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

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The telltale symbol on Big Iron trade trains,
steamjacks, and vessels is “the stack.” The stack is
a stylized steam stack billowing plumes of smoke.
It is stamped on the sides of their armored trains,
displayed on placards on their warehouses, and
emblazoned on the sails or steam stacks of their ships.
Since the creation of the first rail line in Khador,
Blaustavya has become a household name in the
nation’s metropolitan centers.
Though Big Iron is primarily a shipping company,
it also encompasses numerous subsidiary companies
and merchant organizations, much due to Simonyev’s
regency from 572 to 587 AR (see callout “Kayaz
Simonyev Blaustavya”). Big Iron controls the contracts
for most military arms manufacturing, mercantile
distribution, and organized heavy labor in Khador’s
cities. It has been said in the royal court that the
interests of Blaustavya are the interests of Khador.
While this may not be true for the less developed
portions of Khador, it is a fact in the royal court and
the major cities of this nation of iron.
kayaz simonyev blaustavya
the aging patriarCh of the blaustavya family retains the
same sharp intelleCt for WhiCh he Was renoWned in his
youth, tempered With slightly less arroganCe and muCh more
understanding. as a young man, simonyev Was fasCinated by
meChanika and spent muCh of his free time WatChing meChaniks
at their Craft despite his father’s orders to the Contrary.
luCkily for khador his father, vanya, finally gave up on
trying to keep simonyev from What he Considered to be a base
and menial Craft.
hoWever, simonyev Was only able to reCeive some preliminary
training before he, like all other khadoran youths, Was
required to serve his time training and fighting With the
forCes of the motherland. as a young noble, simonyev
Was granted speCial Considerations and he served for some
time among the elite Capital guard along With young ivad
vanar. even though ivad Was several years his senior, the
tWo beCame fast friends during their time of serviCe, and
their friendship further served the motherland as simonyev
Worked to better the khadoran military through praCtiCal,
and extremely advanCed, appliCations of meChanika.
during his time in the military, simonyev kept tinkering With
meChaniCal deviCes and meChanika and suggested several
innovations that improved the aCCuraCy of destroyer
bombards. onCe he Was released from duty, a leading
meChanik of the Central ordnanCe direCtorate Who Was
impressed With his ideas reCommended him to the khadoran
meChaniks assembly. training as an arCane meChanik,
simonyev gained the skills he needed to leave his mark on
the forCes of the motherland. during many long nights
of drinking and talking With then king ivad vanar, the tWo
Came up With many Wild ideas that simonyev made into reality.
his CroWning aChievements inClude his fundamental role in
developing rail travel in khador (see “the advent of the
rail” for more), his refinements in the design of man-o-War
armor, the development of the shield Cannon, and his Work
to improve WarjaCk munitions.
thanks to his friendship With king ivad, simonyev has been
a friend to the vanar family for many long deCades. ivad
appointed him regent of khador When his health had failed
him and little ayn Was but a feW months old. resigning
from his position as direCtor of munitions researCh at the
khadoran meChaniks assmebly, simonyev ran the nation for
fifteen years and WatChed as ayn greW into a young Woman
destined to beCome the formidable queen of a more modern
khador.
throughout his regenCy, simonyev Was muCh like a surrogate
grandfather to young ayn. in private, she still Calls him
“unCle monya” and keeps him Close at hand. noW that he
has turned over his regenCy, his faCtories, and his researCh
Centers to his assorted Children and grandChildren,
simonyev is Commonly seen at Court Where queen ayn has
Come to rely on his Wisdom and insights. the royal staff is
very familiar With his presenCe and is used to hearing him
impart his gentle guidanCe or reassuranCe to the queen:
“your grand-da Wouldn’t have done it any differently, my
little ayn-stoyCha.”
Trade in the Motherland is far more formal and
stern than elsewhere. City market prices tend to stay
fixed from day to day and make it pretty hard to
haggle. Outside of the cities, haggling for goods is
more likely. Coin isn’t worth a lot to a farmer with
pens full of pigs and a shack full of children to feed,
but he may be fairly interested in what you have in
your bags. Cities tend to be rich, but villages and
towns on the outskirts are a different story. Price
and quality varies throughout Khador, but you can
count on one thing, you’ll always pay a lot for a
good blanket.
—Gunner Wadock, Cygnaran tradesman
Czavyana Trading Posts
Beautiful Czavyana—it seems that the gorgeous
face of this woman is found at nearly every rural
trading post in Khador. Established just over 20 years
ago as the symbol of the Czavyana trading company,
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