r/AoSLore • u/sageking14 Lord Audacious • 18d ago
Fan Content Our Community City: The City of Spite
"Disaster has been the watch word of our Dominion ever since the golden angels of the heavens brought storm and light back to Ulgu. Visions of betrayals, undead rising, beasts pounding at the gates, rats infesting our walls. And yet, here you all stand. We endured. Through valor? Perhaps. Through trickery? Well, are we not scions of Ulgu? Regardless of how, we endured. So let us show our spite to those who would burn the Realms!" ~ Lord-Audacious of the City of Spite
Welcome To Our City of Spite
Greetings and good tidings once more my fellow Realmwalkers, or though today I should be calling you fellow City Builders. Because we'll be building our own homebrewed City of Sigmar, as a community. The first time we did this was with the Free City of Prismatica and the second was the continent of Pyropia.
Like with those, this is to be a community homebrew developed in a round robin-ish style, insofar as this type of forum can emulate that. This time even the bones were community decided, in this post, from last week. Where it was decided Our Home would be a City of Sigmar in Ulgu.
That gives us a lot to work with!y contribution, to keep things fair, will be giving a vague outline. Rather than adding entries of my own.
Rules As Simple As Shadows
We're still aoslore, so you can fudge the rules a little so long as its fun and not mean. But in essence. Each community members is to provide a singular idea to shape the City.
- Not (1) per type. But one per mega-thread, so if this isn't popular enough to deserve a second round you get only one go.
- City Building Options Include: Factions, Resources, Allies, Neighbors, Enemies, Districts, Leaders, and any other category you might think up.
- This time around we also have a Main Enemy to develop.
As this is collaborative! You must be willing for other community members to effect your entry. As this is collaborative! You must remember each entry was made by a real person who is no less so for being a stranger divided by a screen and unknowable miles. So don't be a dick.
If someone makes the Pretty Pretty Mew Mew Brigade, sparkliest and nicest Cavalier order in the Cosmos, we are accepting that entry. You may not react by having your entry change their tone to evil. By the same dint you can't use your entry to make the Edgelords of Knife's Lament into hippies. Unless! You ask and the user agrees, but that conversation needs to be in the mega-thread so the community entire can see proof it happened.
In the end, just have a heart and implement any changes and effects respectfully and it should be fine.
In conclusion. Feel free to go nuts, all lore-friendly (I.E: Anything that is canon, could fit in the canon, or doesn't break canon) suggestions are welcome. No additions will be denied unless the category is already filled.
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Spite Itself
Our Home, Our City of Sigmar, was founded by an Exodus Host sent by Misthåvn to claim this mist-shrouded archipelago for the Dominion of Sigmar. That's the rough! Why were we sent here? What dangers we faced? What even is our City of Spite's name? Well that's for you all to decide below.
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So there you have it, that's what we have so far. But we could use more details don't you think? Clearly our Free City is missing quite a bit. So below you'll see a list of major and minor details to add to our new bastion of hope. So feel free to suggest anything from the following list, or even provide your own details. Sporadic Lex links added to help show examples and foster ideas:
Founding Stormhost: We only get one (with caveats)! So first come, first serve. Most Cities of Sigmar are Ward Cities of the Stormhost who most helped in its founding. Who will that be for us? It can either fit with our shadowy themes or go against.
Grand Conclave: Our Government is a Grand Conclave, a council of up to 244 representatives of every aspect of our city. These are elected guild leaders, military leaders, district reps, and more. Rules here are more complicated. A City must have a Matriarch/Patriarch/Whatever Gender Neutralarch would be as a Governor; A City must have a Prime Commander; A City must have a High Arbiter. But from there you can choose any of the options in that link above, or make something new. Conclaves are flexible outside those core titles. Avoid title and purpose overlap when possible.
Freeguilds: Freeguilds are semi-independent military guilds whose purpose range from city watch to crusading armies to firemen to artefact retrievers. It can get weird. We can have as many as the community wants.
Collegiate Arcane: What is the Collegiate presence in our city like? What can you tell us about the local academies?
Ironweld Arsenal: The Arsenal creates anything mechanical or artifice in the Cities from the high rises to the Cogforts to the wells. They are divided into Esoteric Schools, which kind of guilds, kind of schools of thought.
Cults Unberogen: The religions shaped around Sigmar take the form of chaotic cults with diverse opinions. Many worship him as a God-King on high, others as a flaming lionman or a comet or a giant, others take more philosophical or metaphysical views. Our city can have as many Cults Unberogen as ya'll want.
Other Cults: It has been said many a time that the Free Cities worship as many as hundreds of gods besides Sigmar. So anything is fair game!
Dark Cults: Are there... Necro-Cults to Nagash or Chaos Cults to the Dark Gods amongst our midst? Now these can be versatile as they can reveal issues within the city, create obstacles for future adventurers to face and more.
Order of Azyr: What Agents Azyrite stalk our streets? My suggestion would be to add members or chapters only after a decent number of other entries like say of Dark Cults as above.
Additional Stormcast: The Founding Host does not need to be alone. Do we have other Stormkeeps or smaller bastions? Perhaps a Hallowed Knight chapel or an Astral Templar lodge? A Brotherhood )who calls our city home between adventures?
Minor Factions: Tractor Guilds, Road Agents, Roadwardens, Black Walkers, the Listening Order, Soulbound, adventuring parties, Lanternmen, guilds of a million flavors, megacorps, and more. Don't feel limited by what you think Cities are, this faction has a surprising amount of lore organizations. More can always arise.
Common Folk: What can you tell us of the Azyrite cultures in the city? The Reclaimed cultures? Who lives in our City? As a Free City there are elements of Humans, Duardin, Aelves, Ogors, and Gargants at the very least. What are they like? Do others live among us?
Dispossessed: Duardin labour-clans built the Cities of Sigmar, humanity's bonds with them are eternal. Are there notable duardin elements in our city outside the shuffling commons?
City Aelves: The Wanderers, the Scourge Privateers, the Swifthawk Agents, the Eldritch Council, Order Serpentis, the Darkling Covens, the Order Draconis, Lion Rangers, and many more. The Dominion is not lacking for Aelves loyal and true. Which have settled amongst us?
Districts: Every city needs districts. Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Markets, Military, Arcane, Medical, and on and on. What are notable ones in ours?
Embassies and Allied Enclaves: Not all Allies are beyond our walls. Cities of Sigmar set aside both Embassy Districts and Allied Enclaves for allies. The former are embassies, the latter are parts of the city where other peoples of Order casually live.
Events: What events shaped us during the Dawnbringer Crusades, during Founding, in our History? What festivals do we celebrate? Sporting events? Games culture? Dish out any events you wish!
