Background:

Ardania is a feudal monarchy that practices primogeniture... property passes down from eldest male son to eldest male son. Inheritances are never "split". If an estate belongs to a man with no male heirs (even if he has twenty daughters), it will upon his death fall to his closest male relative (on his side of the family), and if none can be found it will be returned to the Crown.

That said... aforementioned heir will, upon his father's death, assume certain financial burdens. Specifically, he has an obligation to provide for his mother at roughly the same quality of life she enjoyed while his father was alive.

Likewise, he must support any unmarried sisters in a lifestyle which does not scandal, until such time as he can recoup his losses by arranging a profitable match for them. Lastly, he is expected to provide for his male siblings who are without a source of income... an allowance.

It is assumed that the second-born son will enter a military academy at a young age, and become a career officer (with his own income).

Likewise, it is assumed that the third-born son will join the Church and become independant of family resources.

It's the fourth son (and beyond) who suffer the most under the system. Most live completely at the sufferance of their older brothers. A few make it as merchants (which they generally regard as demeaning...). Most try to keep up the appearance of nobility, scraping by to keep their clothing in style. Many end up dying of alcohol poisoning... an ideal situation for the heir, if they can do it fairly early in the process, and without creating too much scandal.

Our player characters are these daughters and younger sons of the Ardanian upper class. Friends since childhood, they're attempting to emulate the achievements of Maximillian Fox, a relative who with his companions formed an adventuring company chartered by the Adventurers Guild in Alusia. Max's group, the Company of the Black Griffin, sailed to the Isles and brought back boatloads of treasure. So great was the fame he achieved, that his profits from the publishing of his journals were even greater than the value of his share of the Company's treasure. His wealth and fame have given him some protection against the Blackcloaks, who despise him for consorting with sinners. Max's two subsequent visits to the Isles netted him even greater shares of treasure, and he has set sail a fourth time not long before you sailed to Carzala. Anyhow. You went to the various heads of the family, and struck a bargain: In exchange for the money to form and equip an adventuring company, you'll renounce your claim on future financial support. Further, you won't return to Ardania until you can pay back twice the amount you are borrowing. It's a win-win situation for them -- since none of you are the "likely to die of alcoholism soon" types, this will cost less than supporting you thru old age. Besides... there's always a chance you'll make good on the debt. It could happen... look at good old Uncle Max!

The collective loan to the group is 100,000 gp. (You owe 200,000 total).