Iron Kingdoms sandbox inerest check

[Dhi]

Iron Kingdoms
From the Thousand Souls Sea to the Bloodstone Desert, the Iron Kingdoms are a place of ancient occult sorcery, dark forests home to legendary beasts, and the restless ghosts of centuries of betrayal and intrigue. In the lands of the west, humanity and its two faiths are unquestionably dominant, though they do share the region with several other races. Humanity has conquered these lands through the aid of steam-powered labor and war, through gunpowder and the steam rail, through alchemical science, and through the gift of magic.

Four hundred years ago the people of the Iron Kingdoms mastered these arts to rebel against their sorcerer-king Orgoth masters, and push these ghastly invaders back across the sea. Four nations arose from the ashes, and divided territory under the Corvis Treaties. An age of enlightenment and conflict followed, with deepening rifts between us and them. As the great cities become more crowded, the Corvis Treaties come under greater strain for territory and resources. Now, the inevitable has happened. In a surprise invasion during the dead of winter four years ago, four sovereign nations became three.

Occupied Llael
Long had Llael depended on intrigue with its neighbors and the protection of mercenary companies to maintain its sovereignty while decadence and squabbling noble houses spoiled it from within. When the armies of the northern Khador Empire laid siege to Llael, its centers of wealth and culture fell one by one until with the surrender of Merywyn every city north and west of the Black River was occupied by Khador forces.

From the Black River's arid southern delta, the scrutators of a harsh theocracy called the Protectorate of Menoth pushed into eastern Llael. An alliance of convenience between Llaelese Resistance and this Northern Crusade soon strained as it became clear the Protectorate were more interested in gaining a footholdand converting Llaelese citizenry than in driving out Khador. In towns along the wide trade river, in places like Bexlyfe, the citizens of Llael are caught between these factions.

Town of Bexlyfe (pop. 30,000) The Llaelese town of Bexlyfe, located on the northwestern edge of the Territory of the Northern Crusade, was until recently a prosperous township with strong prospects in both mining and river trade. Now caught between Khador occupation and the Northern Crusade, Bexlyfe is in the midst of a downward spiral marked by widespread unemployment and escalating civil unrest. The town's tenuous economic position has, at least for now, also led to an increase in petty crime despite the Protectorate's harsh laws against thievery. Bexlyfe's architecture is elaborate and well designed in the style typical of Llael. Because the elevation is so pronounced throughout the city, most of the roadways wind and curve around the natural hills and valleys across which they've been buillt. Few streets, particularly minor streets, run straight for any considerable distance. The town is further interspersed with countless narrow, looping footpaths and alleyways, which make it extremely easy for cautious residents to avoid being followed and to evade pursuit. Bexlyfe's most prominent feature, however, is the extraordinary preponderance of exterior staircases carved into the myriad hillsides. North of the river, Old Bexlyfe lies at the foothills of the rugged and iron-rich Llaelese Mountains. A number of its historic buildings date back nearly three centuries to the town's founding, including the grand Baron's Estate and neighboring Church of Ascendant Sambert, local center of Morrowan faith. A far more recent Temple of Menoth is planned to dwarf that church, but construction has been stalled by tensions between Khador and the Northern Crusade. The Aston di la Vyardi Academy has undergone a transition from dueling academy to school of dance, in accordance with Llael disarmament. In the process a completely new style of dance, steeped in the rhythms and techniques of Llaelese swordplay, is born. South of the river, New Bexlyfe is fertile foothills of arable land, vineyards, and orchards. Much of this land in the four years since Khador invasion became hastily constructed communal housing for those fleeing the destruction of Riversmet. The rush to accommodate these survivors led to a collapse along the riverbank which crushed several tenements, now a ruin referred to as the Broken Cliffs. The Shipyard now gets by with a mere skeleton crew, much like the town's once sprawling Docks. Instead, the muddy riverbank plays host to the game of Grind, where Khador and Protectorate steamjacks meet in a war by proxy for the heart of the divided town.

I love the Iron Kingdoms. I'd like to run a sandbox starting in November which focuses on the cultural and religious conflict of three competing factions in this river town.