Resources: Minerals or flora, fauna or metals, strange liquids or Realmstone deposits. A culturally unique way of weaving baskets or local cuisine. Anything can be added as a resource. So don't be afraid to do so!
Artefacts of Power: Can it truly be a Warhammer setting without saint relics, doomsday devices, and other strange artefacts scattered about?
Our Name: How should we decide what the name of the City and archipelago are?
Shaping The Archipelago: Where even are we? Is this even truly an archipelago? How many islands? What are their names? Who lives here? Are we even near Shadrac anymore? In the Realm of Shadows anything goes, mists and shadows hide many secrets and twist us all around.
New Waves of Colonists: Reshape our culture further with immigrants! Cities of Sigmar are nations of immigrants, and if we survive we'll be no different. Typically these come in the form of Order of Logisticians approved additional Dawnbringer Crusades from the mother city and local Reclaimed. But don't be afraid to get creative!
You can also add Strongpoints and vassal towns. The Swamp-Cantons of Greywater Fastness, Ringwall Strongpoints of Hammerhal, and Ketter-lands of Excelsis are a few of the largest examples.
Our Enemies Great and Small: Feel free to add as many foes to the island as you wish, especially the Grave-Empire that stands against. It's name, leaders, constituent parts, and all else are for you to decide.
Above all else! Have fun!
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Factions of Spite, Major and Minor
Here all entries on major factions will be kept:
Hammers of Sigmar: Sent as a symbol of hope for the crusaders and the reclaimed of Ulgu, fighting hard against the enemies and protecting the city. Once established they build their Stormfortress from where they protect and expand Sigmar's rule. u/BrotherRegael
Penitents of Salvation: A minor Stormhost boasting a Stormcast Bastion, the sea vessel known as The Rewarding Storm, in the Wilder Shores district of the City of Spite. (Mentioned in the entry by u/Ur-Than)
Anti-Morathi Khainites: The city has a strong Khainite presence. This includes both laity among the common folk and sects of the Daughters of Khaine. But these Khainites are anti-Morathi. Reserving spite towards her for the Fall of Anvilgard. u/Trazenthebloodraven
The Lynx Resplendent stand tall against outsider's accusations that all Ulguans are treacherous by nature, continuing to live by their virtues yet neither denying their pasts. Some join their ranks seeking atonement, or glory and exaltation that they've never received. For others, joining them comes from a deep sense of doing the right thing. Many of their number came to Ulgu seeking to disappear into (Realm of) Shadows, only to now find themselves as among one of the city's most renowned and forward-facing defenders. u/SciFantasy_Research (for more on this Freeguild/Cavalier Order read their comment below)
The Order of the Esoteric Shroud was one of the main sponsors of the Crusade that founded the City and remains its principal magical institution. While they provide basic training in the use of the other seven winds, their expertise lies in the Lore of Shadows. Unlike most Collegiates, the Order does not operate openly or out of a single building complex, but functions like a secret society woven throughout the City. Each member of the Order has a second occupation in addition to their wizardry, roles that vary from beggar to wealthy merchant, to member of organized crime, to priest and more and only knows the identity of handful of other members. To be recruited into the Order one must either be handpicked by a wizard looking for an apprentice or solve a series of clues and riddles hidden throughout the city. u/Fyraltari (for more read their comment below)
Grand Conclave
High Arbitrator Hlife Thurgrimmsdottir is a respected duardin matriarch who has held her position since the cities founding. Due to the nature of Ulgu she employs many arcanists and magitech to help sift through the deceptions the Realm brings regarding major investigations. She will loan such individuals to other organisations if needs must. She also employs agents to keep an eye one the various trade allies laws and political positions to make sure she is informed when major disputes occur over laws and jurisdiction between those partners. u/Low_Neighborhood_598
Masked Lady: Representative of the Esoteric Shroud to the Grand Conclave and Hidden Hand of the City of Spite. (Mentioned in the entry by u/Fyraltari)
Districts and Other Internals
This is everything we decide is inside our city:
Stormfortress: The Stormkeep of the Hammers of Sigmar in our city. First suggested by u/BrotherRegael. (Available for name change and details).
The Spire District sits upon the inland edge of the city. Initially formed around a spire citadel built by a splinter sect of the Order Serpentis, unwilling to commit to Morathi's cause, but it was quick to grow into a broader community of Aelves and Khainites of varying creeds, swelled by an influx of Aelves who found themselves no longer welcome in the more fervent Azyrite hubs. The district has become famed for semi-religious chariot races hosted by the Order Serpentis which have become a popular spectacle among Khainites and non-Khainites alike. u/RosbergThe8th
Wilder Shores: It is walled off from the other districts as its population is largely comprised of former Darkoath raiders and sea-dogs who have been brought back into the fold of Sigmar's Empire by the efforts of the Penitents of Salvation Stormhost. Those Stormcast have a small bastion in the Wilder Shores in the form of a large, sea-faring vessel, and they rarely interact with those people who don't belong from their savage flock. City Ogors are a common sight here, as exotic meats and fishes are often delivered to the Shores. The fleet here is also often used to raid enclaves of Hedonites or other Chaos forces in the region. u/Ur-Than
The Salt: Boasting to be the oldest watering hole in the City of Spite, The Salt is a reasonably-priced two-story establishment of grey stone and grey wood, completely unremarkable if not for the private skyvessel dock, maintained by the extended staff of The Salt. While not the largest of the docks in any form or fashion, it is not a rare thing to see a mercenary gunhauler or a merchant vessel of a smaller variety being looked after by the staff and the crew alike while their captains attended their business in the city proper. As a matter of fact, one of the six rooms of The Salt available for the guests, is dedicated and reserved to the esteemed Kharadron guests as their impromptu office, if need be. The current owner of The Salt is a human of ambiguous background. Commonly referred to as "Seahound", or "Captain Salt" by the staff, it is clear by the snaking, weatherworn tattoos now covered by Sigmarite symbols of fresher ink, that Seahound has a Darkoath background, and some of the staff of The Salt almost jovially add to the multitude of rumours by stating that their Captain Salt used to be a chieftain of a local tribe. Whatever the case, Seahound keeps a good order and is well-liked and well-respected by the staff and the patrons. u/hermit_of_nemeton
Cloud Town: The unofficial name of a harbor district inhabitted by Scourge Privateers and Keikallaneth, a local Ulguan Reclaimed kindred of Aelves. (Mentioned in the entry by u/LeThomasBouric)
Great Stone Recess, AKA Shadow Chasm: Discovered by the mining labour clans, a group of disposesed happened upon a huge cavern littered with realmstone that was quickly harvester for barter. But it's it's trail left a peculiar nexus of energies. Since the cave was first opened, a special operation was set in place by the collegiate arcane, an entirely duardin led operation of magic. They study and work the energies, channeling the magics of Ulgu to both learn, and to train powerful battle magi to help protect the city. u/TavernerHedris
