The Smiths

No other New Dunston Faction has redefined war in the praetermundus like the Smiths. Known for their ability to determine the most efficient way to attack an enemy, the Smiths have crafted new and innovative weapons for the various armies of New Dunston for centuries. While most of the Smiths prefer to simply modify weaponry, some experiment in new forms of armaments and even new ways of waging war.

Internal Structure

The Smiths are run by a body called the Council of Three. The member with the longest amount of time on the Council is the head of the Council. The three seats are that of Warfare, Armaments, and Protections. Currently, the holder of the Seat of Warfare is the head of the Council. Wendal Weintraub has joined the faction in 1972 after serving some time in the US Army. He first signed up as a member of their security force, rose through the ranks, and eventually became a project leader and finally a council member. The Seat of Warfare is in charge of all projects concerning the development and distribution of tactics concerning warfare within the praetermundus.

Amy Mustang holds the Seat of Armaments and oversees all projects to modify and create new weapons. Amy is the newest member of the Council. Her father served on it until his recent death in the war against the Lycaons. She took over because of her ideas to produce silvered weapons to use against the werewolves.

The Seat of Protections is held by Abdul Rahman, who has been a member of the faction since the early 80's. A known ritualist, Abdul Rahman has since steered the faction from its technological-centric view of protections. He has met recent criticism because of the focus on the occult, without regard for the mundane.

Relationships with Others

The Smiths are close allies of the Coalition of Tradesmen, a group that aided them in getting out from their service to the Peerage. They have had long and prosperous relations with both House Donnelly and the Businessman's Club, having helped them leave the Peerage. While both of these factions feel that the Smiths were partly responsible for manipulating them during the civil war in the 1950's, neither have openly charged the faction with this and they still remain amiable. Their relationship with the Steel Barons has often been strained because of the Barons insistence of a project to be finished to their specifications, but the Smiths have never turned their patronage down.

House Slattery and The Smiths have the most open rivalry in the city due to the Slatterys constant attempts to find flaws in the work of the Smiths. The Smiths take the rivalry especially serious because they believe that the actions of the Slatterys are an infringement on their monopoly and hurt their business.

History

In 1802 five craftsmen came to New Dunston and started to supply the Peerage with weapons to use against the Johnstown forces. Two years later, when the war ended, the five had grown to twenty. Masters of their craft, the faction began to research new weapons and armor to supply the Peerage with during their expansion.

In twenty-five years they became almost a government of their own with more members than several of the noble families combined. There were five seats in that time, one for each concentration: Armor, Artillery, Gunpowder, Cavalry, and Infantry. With a bit of incentive from the Pittsburgh Trade Union, the Smiths were convinced to leave the service of the Peerage. The Peerage took this poorly and attempted to keep the faction under their control by force. Officially the Trade Union stayed neutral during the conflict, but everyone was aware they were aiding the Smiths behind the scenes.

After two years of conflict the Smiths had almost resigned themselves to serving the Peerage once again. With their numbers dwindling even their ability to craft powerful weapons couldn't help them once they ran out of supplies. In 1828 Johnstown struck New Dunston again. The Peerage took the brunt of the attack and offered a peace accord to the Smiths, which the Smiths quickly accepted. They joined with the Pittsburgh Trade Union shortly afterwards. It was during this time that the current structure of a three seat council arose.

Over the years the Smiths have gotten a reputation for instigating wars and minor conflicts, giving aid to the Donnelly's and the Businessman's Club in the late 1890's during their attempt to leave the Peerage, and again instigating and being caught up in a civil war in the 1950's. Their skills did not go unnoticed in the most recent war of the Federated Commonwealth and many of the faction are considered heroes of that particular war.