If the world or the RPG has ever interested you, there's currently a Humble Bundle which includes the core book for just $1 USD.
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/warmachine-hordes-iron-kingdom-rpg-books
No books will be at all necessary for the game, but might inspire ideas for you!
If you decide to support charity through Humble Bundle, please consider setting your charity of choice to Charity: Water. This is an NGO I work with to provide nonelectric, nonchemical sustainable water filtration to at risk rural areas at an average cost of $10 per family. It's legit.

[MdG]

Count me in!

[Terian]

I am pretty fond of Iron Kingdoms...  I'll be willing to give this a shot.

[Muse]

  May I play?  :)

[Hexed]

Anything in particular you're looking for? not wanting?

And just to make sure I'm understanding. The three factions are the rebels, religious conquerors, and the empire?

[That One Dingus]

*Slams door open*

What's this? An Iron Kingdoms game where Protectorate characters are allowed, nay, encouraged?!

Please, please tell me that Paladins of the Wall are allowed! Pretty please!

[Dhi]

Count me in!

Yesss!

I am pretty fond of Iron Kingdoms...  I'll be willing to give this a shot.

That's great to hear, writers familiar with the setting could add new dimensions to the sandbox.

  May I play?  :)

Of course.

Anything in particular you're looking for? not wanting?

And just to make sure I'm understanding. The three factions are the rebels, religious conquerors, and the empire?

The new IKRPG tries to merge two worlds. There's the original Iron Kingdoms, built up around a d20 adventure featuring investigation and intrigue in a dark fantasy steampunk world. Then there was the wargame, which took the climax of that story and asked, what if this happened all the time and everything was turned up to 11? I am personally more a fan of the former. I enjoy the bar scene in Suicide Squad more than the space lasers and faceless monsters reducing city blocks to rubble. I'd like to provide an outlet for things like warjacks in the Grind game, but my own interest lies in the human stories.

You have the factions right. I'll post about them next, they still need a bit of work.

*Slams door open*

What's this? An Iron Kingdoms game where Protectorate characters are allowed, nay, encouraged?!

Please, please tell me that Paladins of the Wall are allowed! Pretty please!

Yes, absolutely.

[Terian]

Oh, I'm not familiar with the setting, nobody ever plays it, but I like the idea behind it.

[Dhi]

The Major Factions

Llael (the occupied)

The dominant race of Llael call themselves Ryn, a people of slight build and small stature who made up the majority of that nation's populace. Much of the Llaelese nobility were of Rynnish blood. According to legend, the first Ryn were nomadic shepherd tribes who dwelled in the rolling hills and interbred there with a vanished elven people. There are certainly echoes of the idea in Llael's romantic courtly culture and elaborate architectural styles, both of which are now under threat. They consider themeselves the inheritors of a long and esteemed history and are proud of their language and culture but now face the fact that their nation lies divided, most of it conquered by Khador, while the east has fallen to the Protectorate's Northern Crusade. The Ryn take credit for inventing the firearm and refining the arts of pistol dueling in particular but were a shrewd and well spoken people with a fondness for intrigue, fine art, and alchemy.

In truth, Llael was a failed state well before the Khadorans marched on their shared border. The last strong Llaelese king died of old age almost ten years before the onset of this war, and his death plunged Llael's nobles into a frenzy of self-consuming plots and politics. This includes the assassination of all the former king's heirs as well as a number of duels and assassinations further thinning the ranks of the nobility. The small and poorly funded Llaelese Army was further reduced in favor of mercenary contracts and overreliance on its allies. It is widely believed that members of Llael's own government conspired with Khador by weakening the nation.

Llael as a kingdom no longer exists, yet its people and much of its culture persist. No one can predict how ongoing conflicts will reshape the region; it is in a state of flux and its people have accepted that life offers limited stability. Survival and adaptation are the rule. Llael is divided into three distinct political territories, though the exact borders of these areas shift as fighting continues. It seems unlikely all three will endure, with those Llaelese who consider themselves "free" being the most at risk of extinction.

The party line on...

KHADOR: A scheming, opportunistic enemy! Everyone has lost friends and family to the voracious Khador war machine. We won't forget the destruction of Riversmet or the cruel generals who starved our people from their homes.

