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

240 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
Llael. Many of the finest pistols and ammunition
in western Immoren are being smuggled down the
Black River thanks to the coordinated efforts of the
soot-stained miner, the squinty-eyed alchemist, the
iron-jawed smith, the heavy-pursed merchant, and of
course, the blue-blooded nobleman. Rhulic merchants
as well have done all they can to maintain trade with
Cygnar, and they have attempted to shift trade routes
away from the river ways. While this has greatly
increased costs, the Stone Lords consider it imperative
to maintain contact with Cygnar, and rumors persist
that some of them are complicit in the underground
smuggling rings.
Politically, Llael has not had a true king for over a
decade, and some argue political infighting left them
open to the western threat. Their prime minister, the
Archduke Deyar Glabryn, was acting as lord regent
until the line of succession could be sorted out by
the Council of Nobles—a matter that lost a great deal
of momentum after the first few years of constant
disputes and “coincidental deaths.” Displaying his
usual knack for coming out on top, Prime Minister
Glabryn survived the invasion, and as long as he obeys
the Khadoran High Kommand without question, he
will even retain his position. Widely viewed as a traitor
by his people, the archduke is highly suspected of
collaborating with the Motherland for perhaps years
prior to the actual invasion. Nonetheless, Glabryn’s
reputation has always inspired fear, more so these days
in fact, and few risk crossing him.
For centuries, Llael’s legislative and bureaucratic
body had been its Council of Nobles, a group of the
most eminent lords of the kingdom famed for their
complex schemes, alliances, and betrayals. At the time
of the invasion, 121 members of the gentry sat on the
council in the Immaculate Chamber; Khador executed
37 of them on the 12th of Rowan in 605 AR and placed
their heads on the walls of Merywyn to discourage
further insurrection. The disempowered council
now numbers 68 nobles, and most of them have been
allowed to keep their titles and some ancestral lands.
For the most part, the surviving nobles recognize that
their survival depends upon becoming useful to their
Khadoran overseers. Several among them have had
their estates seized by occupation forces, prompting a
permanent move to the capital.
One might argue that the plotting has reached a
fevered pitch these days as each noble tries to turn
recent events to their advantage, yet their ability to
hatch conspiracies has been curtailed somewhat by
the close watch of the Motherland. Nonetheless, the
Khadorans cannot watch everyone at once, and Rynfolk
have ever thrived in the matters of politics and
deception. Apparently this is quite true, for even the
common citizenry are well spoken and shrewd (some
say conniving). However, the people of Llael have
suffered an enormous blow to their pride. They have
come to know suffering and death firsthand, and it has
darkened their faces and spirits and humbled them
as never before. Certainly those of strong spirit and
determined demeanor still plan and scheme among
them, but they are woefully outnumbered and in a
poor position. They cannot expect rescue anytime
soon from Cygnar either, for their long time ally has
been forced to fall back to defend its own borders.
It may be that in these times the citizens of Llael
are best served by their adaptability and clever tongues
in order to find a way to endure their new state as
an occupied Khadoran territory. They have suffered
much in a year, and worse may lie ahead. Meanwhile
their lands remain a battleground between two of the
greatest powers in the known world.
LLaeL Facts
RuleR: Prime minister archduke deyar GLabryn by
aPPointment oF Queen ayn Vanar Xi oF khador
GoveRnment type: PuPPet state
Capital: merywyn
ethniC GRoups & appRox. population: ryn (1,620,000),
umbrean (400,000), midLunder (50,000), khard (50,000),
casPian (40,000), boGrin (30,000), rhuLFoLk (15,000),
oGrun (12,000), GobLin (10,000), thurian (9,500),
tordoran (9,000), iosan (5500), idrian (5,000), morridane
(2,000), troLLkin (2,000),
lanGuaGes: LLaeLese (Primary), cyGnaran, khadoran
(minority)
Climate: temPerate; coLd, cLoudy winters with FreQuent
snow and FoG; sunny summers with FreQuent showers and
thunderstorms
teRRain: Varied; ancient mountains and hiLLs to the north;
rich FertiLe PLains, Limestone ranGes and basins to the west;
deciduous woodLands, hiLLocks, and hiGhLands to the south;
LowLands and coniFerous woodLands to the east