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Category: Steel-Realms
Ba-shin-draey (Faerie Realm of Rhyl)
Posted on August 24, 2026 in Steel-Realms
The land of Ba-shin-draey (sometimes known as the “Faerie Edgelands” to outsiders”) in the Southern Edgelands of the Forest of Rhyl is home to the faerie Smallfolk. The center of faerie Smallfolk power in the territory is the Handroot Ellosarr. It is the remainder of the ancient faerie realm of Ashtenai.
Although there are plenty of rumors and the druids & Ostravelaugh elves repeatedly have warned away outsiders from an area 5x its size, explorers and settlers have sought to make inroads here. It has been a constant struggle to not excavate to violence with the faerie folk known to live here, and their magic tends to keep away those who persist through non violent means. The official forces of The Grand Duchy of Rhylan in the South Reedland Stretch have no control over this region.
- The area is currently associated with the Ablocris Edgelands of Rhyl due to the strange happenings that seem to end in this area and go no further into the forest of Rhyl.
The elves of Ostravelaugh Weald are closest to the Handroot Ellosarr of the Faerie Smallfolk in the Ablocris Edgelands of Rhyl and serves as a protector to it, sharing the same animal protector spirit with it. Though the distance is far, there is constant and near instant communication in times of emergency between the two folk.
This territory is known to the faerie folk ‘the land of nodding trees’; The trees here, unlike others in the Southern Edgelands of Rhyl are quiet (nodding off/sleeping) – unlike the the noisy and quick growing trees that are re-populating the edgelands currently.
Site Aspects/Features
Rejuvenated Land: These once over-logged Southern Edgelands of the Forest of Rhyl are covered by new growth trees now. More than a mile into the edge of the Forest where these lands are, the Flora and fauna are super robust and resilient. The Time of the Cold Moon has no effect here. These lands were completely reinvigorated early in the process and have grown at an accelerated rate here since around CY 8500 under the effects of The Odyssey of Elancil’s Wound
Encounters & Dangers in the Area
None of the usual Encounters in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl will take place here. Outsiders cannot see it or understand it, but the Flames of Manat from Hatusha can be seen by faerie folk, and can be drawn on for some measure of protection.
Basic Experience
When outsiders – non-faerie folk – cross into these lands, there are visible signs that they have entered into a place where the normal forest ends.
Elfin (faerie smallfolk)
Posted on August 24, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Like most of the The Smallfolk of Faerie in The Realms the Elfin faerie of the Steel Realms have retreated from the world. Too small to be as sturdy as full elves and stand up to other larger humanoids, too small to fit in the rest of the faerie smallfolk, the last vestiges of the Elfin clans can be found in the north only. The Great Forest of Rhyl, isolated pockets of The Wyldes, and the Hinterlands. They are VERY hardy and adaptable, but too large to be overlooked by larger predators.
Origins: The Elfin are not naturally occurring on Helca. On Helca, the modified Laey Lines and corrupted Aelfpaths from Monarch’s Crystals have changed the DNA of some faerie smallfolk and the Elfin appeared thousands of years before the Blood of Saemon appeared.
Skelosian Ink in the Steel Realms
Posted on August 10, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Skelosian Ink is a mystery in the Steel Realms. The legend of Skelos – The Eternal Scholar is mention anecdotally in a multitude of volumes, but there is no definitive work known. No one knows where the scrolls or tomes written in the ink come from, but they continue to be found, read, and saved for others to try and unravel their mystery and make them permanent. It is said that there are secret scholars of Delleth that inscribe information in this way. Sometimes, this ink is confused with Baighent’s Ink by the uninitiated.
The Scrolls of Skelos:
Legend: It is said that there are the blind scholars that work under the tutelage of Witch-Seers of Volgadas to create works using Skelosian Ink. They work upon the dreams of those in orbit of the seers, and extract knowledge and inscribe it on scrolls mostly – the Scrolls of Skelos.
Legend: The Scrolls of Skelos in the realms, written with Skelosian Ink, serve their purpose (whatever that may be), but also act as decoys for agents of the Olde Ones – ancient powers seeking to plunge Helca into chaos and madness.
By virtue of recorded findings, it seems like the amount of Skelosian Ink writings has been reduced since Proclamation Against Sorcery in the Steel Realms, possibly showing a link between the practice of one and the other.
Skelosian Ink-Makers: It is also said that schools of Necromancy in the Noble East have a means of creating and writing using Skelosian Ink, using dark rituals. This is true of House Narcosa in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl. Though only a select few of the masters can do this and know its secrets and it is not known for sure, outside the order itself.
