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

108.1.141.197
70 Iron Kingdoms
means seizing and fortifying territory and arming their
ships, which requires a great deal of money. Because
so much capital is needed to fend off their enemies,
more partners are constantly being sought.
The recent railway boom is now experiencing
the same kind of growth, and companies such as
the Caspian Railway Society are benefiting from the
Mercarian corporate model as well as some of the
For all their failings, I think trade unions have
done more for us than any other organization that’s
ever existed. I daresay they have done more in the
way of honesty and education for the betterment of
the human race and development of character than
any other association there is or ever was.
larger factories and mills, which seem to be following
suit and embedding themselves into Immorese society.
The following section lists some of these movers and
shakers throughout the Iron Kingdoms.
Cygnar
—Gunner Wadock, Cygnaran tradesman
Bainsmarket Agricultural Consortium
The Bainsmarket Agricultural Consortium deals
primarily in foodstuffs as its name suggests. From
its founding it quickly established good working
relationships with the owners of Cygnar’s rail lines,
which ensure the speedy delivery of goods to all
the cities connected to them. In addition, the
Consortium’s board of directors includes several ex-
Cygnaran military officers who have kept in touch
with the kingdom’s armed forces and have used those
contacts to procure military provisioning contracts—a
most lucrative and important job in light of the realm’s
current situation.
Indeed, between the drought of 605 AR and
Cryxian raids against foodstores, the Consortium has
experienced hard times in recent months. Several of
the ex-Cygnaran officers on the Consortium’s board
have recently returned to active duty, and the Crown
has sent soldiers to defend their holdings. With
resources running low Cygnar is in a dire situation,
and Bainsmarket is a very important locale.
Caspian Railway Society
Consolidated from a disparate group of technology
and shipping interests, the Caspian Railway Society
formed in 586 AR. Today Caspian Rail, as it is more
commonly called, runs passenger and freight lines
between Bainsmarket and Caspia and has secured
itself as a key supplier of transport and freight based
out of Fharin.
When it was relatively new in the railway business,
the Caspian Railway Society’s tensions with Steelwater
Rail rapidly escalated into direct conflict lasting over
a decade. Problems in creating a standard rail line
between Bainsmarket and Fharin were convoluted by
competition between the two rail companies. Sabotage
and hostilities erupted frequently, and it took the
recent intervention of King Leto himself to sort
out the mess. Bad blood still exists between the two
organizations, so the king continues to enforce peace
between them with a royal overseer who arbitrates
disputes.
Caspian Rail’s elite passenger cars are as luxurious
as the parlors of any gentleman’s club. Sophisticates
traveling to Caspia or Corvis often take CRS trains.
Their security, speed, and luxury make the trip much
more appealing than an uncomfortable coach ride
along the more treacherous southern routes. Other
less wealthy passengers also take the trains south, and
it is not unheard of for some to sneak aboard the less
luxurious passenger and cargo cars.
CRS dominates rail traffic out of Fharin, which
has recently become a major departure point for
trade. Caravans from Corvis tend to offload goods in
Fharin, and since Steelwater is more concerned with
coal, freight, and livestock, Caspian Rail dominates rail
transport for merchant goods and wares. CRS has gone
out of its way to be caravan friendly, frequently offering
guild discounts when transporting mercantile goods.
Clockwerk Arms
A small but progressive gunwerks, Clockwerk Arms
is owned and run by master gunsmith Silas Fonworth
(see pg. 163). Based in Clockers Cove, his shop has
earned a reputation for producing quality firearms
with innovative designs. With a small, well-trained