PROTECTORATE OF MENOTH: Zealots from the east have thrown peaceful Llael Menites into a religious frenzy. Now we see the true face of the Menite faith in the their false prophet, a harbinger of human slavery and oppression.

Sample Ryn Names

Masculine

Alayn Alger Alnor Alvy Amery Ansel Anson Ard Aryas Ardyn Arkyn Arland Artys Baen Bayn Bayrn Barden Barygan Barlowe Bartley Bayden Beck Bergyn Blayde Blythe Bolden Boren Bors Bowden Brandel Bryll

Brock Brone Brue Brunner Bryson Byrk Byxler Cacey Cayne Cam Camden Casner Cobb Creedan Creel Crowle Dalmer Dardan Degar Delp Dexer Dextrel Dorn Dowd Doyle Druce Dugger Dunley Durwyn Eckert Egan

Elyas Elgyn Ennys Everett Fane Fargas Fynch Fytch Gade Gadsden Galt Garrett Garryck Godwyn Gryffon Gum Gunner Hamyl Harlan Hawke Heremon Jagger Jarok Jonas Julyan Kade Kell Kerne Kerr Leto Lon

Mago Malek Mylo Nash Nolan Odger Olson Pandor Perth Phyneas Radnor Regan Retho Reynard Rowe Rudd Scarle Sebastyan Sorley Tymeck Ulfass Vahn Vyctor Vydor Vynter Waldron Wolfe Wyatt Ycabod

Feminine

Alanna Alexya Alley Amery Ashlan Ashley Bayley Betilda Brona Cammy Canyce Cara Caylan Cecyly Creena Dara

Darsey Delaney Derry Desle Devlyn Dunla Elatha Elspeth Emma Enda Erris Evelyn Gale Gwen Haley Henna

Jenett Jordan Julyana Kateryne Kealey Kearey Keavey Kelsey Kyltey Lorna Matylda Meara Morna Muryel Nally Orla

Renny Rosaleen Rowan Sabyna Shay Styanna Tara Torey Tressa Una Vora Wren Yslene

Surnames

Albyn Alyr Anthys Badrigio Boudewyn Bracsio Bralazzi Bray Chalerio Claeys Culpyn Denys Dimiani Donaes Dormio Du

Dunlyfe Dyvacci Dyvarc Elyse Faryll Feryse Fiscani Florys Gervaes Ghelyt Gilfyn Glaeys Gossyn Govaes Granzio Gustyn

Gylbert Gyrart Henryn Hengys Lamsyn Laurenyns Lowys Lymos Lynyse Mancario Martyn Matys Mirassi Morosini Moysarc Niclaeys

Petrozzi Polaro Rimbaldi Rovissi Sanlyfe Tadirir Torys Trivassi Vandyse Viadro Viscario Weyne Wulfe Wythsten Yrnyse

Khador (the conquerors)

North of Llael, the Khadoran Empire is dominated by the second-largest culture in western Immoren, that of the Khardic people, descendants of the empire that ruled the north before the coming of the Orgoth. Over a thousand years ago, the Khardic Empire and its western horselords conquered many small nations, city-states, and tribes, and the Khards of the present day descend from the strongest bloodlines of those times. Like the other people of the north, they tend to be tall and physically robust on average, mostly pale, with dark or reddish hair. At its height the Khardic Empire stretched across a sizable portion of western Immoren, including all of what is now Llael.

Khador is a land of sweeping expanses, fertile plains, imposing mountains, and dense forests. Her people are the stalwart inheritors of an ancient civilization that once dominated the continent. This history is ever present in the minds of the Khadoran people, as every generation repeats the tales of the legendary horselords. These fierce warlords banded together, conquered the weaker tribes, and fashioned the proud Khardic Empire. Some say the empire never truly fell but simply endured a dark age until it could emerge and evolve into the modern nation of Khador. Two years ago, bolstered by sweeping military conquest, Khador's sovereign declared herself Empress Ayn Vanar, becoming the personification of their nation, the Pervichyi Rodinovna, "Prime Daughter" of the Motherland.

