02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

108.1.141.197
Rhulic towns. The Glomring attempts to establish
a presence wherever there are competing clans
and a potential market for its services. They have
little concern for hierarchy. Instead they maintain a
democratic organization and any recognized lurker
of the ‘Ring is allowed to speak his mind. However,
the most senior and skilled lurkers carry the most
clout, particularly legendary figures such as Holivus
Iceclimber (male dwarf Rog13/Lrk10). Additionally
the reclusive Taskmasters, an inner circle of twelve
semi-retired lurkers, are responsible for recording
Glomring contracts and ensuring that jobs are
executed according to their code. Challenging the
decrees of the Taskmasters has resulted in expulsion
and even death since they are the protectors of the
lurker code.
Nonokrion Fellowship
No sane person offers his soul to the Infernals no
matter how great the reward. No sane person would
even deal with them, yet there are those who tread the
wrong side of that fine line between sanity and madness
but remain shrewd enough to drive a hard bargain.
Fifteen years ago a group of sixteen such individuals
entered into a dark pact with a curator. Each was given
just a year to fulfill the bargain—provide a score of souls,
all of whom must willingly accept the Infernal mark and
promise to aid the Infernals at some point in the future.
In return they would receive power and security.
Some of the souls were bought—those so starving
and desperate they had long-since abandoned hope.
Others were intimidated and given a choice of death or
marked freedom. Some strange few youths were enticed
to pledge their souls as a form of rebellion against their
noble parents little realizing the true magnitude of their
decision. Through extortion, subterfuge, graft, and
guile the bargains were honored, yet of the sixteen only
eleven fulfilled the conditions of the pact. The other five
were hunted down and consumed by soul stalkers.
The surviving eleven are a mixed bunch; four are
politicians, two hold military ranks, another two are
merchants, one is a wizard, and the tenth is a senior
member of the Steam & Iron Workers Union. Each
has benefited greatly from infernal protections. Key
rivals have mysteriously died and each seems to have a
preternatural gift for swaying the minds of influential
individuals.
The final member is Anton Velliten (male Thurian
Clr9/Mal3), a former cleric of Morrow, and it did
not take long for his colleagues to discover his dark
dealings. He fled the Church of Morrow whilst his
pursuers were struck down by Infernal guardians.
Taking refuge in the backwaters of the Gnarls east of
Five Fingers, he abandoned all pretence and swore
himself to Thamar. He has spent the last few years
steadily building his power and gaining the Dark
Twin’s favor. In recent months he has re-established
contact with the others in the Fellowship and
informed them that the curator has revealed what
must be done to fulfill the outstanding part of their
bargain—the part that buys their own freedom from
the Infernal mark. The Infernals have insisted that the
Fellowship precipitate a war between Cygnar and any
of its neighbors, and they have been given a year and
a day to do so. Already plans have been laid for acts of
treason, deception, and betrayal. It remains to be seen
whether anyone will uncover these in time let alone
prevent them or deal with the Fellowship.
Retribution of Scyrah
Lurking on the fringes of Iosan and human
society, agents of the Retribution keep watch on
humanity ever vigilant of further human attempts
to destroy all that the elves hold dear. These agents
carefully monitor the actions of human wizards,
study their movements, and note their specialties
and weaknesses so that when the time comes they
are prepared to strike ruthlessly to eliminate one
more threat to Scyrah’s well-being. Retribution
spies send detailed reconnaissance reports back to
the Retribution leaders who use this information to
coordinate the movements of their well-trained mage
hunters and to determine which wizards and magical
experiments must be stopped at all costs.
The Retribution of Scyrah may appear to be a
largely religious movement, but the secular arm
of this Iosan group maintains primary control and
leadership of the organization. Headed by military
specialists and experienced covert agents, the
Retribution carefully conceals the identities of its
field agents from humans and elves alike. Only a few
members of the Retribution are openly recognized in
Ios, and the majority of them are outspoken religious
leaders like Relvinor Luynmyr (male Iosan Clr17),
High Priest of the Retribution.
World Guide 135