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

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summer home here. Most of the time, the transients’
great estates are empty except for their servants who
maintain them in case their masters should choose
to arrive. Not surprisingly, some of these servants
take advantage of their masters’ absence by living like
kings or by renting out the estates to visitors. Native
Haimmoners live simply and take their care of the
vineyards very seriously; it is not only their primary
source of income but also a source of immense pride.
Noted Persons
Lady Mayor Rohessa Rainecourt (female Midlunder
Ari3): Rohessa Rainecourt owes her position to the
wealth of her family, which made its fortune creating
new varieties of grapes to excite the taste buds of even
the most jaded nobles. Consequently, Lady Rohessa
believes that there is no problem that cannot be solved
by the application of gold. When dealing with nobles
or—better yet—merchants, this approach works
well, and it has ensured that King’s Vine remains
unassuming. However, the lady mayor has had less
success when dealing with the Haimmon Valley South
Company, an alliance of winegrowers whose demands
for representation on the city council are becoming
ever more vocal. Lady Rohessa is in awe of Archduke
Fergus Laddermore who controls this region from
Caspia, and she eagerly seeks his praise. The fact that
he has ignored her recent requests for additional
“high bred” soldiers to protect the region has only
slightly tarnished her esteem for the man.
Locales of King’s Vine
Avelot Vineyards: The Avelot Vineyards are the
largest and most impressive in all the surrounding
countryside. They are owned by the Crown and the
produce goes directly to Caspia and other royal
enclaves throughout the kingdom. For the right
amount, some of the vineyards’ unique grapes and
wines can be purchased on the sly, and there is
rumor of a smuggling ring based around Avelot. It is
a source of embarrassment for the city watch, for the
smugglers have yet to be uncovered—if smugglers
indeed do exist.
Cathedral of the Vine: High Prelate Garrett
Strivelyn (male Caspian Clr7) oversees this impressive
house of worship dedicated to Ascendant Gordenn.
The cathedral is one of the most beautiful in all of
Cygnar thanks to the benefices granted to it both by
royal charter and gifts from nobles and merchants
alike. Its grounds are lush with carefully maintained
gardens, and its exterior is green with the vines of its
namesake. In addition to extraordinary stained glass
windows, it houses a magnificent clock gifted by the
noted engineer Alart Bauquemyre (male Ryn Amk7/
Exp3) who lived in the city for a time. Most transient
inhabitants of the city give lip service to Asc. Gordenn
(seen as the patron of vintners). Few are especially
zealous in their devotion much to the chagrin of High
Prelate Strivelyn who has begun a campaign—with
little success so far—to encourage them to attend
weekly liturgies. Native Haimmoners, on the other
hand, are quite pious since their livelihood depends
heavily on the blessings of Gordenn.
King’s Castle, The: With its hipped roofs, sevenstory
central tower, myriad pointed windows, and
lavish royal vineyards, the cruciform King’s Castle
made of Wyrm’s chalk—from the Wyrmwall—and
large brick is certainly the most impressive building in
King’s Vine. It is surrounded by a moat and the east
wing is quite a bit longer than the other three. The
castle serves as residence for the Lady Rainecourt but
is actually owned by the Cygnaran Crown and foremost
belongs to the king. Indeed, Leto often carves time out
of his schedule to rest in the castle at King’s Vine. An
intriguing story is attached to the castle. Roughly 100
years ago a vintner named Taran Cray, also a reputed
apothecary of no small skill, was enraged by an earl
named Gravis Halfmont who gravely insulted his
family by “sullying” the reputations of the vintner’s
wife and daughter during a royal party. Cray secretly
served poisoned wine to the nobleman resulting in
the earl’s death, but his crime was quickly discovered.
The vintner was seized and soon hanged on the castle
grounds for his offense, but when it came time for his
burial, the body was never found. Later, a journal was
found among his belongings that made Cray out to be
an alchemist, and in it he claimed to have uncovered
the secret to making an elixir that could impart long
life, perhaps even immortality.
Stone Ring: The geographical feature known
as the Stone Ring is precisely that: a large circle of
stones near the center of the town. The stones that
make it up stand about a foot high, and the circle
has a diameter of twelve feet. No one knows who
built it or for what purpose. Some speculators say it is
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