The characters of this campaign are all members or associates of the Gambino family. The Gambino merchant-noble family competes with the other merchants and guildsmen for limited wealth of the isolated city of Persea. Persea was once a great trade city on the Great Trade Road to the east, but trade ended when the inhuman hordes swept out of the Hinterlands and severed the roads from Persea to the East. The mountains surrounding Persea protected the city from conquest but did not protect the inhabitants from fighting over the remains, descending the city into a cesspool of evil. The Godfather of the Gambino family hopes to reopen access to the metropolis of Diese, consolidate the family's position in Persea, and reopen the trade route to the East. The Godfather charges the PCs with improving themselves for the family's final goal of reopening the trade route. When the family needs something timely accomplished, other members of the family can do them if the party decides to pass.
		City of Persea

Power in and around the city of Persea is divided into five main groups. Subgroups are listed under the main power. The order below  is strongest to weakest.

1. Gambino merchant-noble crime family (evil alignment): The Gambino family arrived from the great city of Ocalon when the trade route to the East was in its heyday. The family purchased titles of nobility from the Baron, becoming knights of the land. This family dominates much of the activity in the Barony and surrounding area and has very close ties with the Baron. Ties between associates in Ocalon and the Gambino family remain strong.

Allies: Sephia Temple and Blackguard Brotherhood.

2. Ulivetti merchant family (evil alignment): The Ulivetti used to be in a more subservient position before the arrival of the inhuman hordes, but since then have been very industrious and opportunistic. The Ulivetti operate an extensive slave operation that trades goods to the inhuman hordes for skilled or strong humans living under their yoke. These slaves are sold all over the Black Sea. The Ulivetti have a stong relationship with the Lizard King, mainly because they keep him well supplied with sacrificial victims.

Allies: various inhuman leaders

3. Baron Moshemi of Persea (neutral alignment): Baron Moshemi has more power and wealth than any other baron in the Diese Empire. He maintains his position by heavy taxes and creative use of judicial fines. His position is maintained by alliances with the strongest merchant families and by his extensive force of soldiers in the city, sheriffs and deputies in the countryside of the barony, and knights and Moshemi Rangers everywhere else in the region. The constant threat of the inhuman hordes allows him to maintain a war footing year after year. Groups of milita are constantly drilling a one of his many fortifications.

Allies: Knights of Persea and the Moshemi Rangers

4. Verehasaran merchant family (good alignment): Despite the descent of Persea into becoming a cesspool of evil, the Verehasaran have thrived. The main reason they continue to maintain an influential position is the family's ability to attract foreigners who desire to end the domination of the nearby areas by the inhuman hordes. Everyone in the city desires to see the trade route to the East open again and for the riches of the world to flow through Persea once again. The Verehasaran are widely seen as the only group with the posibility of gathering enough support to casue this dream to succeed. The Verehasaran family has roots that go back to when the Old City was founded.

Allies: Nelli Temple, Thieves Guild, and (secretly) the Bandit Rebels

Bandit Rebels: A large group of malcontents wish to overthrow the rule of the Baron and have unified under several leaders in an effort to overthrow him. Despite their common goals and desire to cooperate, they have had little success in gathering support and expanding their cause. Most live in or near the Old City Ruins or in the nearby swamp across Lake Persea, but many factions are spread all through and around the Barony.

5. Gelman merchant family (neutral alignment): Father Gelman, High Priest of Rhaga and leader of the Gelman family, takes a very relaxed approach to the geopolitical situation. Various members of his family ally with other factions and keep the much smaller and less wealthy family at the center of most power arrangements. The Gelman family facilitates resolution of the many disputes that arise in these troubled times and they have the best network of information of any familiy.

Allies: Rhaga Temple and the Persea City Guild