Steamers

Teams of guards and engineers who operate smaller "steamer cars" along the Ironworks railway network. The Steamers patrol the rails, clearing undead from the tracks, ambushing raider gangs, and removing obstructions to keep the trains running.
Each Steamer team is funded by an independent Rail Baron, creating a fragmented force with competing loyalties. Rail Barons use their teams not only to protect their own lines but to sabotage competitors. The Steamers spend as much time fighting each other as they do fighting the dead and the raiders. The railways are the arteries of the Ironworks, and the Steamers are caught in the middle of every power struggle over who controls them.

Structure

Steamer teams consist of guards and engineers operating from smaller armored rail cars. Each team is independently funded by a Rail Baron, creating a decentralized force where loyalty runs to the sponsor rather than to any central command. Teams patrol assigned sections of track, responding to undead incursions, raider ambushes, and physical obstructions.

Culture

Rail Baron Rivalry

The defining tension within the Steamers is the competition between their sponsors. Each Rail Baron funds a Steamer team to protect their own interests and undermine competitors. Sabotage is common: one Baron's Steamers may tear up track that a rival just laid, or ambush a competitor's supply train. This constant infighting means the Steamers are as much a political tool as a military one.

History

The Steamers emerged from the Ironworks railway economy. As Rail Barons expanded their networks and the undead threat grew, the need for dedicated track security became critical. Independent Rail Barons funded their own teams rather than cooperate, resulting in the fragmented, competitive force that exists today.