Content
Nertha, The Faceless Mother + 25 mm round base.
Story
Nertha is about life and renewal.
The Iron Empire is in a terrible vicious circle of death. While they were in exile from Earth, its people were exposed to heavy radiations and a great number died. Most of the surviving ones became sterile or gave birth to babies that were not viable.
When these lost travellers discovered the Aegyptian artifacts, they were able to revive a great many of their people, by making them more or less undead. So they are now desperately seeking a way to bring back life again into their world and, at the same time, they have become so dependent on the necromantic Aegyptian technology that they can't break free from the 'undeadness' of their society. Necromancy has become the main source of power, both physical and political, in the Iron Empire. And so, as much as the Empire claims to be at war with other factions to get a technology that would give them back fertility and life, most of the people in power don't want to let go of the amazing power and control that necromancy has given them.
The story of Nertha is a tragic one, yet also, it is a story of hope. Being of noble lineage, Nertha died during the exile while she was pregnant. Brought back from death, she is now fated to forever be a soon-to-be mother who will never give life. When she awoke to her new un-life, Nertha was in a state of shock for many months. When she recovered her sanity, her life in the high arcanes of power made her a direct witness to the unwillingness of the priesthood and of many political figures to break away from 'undead-ness' and bring back the hope of a real life in the Empire.
So Nertha has taken it upon herself to find the secret of true resurrection, or anything that could heal her people.To do this, she has chosen to become a priestess in order to gain access to the Aegyptyian mazes and learn the secrets the priesthood is keeping. She's also undertaken many solo journeys to attempt to uncover details of rumours that are whispered about true resurrection. No one knows exactly what she's learned and whether she plans to eventually overthrow the priesthood's hold on the people... Her furtive, ghostly appearances on the battlefield and the miracles she has accomplished have made her a true legend and, for some even, a living goddess. And many pray for her visit as she has been said to be able to hold back Death Herself...
THE IRON EMPIRE (IE)
The Iron Empire is made up of exiled people that have somehow stumbled upon necromantic knowledge from alien pharaonic gods. They combine Prussian and Germanic influences with some kind of Aegyptian cyber necromancy that allow them to raise the dead and create bio-mechanical aberrations.