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

286 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
collapsed on him. Both deaths were determined
accidental despite suspicion of foul play by certain
members of Ord’s administration. With no small amount
of trepidation, Baird was crowned king in 574 AR.
Called by many of his people as simply “the Baird,”
this boisterous and lively sovereign has inspired loyalty
and genuine affection from most of his subjects. He has
a knack for picking capable subordinates into whose
hands he gladly places the day-to-day running of his
kingdom. Some say King Baird earned the nickname
“The Bandit King”—never used in his presence—
from the number of disreputable associates he keeps.
More likely he earned the moniker from his habits of
taxation against the richest of Ord’s gentry. Indeed,
his popularity with the commoners comes from his
system of taxation, which puts little strain on the
impoverished masses but greatly levies the castellans
making up the bulk of his court. These landowners are
expected to carry the weight of the kingdom’s finances
causing considerable friction at court and abroad.
Indeed, Baird has few stalwart friends among the
castellans, but the widespread support of his common
subjects keeps them generally in check.
Without a doubt, however, his most dangerous
enemy among the castellans is Izabella Mateu
(see Castellan Izabella Mateu, pg. 294, and Mateu
Merchant House, pg. 84) whose influential family has
plagued the Cathor line for centuries. House Mateu
has methodically cultivated the favor of a number
of powerful houses over the years and continually
schemes against the Cathor kings. In fact, the Mateus
once controlled the throne of Ord for a time (381 to
circa 421 AR) and have been jealous rivals ever since.
Though King Baird would relish any opportunity to
lay the family low, the careful machinations of House
Mateu and its network of allies has kept them relatively
safe, their seditiousness not provable outright.
At present King Baird is preoccupied with the war
that engulfs his neighboring kingdoms. Though he is
on cordial terms with King Leto, Baird is unwilling
to violate his kingdom’s neutrality. He has never
trusted Queen Ayn of Khador and was not surprised
to see his suspicions confirmed by her assault on
Llael, but he mainly wishes to avoid any conflict until
he has decided upon a course of action beneficial
to his kingdom. One of his primary moves since the
occupation of Llael has been his attempt to convince
the leading ousted elements of the Order of the
Golden Crucible to relocate to Merin. Negotiations
have not progressed as swiftly as he’d like, but Baird
has made some very convincing offers and has good
reason for high hopes.
ruMOr has it…
FOr as lOng as there have Been Kings in Ord, they have
Made use OF spies tO gather inFOrMatiOn FOr the purpOses OF
natiOnal deFense. King Baird ii is nO exceptiOn. FOr purpOses
aBrOad, he has Been KnOwn tO utilize the services OF a nuMBer
OF agencies including criMinal eleMents such as pirates and
sMugglers, Ordic spies, and the unseen hand.
thOugh ruMOrs persist that the Baird cOnspires with agents
OF the scharde islands, such accusatiOns are patently
untrue. the King is Far tOO careFul and intelligent tO allOw
cryx willingly tO spread its cancer intO his KingdOM. in Fact,
King Baird has taKen steps tO eliMinate the cryxian inFluence
that has slithered its way intO Ord By dispatching several
dOzen trusted agents such as Bastian lattiMOre (see pg. 300)
thrOughOut the KingdOM tO watch Over his interests. Baird
exclusively relies upOn this reserve OF cOunterintelligence
agents, Or “special investigatOrs,” FOr internal Matters such
as dealing with spies and assassins at cOurt. MOst iMpOrtantly
in the King’s view, his agents handle the threat OF cryx
that seeMs tO Be grOwing wOrse than it has Been in the Many
generatiOns since the days OF vasparez Mateu (381–394 ar).
The king’s mind is ever on his people. Baird is a
widower but feels his lineage is secure with four grown
and mature children. He is a loving, if forgetful, father
and lavishes gifts upon his children and grandchildren
for whom he cares with genuine affection. Rumors of
several illegitimate offspring sired with mistresses in
Merin, Berck, Midfast, and Five Fingers run rampant,
of course, in keeping with the Baird’s rakish ways,
which have not stopped but only slowed over time.
Baird’s first son and successor is Prince Baird
Cathor III (male Tordoran Ftr11/Ptr3), General of
the Ordic army, Lord Castellan of Tordoro, and a
disciplined and law abiding military man. Baird II has
some worry that his forty-year-old heir, virtually his
father’s opposite in every way, has seen too little of life,
especially beyond Ord’s borders, to govern as a true
son of the Cathor line.
King Baird II’s second son is Prince Brogan
Cathor II (male Tordoran Amk9/Ftr2), Engineer-