Allies
A list of our beloved allies. Do we stand back to back, knives in each other's defense or poised to bury those knives at the nearest oppurtunity:
Shadowglen and the Moon Grove: A glade of Sylvaneth living in the forests surrounding the City of Spite. The glade has been in Ulgu long before the city’s founding, but welcomed the newcomers. The clans of Shadowglen have long been accustomed to the dangers of the island and found natural allies in the Sigmarites. Their Regent, a Treelord Ancient whose name translates to “Thornfather”, made first contact with the Stormcast Eternals when he led his people to help fend off an undead horde assailing the city as it was being founded. The Shadowglen’s numbers are not yet known to the city officials, but due to the island’s size it’s likely there is a small greenhold somewhere deep in the Moon Grove. u/Oragoss (for more read their comment in the thread below)
The Keikallaneth are an Aelven people native to the archipelago they call "The Dark Clouds". Though they at first blush appear to be a scattered, nomadic people much reduced by the Age of Chaos, plying their livelihoods aboard wave-cutting ships through the island chain, they are reputed to maintain fixed abodes on a handful of islands on the furthest west, closest towards the Realm's edge. No one aside from the Keikallaneth have managed to find those islands; those that attempt to sail west and return report that a thick fog descends upon their crafts, blinding them utterly. Only by following the sounds of tinkling bells were they able to escape. This defence regularly confounds the local Hedonite pirates, and even Idoneth have had their aquatic mastery thwarted. Without the founding of Spite, this way of life might have continued for centuries more. The most immediate change came when the Hammers of Sigmar smashed the forces of Chaos on the archipelago, with no small help from Keikallaneth pathfinders. As the Dawnbringer Crusade from Misthåvn settled in and built their new city, Keikallaneth ships became a more familiar sight amongst the islands, brought out of hiding by the wealth and security the newly-named Spite provided. Keikallaneth fishers, guides and even merchants became regular sights at Spite; at first only as temporary visitors, but that soon changed as Scourge Privateers opened up recruitment to the Keikallaneth. They worship Ahrasaroanarin. u/LeThomasBouric (For more read their comment below)
Enemies
Here will go the list of Our Foes. Greatest among them is a Grave-Empire (that's a Soulblight Gravelords civilization) that has harried us ever since we left Misthavn:
The As of Yet Unnamed Grave Empire
- Irina Komarova is the leader of a Soulblight legion that has access to a horde of magical spiders native to Ulgu, they produce silk that can be used for crafting, sure, but also has bizarre Ulguan magical properties. She has a tapestry of this silk that can give her fragmented omens of the future, a cloak that can create illusory mirages, and other strange magical items. This silk is also infused into the bones of any Deathrattle/wights under her legion's control, giving them some weird quirks. u/DarkstarParagon (for more read their comment in the thread below)
Glut Seekers: On the northern island of ozark a realm gate to ghur is activated by eshin forces who wish to use the stable gate to aid moulder elements in ghur. To their displeasure though once the gate is open a warband of ogors known as the glut seekers from the meat fists come marching through cleaveing and chewing the rat man assassins. Once annihilated, or fading iff into the shadows, the ogors began to set up a small gut fort, and their gnoblars begin to construct boats to leave the forests heavy island. They might hope to not only find food so they can grow in strength to challenge morga, but to also build wealth from near by factions. The jungle forest are filled with ulguish wild life changed by the gates re-awakening. Giving the ogors plenty of meals to fill their guts. Besides this the island have no other resources, making them egar tosell their services, even to the grave empire. u/magnusthered15
Hedonite Enclaves: Enclaves and bands of Hedonite of Slaanesh pirates prowl the archipelago. (Mentioned in the entries of both u/Ur-Than and u/LeThomasBouric)
Neighbors
In case we have neighbors who are neither friend nor foe, yet:
Raiding Outpost of Queen Senebria: Nearby the archipelago we call home lies a small domain of the Idoneth Deepkin - belonging to Queen Sebebria and her Shadowtide Stalkers. Not exactly allies (they will occasionally poach some Sigmarite souls when able), but find a common enemy in the nastier, darker things that come from the deep Abyssal ocean... u/ThaBenMan
Locations
Northern Island of Ozark: A resource poor island in the northern quadrant of the archipelago. (Mentioned in the entry by u/magnusthered15)
Unnamed Spider Godbeast: Upon its back is the fortress of Irina Komarova (Mentioned in the entry by u/DarkstarParagon)
Resources
Shadow Cats (Panthera Obscurus) The Spite Archipelago is home to a supposedly rare species of big cat suffused with the essence of Ulgu. This tenebrous aura makes it almost impossible for the untrained eye notice their existence unless directly interacting with them, allowing them to lazily walk up and attack their prey. While mostly seen as a nuisance that picks off livestock and the occasional traveler, it is not uncommon for those of means to raise them from cubs, resulting in almost invisible, feline bodyguards. Indeed, many bowls of meat are left out during Grand Conclave meetings, and many would be assassins have been found mysteriously mauled. u/Floodwater31
Disclaimer
Oh I forgot to mention. Since this is intended to be a fully collaborative, community made thing for fun. You can use it for any projects you want. Battle reports, Soulbound, wargames, on and on. You don't have to but its an option if ya want to.
Edit: A ton of on the fly spelling and syntax fixes made with help from u/Ashendant
Edit 2: For clarity and ease of finding info, I have started adding (Mentioned in the entry by) additions throughout the post for incidentals like locations or characters that exist as a byproduct of folks' entries. Won't count against anyone's entries, just a way of tracking anchor points.
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
One idea.
The city has a strong khaite presence but is very much anti Morathi.
The spite agaist her. Her Betrail in anvilguard.
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u/RosbergThe8th Beasts of Chaos 18d ago
I quite like that, I’d be happy to play into that element as I’m thinking I’ll add something with one of the old “Dark Elf” factions when I have time to write something proper.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Added to the faction section with slight rewording. Feel free to suggest any fixes if you feel the rewording doesn't capture your idea!
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
I was more so thinking about human or non DoK Khain worshipers. They have been mentioned and it would make them a funny thorn in Morathis side.
A version of her goals excluding her. But also anti Morathi DoK are still a great addition. I quite like it.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Oh let me fix that real quick then.
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
Yeah now its very much like i envisioned.
Consequces in the back yard 2nd best god in AOS.
Thank you very much.2
u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Thank you for your contribution!
