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

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harsh and dogmatic fool by some, particularly those
allied to Mercarian League and Commander Ratcliff.
This has made his job all the more difficult and there
is some buzz that he may be removed from his position
soon. Despite these rumors, the earl has the trust of
King Leto who admires his military service.
Commander Griffin Ratcliff (male Caspian Ftr12):
Commander Ratcliff is a grizzled war veteran whose
service to Cygnar has won him powerful backers in
Caspia. He is among those who were loyal to the
former King Vinter such as the Archduke Fergus
Laddermore. Ratcliff uses his position to carve out
a personal empire for himself, lining his pockets
with bribes from the Mercarian League as well as the
smuggling of contraband through New Larkholm’s
port. He has little fear of either the new king or
his “puppet” Earl Mosley. Despite this treasonous
attitude, Ratcliff is a talented soldier and an excellent
commander. His strategies have helped repel no fewer
than three Cryxian pirate raids in the last decade—
another reason he does not fear being replaced. After
all, corrupt or not, he knows no one else could do his
job half so well.
Locales of New Larkholm
Larkhold: New Larkholm’s hill fortress, the
Larkhold, is nestled safely on a high bluff overlooking
the city. It is very imposing situated atop some cliffs
and has a spectacular view of the Larkholm valley. The
fortress features high protective walls that seem to
grow straight up from the rock face, and it boasts many
cannon and other artillery pieces designed to attack
ships at sea. It is the center of power for Commander
Ratcliff and, as such, is filled with soldiers intensely
loyal to him.
Larkholm Church of the Ascendant Ellena: Near
the waterfront this stately church sits behind Stanton
Wall, a fortified bulwark that drops straight down into
the sea and is topped by a long row of buttresses.
Above the church entrance is a striking bust image
of the Asc. Ellena surrounded by garlands, and along
the façade are several ornately carved vergeboards in
a similar style. The cathedral itself is built of creamy
brown—almost yellow—stone blocks, as is most of the
city, and is coated with lime from the salty sea air. The
west-facing tower, called Ellena’s Tower, is a hundred
feet tall and buttressed with corner shafts topped with
pinnacles and five impressively carved open windows
below through which the large church bell can be
seen. A shorter south tower—called the porch tower—
features battlements and three ornate windows above
five smaller windows. The church is enclosed by a
curving wall of the same stone with a large wrought
iron gate that is closed after the evening bell. A modest
priory is also on the grounds where a handful of
Morrowan monks—no more than a dozen—study and
illuminate religious tomes in the old style.
Mercarian League Office: The Mercarian League
maintains a regional office in New Larkholm.
From here its employees oversee the League’s
maritime businesses as well as overland trade routes
heading eastward into the Cygnaran heartland. The
headquarters are well protected by private soldiers,
many of whom once served under the commander.
Orven
In Power: Lord Mayor Amauri Montewick, reporting
to Earl Quinlan Rathleagh of Rimmocksdale; also Clan
Lord Horud Lakestone of the Orven Conclave
Population: 38,000 humans, 25,000 dwarves, and a
few hundred gobbers, ogrun, and trollkin
Military: Orven employs hundreds of watchmen
to maintain law and order. The dwarven conclave is
protected by scores of volunteer guards and assists
Orven when needed. The Church of Morrow can also
provide up to thirty paladins and religious knights to
defend the city and the pilgrims who visit it. Additional
troops may be moved into Orven by rail or downriver
from Fort Whiterock.
Imports: Manufactured goods, textiles, wheat
Exports: Coal, mineral water, religious items, silver,
sulphur
Orven’s importance to Cygnar grows with each
passing year. Originally it was rather insignificant,
known mainly for the pure mineral water that flows
from the nearby Wyrmwall Mountains and for the
hot springs fed by underground volcanism. All that
changed when then Exarch Arius, who was born in
Orven, used his influence to have the city conceded
as a haven from most royal taxes. As a native, the
exarch knew that the Wyrmwall possessed sizable
quantities of coal and silver whose extraction would
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