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

108.1.141.197
and under the mountains of that lofty land—were
completed in just under a decade. The final track was
laid in Groddenguard and a steam locomotive made
the journey to and from Ghord in 573 AR. Today,
the Rhulfolk have six locomotives, 340 miles of rail,
and four mountain strongholds that serve as fueling
stations. Two more projects are underway: a line out
of Ghord to Drotuhn began in 600 AR and stretches
nearly three-quarters of the way and a line from Ulgar to
Brunder, with its impressive 3,500 foot long bridge over
Ayeres River where it empties into the Armsdeep, is a
third of the way on its journey and currently running as
far as the small lakeside town of Bruden Falls.
The mountains of Rhul are perilous and inhabited
by black ogrun, bogrin, dregg, farrow, trolls, and even
dolomites (see MN1), so each locomotive is fitted
with at least fifteen dwarven warriors and builders,
a handful of ogrun, at least four swivel guns, and
one—if not more than one—rotating turret with a
long cannon. The dwarves mean to be prepared in
advance for any travail along their journeys, so they
keep on guard at all times. In just the past few years,
it is said that no less than a hundred skirmishes have
taken place on the railways, especially on the current
lines under construction. In truth, tracklaying crews
vanish all the time, but there are always more dwarves
and ogrun to take up both pickaxe and battle axe to
maintain these ambitious projects.
rumor has it…
something plagues the rhuliC rail line to groddenguard.
an entire loComotive and CreW has gone missing as Well as
a Contingent of dWarves from gildenhold, a loCal fortress
and fueling station, sent out to investigate. a seCond
CreW Was dispatChed from the hold a month later and
returned after fifteen days With animated tales of the line
at slannog’s pointe torn to shreds: “nothing but Churned
earth and tWisted metal, With hundreds of gouges in the roCk
the size of an ogrun!”
upon further investigation, they said that the earth beneath
their feet shuddered and roared and they returned quiCkly
With the neWs in spite of an inCidental dregg attaCk that
killed tWo of them. the investigation CreW has agreed;
the massive gorgandur of the glass peaks has eaten the
loComotive and over fifty missing rhulfolk inCluding
seven ogrun. something must be done about this, but hoW
does one fight suCh a mammoth monster? this is a matter
Railways? Well sure, they’re right handy if you need to get to Steelwater Flats from
Bainsmarket, or from Orven to the Flats…but you mark old Gunner’s words on this one;
they’ll never replace the traveling merchant. After all, without caravaners how’re folks in
Corvis or Point Bourne expecting to get supplies, eh? Railways don’t run there. Doubt they
ever will. Can you imagine one of those big hunks of metal stuck in the middle of the swamps
around Corvis? Bad enough trying to pull a wagon outta the muck, how’re you going to get
that beast out? Besides, rails aren’t a proper way to do trade—just shipping goods from
here to there. No. Good trade requires a merchant who knows his wares, and without seeing
where they come from how can you know ‘em? I tell you, the railways are good for moving
people and heavy machinery about nice and quick, aye, but they’ll never replace the trade
caravan and traveling merchants…
—Gunner Wadock, Cygnaran tradesman
of muCh Consternation and debate, and the rhulfolk are
strongly Considering sending a CreW of adventurous souls to
investigate slannog’s pointe a bit further.
At present Khador has a total of six steam
locomotives (see Table 2–3). The largest, the Khardic
Colossal, measures 190 in length, weighs 1000 tons,
and can reach a speed of nearly 30 miles per hour.
This is indeed the largest operating steam locomotive
in existence. Khador has 550 miles worth of rail with
seven stations and thirteen refueling towers and is
currently working on three more expansion rails out of
Korsk as well as a rail from Khardov to Skrovenburg.
World Guide 95