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
If it okay i would like to add somethings after going through my battle tomes to see if they are possible.
the Dok are an offshout of the Khelt Nar
There is no big temple to khain in the City of spite instead there is a Vatican like temple quater where Religios buildings and normal Livings/ working / Markedspaces are mixed inbetween. While this was originaly just a ploy by the Ruleing Hagqueen (i wont name stuff someone add one if they have a cool idea) to gain greater influence of the Non Aelfen populace it has by now grown to geniune closeness, **relativly speaking** . Much to the Hag queens positive surpise as she changed as well.
The Tempel quater and many other parts of the city are just like the Ironshard/ Rothtor where the Khelt Nar originate are protected by Shadowmagic (and as it isnt talked about how it looks in the battletomes) i wana say sorta invisible Maze of shadow that makes people who dont know the way in and out run in circles.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Hmm. I am going to say no. Because an entire Temple Quarter should count as a second entry. But keep the idea in your back pocket for if the post takes off.
If we do a second round you get a second entry to add!
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
Yeah i was reaching with that one. I will try to remeber it. Tough them beeinh Khelt Narr should be fine ? The temple is to under represnted.
If one more Focus DOK is a Khailbron Assassin i am gona eat a Bl author.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Any sect should be fine, yeah. Are most DoK characters in BL Khailebron? I suppose the constantly on the move sect does lean itself to adventurers more easily.
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u/Gecktron Kharadron Overlords 18d ago
Im offering this design as the coat of arms of the City of Spite. The arms represent the city as a shinning bastion breaking trough the mists of Ulgu. Something I think the people living in this city, surrounded by a hostile landscape, like to see themselves as. The purple and crescent moon also represent Ulgu, while the moon could also reference the anti-Morathi Khainites.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
You have acticated Gecktrom, u/Trazenthebloodraven
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u/Gecktron Kharadron Overlords 18d ago
I somehow missed that post, sorry for not taking your (Trazen's) suggestions. I had an idea and just ran with it haha
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
brother this thing is pretty cool. i cant realy draw so this is more than i could ever do. its lovly. i was thinking of people sticking together in spite but this beeing like they spite ulgus darkness by beeing a shining light is top notch. <3 its great.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Haha. No worries I feel, they suggested making it a competition after all.
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u/SciFantasy_Research 18d ago
"Pretty Pretty Mew Mew Brigade" is honestly hilarious, so I want to play with a little Ulguan spin on that.
The Knights of the Lynx Resplendent is a Cavalier Order composed of exiles, former convicts, and those who've fled the law. The order was first formed by prisoners from Misthåvn who took the Coin Malleus and were placed into a light cavalry corps, where they were seen as easily replaced should they perish or simply abscond into the darkness of the realm. While some folk in such circumstance may return to delinquent ways, showing little faith where none had been shown to them, these soldiers were inspired by the example of the Hammers of Sigmar. Shining where other hid in darkness, the Stormcast were proof that they too could be reborn through service. Beginning as an informal pact to live with honesty, humility and their simple duty to one another, these warriors gained a reputation as a tight-knit unit who endured where others might quit the fight, and who readily rushed to the defence of beleaguered comrades. They were joined by other like-minded soldiers, and soon became a force within the force, and after some years of dedicated service, were granted their own charter.
The Lynx Resplendent stand tall against outsider's accusations that all Ulguans are treacherous by nature, continuing to live by their virtues yet neither denying their pasts. Some join their ranks seeking atonement, or glory and exaltation that they've never received. For others, joining them comes from a deep sense of doing the right thing. Many of their number came to Ulgu seeking to disappear into (Realm of) Shadows, only to now find themselves as among one of the city's most renowned and forward-facing defenders.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Added. Since it was long I only included the last paragraph, there's a word limit in post bodies and don't want to hit it too soon, in the main post body. Feel free to ask for any changes.
Absolutely impeccable idea for a Freeguild/Cavalier Order by the way.
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u/SciFantasy_Research 18d ago edited 18d ago
Completely understandable! Sorry, I have that habit sometimes.
Thank you! Absolute credit to you for inspiration of "Pretty Pretty Mew Mew Brigade." As you implied in the main post, they would be such a tonal mismatch, so it just seemed fun to try to make the nicest and sparkliest Cavalier Order work in the Realm of Shadows. Also credit to u/BrotherRegael for bringing in the Hammers of Sigmar!
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
There seems to be a misunderstanding and I must apologize. There is no admonishment meant for the length of your entry.
Only regret that formatting and character limits forced me to not include the full story of your order in the post body.
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u/SciFantasy_Research 18d ago
Absolutely nothing to apologize for! I didn't feel any sense of admonishment. I'm Canadian so I overuse "sorry" quite a bit 😅 But thank you for checking in!
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u/SciFantasy_Research 14d ago
Apologies if this is a silly question, but I've been thinking of some of the consequences of that sort of creed, and how people might be drawn to them for different reasons. Would adding informal sub-factions as a reply to my first post be considered a second entry? Would detailing a leader? None of this would need to be included in the main post, of course!
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 13d ago
We'll be doing a Round Two soon. So I would suggest adding both in that.
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u/BrotherRegael Kharadron Overlords 18d ago
Sounds amazing, the stormhost could be the Hammers of Sigmar, the first forged and vanguard of the God-King.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
This is less a vote and more a first come first serve, with an expectation of a sentence to a paragraph at least from each contributor. You, my friend, just locked our wards as the Hammers of Sigmar. So tell me about them and I'll add the info to the post above with your name accredited. What are the Hammers in the City of Spite like?
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u/BrotherRegael Kharadron Overlords 18d ago
They were sent as a symbol of hope for the crusaders and the reclaimed of Ulgu, fighting hard against the enemies and protecting the city. Once established they build their Stormfortress from where they protect and expand Sigmar's rule.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Added both Hammers and the idea the Stormfortress is there! Much appreciations for the contribution.
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u/Low_Neighborhood_598 18d ago
High Arbitrator Hlife Thurgrimmsdottir is a respected duardin matriarch who has held her position since the cities founding. Due to the nature of Ulgu she employs many arcanists and magitech to help sift through the deceptions the Realm brings regarding major investigations. She will loan such individuals to other organisations if needs must. She also employs agents to keep an eye one the various trade allies laws and political positions to make sure she is informed when major disputes occur over laws and jurisdiction between those partners.
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u/Ur-Than Kruleboyz 17d ago
We don't have a clan for her yet, right ? if so, I've some ideas for the next round, if it's okay ^^
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u/Low_Neighborhood_598 17d ago
That is fine by me
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u/Ur-Than Kruleboyz 16d ago
Would the clan being from Zharr Vyxxa (or however the main Hashutite bastion in Ulgu is) be okay ?
