Interest Checks

Consisting of two large islands off the coast of the main continent, the Fair Lands are a divided lot, made up of many small states in frequent war, with little contact with the outside world.

The vast tracts of forest and farmland that make up the Fertile North have been called the breadbasket of the world. Virgin wilderness rules outside a small radius around the city states, and pastoral farms that grow the grain that feeds citizens of Kesperex from the Plateau Lands to the Old Empire occupy the inner countryside around the great cities. A few brave (or foolish) freeholds make their own path in the vast interior, and the forest elves rule in the deep forests.

The greatest city on Kesperex, Riverport sits when the four forks of the Great River which powers the wheel of trade meet-- silk, spices, and raw materials come down from the Plateau Lands and the Tall Mountains to the northeast, finished goods come up from the south, and every direction goes grain, grain, grain.

Ruled by a council of twelve, the leadership of Riverport is decided by a battle royale-- a month long (40 days) contest where whoever sits on the twele council thrones at the end of the contest sits as a councilor until another challenge is called. Notable councilors include the head of the Tower (the wizard's university, and home to the Tower Elves), the Archdruid Seymour Gilp Andreas Villandrean, Esq., and the Lich of Riverport.

The City of Guilds. Cessport is ruled by the Guilds (unofficially, of course) and the legal Corporations (those are guilds that are official). There's a guild for everything in Cessport, except thieves. Why no Thieves Guild?

They're ALL Thieves' Guilds.

Corruption and crime rule the streets in Cessport.

Ruled by a halfling Negus, Narport was founded by refugees from the halfling empire that fell in the Burned Lands during the Second Age. The Church of Hapi is the official state religion, and His Immortal Highness rules with fairness and generosity, though some say High Reaper Dominity is the true power in Narport.

The King Lands were once a single kingdom-- the Kingdom of Bizier. Now divided into north (Friese) and south (Sispawn), both Kingdoms have claim to the throne of Bizier, and they have been locked in a centuries long civil war.

To the south of the main continent lie the Burned Lands. Once home to a vast Halfling Empire, the Burned Lands is mostly desert. Controlled by Gnoll tribes and other savage races, recently the Emperor (of the Old Empire) has called a Great Crusade to invade and civilize these lands once more.

The Plateau Lands consist of a series of cities, ruled from the Shining Seat by the Emperor, and vast tracts of grazing land ruled by the various hordes who raid the land in nomardic fashion. Decades after the defeat of the Giant in Bones, the great wars that rocked the Plateau Lands during that time still leave their scars on the landscape and the populace.

An entire new continent to the West, from whence the sun rises was discovered just forty years ago. Now a patchwork of colonies from the old world powers, the New World still harbors vast unclaimed wilderness, mysterious dwarves and other threats. Will you explore the wilderness, found a kingdom, or simply join one of the colonies?

A series of caves and caverns, entrances to the Between Lands exist in many locations. Peopled by strange underground creatures and races, danger lurks around every turn of the cavern in the Between Lands.

In the Second Age the Empire was ruled by dragons. After the dragon god Ab'Cad was slain by Attrianna, Jarett, and Drexiesh, the Empire fell into mortal hands. Seven hundred years ago, the last Emperor died, and for many years the once every ten years Decade failed to crown a new Emperor. Fifty years ago, that changed, a new Emperor chosen, and centuries of war replaced by new decades of peace.

The Condottieri (mercenary) bands of the Old Empire have had to search further afield for contracts, as the land whose state religion worships the three war gods finds itself and its twenty-two members states in a pattern of peace for the first time.

The largest city in the Tall Mountains, Gold Peak is ruled by dwarves. Built inside a great mountain, the ruling houses of Gold Peak squabble for rank and privilege even as good King Dak sits on the throne. The dwarves remember a time when their influence stretched further-- the great Cloud Kingdoms, lost to time, and more sway in territory that's been encroached on by giants, orcs, and others.

Riverport has experienced decades of stability-- the alliance between the Lich of Riverport and the Archdruid Seymour Gilp Andreas Villandrean, Esq. proved remarkably durable- since the challenge 30 years ago during the Uprising there has not been another contest for the twelve District Chairs.

But in recent years, the relationship between the two is frayed. The Lich is rarely seen, even more rarely than before-- even the yearly Sakura Festival no longer draws him from his tower. The Arch Druid, meanwhile departed on business of the Church of the Four months ago and has not returned.

No one would think of challenging their districts, or the Tower, of course. . . but there are nine other districts which are not considered as secure.

A Challenge has been called, the first Challenge in who can even remember how long?

Ten days remain until the start of the Challenge, and there's been an influx of bodies into Riverport. What used to be a ritual is born anew as current District Chairs and would be challengers scramble to hire and retain fighters, followers, guards, and assassins. It's a wild rush, and there are any number of patrons offering jink and other rewards for a loyalty that need only last one month-- forty days of intense urban warfare.

You've arrived just in time to sign on with one of the contestants-- will you seek to defend a precarious position, or sign up with an up and comer?

The Dark Brothers were once the most feared Condottieri in the Old Empire, but after they fought against the man who would be crowned Emperor, then were split with half the Brothers following the Giant in Bones never to return they Dark Brothers have fallen on hard times. Worse, contracts have been harder and harder to come by since the Emperor's Peace.

Dark Eye Ma'Gore has done what he could, but he's slowed across the years, now an old man goblin in a very young man's goblin's game. Can you help guide the remnants of the Dark Brothers to glory again? Or will the Old Empire's goblin band fade away?

It’s been three months since Cloud Dwarf King Dak Nimbus led the Skycaptains and Spiryth’s Horde of Glorious Thunder into what looked to be final and lasting victory against the forces of Fire Giant King Lamar Nechezzar, however, the hero of the Gold Peak Dwarves met with disaster.

Outflanked by Necezzar’s wiley treachery, King Nimbus found himself opposed by a fractious and temporary, yet powerful alliance. The fire giants forged a pact with the neighboring frost dwarves of the Dunkare Mine, the hill giants of the Rondan Pass, the orcs of the Hidden Plateau, and even three of the four dragons who roost in the region, and the Thundering Horde was defeated, scattered, and King Nimbus captured.

Now, Gale Festivus, Last of the Skycaptains, must organize a motley crew of trainees, conscripts, and even mercenaries (perish the thought) in a desperate defense of Gold Peak.

Can you answer the call, defend the dwarven citadel, rally the forces of the sky, and free the Dwarf King?

It was supposed to be a simple passage across the Great Western Ocean into the rising sun to join the colonies in the New World. You'd bought your passage, packed your belongings, and set off for new lives and adventure. But Therpious, the God of the Sea and Pacifa the Lord of All To Come had other plans. A terrible storm blew your ship off course, pushing you far to the south, and worse sunk.

Now, a small group of survivors, marooned hundreds of miles to the south of any civilization must follow the Path of Recifer, God of Choices, and choose their own fate-- will you set out on a perilous overland journey to the north to find the Colonies? Or take what Pacifa has brought, and build your own here?

Either way, dangerous natives- the mysterious Jungle Dwarves, the aggressive Ash Dwarves, and who knows what else await in the jungles and lands of this new continent. . .