Adwick

"In the center of Arilaand's territory lies its capitol city; Adwick. This large castle and its surrounding village is not only the beating heart of the kingdom but stands as a physical representation of the stalwart nature of its citizens." 
= Castle Adwick =
Castle Adwick was the primary location for Fractured Thrones season 2. The map itself boasts not only a large sprawling city and farmlands but also thick forests surrounding its perimeter, Deep lakes with submerged secrets and even a completely connected sewerage system tucked away under the city streets.
The city itself is broken into three separate districts or 'quarters'
=== 'The Poor District' ===
While Adwick is the shining jewel of Arilaand its populous is no stranger to hardship and the poor district encapsulate that. Makeshift houses crammed together in order to squeeze as many people into the district as possible make navigating through this area a challenge for newcomers. The fight pit tucked away allows entertainment for the residents in the form of betting on the fights once organized by the Brass Skulls. Sickness and disease are not only common but a way of life for the people living in this district and the drug known as Serenity runs rampant through the streets. 
While it seems that it would take a miracle for anything to thrive in such an area, that is not the case for crime. Shady alleys allow for exchanges of drugs and other contraband while easy access to the sewers means there are plenty of ways in and out of the district undetected... so long as you are in good standing with the Black Serpents.
=== 'The Craft District' ===
Every capitol city should be a hub of trade and industry and Adwick is no different. Walking through the main gates of the city can be daunting for someone not accustomed to the husstle and busstle of such a busy city. The Craft District is the catalyst of production sporting dozens of stores and even more market stalls. Surrounding the main market plaza establishments like the cobbler, seamstress and brewhouse cover the day to day needs of those residing in the city. Further out in the streets the blacksmith, leather worker and fletcher/ bowyer are easily located for more specific items.
Just as an army marches on its stomach so does a city. The Craft District sports a large tavern serving fresh food and drink to keep Adwick marching and entertainment in the form of chess in an attempt to keep the minds of its patrons sharp while they actively dull them with ale.
Not much further down the main street from the tavern the church of Mithrax can be found. Sermons and weddings are conducted here by the priests and holy paladins can been seen coming and going from the picturesque courtyard inside Mithrax's blessed grounds.
=== 'The Noble District' ===
Deeper into the city, past its inner walls lies The Noble District. This garden of eden in an otherwise rapidly moving city can be accessed by walking through the gate located past the scribery and Iron Wolf headquarters. Here things are cleaner, more precise and guards keep a close eye on those allowed to enter such an exclusive area. The hard working ruling class of Adwick live in relative luxury here, fountains can be found dotted around the clean streets and places to sit and ponder are not far away. This district directly connects to the castle proper allowing easy coming and going for Arilaand's upper class as well as any visiting nobles from other kingdoms.
= Adwick Crime =
The capital of Arilaand is usually a safe, prosperous place, run by the ruling House, with the presence of their soldiers and House bannermen. Oftentimes, this is all that is needed for life to run smoothly and peacefully, no matter the place - but all that changes when a nation is thrust into war. Hoping to hide from what is to come, and the ravages of war, many refugees, and even more people just seeking safety, have piled into the capital. This has caused a problem of overpopulation, and even worse, inflation. Prices for goods and services have skyrocketed, making survival on the streets even with a business a challenge. Soon, poor folk with no real craft skills, find themselves at an impasse. They are too poor to travel, too poor to pay for meals, and the only outlook is starvation. This is when a man is at his wits end, and makes a choice.
There are two major clans that reside, hidden with Castle Adwick and its city. It is to these illicit groups that the desperate man turns, in order to survive. Lord Gavus has done all that he can to attempt to distribute what was needed to fix the local economy - but with the war with the Empire, it did not last. These groups have gained traction and members, all thanks to the fires of war. Their crimes can vary from robbing stores, to mugging passersby, raiding caravan’s outside of town, fighting over turf, making craftsmen pay protection, to outright murder. They are a thorn in the side to the ruling class, and of course, the common man trying to scrape by. While the Guard does all it can to isolate and track down these clans, they have thus met with no success.