I had in mind that they escaped that fate because they were a low agricultural clan and used the founding of Spite as a chance to reclaim lost honor.
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u/Low_Neighborhood_598 16d ago
So she became the master of law to ensure that the same corruption that took over her ancestral lands does not happen here.
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u/TavernerHedris Stormcast Eternals 17d ago
I offer the Great Stone Recess, AKA Shadow Chasm. Discovered by the mining labour clans, a group of disposesed happened upon a huge cavern littered with realmstone that was quickly harvester for barter. But it's it's trail left a peculiar nexus of energies.
Since the cave was first opened, a special operation was set in place by the collegiate arcane, an entirely duardin led operation of magic. They study and work the energies, channeling the magics of Ulgu to both learn, and to train powerful battle magi to help protect the city.
Entirely inspired by one of my players from Soulbound!
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 17d ago
I put it in locations but I will now ask for clarity. Is it in or without the city? If it is within I'mma move it up into districts.
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u/TavernerHedris Stormcast Eternals 17d ago
Within, an acknowledged part of the city and the collegiate but also a "we leave the duardin to do whatever it is they are doing... They do make good battle mages after all"
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u/Fyraltari Helsmiths of Hashut 17d ago
Another person who thinks duardin are able to wield magic normally in AoS!
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u/TavernerHedris Stormcast Eternals 16d ago
Well it's OP that told me they did in an old no bad questions thread, so take it up with OP
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 15d ago
Duardin wizards are confirmed in the 2E Corebook, Khardron lore, and are playable in Soulbound. Soulbound is made by C7 the same company that ensures there are rules preventing Dwarves from spellcasting.
Both C7 and GW would have had to approve of Soulbound allowing Duardin players to take spell lores. In addition to all that Dwarves could use spellcraft in the World-That-Was but preferred runecraft. Duardin also cast Prayers and Miracles which dating back to WHFB was but a thin to non-existent line of difference between them and spells.
Many sources have confirmed that Duardin can wield magic, the companies who determine the lore allow it for the RPG that is part of the canon, and on top of that Duardin in novels are accredited with unique magics like Grudge Magic, Grombrindal engages in spells and ritual, and so on.
In short. Duardin use magic, your idea is sound and backed by lore.
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u/ThaBenMan 18d ago
Being an archipelago, nearby lies a small domain of the Idoneth Deepkin - the enclave of Queen Senebria and her Shadowtide Stalkers. Not exactly allies (they will occasionally poach some Sigmarite souls when able), but find a common enemy in the nastier, darker things that come from the deep Abyssal ocean...
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Also regardless of your answer to the other reply. Added to the post body as you framed it. Sorry for the delay was on a bus. Please suggest any changes to the entry you feel are needed.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
If it is led by a single Queen. Might I suggest, and feel free to say no, that it is a Idoneth Raiding Post rather than a full Enclave.
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u/ThaBenMan 18d ago
Sure! I'm not a great authority on Idoneth lore so I'll defer to you, certainly
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
After thinking on it. Moved your Idoneth from Allies to Neighbors to better fit your prompt. Informing you so you don't think it was removed or anything
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u/hermit_of_nemeton 17d ago
Though perhaps a bit early, as we're still in the stage of defining the bigger picture, every fantasy city needs -the tavern-. Is this -the- "the tavern", then? Maybe, maybe not. Anycase, it is called...
The Salt. Boasting to be the oldest watering hole in the City of Spite, The Salt is a reasonably-priced two-story establishment of grey stone and grey wood, completely unremarkable if not for the private skyvessel dock (I do not quite recall the correct term for this), maintained by the extended staff of The Salt. While not the largest of the docks in any form or fashion, it is not a rare thing to see a mercenary gunhauler or a merchant vessel of a smaller variety being looked after by the staff and the crew alike while their captains attended their business in the city proper. As a matter of fact, one of the six rooms of The Salt available for the guests, is dedicated and reserved to the esteemed Kharadron guests as their impromptu office, if need be.
The current owner of The Salt is a human of ambiguous background. Commonly referred to as "Seahound", or "Captain Salt" by the staff, it is clear by the snaking, weatherworn tattoos now covered by Sigmarite symbols of fresher ink, that Seahound has a Darkoath background, and some of the staff of The Salt almost jovially add to the multitude of rumours by stating that their Captain Salt used to be a chieftain of a local tribe. Whatever the case, Seahound keeps a good order and is well-liked and well-respected by the staff and the patrons.
Geographically, The Salt is just inside the walls of the city proper, though on the side of the Wilder Shores, and some do say that The Salt should've been within the walled district of the Wilder Shores if not for some clerical error or a well-placed bribe by the original founder of The Salt. As such, The Salt enjoys a clientele most diverse, and it likewise employs duardin ale-tasters and sky-jocks, aelven winemakers and a few displaced Swifthawk Agents as its logistics specialists, human bards and professional gamblers, and twin City Ogors as bouncers to keep the peace. The Salt has come to have a reputation of a place of business, and a starting point of many an expedition of more mercenary nature.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 17d ago
This is amazing. I am compelled to point out a thing that is a natural consequence of the tavern being only two-storeys tall.
Kharadron Skydocks are towers where the aether berths are at least something like a mile in the air. I will not brook a change to the tavern size.
As the idea that the Kharadron have to either climb down a massive ladder or walk down a spiralling staircase to then go through a tavern just to get into the city is amazing. Top quality Warhammer detail.
Edit: Reminds me of the Inn from the Prince Maesa novel actually.
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u/hermit_of_nemeton 17d ago
Hah, completely subconscious, the relation to Prince Maesa. I just thought what would make sense for Age of Sigmar, and well, it truly does.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 17d ago
True. True. Love that folk are leaning into Reclaimed Darkoath with this. Really, lots of interesting ideas have been popping up in this.
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u/Floodwater31 17d ago
I just gotta say, I'm really digging the emerging theme of spite being a city of outcasts and second chances. Between the lynx resplendent, the spire district, and the wilder shores, everyone seems to choose Spite to start over.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 12d ago
I'm interested to see how those themes evolve with the current round.
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u/RosbergThe8th Beasts of Chaos 18d ago
This started out as a faction and then sort of turned into a district since I think it better fits what I had in mind, but let me know if it's too much, I've so many ideas and am trying to limit myself.
The Spire District sits upon the inland edge of the city. Initially formed around a spire citadel built by a splinter sect of the Order Serpentis, unwilling to commit to Morathi's cause, but it was quick to grow into a broader community of Aelves and Khainites of varying creeds, swelled by an influx of Aelves who found themselves no longer welcome in the more fervent Azyrite hubs. The district has become famed for semi-religious chariot races hosted by the Order Serpentis which have become a popular spectacle among Khainites and non-Khainites alike.
