"I am no merchant of death, as many say; let us set aside this foolish pathos. I simply trade in arms, and how they are used -- that is not my concern."
Nomarch Iblis is an arms magnate and one of the most influential members of the Club of Oligarchs. He is widely regarded as the foremost private arms industrialist in Sarnout, specialising in high-end mana-tech weapons, equipment, and defense systems intended for elite clients.
Early career
Iblis’ professional roots lie in the pre-Cataclysmic era, when he was a highly talented engineering apprentice. However, Tep’s Plague ended this trajectory before it could develop into anything greater. After his resurrection, Iblis entered the Imperial industry and quickly distinguished himself as a highly competent mana-tech engineer. He gained access to modern production methods, resources, and large-scale projects, but grew increasingly dissatisfied with bureaucratic control and political interference in engineering decisions. His designs were reliable and efficient, yet rarely credited, absorbed into state arsenals without attribution, and used in the operations he despised.
Eventually, torn by inner professional and ethical conflicts, Iblis made the decision to flee the Empire alone, on a small astral vessel. The departure was unplanned and poorly prepared. For a long period afterward, he drifted between ports and stations, freelancing, avoiding attention, and wasting time and money on laudanum. During this period, he was unstable, resentful, and openly hostile to the world.
Imperial authorities eventually issued a bounty on his head, dead or, preferably, alive. The Motherland was intolerant of deserters, particularly those whose skills could benefit her enemies. Iblis, however, knew how to defend himself using his own inventions. Several state bounty hunters fell at his hand, forcing the Empire to pass the case to a more competent organisation.
This marked the involvement of the Kornilins Agency. Although Iblis managed to inflict serious losses on the Agency during several engagements, he was ultimately captured. Victoria Kornilina personally reviewed the case and found the situation amusing and impressive in equal measure. Rather than just handing him over to the Empire and collecting the bounty, she recognised Iblis’ capabilities and offered him employment in exchange for his life. Iblis accepted.
Iblis remained with the Agency for many years under its protection. He substantially reorganised its technical operations and rapidly rearmed it with mana-tech gear of his own design. Under his oversight, the Kornilins Agency rose to prominence as the most well-equipped and prestigious mercenary force in Sarnout. Throughout this period, the Agency ensured that Imperial authorities believed Iblis to be permanently dead.
Over time, Iblis grew dissatisfied with his position as a de facto forced labourer. When negotiations failed, he escalated the situation by constructing a powerful mana-bomb and threatening to destroy the Kornilins’ allod, with himself present, unless Victoria signed a binding contract. The contract specified a fixed term, substantial payment, and compensation for years of unpaid work. Kornilina reportedly laughed at the absurdity of the situation, expressed admiration for his resolve, and signed.
When the contract expired and payment was made, Iblis departed. He did not return to the Agency and was not pursued. In fact, he and Victoria became good friends following the mana-bomb incident. With his accumulated wealth, Iblis acquired his first allod, spending nearly all his capital to secure it. With Kornilina’s assistance, he approached the Very Respectable Goblin and obtained extensive credit to fund future operations. This marked the beginning of his career as an independent arms industrialist.
Iblis Arms
Iblis’ business empire is structured around controlled production of luxury-grade mana-tech weapons, M.E.C.H. suits, combat vehicles, and automated defense systems such as turrets and combat golems. His products are characterised by durability, reliability, modularity, and compatibility with a wide range of environments. They are expensive, difficult to acquire, and rarely sold in large batches. Ownership of “Iblis Arms” gear is commonly treated as a marker of status among private armies.
He owns multiple allods dedicated to industrial use. These factory allods are self-contained and highly secured, combining production facilities, research facilities, testing grounds, and worker habitation blocks. His primary holding, the allod Forge, serves as the executive administration hub and functions as Iblis’ de facto capital.
Iblis provides excellent conditions for his workers, including high wages, free housing, and extensive benefits. He prioritises long-term contracted specialists to limit industrial espionage and ensure consistent production quality.
Iblis enforces strict client vetting. Buyers are assessed for solvency, logistical capacity, and political exposure. He avoids markets that collapse quickly or generate uncontrolled redistribution of his products. Resale without authorisation is treated as a contract violation, and repeated violations by intermediaries result in permanent exclusion from his supply chains. Several mercenary houses have disappeared from the high-end market following such exclusions, though no formal link is ever acknowledged.
Iblis maintains deliberate distance from his clients. Contracts are negotiated exclusively through intermediaries. He rarely appears in public and avoids political alignment, presenting himself as a neutral supplier. His public statements consistently reject moral responsibility for the use of his products. He frames his role as purely commercial, arguing that accountability lies with the buyer, not the manufacturer.