Tensions with conquered Llael have hit an all-time high as the Protectorate of Menoth's Northern Crusade penetrated into eastern Llael and took the city of Leryn from its Khadoran occupiers. This has become the seat of the Protectorate of Menoth's new hierarch, who is expected to bring his armies to bear and challenge Khador over its newly conquered lands. The Khardic people are not troubled by this new adversary; they know their empress will respond with characteristic strength and ferocity and that her army will ultimately prevail.

The party line on...

LLAEL: Rebel terrorists should look to our kayazy as an example of how hard-working people may flourish under Khador rule. We do not and will never recognize the claims of the Llael who occupied our territory in the south and allowed the enemy to march to our doorstep. We are bringing peace and stability to the region.

PROTECTORATE OF MENOTH: The Menite faith is older in Khador than it is in the east. This Protectorate is political, not religious. Like before, a weak nation moves in on the hard won conquests of Khards to steal away scraps. When they witness the might of the Motherland, they will reconsider.

Sample Khador Names
Surnames are in common use only for wealthy families and the new urban class.

Masculine

Aika Aleksi Alexandr Alexei Aliosha Ambroz Andrei Balsnoch Barak Bladko Boris Borja Chasek Costi Culamir Dahlrif Dalmat Dmitri Dobrinya Dorek Dragash Drago

Falko Fedko Fedor Fodor Gasan Ghita Giza Gorash Goraz Gorian Grigor Grigory Iagan Iakhno Iakshen Igor Ilya Ivan Ivash Ivdan Jachemir Jarosch

Josef Kachalo Kigir Kirbitei Kohan Kosara Ladimir Levanid Loshka Luka Malash Malko Michal Michka Mikhail Mikolo Mishka Negomir Nekras Nikolei Olekse Pachek

Petrov Pytor Radomir Radu Rajko Ruskin Sadko Sergei Servath Solovei Stoyan Valerian Vasily Vasiuk Vasko Vladjimir Vojin Volkh Yakov Yaro Yuri Yurik

Feminine

Akina Akilina Aleksa Anana Anastasia Anikita Bazhina Britt Cesta Cestina Corinna Dalika Darzha Elina

Eliska Elka Gridia Gubina Ihrin Ilyana Ivona Kasia Katerina Katia Klenka Ksana Laika Lariana

Ludmila Malana Marfa Marina Marta Mia Mikhaila Milena Misha Myrra Nastasja Natalya Nikita Ninete

Ondreiana Riksa Siri Sivasha Sofia Sonja Stefka Tahni Tara Tatyana Vjera Yelena Zelmira Zori

Surnames

Abrosim Adka Agrimko Aleksy Aleshko Antonidka Babora Belavdon Berzhin Blizbor Bolovan Borga Csabor Dementskov Dvora Durga

Faltin Grishka Grychkin Gubin Istori Karakov Koposin Krasnovo Kutsov Ladislav Lichko Lovot Louka Lozar Makara Makarin

Makarov Mikita Mileshka Mrovka Nagorka Nazarko Neshka Orlov Osokin Ostyvik Padorin Petrok Petru Raboshich Rachlavsky Radazar

Rostov Starov Stasvite Szetka Ushka Tiudiaminov Toshiana Varnek Venianminov Vilimov Vislovski Zavor Zeitsev Zhina Zhivo

Protectorate of Menoth (the missionaries)

Under the unification of Immoren's newest nation, two distinct races share a dream of government and devotion to the Lawgiver. Sulese, or Sul-Menite people, tend to have cream-colored complexions and lighter hair. Idrians, on the other hand, typically have olive skin, dark brown or black hair, and almond eyes. Intermarriage between Sulese and Idrians is relatively common, contributing to further subtle changes over the last several generations. The Sul-Menites and Idrians of today were once made up of a number of diverse tribes native to the eastern region known as the Bloodstone Marches. Across bloody crusades, these tribes were brought into the faith of the Creator of Man, giver of the Flame, the Wall, the Sheaf, and the Law.