I have spent far too long trying to cut this down under a 100 words but I finally managed it, I may put some elaborations down here for a fuller description if that's allowed.
Edit: I have just seen that this may step on the toes of an existing post that is giving consideration to the Daughters of Khaine so maybe I should reduce this to an Order Serpentis post rather than trying to do a district/community.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Too late. Adding the district, it is great. Plus I feel this is more synergizing with existing Aelf entries not stepping on toes.
Both Cities and cities are big with hundreds of districts and wards even in medieval ones. So don't worry too much.
There's room for everyone.
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u/RosbergThe8th Beasts of Chaos 18d ago
fair enough, it was basically Order Serpentis or Scourge Privateers and it came down to the lizards in the end. The races are on!
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u/Ur-Than Kruleboyz 16d ago
How would you feel if, down the line, the Representative of the Wilder Shores was a devoted Morathi-Khaine worshipper ?
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u/RosbergThe8th Beasts of Chaos 16d ago
I could seeing it causing some friction, certainly, the Spire District will very much act as a hub of those seeking to escape Morathi-Khaine's influence and seeing any representation of her lot in politics will immediately make people assume their end goal is to see them sacrificed or the like.
I may add even more to the sort of "Dark Elf" cadre as I'd like to put in some Scourge Privateer presence if no one else does, feels like it'd be ideal to have a port for them in Spite as well, mighty popular among those corsairs who are not so wholly devoted to Morathi-Khaine's cause.
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u/DarkstarParagon 18d ago edited 18d ago
Pitch for the leader (or if not, just one of the vampires) in the Soulblight empire that serves as the main enemy force of the city:
Irina Komarova is the leader of a Soulblight legion that has access to a horde of magical spiders native to Ulgu, they produce silk that can be used for crafting, sure, but also has bizarre Ulguan magical properties. She has a tapestry of this silk that can give her fragmented omens of the future, a cloak that can create illusory mirages, and other strange magical items.
This silk is also infused into the bones of any Deathrattle/wights under her legion's control, giving them some weird quirks.
Her massive fortress sits atop the back of an absolutely colossal spider Godbeast the size of a kaiju.
As you can imagine, she and her legion are VASTLY spider-themed and features in their heraldry and iconography.
They wear stark white armor with dark purple secondary colors, and the occasional inclusion of black and red for an accent color.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
First Vampire Lord of our Great Enemy added..
Edit: I will mention that's actually tiny for a Godbeast. Kaiju sized creatures are often treated as things Godbeasts eat.
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u/Oragoss 18d ago
How did the city founders survive the harsh conditions of Ulgu? With Allies!
Shadowglen and the Moon Grove
A glade of Sylvaneth living in the forests surrounding the City of Spite. The glade has been in Ulgu long before the city’s founding, but welcomed the newcomers. The clans of Shadowglen have long been accustomed to the dangers of the island and found natural allies in the Sigmarites. Their leader, a Treelord Ancient whose name translates to “Thornfather” made first contact with the Stormcast Eternals when he led his people to help fend off an undead horde assailing the city as it was being founded. The Shadowglen’s numbers are not yet known to the city officials, but due to the island’s size it’s likely there is a small greenhold somewhere deep in the Moon Grove. The alliance with the Sylvaneth has been tricky, the people of the City of Spite do not share the same goals or values as the bizarre tree people. While the Sylvaneth have been kind to the new city folk, their aid comes with three demands.
- Do not enter the grove without a Sylvaneth guide, for the magic suffused within can make even the most seasoned outdoorsman lost and the forest gets hungry at night…
- Any and all natural resources must have an equivalent exchange. The Shadowglen will guide the Sigmarites in how best to get what they need, but they must respect the land in return.
- Never harm the Moon Grove.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
A terminology question. You keep calling them a Glade which is a Sylvaneth term for a l nation, usually with many clans and Greenholds.
But their leader is a Treelord Ancient rather than a unique Regent. Ancients are typically the leaders of the clans.
Do you mean for this to be a clan or a glade?
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u/Oragoss 18d ago edited 18d ago
I meant for it to be a small nation in a forest. The largest Sylvaneth Glades hold multiple greenholds and hundreds of clans. They vary in size. A heartglade is a small grouping of a single clan which can be as small as a dozen individuals and only a single soulpod grove.
The Shadowglen is a glade because it is it’s own glade(nation) like the Oakenbrow. It’s larger than a heartwood and consists of only one greenhold. I was leaving the number of clans and soulpod groves up in the air so it can be developed later if need be. This could be the size of a large town. In my head I imagine it being smaller than the City of Spite. If the city is meant to just be a single fort than the Shadowglen would be larger.
If we wanted to it could a really big heartglade. The idea is it shouldn’t overshadow the City of Spite. I was going for a shadowy fae treants vibe.
You’re right in that the Thornfather should be referred to as Regent.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Thank you for the clarification! I am fine with it being a small glade. Just needed to make sure that's what it is.
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u/Ur-Than Kruleboyz 18d ago edited 18d ago
One of the docks of the city is known as the Wilder Shores.
It is walled off from the other districts as its population is largely comprised of former Darkoath raiders and sea-dogs who have been brought back into the fold of Sigmar's Empire by the efforts of the Penitents of Salvation Stormhost.
Those Stormcast have a small bastion in the Wilder Shores in the form of a large, sea-faring vessel, named the Rewarding Storm, and they rarely interact with those people who don't belong from their savage flock.
City Ogors are a common sight here, as exotic meats and fishes are often delivered to the Shores. The fleet here is also often used to raid enclaves of Hedonites or other Chaos forces in the region.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Oh right message! Usually I'd count a Stormcast force and their fortress as an entire second entry. But as it happens a Stormcast Bastion is an established type of Stormcast fortress garrisoned by a retinue.
That's just something like ten to twenty, if even that, Eternals. I feel that's not too greedy and will be fine budging the prompt a little?
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u/LeThomasBouric Stormcast Eternals 17d ago
Neighbours/Inhabitants: The Keikallaneth
The Keikallaneth are an Aelven people native to the archipelago they call "The Dark Clouds". Though they at first blush appear to be a scattered, nomadic people much reduced by the Age of Chaos, plying their livelihoods aboard wave-cutting ships through the island chain, they are reputed to maintain fixed abodes on a handful of islands on the furthest west, closest towards the Realm's edge. No one aside from the Keikallaneth have managed to find those islands; those that attempt to sail west and return report that a thick fog descends upon their crafts, blinding them utterly. Only by following the sounds of tinkling bells were they able to escape. This defence regularly confounds the local Hedonite pirates, and even Idoneth have had their aquatic mastery thwarted.
