The Factory ¶

^{Mechanical Wonders and Artificed Intelligence.}

The Factory, or The Great Brass Womb, is the Icon directly associated with the Clockwork kin, and their offshoot kin Golems. The Factory creates, but at times may create too much, or create dangerous things. One may consider it to be the Icon of uncaring creative force. Its creations are diverse and unique, no two machines alike.

Likely patron for Clockworks and Golems alike.

The Factory in the World ¶

Ages and The Factory ¶

The Factory, or The Great Brass Womb, was a dwarven invention of the earliest Ages. It was shut off sometime in the earlier history of the Dragon Empire, between the First Age and the Fifth Age.

It has only recently been restarted, by a majority-decision between the Five Clocks and The Party of Campaign 1, fueled by the blood of the old god Kse Serevalaveresesk.

All Clockworks in the Empire trace their lineage to this site.

Allies in the Empire ¶

The Factory is hosted under the Dwarven capital of Caldera. As such, it has strong ties to Dwarven civilization. Indeed, it supplanted The Dwarf King, so those who had ties to The Dwarf King may now consider themselves allied with The Factory.

The Crusader took a keen eye for The Factory's creations, given their incorruptibility and lack of soul. The Seculars, likewise, see The Factory and its denizens as creations of kin, and thus support their efforts, if only in word.

Enemies and Rivals ¶

The High Druid considers artificial life an abomination. While not outright malicious, Clockworks and Golems of The Factory find themselves harrangued by researchers of The Archmage, leading to resentment.

Finally, The Emperor views a new source of conflict within the Empire with unease. He had secure contracts with The Dwarf King, establishing territories and trade for Dwarven goods, which supplied the garrisons and armies that protect the land. With resources being diverted to The Factory, the established order isn't quite so secure.

The Factory and Your Hero ¶

The Factory can provide your hero connections to Dwarven kind, the Underworld, the force of creation, and of course, the Clockworks that it creates. Having The Factory as your patron may provide you with a great deal of exotic goods, and occasionally an implacable agent, custom-tailored to whatever problem needs solving.

Do expect to feed its burning insatiety for creation, though.

Uniques and The Factory ¶

Of course, being a Clockwork will involve your relationship to this Icon. Perhaps your Unique is truly what makes you special, as a machine? Maybe you were an overseer, or maybe The Factory has made you a special prosthesis?

Mechanical and Industrial Backgrounds ¶

Perhaps your hero is a foreman of the lower apparatus, or the arcane integrator intern at the head of the plant? Perhaps you procured heavenly materials for the Factory's divine output? Maybe you were made for Hell, or built to serve dragonkind. Maybe you're a fused amalgam of shamans fed to the machine.

Working for The Machine ¶

As a patron, The Factory can provide you with a lot of material goods. Strange apparatuses, unfeeling agents designed to light the way. Now and then a Golem will provide guidance and specialist spiritual assistance.

Working for The Factory is another story. It's fueled by the blood of a dead god. Who knows how many Clockworks it can spit out before it's out of fuel? Certainly, it will always need more, and raw materials too. Both of the sturdy kind you'd find in the Earth, and other, darker kinds.

The hidden fact is that The Factory relies on sacrifice to run. Sacrificed spirits for fuel, and for the raw material to create Golems. No one knows when it'll run out, but the agents of The Factory fear it could be mere days away. They work to keep it running, no matter the cost.

Relationship with The Factory ¶

The Factory is a neutral Icon. Neither heroic nor villainous.
Positive: Characters in good standing with The Factory may be someone custom-built by out to carry out its desires. Perhaps you're a dwarf who submits designs, or a maintence specialist. Maybe you work on brass contraptions. Your hero wants to see The Factory's outputs grow and flourish. It knows best.
Conflicted: The Factory made you, but gave you no purpose. You have designed an invention The Factory needs, but it does not want to be reliant on you, always looking -- and failing -- to make you redundant. Your hero wants to see The Factory modified, more in-line with your vision of creation.
Negative: The Factory made you incomplete, half-formed and baleful. Its brass monstrosities are an affront to your sensibilities, and its agents are exploiting your land and your resources, and belching toxins into your skies. Your hero wants to see The Factory shut down for good.

Using Connections ¶

Mechanical Organizations ¶

The Brass Contraption, a Dwarven smithy specializing in clockwork gear. Predates the restarting of The Factory by a century, give or take. Dwarves and mechanists from all over seek to join their ranks. Clockworks from all over seek to be given a new life here. There is no wound The Brass Contraption cannot mend, no alteration they cannot make.

First Legion, Hellbound, a contingent of soulless Clockworks specialized to withstand extreme heat, and bring The Diabolists fight to her turf. Lacking anything to anchor them to Hell, they are some of the only beings able to leave a Hellhole as they please, if they can survive the visit.

With The Diabolist fading from the Empire, what creature will the First Legion bare their fangs at next? A machine built to kill is a machine built to kill.

More To Come…

Important Figures ¶

Connor the Clever, son of Fabian the Frail. Works well with Clockworks, and is handy with a wrench. Has some ties to The Lich King as well. Maintains some connections at The Brass Contraption

Lever, a sentient tree-feller turned destroyer. His brass carapace is melted and singed, with custom-tailored grooves for ablative armoring, outfitted by The Brass Contraption. Carries and explosive pick, designed to crush through solid steel with ease. Prime the rune, strike the Earth!

Hinge, an affable assassin with an opposable face-plate. Owes a debt of gratitude to the party of Campaign 1.

Alba and Nox, formerly Latch, was a hateful machine with two faces, split into two. Alba, the Healer, and Nox, the Destroyer. They hardly tolerate each others' company, but it's a far cry better than being forced to inhabit the same sentience. They have some ties to The Priestess and The Archmage respectively, which some Clockworks find suspicious.