Over the last century, the Protectorate developed a unique culture centered on a strict caste-based theocracy. While the Menite priests like to think of their role as an extension of ancient beliefs, their theocracy is a uniquely modern invention and includes many reinterpretations of sacred text. The leaders of this nation are both more fanatical than Menites of the recent past and pragmatic when it comes to making use of developments such as mechanika. The Protectorate is noted for extremely strict laws controlling virtually every aspect of its citizens' lives. Within the walled cities and fortress temples of the Protectorate, Menoth's will is the Law meant to govern all mankind, honored above all else and followed without question or hesitation.

Five years ago, the Creator showed his favor by sending the Harbinger of Menoth, embodied in a young woman from a small town who channeled the god's will. Though great prophets had been known in ancient times, none had appeared for many centuries. Those who saw her knew immediately the veracity of the power and responsibility with which she had been blessed; she floated serenely above Immoren, her feet too holy to touch unclean earth. Although her appearance was met with skepticism at first, a series of miracles have changed hearts and minds and fueled a Great Crusade which has come as far north as Llael and shows no sign of stopping.

The party line on...

LLAEL: Bravely our brothers and sisters in the Llael Resistance fight the invaders, and with our help they can win. A brighter, stronger Llael will emerge from the flames, cleansed of old impurities and prepared for a new dawn as a subordinate state.

KHADOR: The false empress builds arsenals while using corrupt politics to keep Menite people disarmed and weak. Our cousins in the Old Faith should feel compelled to cast off the shackles of the dictator and embrace oneness under Menoth, for are we not all His children?

Sample Protectorate Names
Idrian people often follow surnames with the name of their tribe.

Masculine

Abidin Adil Adira Affendi Aiman Akhet Akhun Amir Amon Amran Anazim Anuar Arshad Arzu Azlan Azrul Badan Bahari Baharudin Bakara Bakva Banu Bashah Dahari

Djavak Djokola Durga Eman Faizal Fakharuddin Farhan Fashran Fazrul Ghani Goha Gosaf Haakim Hadi Hafizul Harun Hasnan Huslan Ihsan Imran Ishak Iskandar Izal Jaafar

Juhari Kamarul Khalid Khvas Kutsna Lasha Makhari Marlizam Moastaf Mustafa Muzaffar Naazim Nahak Najmudin Nazri Proha Razak Retek Rosdan Saadim Sahrizan Sahu Saltuk Shaharuddin

Shamsul Shariman Shazrin Siva Sulaiman Syahrian Taarek Taha Tajuddin Tarmizi Umar Vasan Vasu Volka Yahaja Yusuf Zadar Zahrin Zahrul Zakari Zaru Zedrin

Feminine

Adelina Adisa Ami Amira Anisah Aryani Asmida Aysha Azara Azlina Bala Berka Chiora Dalina Dasima Dedika Dendara Ezadura Fareha Fariza

Fatima Gulisa Hafizah Hasha Haslina Imanina Indra Jamilah Juvita Katijah Kheta Kita Laili Lamara Lamzira Latifah Lilja Mahran Maisa Mariani

Maya Mazlin Mutiara Nadira Nazariah Nurjahan Nurshafira Opra Rahanah Rahiza Rana Razmani Reha Rohani Safrina Saleha Sanatha Shafeera Shalan Shorena

Shuhada Siti Suriani Tasara Tiara Tiesa Uma Usha Voha Yana Yara Yasmin Yati Yuzmin Zahidah Zahirah Zakira Zarina Zuraina

Surnames

Ad An Anh At Bal Bahl Bahn Behn Das Dur Et

Eyn Had Has Ja Kahn Kat Kehn Keht La Lahn Ma

Maz Naj Naz Rehn Roh Sa Sahn Sek Sekh Set Sil

Tar Tas Ull Uz Veht Yah Yas Yeht Zah Zhah

Tribe

Bukhari
Foha
Madrah
Makha
Nazira
Okar
Raza
Silmani
Sohar
Yohada
Zahari

The Bit Players

Umbreans (the nationless)

Several other distinct cultures have survived in Khador amid the trackless wasted and vast wilderness that naturally divide the nation. In southeastern Khador and western Llael are a once-divided people, only recently unified under Khadoran rule after the Llael invasion. Umbreans are comparable in size and build to that of Khards, but they usually have darker complexions and dark hair. Heirs to the ancient eastern horselords of old, the Umbreans once contested with the Khards for domination of this region, and distrust and animosity persists between them. Tales of the ancient battles fought between Khards and Umbreans are still told, particularly near the grim battlefields where generations of blood have been spilled. Umbreans have intermingled with many other groups but retain a strong sense of cultural identity.

