Category Archives: Iron Kingdoms

Ord – Handy Facts

[Welcome to Ord]File under “Ordic National Board of Tourism”

Nestled between Cygnar, Khador, and the Sea of a Thousand Souls, Ord has ever had a fine naval tradition. What many do not know, though, is the pastoral splendor of our inland valleys, hills, and moors. Though not endowed with the rich mineral deposits of some other lands, Ord is a country steeped in history and culture.

The six Gravs of Ord are ruled by Baird Cathor II, the Bandit King. He has led our country with a skillful hand for over thirty years now, navigating the treacherous waters of international diplomacy and internal politicking with grace and cunning. It is his tact, wit, and guile that have kept Ord both strong and well-clear of the conflicts that presently embroil the other nations of Immorren. Three Lord Castellans and three Moorgraves govern the Gravs of Ord directly, setting local policies as they see fit, with interference from the throne only when necessary.

It is said that the law has a different meaning in Ord, with a storied history of brigandry and piracy going back since before the Orgoth invasion. It could be said that Ordic folk treasure their freedom perhaps a bit too much. From Grav to Grav, and even from town to town, law enforcement varies greatly with the dilligence, competance, and corruption of its leaders. The city of Five Fingers is particularly noted for its lack of governmental oversight and prosperous black market, while the city of Midfast sees very little crime with its preponderance of military personnel. Justice is served by three-judge panels that convict by unanimous vote. Those accused of crimes are considered guilty unless they can prove otherwise, and judges are given a great deal of discretion regarding punishments, which often involves some degree of flogging, or forced labor. Capital crimes are traditionally dealt with by hanging, drowning, or gibbeting.

Ord is the site of several significant religious centers, including the monastery and tomb of Ascendant Markus, Ascendant Gordenn’s tomb, and the Mor Cathedral, built on the site where Ascendant Doleth is said to have departed on his last sea voyage. The church of Morrow is highly active in Ord, though a minority of folk still worship Menoth here.

Ocean trade is the life-blood of Ord on an international scale, with her fleets of skilled sailors and canny merchants. Trade gives rise to currency, and Ord mints its own in accordance with the Corvis Treaties:

  • The Blackpenny is roughly equivalent in value to the Cygnaran Farthing, and is struck in copper, and are thusly named due to the minting process leaving them darker in hue than other similar coins.
  • A Half-galleon is equal in value to five Blackpennies, and is literally a silver Galleon cut in half. Blackpennies and Half-galleons are the most commonly-used currency amongst the commoners of Ord.
  • The Galleon is struck in silver and is roughly the same in value as a Cygnaran Shield. The Galleon’s obverse has a vertical crease that makes chopping it in half quite easy.
  • A Silverweight is a large coin struck in silver, and worth two full Galleons.
  • The Royal is a coin struck in gold, equivalent to the Khadoran Talon or Cygnaran Crown.

Ordic coin has been plagued by a reputation for shaving, underweight castings, impurities, and counterfeiting, and as a result many merchants prefer Cygnaran currency for moderate and large-scale trade.

Martial Weapons of Ord

Though primarily known for its fine uiske, canny seafaring merchants, and cannier ruffians, the nation of Ord has a fine military tradition both on land and sea. Though poor in natural resources, Ord has always been able to call upon the tenacity and unfaltering bravery of her soldiers, most notably Ascendant Markus himself, who died defending that fortress city. Two major ethnicities dominate Ord, the Tordorans to the North dominate its politics and commerce, and make up the bulk of the population, and the Thurians to the South.

Tordoran Martial Weapons

Tordoran military prowess is largely found on the high sea and defending the mountain passes against Khadoran aggression and the dangerous inhabitants of the wild Thornwood and the Gnarls. They disdain polearms, preferring the use of longbows at range and swords or axes in close.

  • Short & Long Swords
  • Scimitars
  • Rapiers
  • Bastard & Great Swords
  • Caspian Battle Blades & Glaives
  • Battle & Great Axes
  • Long Bows
  • Pistols

Thurian Martial Weapons

A people split between Cygnar and Ord, the Thurians as a people are far better-treated than the Umbreans, who has a similar political divide in their traditional territory. Thurians do not enjoy all the privileges of a Tordoran in Ord, but many a renowned marine, sailor, and soldier have come from their number to serve Ord in its times of need.

  • Glaive, Guisarme, Halberd, Locharn, Ranseur, Fork
  • Short & Long Swords
  • Scimitars
  • Rapiers
  • Caspian Battle Blades & Glaives
  • Short Bows
  • Pistols

Martial Weapons of Khador

[Khardic] The northern regions of the Iron Kingdoms are home to the Khadoran empire. Comprized of an amalgam of Khardic, Kossite, Skirov, Umbrean, and the Ryn, the martial history of this region revolved primarily around the untamed woodsmen of Kos, the barbarians of Skirov, and the Khardic and Umbrean horselords. Though these cultures now share a single military, some traces of the old preferences are still present, as fathers teach their sons and mothers teach their daughters the traditions of their ancestry. Through the play-fighting of children and the prejudices of drill sergeants, Khadoran armsmen still present a variety of martial weapons.

In addition to limiting the availability of martial weapons that have no strong presence in the martial traditions of these cultures, I am also including many of the “exotic” weapons into their native cultures, and adding a handful of additional “simple” weapons.

Khardic Martial Weapons

The Khards are a proud, ancient people with a long tradition of mounted warfare. Through their incessant wars with the Umbrean, Kossites, and Skirov, they simultaneously imposed their will upon their neighbors and learned from them on the fields of battle. Rifles have become extremely popular over the past generation, as the Khadoran military has been modernized under Ayn Vanar.

  • Glaive, Guisarme, Halberd, Ranseur, Fork
  • Light & Heavy Lances
  • Short & Long Swords
  • Great Axes
  • Light & Heavy Horseman’s Axes
  • Rifles
  • Shortbows

Khardic Simple Weapons

  • Battle Axe
  • Khardic and Hunting Spears

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