00. Session 0

The Campaign takes place initially on the Western Edge of the Kingdom of Mustroll.  King Gerald the Red (human) has reigned for nearly 30 years over the Kingdom from the Capital City of Gisland. The Kingdom has enjoyed an extended period of peace with regions further into the Continent of Ko-Regan.  Much of the continent remains undocumented and unexplored, especially anything past East of a raging river rumored to bisect the land. On the western shore, the bustling Port City of Ardenhold has existed for generations.  Established initially as a small trading port, it has expanded into the land, as well as out into the Sea.  What was once piers and merchant houses became full roadways and multi-story buildings supporting a wide range of commerce, politics, and seaside entertainment.  More and more pylons went into the Sea; and more and more of the city extended out until the actual shoreline was long forgotten and buried beneath the city. The party starts the story in Ardenhold.

Today, Ardenhold rivals the Capital of the Kingdom.  The amount of commerce and trade moving in and out is the Kingdom’s lifeblood.  Some trade flows on boats down the rivers from the mountains to the East.  Some trade flows on large barges out to sea to long-forgotten customers that only the Trade Lords know about; fulfilling trade orders that were established generations ago.  In the past few years, trade has even begun with the Merfolk that live literally beneath the City, introducing a brand new aspect of Art and Culture to be bought and sold.

City Makeup and Populations expertise:
- Merfolk -- Art and Jewelry
- Dwarf -- Gems and ore; Weapons and Machinery
- Elf -- Elixirs and Potions, Information Networks, spices
- Goliath - Exotic meats and hides, raw building materials, explosives
- Humans, Halflings, and Gnomes -- Day workers and Merchants.  (>75% of Ardenhold’s population)

With all the business, local gangs and thieves take their share; but the Kingdom has recently started supplementing the Ardenhold law enforcement with Royal Solders – The Red Shield.  The Red Shield generally stays out of the way, but once engaged settles things quickly but perhaps not with the most mercy and creativity.  “Peace shall be enforced”. One key Citizen in Ardenhold, known as “Uncle” Emmitt (85 yr old Human) is a beloved supporter of the day-workers and under-dogs working for the local Big Wigs.  He’s never officially taken a political role; he’s content to work with people directly rather than face the bureaucracy and paperwork of being a politician.  Always quick to help out an orphan or widow; offer a support to the injured or those who need a handout.  If anything; he’s unliked by the local business because he offers services and support free of charge rather than loans or binding contracts.  Where he gets all his financial support or random gifts is  a long-rumored mystery.