After being divided for centuries, western and eastern Umbreans are encountering the differences in their cultures, and only time will tell if they can be reconciled. Both Khador and Llael Umbey would have preferred an independent kingdom rather than a subject-state of the Khadoran Empire.

Sample Umbrean Names
Umbreans naturalized in Llael often substitute y for the letter i.

Masculine

Aberahama Abesoloma Adamu Andrzej Barsali Bavol Cato Camlo Chal

Colia Danior Garridan Gillie Gudada Hanzi Kale Kalo Kappi

Kem Lash Lendar Merikano Mihai Orchilo Pobea Quidico Saban

Shandor Tobar Valodja Wen Wesh Yanko Yoska Zale

Feminine

Alafare Alamina Araunya Asena Charani Damara Esmeralda Floure Fifika

Grauni Jaelle Jidovaika Kali Kisaiya Lajaria Layla Lela Lillai

Lyuba Mala Malina Mirela Miri Orchili Pesha Rupa Ruza

Simza Sinfi Tasaria Tematea Tsura Vadoma Viollca Zujenia

Surnames

Ashkali Beticos Bashalde Boyash, Bayash, Beyash Chergari Chingianes Chivute Cutitari Djambas Erlide Erlije

Gabori Gelderari Grastari Hungaros Janz Jenische Kabudji Kale Kantarai Kopanari Kotorara

Laieshi Lalleri Lautari Lovara Machvaya Mango Manouche Mechkari Potcovari Rlia Sfirnari

Shoshoraya Sinti Ursari Vatrashi Xoraxane Xoraxai Yevkos Zingaros

Sinari (the river-folk)

An ancient and proud people with dark skin and black hair, the nomadic Sinari travel primarily along the rivers of Immoren but may have originated far to the south and east, beyond the territory now claimed by the Protectorate of Menoth. They are sometimes mistrusted because of their refusal to put down roots, and clans of Sinari often travel with other nationless outcasts and pocket tribes in ornate and colorful wagons.

Sinari are craftsmen, weavers, woodworkers, and jewelers who make their living through barter. This is a people who pride themselves on storytelling and songs, and they know a diverse array of lore handed down through the generations. To the Sinari, the primal mother they worship has a complex and troubled relationship with Menoth, whom they acknowledge but do not pray to. They are among the few humans with a significant understanding and appreciation of the trollkin goddess Dhunia, and have ties to other wilderness peoples including bog trogs and gatormen. Many Sinari have been absorbed into other regional groups over the centuries. The small number of tribes that retain their old traditions disdain those who have given up their way of life.

Sample Sinari Names
The spelling of Sinari names varies widely from place to place.
Fewer than 20% of Sinari adopt surnames.

Masculine

Abdala Abdoulaye Adama Akon Aliaume Alioune Asse Ayib

Babacar Badera Bakau Cheikh Creb Djibo Djibril Fallou

Hachim Idrissa Jawara Malik Markus Massamba Morgan Moustapha

Nuru Oumar Ousmane Samba Simba Youseff Yousou Youssoufa

Feminine

Amina Aminata Arame Arida Awa Binta Diatta Fama Fatou Fatimata,Fatimatou

Fatou, Fatoumata,Fatou-Maty Jaineba Jama Kadija Khadi,Khady Leldo Mame Mamouna Mariama Mata

Mbaye Nafissatou Ndeye Ramatoulaye Ramatula Roukia Safara Safietou Safi Saraitou

Saybatou Tamsier Thioro Yande Youma Zanibou

Surnames

Aidara Argintari Aurari Awei Blidari Bodiani Churara Dembélé Diome Ferari,Herari

Kalderashi Killeswathi Kirpachi Kobzari Kolburni Kovachi Lingurari Ludari Netotsi Mansali

Marone Mestere-Lacatuchi Ndiaye, N'Diaye Ndir Niass,Niasse Padureani Rudari Sadio Sagna Salahori

Sidime Sinee Sitari Thior Thiouné Tidjiani Vilané Wilane,Willane Zlatari

[Terian]

Anyway, I'm thinking of trying out a Warcaster, though I'm still muddling between Gun Mage, Arcanist, and Arcane Mechanik at the moment for the second class, is that an option I can go with here?

