Southcape - Introduction
Icy winds blast barren fields with killing hail. Malnourished men, women and children huddle together from the cold in hidden homes constructed of materials recovered from the abandoned husks of once glorious estates. From only a short distance away, any sign of habitation disappear in the battered and cracked landscape. And it is a good thing the homes are mostly invisible, for flesh merchants in search of human loot fight the biting winds, urging their unwilling charges on with threats and lashes. The once prosperous kingdom of Southcape withers under the crushing imperial boot of the Ivory Dynasty. The gold tribute is paid by the old noble houses which once horded their riches. And the blood tribute is paid by the commoners with their labor and lives. Yet, no relief is forthcoming as the Ivory Kings demand ever more from their appointed lords, who demand more from their sheriffs, and in turn their tax collectors. Individuals selected and promoted for their ability to extract taxes f