Rhaled:
The sun dawns upon the Rhalad Empire, the golden rays poking through the trees of the Arulian forest. The small town of Arulia is where (one) of our intrepid heroes live. Long forgotten by the Empire, save for the tax collectors, this city has run itself since the local nobility, the Denumont’s, left the sleepy hamlet ages ago for bigger prospects. The city itself is mostly self-sufficient, surrounded by small farms. The local market sells the food grown, fish from the nearby river, and the small animals that the trappers bring in from the forest. Most house are made of Arulian timber: A relatively strong, but hard to work with material. That is, all houses are made from it, save the manor of the nobles.The old Manor, Denumont Manor, is run down; worn by age and neglect. It’s stone cobbles are covered in moss, with gloom befalling the overgrown grounds. Inside, resides Baronet Lucas, forth son of the late Lord Denumont. On the passing of his father, this small manor was willed to young Lucas, to be out of the way of the real ladder-climbers of the family. Another day dawns in this sleepy hamlet...will this be the day that our young hero will act upon the maps of old that he found?
The Aelaian Sea:
Ah! It is great to be king! And if you’re not the king...it’s even better to be on his side, then against him. The Great Pirate King is the real rulers of this sea, not the petty Merchants of Aelae. They cower behind their stone walls, afraid of the water that once made them rich. But not the pirates, no...they own these waters...some selling Aelae the same goods that they plundered from their pockets. News is spreading of a new man...a young man...a former cabin boy, who raised through the ranks, a benefitter from mutiny. A young man so fearsome, that he has knives for fingers...or so they say. However, one that raises through the ranks this fast is not to be trusted, this man may be too ambitious for their liking. But enough of that, let us pan down to his ship, the Slicer. It is a clear, sunny day (Opposed to a Dark and Stormy night!), with a slight breeze filling the sails. The bell has just been wrung...it is time for breakfast on the ship, as the night crew signs off, and heads to their cot.