Players can create characters with all sorts of backstories. The important thing is that they end up at The Salty Siren as the campaign starts. The campaign will begin assuming that all party members have found themselves in this tavern, grabbing a drink.
While in The Salty Siren, grabbing a drink, the players will see a flash of light, then see the fireballs and the attack of Cinis' army on Wyverngard. The players will be knocked unconscious and buried under rubble until most of the threat is vanquished. At this point, the players "awaken" and escape from the rubble to help save other injured people and ultimately fight off the last few weak enemies that are still in the village.
During this fighting, Chief Raiken is seriously injured. He is not so injured that he dies, but he struggles to assist in cleaning up the last few enemies and doesn't have the strength to help save his people. He should be in a medic station or bed resting, but he wants to help his village, so he calls on our adventurers. He is ashamed of having to ask for help, but he knows that someone must help the village while he is injured. This begins his quest, Wyverngard's Reckoning.