Everyone,
It's time to get the final background details of your characters finished, because I expect that Dungeon #139 will be arriving any day now (though not today, sadly) and I'd like to start the campaign shortly thereafter.
To facilitate this, I would like everyone to choose one of Sasserine's districts, as a starting point/base of operations for your character. If your character is native to Sasserine, this would be where he lives. If a visitor/new arrival/castaway/presumed-dead former pirate/whatever, this district would be where he spends most of his time, and has gotten best acquainted with.
I was going to type up a brief description of each district, but then I recalled that GwydapLlew has already done so, and a fine job at that. So, with many thanks, I will reproduce his summations now:
GwydapLlew said:
First things first, Sasserine has been given a total face-lift from SCAP. It's definitely different from what I viewed in my mind's eye of the place. A sheltered harbor with lots of small islands inside the bay - if the waterways were manmade, I'd call them canals. Each district has a representative that sits on the Dawn Council, and while they aren't the rulers of the districts, they are generally the most powerful voice in each.
I'll give a brief blurb for each district - I don't feel comfortable quoting word-for-word (as I told Stonegod over on the Paizo boards) but I'd be more than happy to drop you an email, Mal, with the details of the District Feats if Stonegod's summary above intrigues anyone.
Azure District: The waterfront. It houses the majority of the slums and lower-class citizens. The western section deals with the city's internal waterways, while the eastern section is home to the whaling industry. This district is represented by the Islarans. The East Market is known for the availability of exotic pets (ranging from vipers to wyverns).
Champion's District: This is where the soldiers and more martially-minded citizens live. There is a large arena - the Sasserine Arena - that holds fights at least once a week and the owners are attempting to steal some of the Free City's thunder with upcoming competitions. The representative is the Lorchester family.
Cudgel District: Solidly middle-class and solidly Cuthbertian in their outlook. Adventurers get gouged here - often by as much as 200%. The leaders here are the Sasserine branch of the Taskerhills. Rufus Laro is the head priest of the church of St. Cuthbert.
Merchant District: Located in the middle of the city, the bay opens directly onto this area. It's the most cosmopolitan area, and where most foreigners live. The representative family is the Arabani, and the current head of the family claims to be descended from the drow (although her pale skin and features are the same as any other standard half-elf).
Noble District: This would be the Quebec of Sasserine. Constant talk of secession and bickering amongst the rival families of both this district and Champion's District keeps this place busy. Most other districts get rather frustrated with the attitudes of the residents here. It's the home of the church of Wee Jas, which has been having some problems since the sister church in Cauldron has come under fire for all sorts of naughtiness. The leader of this district is the Lidu family.
Shadowshore: This is the ghetto of the city. There is no organized criminal guilds, as the Sea Princes kept a firm grip on the city until they were all assassinated by the Scarlet Brotherhood. The Lotus Dragons are trying to change that, but until then, there is no one crime ring in town. The leader here is Emil Dracktus.
Sunrise: Residential, and primarily concerned with the plantations that feed the city. Think middle-class to upper-middle class. They are ruled by the Knowlern family. Generally people here are friendly and open-minded, without a lot of the prejudice of the other districts. This district also is the gateway to Cauldron.
Based on the backgrounds you've already come up with, please choose a district and incorporate it into that written background. They need not all be different, there can be some overlap. In fact, for those that have overlapping districts, this would be a fine opportunity to create some shared backstory. Or, at least, you can say that your characters know each other. Please post your backgrounds as part of your character sheets in the Rogue's Gallery.
If you want some specific detail about a given district (the name of a tavern, shop, important NPC, etc.) just ask, and I'll happily provide that info. There is just too much detail in the Player's Guide for me to post all of it up front, so just ask for what you need. I'm sure stonegod and GydapLlew will also help do so.
All for now, let's get to work on those backgrounds, and hopefully we will be starting very soon!
