From the introduction:
Three hundred years ago.
The lands to the south are torn apart by war and revolution. The islands were originally a peaceful land when discovered by Alfysius but are now converted to the more dubious use of the ultimate prison.
"Escape is, of course, useless", a tall man, staff in hand greets the new inmates. They are a rag-tag group of misfits, decrepit, disease ridden filth of humanity.
"Even if you survive the treacherous seas and ferocious monsters, where would you go? That's why you'll find no walls here, other than for the Inner Keep.
"The weather strips us all of the desire for life. Over half of you will die within the first weeks, the rest... ahh, the rest, you will take longer. You will serve out the rest of your sentence in drudgery, working on the plantations and in other places of intensive labour, until your sad and useless lives cease." He pauses for breath and then takes a long, slow perusal of the storms building up to the west.
"Oh, yes, I see the look in your eyes. The Inner isle is not unguarded. I can see the revolution already building up - but I am most sorry to say that there is little that you can do about your Guardians. Harken to the priests when they teach you proper subservience if you want to live a little longer.
"To the shelters now - the storms approach fast, a welcome from Somol no doubt." He laughs unpleasantly as he turns his back, confident of his guards' aptitude, and makes his way quickly to the waiting coach.
User summary:
The Exile manual was the campaign-specific player introduction and rules used for Saturnalia: Exile.