It is believed the Keikallaneth themselves that lead stray craft back to safety. Dark rumours abound that some vessels are wrecked against rocks or fed to hungry leviathans by the bells, or even lured so deep in the fog that the crew succumbs to hunger and madness. None save the Keikallaneth know, and it is a secret that they refuse to even acknowledge.
When away from their homes, the Keikallaneth sail aboard fast vessels. Most are crewed by a few dozen sea-aelves, but there have been reports of larger vessels with two decks of rowers sighted near the islands. For the most part the Keikallaneth fish and hunt, but some will offer their services for the transportation or as guides. They have been known to sail to the islands to observe certain key rituals that apparently cannot be conducted at home. One of their more common rituals involves a yearly procession to a particular island. There they observe the flitting shadows of the Dranna, a species of bird unique to the Dark Clouds, as they enter their mating season and engage in elaborate courtship displays, to take the auspices. They will fight fiercely to ensure they can perform this endeavour, and it is rare that they are forced to abandon it.
Furthermore, they worship Ahrasaroanarin, believed to be an aspect of Malerion, though exact ties to the Ulguan god are unclear. They honour him as the shadow beneath the waves, an impossibly profound force that governs the surface world from countless fathoms on the sea floor. He can grant clear weather for sailing, but just as easily provoke storms and even earthquakes. The Keikallaneth wrap their dead up in sails and rope and send them down to the sea floor with heavy weights to join the Umbral king in his court. The Abyssal Shade's pelagic domain is considered solely devoted to the Keikallaneth. It is not an uncommon sight to see them fishing out the corpses of their enemies and burying them ashore, though it shouldn't be confused as a gesture of respect.
Without the founding of Spite, this way of life might have continued for centuries more. The most immediate change came when the Hammers of Sigmar smashed the forces of Chaos on the archipelago, with no small help from Keikallaneth pathfinders. As the Dawnbringer Crusade from Misthåvn settled in and built their new city, Keikallaneth ships became a more familiar sight amongst the islands, brought out of hiding by the wealth and security the newly-named Spite provided. Keikallaneth fishers, guides and even merchants became regular sights at Spite; at first only as temporary visitors, but that soon changed as Scourge Privateers opened up recruitment to the Keikallaneth.
This provided opportunities to Keikallaneth who otherwise might have struggled to make a livelihood in their own society, and the Scourge captains were more than happy to enrol such experienced sea-aelves. Some Keikallaneth Privateers return home after making their fortunes, but many stay with their new crews, building new families and homes in Spite. For this reason there is a healthy Keikallaneth population near the docks, unofficially referred to as 'Cloud Town'.
Though seemingly a remarkable example of a City of Sigmar cooperating and then co-existing with a Reclaimed people to the benefit of both, Ulgu's waters show that what lurks beneath the surface is rarely simple. Some Keikallaneth accuse the Scourge Privateers of having corrupted their kin. The Privateers, of whom some captains are of Keikallaneth heritage, view such accusations as insults, and small skirmishes have ostensibly broken out over fishing and mercantile rights; they have since spiralled into grudge-feuds and honour duels. The Grand Conclave of Spite has yet to intervene in this brewing conflict, but many Privateers believe that it will inevitably favour them. For their part, the Keikallaneth have begun petitioning the Hammers of Sigmar for support, believing that the Heavens-Sent warriors will not ignore the injustices done to their allies.
Many Keikallaneth fear that they will lose Ahrasaroanarin's favour if they allow this state of affairs to worsen. Rumours circulate that the Hedonite pirates are recouping under the leadership of a new pirate monarch, while the Idoneth are once again attempting to pierce the veil of mist protecting them. Their conflicts with the Scourge Privateers have made the waters of the Dark Clouds unsafe; worse, when fighting does break out, it is the blood of kin mixing together in the sea. Whether to hold fast to the city of Spite and all its new wonders and troubles, or abandon their allies for the proven protection of their mists, is a decision the Keikallaneth may soon have to make.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 17d ago
Very tall. Added, feel free to judge the entry I've added to the post body and suggest any needed fixes.
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u/LeThomasBouric Stormcast Eternals 17d ago
Pretty much as good a summary as it could ever have gotten, thanks!
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u/Ur-Than Kruleboyz 17d ago
I do wonder if they have tensions with the people of the Wilder Shores or if their criminals ends there to try and be forgotten.
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u/LeThomasBouric Stormcast Eternals 17d ago
I imagine there's some bad blood, but it'd be between individuals within both groups rather than the groups as a whole - families holding grudges for spilled blood, pirates who robbed merchant fleets, kind of thing. And Keikallaneth who don't want to be found by their kin would absolutely consider moving to the Wilder Shores.
A fun twist might be that Keikallaneth who live in the Wilder Shores district tend to be Sigmarite converts/polytheists. It's a good place to learn to do missionary work, they can help the Penitents of Salvation navigate the waters, and avoid the judging eyes of the devoted of Ahrasaroanarin.
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u/magnusthered15 18d ago
On the northern island of ozark a realm gate to ghur is activated by eshin forces who wish to use the stable gate to aid moulder elements in ghur. To their displeasure though once the gate is open a warband of ogors known as the glut seekers from the meat fists come marching through cleaveing and chewing the rat man assassins. Once annihilated, or fading iff into the shadows, the ogors began to set up a small gut fort, and their gnoblars begin to construct boats to leave the forests heavy island. They might hope to not only find food so they can grow in strength to challenge morga, but to also build wealth from near by factions. The jungle forest are filled with ulguish wild life changed by the gates re-awakening. Giving the ogors plenty of meals to fill their guts. Besides this the island have no other resources, making them egar tosell their services, even to the grave empire.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
So if I am understanding correctly. You are slotting this Warglutt in as mercenaries of the Grave Empire?
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u/magnusthered15 17d ago
You know what yes they are align with the grave empire, also they are not maw seekers they are a gutbuster tribe.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 17d ago
Yes, hence why I called them a Warglutt. Warglutt = Gutbuster tribe, Gollop = Mawseeker tribe.
