Posted on April 18, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Scattered around the central high peaks of Scar Flow (The Westmarch of Dunstrand Vale before it sank) are the ruins of strange metal encased watch towers. It is unknown how many are there in total, but given that the peak tops are mostly permanently shrouded in fog and mist, these relics of an ancient time are almost never seen any more. What few records that exist dub them the “Scar Sentinels” – as they are believed to be watch/guard towers of some sort. Whatever their function, they serve no purpose other than a source of rumors for thousands of years – perhaps part of the source for those who seek adventure in Scar Flow and are never heard from again.
You stand before a metal and stone wreckage. It was once shiny, reflective even but now it is smashed, covered in scorch marks and tarnished about 8m high. Disasters and weathering for a thousand years or more have worn away any traces of origin. There are no symbols or writing of any kind on it. There may have been a small hatch, but the whole thing collapsed on itself and now appears nothing more than a foolhardy venture. Anything of value would have been pillaged long ago.
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Scattered around the central high peaks of Scar Flow (The Westmarch of Dunstrand Vale before it sank) are the ruins of strange metal encased watch towers. It is unknown how many are there in total, but given that the peak tops are mostly permanently shrouded in fog and mist, these relics of an ancient time are almost never seen any more. What few records that exist dub them the “Scar Sentinels” – as they are believed to be watch/guard towers of some sort. Whatever their function, they serve no purpose other than a source of rumors for thousands of years – perhaps part of the source for those who seek adventure in Scar Flow and are never heard from again.
They seem to be inoperable and unoccupied and are rarely encountered as part of Encounters in Scar Flow.
Capping many of the peaks of the sunken West March, these security devices were both a sensor and weapon. At one point, there were 32 of them. They and their creatures are known only to the dwellers in the peaks, outsiders almost never see them and they are nearly invulnerable.
The following information is only accessible through Druunad sources…
Scanning the skies, they were constantly messaging the Primary Security Protocol computer of the Red Oracle complex. The skies above the Westmarch were kept clear, though they attracted the notice of the Storm Giants. The giants battled the automated defenses for years. Over half were destroyed by the giants, they in turn claiming the peaks cleared of their operation at the cost of dozens. After Westmarch sank and Scar Flow took its place, the remaining peaks were settled by the Syphim, flying elves that took advantage of the reputation to keep outsiders at bay for a thousand years or more. Now, only a few remote drones, flying known patterns and easily avoided, are still seen.
Defenses: These are metal cones that rotate on a metal base. They are albedo reflective, and have a heavily scuffed coat of stealth covering to prevent visual detection. There is a code locked small hatch in each, and a two-chamber airlock type system that allows drones to be released without exposing the inner drone bay. Now they are all overgrown. Some are even ruins, blasted by lightning and rocks hurled by Storm Giants. Those not ruined in this way have had almost all their functions destroyed over time after the sinking of Westmarch and subsequent natural disasters and weather. A few still have power, and fly ever dwindling drone missions, but their primary defenses are inactive.
These remote locations are powered by a long term local fusion power plant. They send information, but are not directly attached to any larger facility and are self contained and can operate independently – manned or unmanned.
Protective Field: Almost all of these sites have a secondary power source. It is tied to machines that are the source of the Flight/Air, Mystical, and Divination environmental encounters of The Dwindor “Haze” in Dwindor Swamp and Scar Flow – the magic of Dwindor makes them worse.
Posted on April 18, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Eir Rudn is the ruins of the Starport of the Druunad, located in the ancient place of a vast open plain (Ei-Nadh) of Westmarch of the Dunstrand Vale. It is buried deep underwater when the Westmarch fell and became Scar Flow. It is sealed off, and contains the last of their remaining fleet of about a dozen star ships. It is unknown to any but the Druunad elders, and kept hidden by Awakened Spiritus Helca itself. Although the sinking of Westmarch and countless earthquakes and surface events have ruined much of the base, it remains sealed. A few of its automated guardians and security measures continue to operate.
Note: Secret Knowledge is information not available in any known references; It is not necessarily Forbidden Knowledge.
Instructions for activating the Star Port and ships are stored within a sacred tablet, an earth elemental in the place of the Red Oracle.
Posted on April 18, 2024 in Steel-Realms
There are many places that seem to offer shelter along the coast of the Stormfront Fastness. Just off the shore is another ridge line though, barely seen beneath the waves – the Stormteeth. These have wrecked many a ship. The ‘teeth’ were instrumental in bringin the Dread of Vesicant to an end.
Posted on April 18, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The Iron Bottom Hunters are a progressively more armored hull naval ship of Umbak. It is a product of the Automata Brigade of Virtue and Reason. These were made to hunt war ships in ancient times. They were large and heavy, not useful for anything except war. They were meant to survive a battering ram strike or the rocks off a coast. They almost never sank, and when they did it was rapid, dooming most of the crew. They are prohibitively expensive to build and have assistance propelling them from mystical means. They are few in number now, being expensive to maintain.
The first made, the “Silver Eventide”, has the distinction of slaying the crew of The Greentooth at the end of the Dread of Vesicant.
Posted on April 18, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The The Dread of Vesicant was a long ago time when a self styled dragon ‘Queen of Pirates’ ruled the southern waters around Waerl Bay. She challenged the Sea-Kings of ancient times, and broke the elvish navy – which was never to rebuild again. She was finally brought low by a band of adventures that included Selthar ‘The Equilizing’ and Darius Barlogue.
When Vesicant died, the pirate captain Corvind Blacksand and his ship of Vesicant’s fleet -The Green Tooth – was hunted down. He ventured into the Stormfront Fastness shoreline, where the Stormteeth wrecked many a ship, while fleeing Umbakian navy ships. He ran aground and was ambushed, while his crew was trying to pull the ship off the rocks with chains. It was the first Iron Bottom Hunter of Umbak that withstood the “teeth” of the shores, and came ashore to surprise and slaughter the crew.