Crownford is a vast temperate river valley where the Human Empire's major roads converge on a maze of bridges, canals, levees, and fortified water gates. Imperial officials, noble households, guilds, pilgrims, soldiers, and smugglers compete for space and influence across fertile farmland and crowded river districts. Magic is common, practical, and often waterborne, making every lock, bridge, cistern, and ferry a potential tool of commerce, espionage, or war.