The First Irons: A Dark and Complex Force
The First Irons are not native to the planet of the Kingdom of Dandelions, nor were they originally tied to its ancient alchemical experiments. Instead, they are an external force, a quasi-state faction that first emerged through the very same gate that John McGill and his expeditionary team had originally explored. Their origins trace back to another world or dimension entirely, where their obsession with technological dominance and resource extraction led them to seek out new worlds to conquer and exploit.
Origins Beyond the Gate: The First Irons came from a highly advanced world, driven by a deep-state group that sought to control and exploit resources across multiple dimensions. Their knowledge of fusion technology and manipulation of time and space allowed them to create and maintain gates to other realms—similar to the one that John McGill's team encountered. They initially arrived on this new planet long before the gates opened in modern times, their purpose clear: to conduct dangerous experiments that would yield vast amounts of power for their world.
In their own world, the First Irons were originally scientists, engineers, and military officials who became corrupted by their own greed for control. Their world had exhausted its natural resources, leading them to develop advanced technology that could tap into the essence of other worlds through interdimensional gates. Their experiments were cold and clinical, seeing these other worlds as nothing more than fuel for their empire.
They first discovered Blæwenstan during their initial incursion into the world of Dandelions, but instead of understanding its delicate balance of magic and energy, they sought to weaponize it. The experiments they conducted on the crystal were ruthless, aiming to amplify its properties for mass-scale exploitation. However, their methods destabilized the planet’s magical ecosystem, contributing to the catastrophic First Extinction Event.
The First Extinction Event: The First Extinction was not solely caused by the failed experiments of ancient alchemists within the Kingdom of Dandelions but also by the First Irons' exploitation of this magical world. When they began tampering with the Blæwenstan’s energy, they unknowingly triggered a chain reaction that caused both dimensions—their own and the Dandelion world—to nearly collapse. The unstable fusion of scientific greed and magical essence created monstrous beings, some of which evolved into the early First Irons—mechanical soldiers twisted by magic, with no organic life left within them.
After the First Extinction, the First Irons retreated into the shadows, losing many of their own in the catastrophe. They bided their time, waiting for the right moment to return and finish what they had started—exploiting the planet's remaining resources, including Blæwenstan, to maintain their empire across dimensions.
Present-Day First Irons:
In the present timeline, the First Irons have re-emerged as a shadowy and militaristic faction. They are led by an unseen council of figures who exist beyond the gate, though the foot soldiers and agents who operate on the planet are known for their soulless efficiency. Their goal remains the same: to control the world’s resources, extract what they need, and use it to fuel their experiments and technologies, even if it means wiping out the existing civilizations of the world.
The First Irons are driven by a cold, almost robotic philosophy of conquest. They are experts at infiltrating other societies and turning local factions against one another to achieve their goals. John McGill's betrayal ties directly into their modus operandi. The First Irons orchestrated the betrayal of McGill's team through greedy intermediaries, offering vast wealth and power to those who would aid them in securing control of the gate and the Blæwenstan crystal. It was never just about scientific exploration for them—it was about control, manipulation, and greed.
The Role of Blæwenstan in Their Plans:
The First Irons view Blæwenstan as the key to unlocking unlimited energy and time manipulation, something they have only managed to partially harness through their own flawed technology. Their experiments with Blæwenstan aim to turn it into a fuel source that could allow them to stabilize their dimension-spanning gates and build an army of near-unstoppable warriors. This is why they are so focused on invading the Kingdom of Dandelions now, as the kingdom holds the largest known supply of Blæwenstan.
The reason for their increased aggression is the crumbling magical barriers of the world, which have now exposed vast untapped veins of Blæwenstan. With the kingdom in a vulnerable state, the First Irons believe the time is right to strike and fully secure the crystal for their use.
John McGill's Mission:
As John McGill, now the King's President, leads the industrialization of Dandelions, he faces the dual challenge of harnessing the world’s magical resources—like Blæwenstan—for good, while defending against the First Irons' brutal invasion. He is now refining Blæwenstan not only as a powerful alternative fuel but also as a weapon to combat the First Irons’ mechanical army.
This mission is deeply personal for John, who has been haunted by the betrayal that led to the downfall of his original mission team. With Smith, Kurt, Elysande, and the rest of the Dandelions now working together, they are pushing the boundaries of science and magic to create the means to defeat the First Irons once and for all. But they are also racing against time, as the First Irons are already advancing their agenda of subjugation and destruction, using every twisted experiment and weapon they can muster.
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With the First Irons now fully in play, the stakes are higher than ever for John McGill and the Kingdom of Dandelions. It’s not just a fight for survival—it’s a battle for control over the very essence of the planet’s resources, and the future of both magic and science.
