Iron on Empty Stomachs
Iron on Empty Stomachs
“A starving village has built the bones of a railway, but only diplomacy can feed the future.”
— Hook · diplomatic
“Redmire Crossing is building a railway that could change the region, but the work has stalled and the laborers are hungry. The village begs you to travel to Manford and win funds from House Connet before the crew walks away and the project dies unfinished.”
— Hook · diplomatic
At dawn, the village square is crowded with laborers carrying empty bowls beside lengths of unfinished rail. Edda Brine places a ledger in the party’s hands and says the village cannot afford pride, only results. She asks the party to go to Manford, speak for people who are too tired to speak for themselves, and return before the workers give up.
Edda Brine
The village elder appeals with urgency and trust, offering the party letters of introduction, local maps, and the promise of future gratitude.
Rumours
d4 · table- 01Manford’s nobles are divided over whether the railway will enrich the city or drain it.
- 02The village workers are one missed meal away from walking off the site.
- 03House Connet never gives money without asking what it will buy in return.
- 04Someone in Manford has already drafted a rival route that would bypass Redmire Crossing entirely.
If the party succeeds, the railway survives long enough to matter and the village gains a future. If they fail, the laborers may abandon the work, the village may fall into debt, and Manford may gain leverage over the entire route.
Background Lore
The village of Redmire Crossing has started an ambitious rail project to connect its farms and quarries to the wider region. The first stretch has been laid, but the work has stalled for lack of coin and food, and the laborers are surviving on thin broth, stale bread, and pride. The nearest major city, Manford, is ruled by the House Connet, a family known for careful ledgers, hard bargains, and a deep suspicion of rural schemes. The village elders cannot send a forceful delegation without risking insult, so they hire the party to make a respectful appeal and bring back enough support to keep the line alive.
Redmire Crossing has begun building a railway and needs help from Manford. The party is sent to ask House Connet for money and grain so the project can continue and the workers can stay fed.
