, 1% aiuvarins, 1% dromaars, 0.5% goblins, 0.5% other

Government

Autocracy (mayor)

Alignment

Neutral good

Adjective

Sandpoint

Ruler

Mayor Kendra Deverin

Images of Sandpoint

Source: Sandpoint, Light of the Lost Coast, pg(s). 1ff. (1E)
Seven Dooms for Sandpoint Player's Guide, pg(s). 17–28 (2E)

Sandpoint is known as the 'Light of the Lost Coast' and is a small town in south-western Varisia under the influence of the city of Magnimar to its south. Sandpoint remains the only place of note along the Lost Coast, but it has grown considerably in the past few years and is now Varisia's sixth-largest settlement; nevertheless, it still maintains the air of a sleepy fishing town. Sandpoint is most famous for the arts: particularly theatre and high-quality glass-blowing.

Geography

A map of Sandpoint ca. 4707 AR.

Resting in a natural cove along the cliff-lined Lost Coast region of Varisia, on the edge of the Varisian Gulf, Sandpoint is a medium-sized town that exemplifies the varied people of the land. While only about fifty miles northeast of the city of Magnimar, and technically under its rule, Sandpoint benefits from its isolated location in its ability to remain fairly autonomous. The most notable feature of the town is the ruined lighthouse that stretches high above the coastal bluffs, a testament to the ancient empire of Thassilon which existed here centuries before the current town was settled.

History

Though Sandpoint is a relatively new settlement, it has had its fair share of notable events in its short history. From the violent nature of its founding to the "Late Unpleasantness" of 4702 AR, to the goblin and giant attacks of 4707 AR, this quaint town is no stranger to the same (if not worse) terrors that plague larger, more dangerous cities.

Founding

Four powerful families from Magnimar had designs on settling the region where Sandpoint now stands, and rather than work against each other, they consolidated their efforts and formed the Sandpoint Mercantile League. These four families, the Kaijitsu (glassmakers and jewelers), the Valdemars (shipbuilders and carpenters), the Scarnettis (loggers and millers), and the Deverins (farmers and brewers), sailed north in 4666 AR to claim their land after securing the rights from the Magnimar Charterhouse.

However, they arrived to find the place already settled by a particularly large tribe of Varisians, who held the region as a traditional place to spend the winter during their travels along the coast.

Unwilling to change course, the Sandpoint Mercantile League began a series of talks with the Varisians, promising them an important place in the new township. Unfortunately, after a week of talks seemed to go nowhere, an impatient man named Alamon Scarnetti took matters into his own hands. Rounding up a group of his brothers and cousins, the Scarnettis mounted a murderous raid on the Varisian camp, intending to kill them all and leave evidence implicating local goblins for the deed. Yet the Scarnettis, too drunk and overconfident, only managed to kill five Varisians before they were themselves forced to flee, leaving behind three of their own.

The incident caused a several-month delay, and the Varisian Council of Magniar called for the entirety of the Sandpoint Mercantile Guild to be punished for their acts. The young bard Almah Deverin negotiated a compromise in which the Varisian Council relaxed its demands for blood in exchange for a 40-year share of Sandpoint-based profits and the addition of a Desnan temple in the town's cathedral. Sandpoint's government extended the pact an additional 20 years to end in 4726 AR.

The Late Unpleasantness

A notable series events in the short history of Sandpoint occurred in the winter of 4702 AR, and are referred to locally as "the Late Unpleasantness." The people of Sandpoint would prefer to put the unsavory disasters behind them, but the years are not long enough to fully forget these events. Within the course of only a few years, a string of murders by a ruthless killer known as "Chopper"; raids by goblins, giants, and dragons; a great fire which destroyed the iconic chapel and many of the surrounding buildings ravaged the town both physically and emotionally. The Sandpoint Cathedral has since been rebuilt and the people of Sandpoint are finally optimistic about their future.

Recent history

The modest town of Sandpoint has undeniably played a pivotal role in the region's recent history, as it served as the origin for multiple legendary bands of heroes. The first of these groups successfully vanquished Runelord Karzoug, while the second (which included Ostog the Unslain) embarked on an adventurous journey to far-off Osirion before parting ways to pursue individual quests across the Inner Sea region. The third group undertook a remarkable mission escorting the local barkeeper, Ameiko Kaijitsu, across the Crown of the World, where they aided her in reclaiming her rightful position as the empress of Minkai.

The town, however, has also faced further challenges, including the opening of a sinkhole into a Thassilonian ruin, tsunamis, and the Runelord Alaznist's assault on the broader region.

Government

Sandpoint Mayor Kendra Deverin.

While technically a holding of Magnimar, Sandpoint's isolated nature provides a sizeable amount of independence. The town is governed by a mayor, who as of 4724 AR is Kendra Deverin, but of the four founding families of Sandpoint only the Deverins and Scarnettis still hold considerable influence. Despite recent crimes, goblin and giant invasions, sinkholes, tsunamis, Runelord invasions, and other setbacks, Sandpoint has continued to grow, and Mayor Deverin hopes to continue to expand its prosperity in the years to come.

Sandpoint has a seven-seat town council, which historically reserved four seats for its founding families and a fifth for the mayor. Deverin represents both a family and the mayorship and the Valdemar seat was vacated with the family moving from town, leaving the remaining seats up for popular election and serving 4-year terms. Election day is on 7 Neth, the anniversary date of Sandpoint's founding. As of 4718 AR the elected members included Abstalar Zantus, Ilsoari Gandethus, Kaye Tesarani, and Hannah Velerin.

With the decline of Sandpoint's aristocracy, the Bunyip Club of criminals, the historians of the Runewatchers, Abstalar Zantus of the Sandpoint Cathedral, the Mercantile League, the town watch, the unaffiliated townsfolk, and the relatively new Scarnetti Consortium also share influence over the town.

Inhabitants

See also: Category:Sandpoint/Inhabitants

The inhabitants of Sandpoint are primarily human, but like any civilized population center, a smattering of other ancestries live throughout the area. The human population is fairly evenly divided between those of both Varisian and Taldan (via Cheliax) descent, and the number of Shoanti residents has steadily increased over the years. Notable personages of the town include Mayor Kendra Deverin, Sheriff Belor Hemlock, town planner Jasper Korvaski, and Titus Scarnetti. Notable former residents include Ameiko Kaijitsu, who ascended to Empress of Minkai, and the late Ethram Valdemar.

Sandpoint as seen from the sea.

Notable locations

See also: Category:Sandpoint/Locations

For a relatively small town, Sandpoint offers a wide variety of services and interesting locations. In addition to a local Cathedral, Garrison, and Town Hall, the community boasts over half a dozen inns and taverns, shipyards, a local theater, and a fair selection of other businesses. The once-renowned Sandpoint Glassworks are now abandoned and haunted.

Roads, thoroughfares, plazas, and squares

Further information: Roads of Sandpoint

Sandpoint's Hinterlands

Further information: Sandpoint Hinterlands

References

Paizo published Sandpoint, Light of the Lost Coast as a major sourcebook about the town, including poster maps, and gazetteers of the town as of 4707 AR in Burnt Offerings and as of 4724 AR in the Seven Dooms for Sandpoint Player's Guide. Sandpoint's Hinterlands are covered extensively in an article within Brinewall Legacy.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.