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

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introduce others and ensure some modicum of order.
This role is deferred to the king, if present, or to one of
the princes and then to the lord castellans. Otherwise
it is imparted to the eldest castellan in attendance.
Tomb of Kings: The burial hall of the kings of
Ord is an impressive place. Baird’s two brothers were
the most recent sepultures. Before that came Baird’s
father and all of the Cathors before him back to Merin
I. A man of mood swings, Baird II often sneaks away,
a jug of uiske in one hand and a lantern in the other,
to the dark halls whenever he feels especially troubled
or morose—though he rarely goes beyond where his
father and brothers lie. Alvor V’s body was lost at sea
of course, so his sepulcher is merely ceremonial and
presumably lies empty. Would-be thieves are rumored
to have attempted various forays into the Tomb of
Kings, for it is said the sovereigns’ remains were all
buried with their individual priceless and/or favored
possessions. Whether this is true or not is a matter of
conjecture. It should also be noted that none of the
Mateu sovereigns lay within these tombs.
Midfast
In Power: Lord Castellan Ostal Vascar
Population: 120,000 humans (mostly Tordorans
and Thurians)
Military: Midfast is home to an impressive armory
and the largest garrison in the kingdom supported by
a moderate contingent of warjacks.
Imports: Grain, foodstuffs, weapons, armor,
alchemical components, ale, wine, meat, textiles
Exports: Iron, tin, lead, copper, chemicals,
quarried stone
Midfast, the renowned Shield of Ord, is considered
essential to the sanctity of Ord’s northern border.
Over the centuries the city has withstood the brunt
of repeated Khadoran sieges, each time forcing back
the armies of the Motherland and keeping Ord free of
invasion. The city occupies one of the few large canyon
passes through a treacherous range of craggy hills, and
a huge wall atop the hills extending both west and east
for many miles enhances this natural barrier. The
eastern wall terminates at the fortress of Boarsgate and
the western wall at its sister fortress Scarswall. The west
side of the city is built against high cliffs, and massive
walls surround it. The Orlovsk Highway passes directly
by the city, but great fortifications including huge
batteries of cannon and an eastern ravelin ensure that
none may pass unless Midfast wishes it. The walls of
Midfast show a great deal of wear, for they have taken
a pounding for many generations.
Although Ord’s army dominates the city, Midfast
also serves as the main pipeline for any trade between
Khador and the southern kingdoms. Some traveling
Khadoran merchants periodically pass through seeking
other markets for their wares. All travelers from the
Motherland are scrutinized closely while in the city, and
the locals treat them with minimal courtesy. Indeed,
since the onset of Llael’s invasion, relations between
Ordic and Khadoran merchants have become even
more strained. Still, this has offered new opportunities
for those who can put aside their prejudices, and a
growing number of northern merchants are willing to
accept Khadoran coin and goods.
The folk of Midfast are robust and believe in living
a full life. They are grim and serious while manning
the walls but are given to excessive drinking on their
own time. They are also fond of other diversions like
gambling, dancing, and competitive sports in the local
arena. Perhaps because of the heavy military presence,
less serious crime affects Midfast as in most other
cities of its size—aside from the trouble gotten into by
soldiers between shifts after a few too many ales.
Noted Persons
Master Alchemist Creena Torcail (female
Thurian Alc6/Wiz5): Creena is one of the best-paid
civilians working for the Ordic army and specializes
in customized cannon and firearm ammunition. A
member of the local Order of the Golden Crucible,
she spends most of her time at Midfast Munitions (see
entry pg. 85) or atop the walls with the soldiers testing
her latest ammunition. She is quite young for a woman
of such skill and attractive despite her unkempt
appearance—often covered in soot, ashes, and clothes
spattered with a variety of chemicals from her work.
Several of the enlisted men are smitten with her but
cannot seem to distract her from her work. She is the
niece of Rogan Torcail, moorgrave of Almare (see pg.
291), but has never paid any mind to her politically
minded family. Her lineage in itself is enough to
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