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

108.1.141.197
Imports: Grain, foodstuffs, textiles, raw materials
Exports: Diamonds, marble, granite, clay,
iron, salt, weapons (Protectorate only), steamjacks
(Protectorate only)
No city has changed so much in such a short period
as Imer, capital of the Protectorate. A few decades ago
this city was nothing but an overcrowded warren of
hovels and reddish brown clay houses. Now it is a
walled city filled with great buildings of white and
light brown stone and bustling industries. The city
is Garrick Voyle’s vision manifested with its entirety
laid out to his exacting specifications. The Temple
complex dominates the center and is the heart of the
theocracy. Most of these buildings are designed to be
both practical and reverent. Religious ceremonies
take place in the same locations where high officers
also conduct their daily business. The only traces of
old Imer are in the outlying slums where the original
hovels persist.
Even the Hierarch’s detractors admit that he was no
fool to move the capital to Imer. It was a strategically
sound move not only because of Sul’s proximity to
Caspia, but also because Imer is closer to some of the
Protectorate’s most precious resources. The hills to the
east of the city are the theocracy’s primary source of iron
along with several other important mines and quarries.
Within the city, lingering tensions exist between its
two peoples. The poorer castes are largely composed
of the Idrian majority who live in worse conditions
than most Sulese. It is difficult for the Idrians to
rise above their caste although some have done so
by joining the priesthood, the Fist of Menoth, or
the Temple Flameguard. The majority of the ruling
priesthood are Sulese, however, as are most of the
exemplars. The laborers, farmers, craftspeople, and
those who clean the streets and work construction
are mainly Idrian. Nonetheless, the visgoths feel it is
imperative to integrate the Idrians into their society,
and those who are loyal can advance as far as piety,
ambition, and capability allow. With the recent
increase in hostilities with Cygnar, entire regiments
of ambitious Idrians are being formed and dispatched
north to Tower Judgement. From there they are sent
into the Bloodstone Marches to prepare for strikes
against Cygnaran villages and river traffic between
Eastwall and Fort Falk.
winDs of wAr
since voyle’s cAll for Pilgrims AnD his DeclArAtion of A holy
wAr, imer hAs become A blur of Activity. A low hAze of forge
smoKe, burning incense, AnD wArjAcK exhAust clings to the
builDings AnD streets from the churning of holy forces.
exemPlArs mArch through the streets in seArch of Anyone
not lAboring for the cAuse AnD Deliver AbsconDers to the
scrutAtors AnD their flensing chAmbers or wrAcKs. teeming
mAsses listen to street-corner litAnies, AnD entire sections
of city streets hAve been DemolisheD to uneArth stocKPiles of
hiDDen weAPonry AnD munitions. the Air is thicK with Anxious
PrePArAtion, AnD PrAyers echo through every street AnD Alley
PunctuAteD by the stAccAto rhythm of the newly utilizeD
courtyArD wAr founDries AnD the tolling of Dozens of bells
ringing from the towers of the sovereign temPle.
Noted Persons
Hierarch Garrick Voyle (see pg. 268): Garrick Voyle
leaves city management to the Six Visgoths who dwell
in the capital. He is treated akin to a walking god, an
avatar of Menoth made flesh. Although he has no
actual need of protectors, Voyle is always accompanied
by a ceremonial personal guard led by Aakho Balraza
(male Idrian Ftr10) whose main task is to serve as an
intermediary between Voyle and the masses of the
adoring faithful.
Duharos Sek Nathari, Cleanser Commander and
Keeper of the Cleansing Flame (male Idrian Ftr9/
Clr7): One of the royal tribes of the Idrian people,
the Sek Nathari were among some of the first native
converts to the Menite faith. Duharos was born just
weeks before his heathen parents were wracked for
their beliefs. Rather than leaving the child for dead,
some scrutators decided to raise the child in order to
utilize a familiar face with a persuasive voice to bring
more natives into the Lawgiver’s graces. From early
on, Duharos served Menoth as best his infidel blood
allowed. He prayed and studied hard in the Temple,
and there he eventually found his true calling and
donned the golden mask of a Cleanser. So efficient
was Duharos in enacting the scrutators’ demands that
in a short time, the Priestess of Flame promoted him
to the role of Keeper of the Cleansing Flame. Duharos
became the highest ranking Flameguard Cleanser in
Sul charged with keeping records of the cleansed.
Now somewhat worn in his later years, the Keeper still
walks alongside his fellow Cleansers to dispense fiery
judgment whenever called.
World Guide 275