Since the fateful night generations ago, the world, and the people within it have grown wilder, distrustful of outsiders and guarded. There are however pockets where life seems almost pleasant if still harder than it used to be. That’s not to say that the world is filled with naught but evil folks looking to part travelers from their lives – there are plenty of kind and gentle peoples still living in the realms. But those people have learned to be careful around strangers and more careful around wilder things than adventurers wandering into town.
Most adventurers form a group in a tavern – after all, it’s where hostilities and distrust can be taken down a notch with a hearty meal in a warm place, with laughter and the safety of a larger gathering – or tankard of ale.
Your party will start off in one of these settings, after all – would be adventurers would be unlikely to find themselves meeting for the first time in the deepest wildest parts of the world.
In small hamlets, like the Floren Islands, you’ll normally find a tavern, a few houses that also double as shop fronts and a group of people just trying to eek out a living. While some of them may interact with the outside world through trade or perhaps relations, most of them were born likely within shouting distance of where they are now and have no intention of going elsewhere – after all clearly it is safe where they are.
There are of course larger villages, towns and even cities in the world, and of course, with size comes great politics, greater industry and greater power. As you discover these in the game, be wary of things that seem too good to be true, they probably will be. People don’t often get to the top through goodwill and kindness to others.
Torn Realms 