[Dhi]

Warcasters should have a place in Grind as an in-universe game. Gun mage, arcanist, arcane mechanik are all interesting parts of the setting and for sure have a place.

I don't have plans to use the IKRPG ruleset.

[That One Dingus]

So, to be clear, this going to be a purely freeform game? Will there be an overarching narrative tying different players together at different points, or will it be up to the players to set up scenarios?

[Dhi]

The setting will be this town on the Black River, and the plot will primarily be about these three factions vying for control over the town. As a player you would be expected to find something in the hooks that interests you, and work out a scene with other players or NPCs.

One NPC I have in mind could be a mechanik, or an arcane mechanik, who patches up steamjacks for the Khador Grind team. She is Umbrean and considers the occupation a good thing. Because she doesn't wear a uniform, she sometimes crosses paths with shadowy cabals of the Resistance. Where do her loyalties lie?

This character could be involved in Grind scenes, help to repair someone's mechanikal prosthetic, become an antagonist to the Resistance or have a change of heart, serve as extended family for another Umbrean character, investigate conspiracies, fall in love, evolve and change through interactions with other characters.

These are the kinds of stories I'd like to see and to facilitate.

[eBadger]

Hmm...love the idea of an IK adventure, not so sure about freeform and sandbox. Will give it a think tho

[Swashbuckler]

Wow, I know nothing of this setting, but I have to say the level of detail looks amazing.

I would be tempted to play a Captain of the Khardic Empire, brash and cocky, bringing peace and stability to these rebels and zealots, one way or the other...

[That One Dingus]

I think my character concept is ready, but do you have a preferred format for character submissions?

Also, we're still operating in a timeline where the Cryxians are ransacking the countryside, right?

[Dhi]

I'll post up a character sheet with the recruitment thread, in the first week of November. Today I'm still figuring out what needs to be on the sheet, and I'll need to flesh out several NPCs. I'd also like to do some re-writing to make the premise more appealing or approachable to writers who aren't familiar with Iron Kingdoms... almost all of the interest at this point is from writers who dig IKRPG and would really rather have a party-based adventure but will consider settling for this. We need folks who are interested in digging into the setting to write character-driven stories.

Once the recruitment thread does go up, I also need to be close to launch, since players won't want to make a character and then wait two weeks to do anything with them!

Cryx seems to be around. The old World Guide mentioned scouts being as far inland as Riversmet to loot the fallen, and that's very close by. I'm not sure how they're supposed to be getting there. Up 700 miles of river? Satyxis are supposed to be shoot on sight for all of the Iron Kingdoms.

[Crash]

I may be in the minority but a freeform game holds more interest to be than the RPG which I am not a fan of.  I do love the setting though.

[ShadowFox89]

 Got an interest in this. I play the miniatures game of Warmahordes, so I'd hope I know a fair bit about the setting.... Would be interested in playing an Iosian mage-hunter merc, selling their services while vanishing every now and then to "take care of something important."

[Endwell]

Keeping an eye on this for the character sheet

[Dhi]

I have everything done at this point. But, as I look at posting it all to a thread, I count 5 distinct posts, and I don't even know where to fit in Mechanika, Magic, or Grind. So, to trim the infodump by a lot, I'm going to create wiki pages. This will take a little more time to format.

[Dhi]

I posted a recruitment thread last weekend without the Iron Kingdoms name to see whether the ideas on their own could attract more players. Unfortunately there have been no replies at all. I appreciate the interest here, but let's be real, what most of you want is a system game, and what I'm keen to run is probably a poor substitute.

Iron Kingdoms is dead. It's time for me to move on.