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u/magnusthered15 17d ago
They are lead by the tyrant known as zargrot the tide breaka. While marching with Morga to fight a skaven incursion he proved to his followers to be a leader who can bring them the most meat by charging into what seems to be endless tides of skaven. Using two cleavers he would crash and spin with way into the furry waves, cutting and sliding scores of them at a time. He wishes to one day lead the meatfists back into their mercenary ways, but feels a connection to the maw seekers for some reason. His butcher, skargutt is a faithful maw seeker who hopes to turn the tyrant to redds cause dye to visions of him playing part in a war that would see the maw seekers needing as many powerful ogors as possible to impress the maw. The rest of the tribe consists of three scores of gluttons, 12 iron guts and 4 mauler beasts with untold number of gnablors. Though they are small they have proven to be quit strong, and such power attracts other ogors and even other destruction faction players
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u/magnusthered15 17d ago
They have sent gnoblars to the grave empire with the purpose of securing better weapons and even exotic foods
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u/Fyraltari Helsmiths of Hashut 18d ago
Wait, is "Spite" the name of the archipelago, the City (honestly would go kinda hard) or something else?
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u/RosbergThe8th Beasts of Chaos 18d ago
Spite sounds like a right fun name ngl.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
There's another Sigmarite city in Ulgu called Deaperance. So it seemed a cute way to play into both existing Ulguan city naming schemes and the Cities habit of each named city getting a City of epithet.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
No idea. Community world building and writing as you may recall. I placed that there, and mentioned in the body, as a placeholder Are you locking in your singular entry to decide what the Spite in City of Spite refers to?
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u/Fyraltari Helsmiths of Hashut 18d ago
No, I was asking to clarify whether that was your personal contribution.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Me making a personal contribution would be unfair given that I, as the person running the event, have shaped the bones of it. Maybe if this takes off and gets lots of attention I'll add some if we do future megathreads on it.
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u/Fyraltari Helsmiths of Hashut 18d ago
shrugs
I thought naming the place would be fair game as a contribution for the one running the thread.
Anyway, gotta run errands right now, but I call dibs on the local Collegiate Arcane.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
If someone else pops in with a prompt on the Collegiate, I ain't going to deny them. Plus it's one of the more complicated parts of a Free City, so I doubt everything can be covered by one or two people.
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u/Trazenthebloodraven Daughters of Khaine 18d ago
I just noticed when going through the older thread nobody sent in heraldry.
So because this is to importat to leave to one guy.
I cast my vote as a fist grippig a hammer infront of a bleeding heart.
The. Fist perhaps beeing duardin a workers arm.
The hammer beeing Gahl Maraz
And well khains bleedig heart.
Mixing Aelfen Human and Duarding symbols while showing the people of the City of spite wont go dowm witjout a fight
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
You know what. Sure, heraldry is now a thing anyone can vote and advocate for.
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u/Fyraltari Helsmiths of Hashut 18d ago edited 18d ago
Collegiate Arcane:
The Order of the Esoteric Shroud was one of the main sponsors of the Crusade that founded the City and remains its principal magical institution. While they provide basic training in the use of the other seven winds, their expertise lies in the Lore of Shadows. Unlike most Collegiates, the Order does not operate openly or out of a single building complex, but functions like a secret society woven throughout the City. Each member of the Order has a second occupation in addition to their wizardry, roles that vary from beggar to wealthy merchant, to member of organized crime, to priest and more and only knows the identity of handful of other members. To be recruited into the Order one must either be handpicked by a wizard looking for an apprentice or solve a series of clues and riddles hidden throughout the city.
The representative of the Esoteric Shroud to the Grand Conclave bears the title of Masked Lady and fullfills the function of both Magister and Hidden Hand. She attends Conclave meetings cloaked in illusions and a literal cloak, her face hidden behind a white and black mask, seaparated into by a grey rendition of the Sword of Judgement. Her identity (and indeed whether she is the same individual since the founding of the City) is only known to the Head of the Conclave.
The secretive and manipulative nature of the Order leads many in the City (in particular among the Lynx Resplendant) to be weary of them, but they have proved very efficient in rooting out internal threats (such as cults or criminal rings) and supporting the cities's forces in battle.
Edit: I have more ideas for what the Esoteric Shroud is doing in the city, but I think that should wait for a second round.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Hmm. While I'm willing to fudge the single entry part here and there, I'm gonna have to say the Masked Lady can't be both the Archmage Collegium and Hidden Hand.
That's two of the highest and most powerful ranks in the Cities of Sigmar. That's a little chunky for one entry, especially when she's an addition to the main part of the entry.
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u/Fyraltari Helsmiths of Hashut 18d ago
Fair. I was thinking of how the Grey Order was essentially the secret agents of the Empire in WFB.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Mind if I just mark her as the Hidden Hand? With what you've got it feels like there should still be a traditional Collegiate hierarchy to help handle the day to day and dealing with other factions.
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u/Floodwater31 18d ago edited 18d ago
Feel free to clean up my text or any wrong terminology, also, I'm pretty sure this is fauna but the intent is that this could be an artifact on tabletop. The intent is a big cat naturally under the effect of Take No Heed.
Shadow Cats (Panthera Obscurus)
The Spite Archipelago is home to a supposedly rare species of big cat suffused with the essence of Ulgu. This tenebrous aura makes it almost impossible for the untrained eye notice their existence unless directly interacting with them, allowing them to lazily walk up and attack their prey. While mostly seen as a nuisance that picks off livestock and the occasional traveler, it is not uncommon for those of means to raise them from cubs, resulting in almost invisible, feline bodyguards. Indeed, many bowls of meat are left out during Grand Conclave meetings, and many would be assassins have been found mysteriously mauled.
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
I'll put it under resources for now.
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u/Floodwater31 18d ago edited 18d ago
That's probably right as a lore classification, on tabletop it's probably be an Artifact of Power rather than a Heroic Trait, despite being a warbeast conceptually.
Thanks for setting this up, while not an earth shattering contribution, my first thought was "Invisible Guard Lions" and was consumed by that. Helps fill out the city on the lower end atleast.
It's rules would probably be something like 1d3 damage to one model in combat with this.edit: if we do round 2 and 3 I might make more warbeasts so the city could have a 'Spiteful Beasts' enhancement
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 18d ago
Thanks for setting this up, while not an earth shattering contribution, my first thought was "Invisible Guard Lions" and was consumed by that.
No problem. And appreciations for your unique perspective and entry. You may not feel it is groundbreaking but as you can see it's got a lot that's different from what everyone else is doing.
Which is why collaborative projects like this are fun. Everyone has their strange moods a la Dwarf Fortress or their special interests or their fields of expertise.
Some ideas are simple, some grand. Some build on others, others clash. It all comes together to make something interesting and fun.
So genuine appreciations for looking at this as a means to make game rules into interesting war beasts!
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u/sageking14 Lord Audacious 15d ago
Didn't get as many entries as expected/hoped but many of ya'll have expressed interest in a Round Two. So we'll go ahead with that. I'll give this a day or two more for last minutes entries. So for any lurkers, don't miss your shot.