Clare

The centre of the campaign is the independent city of Clare. Clare lies where the Fulcrum Mountains meet the sea, which makes it an important gateway between the north and the south of the known world.

To the north are the Venucci Republics, a nation of independent city states that live off trading and farming in their temperate climes. To the south are the Austral Enclaves, a nation of fortress-like citadels designed to withstand the harsh conditions and cold climate of the southern wastes, who live off their plentiful mineral wealth.

Clare was the northernmost satellite of the Enclaves, but due to its relatively temperate climes, conservative Enclave culture chafed. It was heavily traded with and invested in by the Venucci, and encouraged to break away and assert independence, which it did roughly 20 years ago. Clare was expected to join the Republics, but rejected membership in favour of neutrality, and has followed a policy of playing both sides to its advantage. Due to the importance of Clare as a strategic location, both powers have guaranteed the independence of Clare should the other try to take it by force, so Clare has been declared a demilitarized zone and acts as a buffer between the two larger nations.

Clare is ruled over by a council of representatives from the influential groups in the city. It also has several other organisations and factions that have the potential to help or hinder the task force.

The inhabitants of Clare have absorbed much of the culture of both the Venucci and Enclaves, and different parts of the city exhibit features of each. Due to the tensions between the two cultures, most parts and inhabitants of the city show a notable preference for one over the other, providing stark contrasts. As such, most inhabitants of Clare show a distinct affinity for one culture over the each in dress and customs.

The official currency of Clare is still the Enclave currency of the Ducatto. A single Ducatto is the standard living allowance of an Enclavee for a week, so it's a very large unit of currency. As a result, large transactions are undertaken in Ducatto, and small transactions are undertaken in favours, goodwill and hospitality. This constantly baffles visiting Venucci merchants, who continually pressure the Clare council to issue a new currency - which probably just contributes to their refusal to do so.