To be born Aralian is to be born into an explosion of human creativity and expression. Amateur poets and freelance musicians hone their talents in hopes of performing in grand opera houses; smiths and seamstresses toil to create increasingly imaginative and beautiful crafts; Aralia's most infuential citizens and respected artisans vie for power and prestige, a deliate cat-and-mouse of social maneuvering and political prowess, whose prize is Nova Aralia itself.