=== The Brass Skulls ===
The Brass Skulls are a group of thieves, cutthroats, and brutes, commanded by Genkir Stensk, a grizzled human ex-mercenary who is from Gradia. A man of strength and ruthless command, he is one of the few who are known to have spent time going with madmen from the guilds of Gradia to the far North, and made it back. Upon a tragedy of sorts that cost him most of his company, and a bounty on his head for a crime he never committed, he fled far into Arilaand, looking for work. Unfortunately, the land he came across was torn by war, and no one had the coin to hire. He wound up turning to petty crime at first - and then as more and more decided to join him, he organized them. They began raiding merchant warehouses in the city, and selling the goods in nearby towns for double the price, as the only source. At times they would collect protection money from the craftsmen, protecting them from their foes, and dealing with domestic issues for coin - while also bribing an already thinly spread guard to look the other way. 
Upon coming across a caravan to rob outside of town, Stensk and his men were surprised to find the caravan was actually filled with imperial men - men who weren't ready to be discovered. This group of scouts were mercilessly killed, and their armor taken - instead of being sold, Stensk felt it would be a better statement to melt it down, and have them made into skulls. They use these creations to identify one another quickly, and the name The Brass Skulls were born. The name quickly spread, and why, thanks to the outer village...adding to the reasons why the guards look the other way.
=== The Black Serpents ===
The Black Serpents are another clan hidden within the alleys of Castle Adwick looking to survive and control the flow of coin. While the Brass Skulls focus on the surface...the Serpents look underground. The sewer systems underneath the Castle are enormous, with twists and turns that could take you from one end of the city, to another. They utilize this thanks to the initial discovery by Quevven Tanor. This individual made his way to Adwick under unknown circumstances, and is probably one of the most secretive people within its walls. While the Skulls blend in on the streets, the Serpents use the sewers to pop up near their targets, hit it, and quickly disappear before the guards can even find them. This allows their primary source of income, Serenity, to be quickly distributed before their trail can be followed. While this chemical is difficult to produce, it is far from impossible, and they have the coin to do so. Between seizing caravans, the ingredients they need from doing as such, and private, special smuggling lines, the Serpents are able to produce enough serenity in a few weeks to supply every addict in Adwick at once. It is a severe problem in the poor quarter, and keeps entirely too many at the whims of Tanor’s group.
Oftentimes they will find themselves at odds with the Skulls, fighting over storefronts, caravan targets, and warehouse raids. It is not uncommon for them both to show up and wind up clashing in broad daylight. While this may seem foolish - most of the guard is bribed anyway, and they tend to stay out of small disputes. The Serpents identify themselves by wearing almost all black, hiding their faces to prevent identification. This makes them especially hard to deal with at night, as they are no stranger to careful, quiet movements, and completing their nefarious tasks in the darkness. It is whispered that the Serpents, however, are in the employ of a powerful individual in Adwick, but there isn't a soul alive who can say for sure. At least, not anymore.
= Present Day =
Adwick once stood as the jewel of Arilaand. It was a titan of trade and industry, a banner in the wind demonstrating to all who gazed upon it the majesty and pride of all Arilaandians. 
Now it lies, broken and bleeding like a wounded animal. Many people saw the arrival of the Imperial legion as the beginning of the end but few could imagine just how brutal it would be. The weeks of siege slowly but surely weakened the once proud city. Her walls crumbled, her garrison held out for as long as possible but courage can only go so far. 
The end of the siege did not come from outside the walls. It came from below. Rat creatures tunneled up through the ground itself flooding into the stage attacking Arriland and Empire soldiers alike. This completely unexpected attack saw the legion almost broken and the garrison of Adwick nearly exterminated. 
Inside the walls was chaos. Desperate fighting flared up in the streets to claim some sort of foothold, some sort of defense against this new threat. Only the courage of the guard and Adwicks people saved the city from becoming a tomb.
Now Adwick hangs on but only by a thread. The garrison of hundreds was reduced to only a handful. The population of thousands is now barely existent. It is unsure exactly what Adwicks next move is but, at least for now, she licks her wounds
Category:Fractured Thrones Locations