| “ | Why, there be no bigger or more dastardly mercantile consortium in all the Western Realms. | ” |
— Winthrop | ||
The Iron Throne is a merchant consortium dealing primarily in arms. Though outwardly legitimate, it relies on coercion, subterfuge, and violence to expand its influence. In Baldur’s Gate, it serves as Sarevok Anchev's power base and the game’s chief antagonistic force.
Description[]
| “ | Independent merchants generally tend to be individuals who deal on face value and (at least reputed) honesty. They also tend to stay out of politics, other than currying the favor of whomever or whatever is currently in charge of their favorite watering holes and way stops. Merchants trust to their luck but hire mercenaries as protection, and enough of their goods get through to make them profitable. The rulership of the lands they pass through is up to others, including retired members of their craft, whom they trust to give them a fair shake.
An apparent exception to this custom is the Iron Throne, a mysterious organization that has been operating over the past few decades. Despite its long existence, little is known of its purpose or the identity of its backers. The Iron Throne operates through agents, mostly low-level thugs and brigands who have only recently taken legitimate employment and entered into the service of the merchant roster. The turnover is apparently high, since Iron Throne agents often seem to lapse into their old ways. The Throne denies all complicity in any criminal acts by their agents and replaces them regularly. The Iron Throne wishes to maintain a patina of respectability, however thin. Recently, the veneer has become thin indeed, for the Iron Throne has been charged with attempted assassination of competition, extortion, thuggery, trading weapons to humanoid tribes, and trafficking in smokepowder, poison, and contraband. There have been frequent reports of conflicts between Iron Throne caravans and agents and those sponsored by the Zhentarim. The Iron Throne has recently been banished for a year from acting within Cormyr, and many suspect them of branching out to new locales. The masters of the Iron Throne are at present unknown and have to this date resisted all attempts to magically divine their identities or intentions. This indicates some level of magical ability or protection on their parts, and rumors are rampant. Some say that the Iron Throne members are secretly agents of the Zhentarim or of Cormyr, and that previous actions against those groups are only to hide their trail. Some claim that a god is involved, such as Cyric or an even darker power (if such a thing is possible). Other rumors point to undead beholders, expired deities, sentient lizards, or pale-blue sea giants as the true masters of the merchant company and the secret of its power. The truth remains to be seen. |
” |
— from the Manual | ||
Activities[]
This organisation is responsible for the iron shortage around the Sword Coast, by killing workers in the Nashkel Mines and making their ore unsuited for weapons and tools by contaminating the ore brought out of the mines with a certain substance and disrupting trade routes with hired Bandits and blaming this on Amn and the Zhentarim. This plan was orchestrated to skyrocket the price of the iron ore and all products which require iron and thereby making a huge profit as well, at the cost of Baldur's Gate and other inhabitants of the Sword Coast region. This plan also required the elimination of rival merchants guilds, such as the Seven Suns and the Merchants' League.
When the hostility between Baldur's Gate and Amn was high enough, the Iron Throne would offer a deal to the Dukes of Baldur's Gate to sell them good iron ore, weapon and armor, which they had stockpiled from their operations. The first one is from their hired mercenaries who raided caravans under the disguise of bandits and the second operation is the secret mine in the Cloakwood.
After the Iron Throne would have made a huge profit, they would have made amends to lessen the hostility between Baldur's Gate and Amn and prevent them from going into war, because that would have been disastrous for trade in the Sword Coast. This plan would have succeeded if the insider, Sarevok, responsible for managing the Throne's mercenaries, didn't have his own agenda in mind. He saw the Iron Throne as a pawn to create hostility between Baldur's Gate and Amn, and was preparing to lead Baldur's Gate's armies against the armies of Amn after becoming Grand Duke. The only way Sarevok could become Grand Duke would be by assassinating some or all of the dukes, who would oppose going to war.
By standard practice, Iron Throne leaders have a geas placed on them to ensure their loyalty to the company. But Sarevok's quick coup preempted that.
Associates[]
The Western Division of the Iron Throne is managed by Rieltar Anchev, his adoptive son Sarevok Anchev, and fellow leaders Brunos Costak and Thaldorn Tenhevich.
Official staff[]
- Destus Gurn (Assistant Chief Accountant)
- Dhanial
- Dra'tan
- Gregor
- Korlasz
Baldur's Gate:
Siege of Dragonspear (2016)
This icon indicates content from the Siege of Dragonspear campaign of the Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. (Lieutenant) - Pang Wallen
- Tralithan
- Triadore
- Wirthing
Operatives and contractors[]
Because the Throne hides behind layers of proxies, it is not always clear who among its servants understands the organization they serve.
- Mulahey — Reported only to Tazok. No evidence he knows of the Throne’s existence.
- Tranzig — Courier in Beregost, also ignorant of the broader scheme.
- Chill and Blacktalons; Bandits under Tazok — Believe the Zhentarim to be their true employers.
- Cloakwood Mine — Operated by Davaeorn with apprentice Stephan, both fully aware of Throne ownership. Understanding among bandit security forces unclear
- Freelancers Drasus and his companions guarding the entrance; respond directly to Rieltar Anchev
- Peter of the North — His secrecy is ambiguous; it may stem from his breeding work rather than any link to the Throne.
- Marek and Lothander — Poisoners in Baldur’s Gate. Marek openly names the Iron Throne, unusually reckless for an operative. Lothander is merely a magically bound servant.
Doppelgangers[]
- Merchants’ League and Seven Suns infiltrators — received instructions from a “friend.” Whether this was Rieltar or Sarevok is unclear.
- Candlekeep infiltrators — almost certainly Sarevok’s agents, present to secure his plan.
Sembian oversight[]
The Iron Throne’s headquarters in Selgaunt, Sembia, sent several waves of representatives to the Sword Coast as Sarevok tightened his grip:
- Nortuary — first investigator.
- Kalessia — followed after his failure to contain the situation.
- Carston, Gorf, Haseo, Rahvin, Shaldrissa, Wudei — enforcers dispatched to remove Sarevok and reassert headquarters’ control.
Headquarters[]
The Iron Throne’s western division operates out of one of the largest estates in Baldur’s Gate. The property was likely acquired in late 1364 DR—Rieltar Anchev mentions the purchase of a noble estate in a letter dated Alturiak, 1365. By the time of the Iron Crisis (1368 DR), the building has become known solely as the Iron Throne headquarters, its original noble ownership largely forgotten.
Although prominent, the building has no public retail function. No other businesses in Baldur’s Gate can be identified as Iron Throne–run either.
After the Throne’s downfall, the estate is repurposed to shelter refugees during the events of Siege of Dragonspear.
For structural details and gameplay information, see: Iron Throne Headquarters.
External links[]
Iron Throne on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.