<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">First Post: General Campaign Info</div><div class="spoiler_body">Like many, the group has come to seek their fortunes of the 'newly' opened continent of Sydria - the continent has been known by many for over three centuries, and is merely a 3 day journey by elemental ship.  However, due to the difficulties in exploration and danger, it has long been avoided.  Since the mainland has been devastated by war to the point that no one can fight one anymore without risking collapse of their kingdoms, everyone is now looking towards Sydria to exploit, make new beginnings, or just escape to.<br/><br/>A few colony towns have been built, though our adventure will start in the independent ramshackle town of Piketown (whether named after the founder of the town, or the plentiful supply of pike in the nearby waters is debatable and, considered by most of the townsfolk, largely irrelevant).  Because it is free of political interference, it is the largest colony town, but also a bit more chaotic than most since it lacks an organised guard.<br/><br/>Piketown is basically an adventurer's town, and it's economy is largely based on what prospectors and adventurer's bring back.  It has a rustic charm, but also a bit rough and tumble.  The local fort of Stonehill overlooks the town and is where the town is governed from.  There are various types of individuals ranging from dangerous cutthroats, to adventuring nobility.  Social class, however, is rarely an issue except for the richest of people who come with small private armies that can enforce their lofty aspirations of social superiority.  Most just learn to roll with it, realising they are far from the crystal floored courts of the mainland.<br/><br/>At the start, everyone will generally be convening around the Emperor's Flagon (pictured by a jolly looking man with a tankard and wearing a crown): a low, broad, ramshackle building that has cheap ale and lots of space.  Being one of two taverns in Piketown, and the cheapest, it easily garners most of the business.</div></div><br/><br/>Piketown is a port town that sits on the western-most edge of the Sydrian continent.  It is surrounded by a heavy wooden palisade.  It was once surrounded by heavy woods, but by laborious efforts, the forest has been cleared away in every direction surrounding the town for half a mile.  Beyond that, the woods rises up almost like a wall.<br/><br/>A quarter of a mile from Piketown, the Sweetwater river empties out into the bay in which the town is located.  Thanks to the sudden drop in the seabed, Piketown was able to build a deep water harbour, allowing some of the larger ships to come directly to discharge their cargo and get repairs, which has made it one of the most favoured ports of call in the region.<br/><br/>Most of the buildings are made out of wood, usually raw logs, though some of the structures are made from stone or sawed planks.  Most buildings have shale slate roofs or thatching for the housing.  Only the rich house inside the walls of Piketown, whilst the rest have houses outside the walls.<br/><br/>Piketown is home to just under 500 permanent citizens, but the constant flow of transients means that there is about 1000 people in town at any given time and the small town feels very crowded at times.<br/><br/>The mayor of the town is Bryne Pikestaff, the son of the man who established the town.