Neruma is a trading hub situated at the eastern edge of the lands generally regarded as The Shackles. Built
on the banks of the Terwa River it stands as one of the few inland settlements under the influence of the
Free Captains. The Captains maintain an uneasy alliance with the
Aspis Consortium with both sides neither really trusting
the other but at the same time recognising the benefit of mutual cooperation.
The mayor of the town is a scheming female half-orc called Shald who was appointed as a 'neutral' by both
factions.
Much of the traded goods in Neruma come up from the Mwangi Expanse and the Sodden Lands and include looted
artifacts, slaves and exotic substances that are banned by many governments. Both the Free Captains and
the Consortiums are therefore suspicious of any new faces in town watching them carefully in case they might
be agents of an unfriendly government. The settlement has a 'Watch' called the Steel Cordage who answer to
Shald but are paid for and recruited by the Free Captains.
Neruma was founded unwittingly on traditional lizardfolk breeding grounds which means that the local
lizardfolk tribes tend to be unfriendly to travellers entering and leaving the town. Every few years these
tribes mount a major raid on the town trying to do as much damage as they can.