Starlake

In the arid Saguaro Desert, settlements came and went but none found a reason to stay. Mercenaries and outcast remain as the region’s soul inhabitants, clinging together for survival as they try to scrounge for living beyond the rigid East. Drawn towards water sources, one pocket of outcasts soon discovered a rare resource submerged in the heart of a lake. After laboring to drain it, it was revealed to be a metallium core, an alien ore long banned by the civilization of the East. If handled properly, the substance that can bestow upon a subject wondrous magical power. They knew how to harness it through the ancient power of brands, the ability to imprint it on one’s body through a grueling process of heat application. This was a revolutionary boom for the settlers, allowing their town to grow with the newfound accessibility of a known forbidden material. People flocked to this discovery, all staking claims on a share, soon creating that of Starlake Town. The town thrives off of pacts and alliances, absorbing stragglers and lost souls from surrounding areas to allow their individual cultures to thrive. Because of the self-sufficient and individualistic nature of these brand families, a government has no place here. Unified enforcement is rejected for the trust and practice of their inclusive ways of life. But with the freedom of brands are also threats. News of the settlement’s discovery travels fast, and gangs and raiders try to claim it themselves. Meanwhile, in the East where branding has been outlawed, they are eager to get rid of any new sources of its magic. The group of mercenaries and scoundrels hired by the East often attempt to infiltrate town in hopes of making sure it's never used again.