I've been sent here to ask about Tranch Crusade Muslim faction, apperantly they are completely at odds with the grimdark since god forbid they make Muslims look bad like they do to the Christians.
The Muslims hold themselves up behind a big ass wall stretching across part of Syria and Iraq. They’ll blow anyone up with artillery if they even attempt to enter without the Sultan’s permission. And if anyone survives, alchemically derived monsters will rip them limb from limb.
The lore has Iron Sultanate come across as arrogant and opulent. Let the Christians take on the brunt of the forces of Hell since it was their crusaders which opened the portal to Hell on the first place. Bear in mind that the Sultanate is fine with creating artificial life, those creatures don’t have souls so that means we aren’t mocking Allah’s power of creation.
It’s taking the medieval depiction of a rich, wise, and decadent Islam to an extreme, much like they do with medieval Christian zealotry. A lot of gold armor, fancy robes, huge cannons, and access to incredible knowledge.
Medieval Islam wasn’t the fanatical suicide bombing Wahabbist insanity we see today. Most thought was either legalism on the application of sharia or mystical pondering on being closer to God. Trench Crusade takes that and makes it go a little bit to 11.
For example, there is a subfaction for the Assassins literally called the Sacrifice (Fida’i), who are sent out on secret missions and will not compromise anything to achieve their goals. The assassins smoke drugs which allow them to bend space and time for a few seconds to avoid danger. All while Dervisher warrior monks kill you with the whirling dervish dance.
