Overview

Captain Lardus Longsaddle is the commander of the Seaton’s Cove garrison and the town’s senior military and law-enforcement officer.

A grizzled veteran with little patience for foolishness, Lardus is responsible for the security of the Cove, the investigation of serious crimes, and the local enforcement of Keoish law. His manner can be stern, but the people who know him generally consider him hard rather than cruel—and fair when it matters.

His first concern is the safety of Seaton’s Cove.

Physical Description

Lardus is a grizzled, broad-shouldered veteran whose appearance makes his profession immediately apparent.

A scar marks one cheek, and his piercing blue eyes give him a habitually watchful expression. He wears sturdy chainmail when duty requires it and carries a longsword.

Though years past his prime, he still carries himself like a soldier and projects the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed when trouble begins.

Personality

Traits

• Stern
• No-nonsense
• Experienced
• Protective of Seaton’s Cove
• Suspicious of people whose loyalties are uncertain
• Hard, but fair

Priorities

• Protect the people of Seaton’s Cove
• Maintain order within the town
• Defend the Cove against outside threats
• Investigate serious crimes and unexplained dangers
• Use the limited strength of the garrison where it is needed most

Attitudes

Lardus respects honorable service and people who prove dependable through their actions.

He has considerably less patience for mercenaries, opportunists, and outsiders who expect trust before they have earned it. Adventurers who demonstrate that they are willing to help the town, however, can earn his respect.

Commander of the Garrison

Lardus commands approximately twenty full-time guards responsible for patrolling Seaton’s Cove, maintaining public order, investigating serious trouble, and defending the town when outside threats appear.

The garrison is small but well trained.

That size also places practical limits on what Lardus can do. Seaton’s Cove sits in a region where dangers do not always announce themselves at the town gates. Patrols may be needed along the roads, investigations can pull guards away from ordinary duties, and threats beyond the town can quickly stretch the garrison thin.

For that reason, Lardus sometimes has little choice but to rely upon capable adventurers when a problem lies beyond the reach of his available guards.

Relationship with Mayor Oseph Menhemes

Lardus is loyal to Mayor Oseph Menhemes and serves as one of the mayor’s principal advisers on matters involving defense, crime, and military concerns.

That loyalty is not blind obedience.

Lardus considers the safety of Seaton’s Cove his first responsibility. If circumstances force him to choose between comfortable politics and what he believes is necessary to protect the town, there is little doubt which side of the question will command his attention.

Role in the Campaign

Lardus represents the practical authority responsible for keeping Seaton’s Cove safe.

When strange events become matters of public danger, criminal investigation, or town defense, he is one of the people most likely to become involved. He may provide information about recent incidents, assign guards to urgent duties, seek outside assistance, or determine that a problem has grown beyond what the garrison can handle alone.

His position also means that he frequently sees problems before most citizens understand their significance.

Increasing criminal activity, dangerous roads, unexplained disappearances, smuggling, and unusual disturbances all eventually find their way to the captain’s attention.

The Seaguard Road Patrols

When the adventurers reported the dragon beneath Seaton’s Cove, Lardus faced an immediate problem: many of his more capable guards were already away from town.

They had been sent to search for bugbears attacking travelers along the Seaguard Road, and the patrols might not return for weeks.

Despite the shortage of manpower—and despite being well past the days when he would have eagerly led every expedition himself—Lardus pledged whatever support he could provide.

The situation made clear just how thinly the town’s defenses could be stretched when several dangers emerged at the same time.

Areas of Knowledge

Lardus is a useful source of information regarding:

• Seaton’s Cove and its defenses
• The town garrison
• Local law and enforcement
• Recent crimes and investigations
• Trouble along nearby roads
• Patrols and guard activity
• Smuggling and suspicious activity
• Threats to travelers
• Regional security concerns
• Military matters affecting the Cove

Related Locations

• Seaton’s Cove
• Seaguard Road
• Menhemes Manor

Related Personalities

• Arenir Stormrider
• Darrak Goldenforge
• Mayor Oseph Menhemes
• Worliwynn
• Vandy Banderdash
• Lyrielle the Seer
• Tamily Tanderveil

Campaign Appearances

Campaign Journal 002 — After the Dragon

Lardus joined Mayor Menhemes and several other prominent residents at the council held in Menhemes Manor after the adventurers reported discovering a green dragon beneath Seaton’s Cove.

During the meeting, he explained that many of the garrison’s more capable guards were already away searching for bugbears along the Seaguard Road, leaving the town with fewer resources than usual to respond to the new threat.