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

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true obsession, the old Orgoth stronghold that once
stood in Merin. Assisted by members of his family who
have a large manor in the city and are loyal to him as
castellan, Lord Dromore has been conducting several
discreet digs beneath the city attempting to unearth
Orgoth artifacts or documents.
Cassina Mirena Graza (female Tordoran Gmg8/
Ptr4): A delicate woman of exceptional grace and
beauty, Cassina Graza is among the most skilled
assassins in the employ of House Mateu. Kept on
retainer by Castellan Vaspar Mateu, Graza regularly
accompanies him to Merin social events where she
acts as his bodyguard. Graza has gone to great lengths
to keep her profession a secret, and few outside the
Mateu family know her trade.
Castellan Vaspar Mateu (male Tordoran Ari3/
Ftr7/Ptr3): Vaspar is the eldest living son of Matron
Izabella Mateu and supervises Mateu interests in the
capital since Izabella rarely visits Merin. In addition
to representing the family in the Hall of Castellans,
Vaspar also holds council with Mateu allies in the
region. He believes the king is an uncouth simpleminded
fool and does not understand his mother’s
caution regarding him. When he ventures out in
public, the castellan is always escorted by a large
contingent of armed guards. Among other holdings,
Vaspar owns an upscale tavern and brothel on the
Riverfront called the Lion’s Den, which he frequents.
Castellan Stagier Salvestro (male Tordoran Ari3/
Ftr8/Rog5): Scion of a powerful Tordoran family allied
closely to the Cathors, Salvestro is among King Baird’s
most trusted agents. The castellan is a man who is not
afraid to get his hands dirty, and he bears the scars to
prove it. In his time he has uncovered conspiracies,
foiled assassination attempts, and removed obstacles
from Baird’s court. The Mateus suspect Salvestro has
been personally responsible for the murder of at least
three members of their family, including Izabella
Mateu’s (pg. 294) own brother Angello.
Locales of Merin
Grand Cathedral of the Harvest: Home to the
Merin Vicarate Council overseeing all clergy in the
kingdom of Ord, this marble cathedral devoted to Asc.
Gordenn was also designed during the original city
reconstruction and is deceptively plain on the outside.
The interior is a surprisingly beautiful arched chamber
decorated with gold and silver fixtures and is well lit by
a ceiling filled with clever glass apertures. The seven
vicars of the council are relatively democratic but defer
to the wisdom of Vicar Pasario Casini (male Tordoran
Clr16), the eldest. Pasario’s mind is still sharp, but his
health is failing, and he has been grooming the High
Prelate of Merin to replace him. High Prelate Danola
Mara (female Tordoran Clr10) conducts all major
services in the cathedral and supervises the other
lesser city clergy. As well, a small but active branch of
the Order of Illumination occupies an estate next to
the cathedral, and they have received recent reports
of possible necromancy in the southeast near Tarna. It
will not be long before agents are sent to investigate.
Hall of Castellans: The center for the traditional
government in Ord is the capital’s Hall of the
Castellans, a large circular chamber with a domed
ceiling supported rows of thick fluted columns.
Other than the ceiling the hall is open to the air; it
has no enclosing walls between the columns making
it subject to the vagaries of the weather. The ceiling
is decorated with a detailed tiled mosaic showing
various battles against the Orgoth in the region. The
central open floor is surrounded by several concentric
rings of stone benches and can support hundreds of
participants although it is rarely filled to capacity.
There is no assigned seating, but the castellans
traditionally sit closest to the center while lesser nobles
and non-participants sit in the outer rings or remain
standing. An ornately decorated wooden stable is
attached to the hall. It is largely ceremonial but is
maintained by groomsmen who can see to the needs
of any nobleman’s steed.
Every year at the end of summer, a High Gathering
takes place where all the castellans, moorgraves,
and thanes come to discuss topics of importance to
the realm. The gathering lasts for four days and is
noted more for bickering and arguments than great
legislation. The rest of the year the hall is used by local
castellans and lesser nobles for the business of the
capital or by visiting castellans proposing new laws.
An ancient tradition whereby only a castellan or
someone introduced by a castellan can speak in the
hall is still in effect. This is a matter of annoyance to the
moorgraves in particular, but the point of procedure
has held fast over the centuries. One castellan will be
named Speaker of the Hall at the onset of business to
World Guide 305