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

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76 Iron Kingdoms
Blurg Arms
A company worthy of note in Cryx is Blurg Arms, a
firearms and weaponry company in Blackwater. Pistols
and blades found in the hands of dead privateers are
usually made in Blurg’s forges. Blurg sells dangerous
(and illegal in Cygnar) necrotite ammunition for
firearms, called corpsemakers. Rumors state that a
person slain with a corpsemaker slug will rise up as a
shambling undead thing, hungry for blood and flesh.
Who knows whether or not this is the case?
Wraithblade Emporium
Dealings with traders from the island nation
of Cryx are dangerous. The unspoken threat of a
double-cross always hangs heavy in the air, and with
the black traders of Cryx it is just as likely to be lifestealing
necromancy as a poisoned blade in the back.
The crews of the Wraithblade fleet are just the sort of
vicious cutthroats one would expect profiting from
the corpse trade, slavery, and piracy. The traders that
work for Wraithblade are double-crossing pirates that
suck the fat from the strong and steal the bones of
the weak.
The company is both a trading house selling raided
goods as wares to the rest of Cryx and a point of contact
for mainlanders. For a price, a Wraithblade guide can
help one move safely around Blackwater. For an even
higher price, they will smuggle persons back to the
mainland with whatever black and evil goods they have
managed to acquire.
Axiara Wraithblade (female satyxis Ftr6/Sor9),
the infamous satyxis warwitch, runs the whole
operation. Her coven oversees the fleet and keeps
the entire company in line through threats of
violence and sorcery. The satyxis are not above using
seduction as a weapon and often disguise themselves
with magic and steal onto the mainland to learn
secrets from merchants and captains with loose lips
and eager hands.
The Wraithblade offices are located in the
notorious pirate city of Blackwater. The walled
compound is decorated with pikes bearing the
heads of Axiara’s enemies, kidnap victims, and other
individuals who have earned the ire of Axiara or one
of her coven. Within the Wraithblade compound,
one can purchase illegal or illicit substances such as
addictive Black Wreath Whiskey, undead servitors,
necrotite, drugs, and tomes of necromancy, dark
magics, alchemy, and more. Getting in is easy; just pay
the required fee subject to the whims of the guards.
Sometimes it is merely coin, sometimes it is a living
slave, and sometimes it can be something even more
wicked. Getting out is more difficult since everyone
in Blackwater will want whatever it is that has been
bought. Paying the house for an escort is usually the
only way out of Blackwater alive, assuming that Axiara
and her sisters decide to let their guests go.
Winds of War
as Cryxian inCursions to the mainland have beCome more
frequent, dealings With Wraithblade are even more
dangerous than usual. they still do business if the deal is
mutually benefiCial, but they are no doubt spies and servants
Working for Cryx’s best interests as Well as their oWn.
Khador
Blaustavya Shipping & Rail
Oddly enough, one of the most progressive
merchant companies, Blaustavya Shipping & Rail, is
based in one of the least progressive countries. BS&R,
or Big Iron as it is more commonly known, began as
a conglomerate of shipping and railroad interests.
Founded by Kayaz Simonyev Blaustavya (male Khard
Ari5/Amk13) in 551 AR, the company has become
the foremost mercantile power in the Motherland. It
moves goods, food, and coal across the entire breadth
of Khador. As well, BS&R has a substantial interest in
commercial fishing and merchant security out of Ohk,
dealings with heavy industry in Korsk, and a massive
distribution center based out of Khardov. Most other
merchant companies and guilds live in the shadow of
“Big Iron.”
With rail stations in Ohk, Khardov, Korsk, and
Skirov, BS&R moves goods rapidly, effectively, and
inexpensively. It is the largest commercial user of steam
engines and steamjacks in all of western Immoren, and
it has acquired several companies that produce the
mechanical parts it needs to maintain its equipment.
In fact, through Simonyev, BS&R controls the contracts
to repair steamjacks and warjacks for the Khadoran
military. Big Iron’s sister company, Troykyev Iron &
Steam, benefits immensely from these contracts.