NPC: Lord Maximilian Brekenridge

There is an old Thyran saying: 'The Passage that delivers gold, also delivers death'

In the case of Lord Brekenridge, they are so close to the truth it's not even comical.

Born and raised in the ruins of London during the War, Brekenridge has seen it all, done it all and came out on top. 

He is presently the de facto leader of the Ministerium, ruling over the others with an iron fist inside a silk glove. The combined strength of the others would easily bring him down... But who would take his place?

Lord Brekenridhe is more agile than an eel and equally difficult to pin down. The city is working and prospering, but very much under HIS terms.

Professor Thaddeus Mighty Monstrous Circus (3M)

Tolerance and acceptance were both things that didn't come naturally to Thyrans. The mere concept of Passages was inconceivable for some, let alone the exotic species that came through them. 

And not just random animals. These new people could think and bar cosmetic changes, they were pretty much as they were. 

The cultural differences were in a way harder to deal with. So your neighbour has horns, no problem. But when his Clan affiliations are stronger than family, duty, honour and anything else you can imagine.... Then things are slightly more difficult to understand. 

Enter Marcus Thaddeus. He had an idea. Maybe offensive. Maybe wrong. But with potential. He asked around the newcomers, to see if there were any performers amongst them. Sure, you had elvish sharpshooters, troll weight lifters. You had young exiled changelings and disgraced noble Rakshasans.

And he proposed his idea to them. Perform for the people. Yes, it's wrong, yes it's demeaning, but it will be a way for Thyrans to meet you, to see you and to be shown your culture.

About two thirds of them accepted on the spot. 

The 3M has sentient species from all know passages and animals and plants from at least as many worlds.

The circus is the first line of contact between ‘normal’ Thyrans and people from other Places. Its complex of tents lie in the wild space between Rattown and Steamville. As a contact tool, it is working really well.

It is also making ‘Professor’ Thaddeus phenomenally rich.

Dramatis Personae

• The High Ministerium (The Ministerium) – A council of representatives of all the important bodies in the city. Not the most effective of bodies but the de facto brains behind organisation and logistics in the city, as well as the Yellowstripes. Most organisations have one seating member (official or unofficial ones). Corrupt and power-mad, only the infighting of the members keeps it from ascending into full blown dictatorship. You wouldn’t trust them for a moment, but the contracts are valid, the water does flow, and the sewers still work. For most inhabitants, it is all they ask.

• Walt Wilson Mining Consortium (WW) – The largest company in town. Everyone works or knows someone that works for WW. Growing up in Rattown turned WW into a ruthless, humourless man that rewards excellence and destroys incompetence with the same wry smile. Not necessarily evil, but ambitious and pitiless.

• The College Of Physical and Ethereal Sciences (The College) – School, University, Research Institute and Engineering Plant rolled up into one. Its members expand the knowledge of NightGems, and its applications. The recent discovery of Magik (NightGem energy-powered reality manipulation) was made at The College. Its practitioners, nicknamed Weird Doctors, are not necessarily sane but are bending our knowledge of reality.

• Order of The Wrench (The Order) – The union of engineers and builders that keep the city working. Most have ties to the Ministerium, some to The College, and some to no-one at all. The Order keeps very loose ties with its members by design, in a place like Thyra, no one would make money if everyone played by the book.

• Freehold Miners League (The League) – WW only has control over the Wilson Mines, all other veins are explored by small companies and independent miners. They are nominally bound together in The League, but it is in reality a free for all.

• Beggars’ and Thives’ Guild (The Guild) – Based out of Rattown, these keep their own peace, in alleys where even the Yellowstripes don’t venture. Rumours abound of ties to the Ministerium, of unofficial council members. What is known is, an unsanctioned murder today is a body floating in Circle Bay tomorrow.

• Society of Lok (Brothers / Sisters) – The closest thing to active religion in Thyra. Of unknown origins, these men and women teach, heal, clothe and feed with the same quiet contemplation. Many a thief or evildoer ended up as a Brother or Sister. Although there is no organised cult, the Society House is filled with icons and statues of Gods of many of the Places reached from the city, for any believers to enjoy. They seem to have deep pockets, but use it only in the help of the needy.

• The Clockwork Queen (The Queen) - a quasi-mythical crime boss, The Queen is a sort of bogey man for both state and crime people alike. Her existence is disputed, but on a number of occasions, the Guilds almost immediately deferred to someone else. Either a person or many or simply an organisation, someone pulls many strings around town.