Petronia

Before the rise of the Mernian Empire, in the dim mists of time, there was a mountainous land called Petronia. Forged from a mighty alliance of dwarves and men, tall spires and castles rose above the craggy peaks. Below lay vast chambers carved from the living rock. At it's height, it was a great civilization of men and dwarves knowledgeable in craft, arts, and magic. It was rich beyond imagination.

Overtime, the alliance became political. Factions arose and vied with each other. Powerful guilds hoarded their knowledge. The magic of men took a dark turn and a lust for gold arose in the hearts of the dwarves. By the time the Mernians came in conquest (circa GY-180), the greatness of Petronia was already fading. Fell creatures crept into the abandoned mountain halls. The graceful bridges had fallen and the airy castles crumbled into the valleys below.

At game start (GW-500, Spring of GY-1665 - see Time), the Petronia Mountains are choked with shattered ruins. It's a dangerous place filled with terrible monsters. Only the very brave (or the very foolish) dare to explore it's secrets. Still, there is wealth and magic for those who can survive it's perils.

The Petronia Region

Levidium is a run down sea port. It's not especially large but sees enough trade to keep it viable. It was built as a shipping center for fish, dried vegetables, and other products for export to the center of the Mernian Empire. Trade volume is not what it once was. Though there are lots of place to get into trouble here, the more adventurous seek out The Palladium, which isn't anywhere near as glamorous as the name suggests. It's a place where you can get a feel for what's going on in town ... and beyond. You can meet people of a like mind here. Ask Hansom (the barkeep) about the dinner specials. It should be mentioned that Levidium is a human town, so non-humans are looked on with suspicion but accepted as long as their coin is good.

Not far from the Palladium is a rather crowded shop called Mountain Outfitters. You can find the kinds of equipment you might need for adventuring here. Danthius Silliconium runs he place and he's fairly honest. Prices are pretty much what you'd expect, but don't even ask about specialized gear such as thief tools. Old Dan will call the guards PDQ. Dan doesn't do any dealings in magic, either, so look elsewhere for potions and the like.