Diabolic Works: The works of Rastillions Diabolique try dark and thematic elements bordering on madness and the grotesque; All provide occult or divine insights to those who are willing to push the limits of the unknown and their understanding of what is reality. Many of the works, at least the partial ones, are inscribed with Skelosian Ink or something akin to it.
Obsessive Records Keepers (Umbak)
Posted on August 9, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Obsessive Records Keepers is part of Umbakian Culture. The Umbakian genealogies are detailed down to minute detail, including 2nd and 3rd cousins, details of common dress and personalized heraldry. All of Urban Planning and Architecture in Umbak done by the Umbak are Obsessively Documented from searching, surveying, and all stages of construction and maintenance.
Record keeping and storing protocols generally follow The Winding Wind methods.
Book of the Withered God (Rastilion’s Minorus)
Posted on August 8, 2026 in Steel-Realms
The Book of the Withered God is part of Rastillions Diabolique, the Malificent Minorus set of works. This work is said to be able to infuse something dying or dead with life again. Anecdotes say the original work included an accompanying book of visual sigils and scenes that empower the rituals and ceremonies within it.
Its is not recorded if ALL of its component parts have ever been assembled in one place.It appears that its nature is to destroy itself and rebuild itself, though not under the same name. Its force is enigmatic,,, but,,,
What is Commonly Ascribed to the Material(s)
Attributed Author: It is believed that there is not a single author attributed to the work, especially when so many witness accounts exist of its powers in use under different name.
Initial Appearance: The main ‘book’ associated with the work, as an earliest reference, has a description of a wood bound book with a ‘green man’ face carved into the cover. Given the nature of the work and its understood effect upon the work and reader itself, there may not be a consistent description to be relied on.
Item Origins/Purpose: Its recorded general power mark it as something with necromantic origins. It has been cited by priests, druids, and Magi anecdotally and seems to span the various mystical fields of life and the cycle to death and rebirth.
SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE: Reference works and basic exposure alone may only provide the foundation for gaining a [mechanics based] advantage. To reflect the practice and experience to gain that benefit consistently, typically requires a cost in Character Points.
Chronicle/Facts of the Item
Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability & Meticulous Record Keeping may improve usability; Any attempt to know more than what's Pervasive will require a reference, source, knowledge, check, or access to someone who can get or provide either of these. Specific Lores may increase the chance of knowing specific elements.
Trivial Outcome / Very Easy Difficulty & Pervasive Knowledge
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Rumors About the Item
- The book appears different to every reader.
- The book drains the life force of the reader as they read it.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Classification: The mentions of it collected in its history are not enough to classify it as pure evil, but it was long ago by scholars and thus it has stayed.
Multiple Names: The tome has several descriptions, it is known by the names of Tombre Letherge, The Spring Wind Recluse, Menothere’s Journal and several more.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
Regardless of name, the work is ‘found’ seemingly by those who will be susceptible to its influence. It breaks down the will of the reader, and turns them into a vehicle for the evil the tome is capable of wreaking.
Regardless of its origins, chaos is what ensues when its power is pursued and manifested – destruction and sorrow matching the stature of the reader. The disruption of the natural order has a price the enactor must be willing to pay.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
When reading, the text decays and reorganizes into a language the reader understands. From there it is a tale of life, loss and regrowth – the variations are too many to be cataloged – but one which will appeal to the reader.
The reader begins to read aloud, and over and over.
The repetition eventually becomes a chant and a ritual is dynamically made from the several detailed in the work. It IS a ritual of regrowth and will have some effect that reinforces the reader’s belief.
When the Book of the Withered God is consumed to be born again, it spawns a horrific malevolent creature in the ground that waits to feed on the next creature that disturbs it – the Withered God’s Withered Child.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Inspiration/Origins: The entity behind this work is unknown. It is surmised by some to be a multitude of dark powers, or an evil god, or a dead god’s spirit that seeks to once again come into the flesh and mind of a follower – but they are driven mad in the process.
When the Withered God’s Withered Child dies, the Crawling Claw of the Withered God is the last vestige that will attempt to spread its Blight. The Crawling Claw of the Withered God is the will of the Book of the Withered God made manifest.
While not believed to be the originator or power behind what is bound to the work, the entity Yog Thuul is believed to send their followers searching for copies of the Book of the Withered God according to the Chronicle of Yog-Thuul on Helca. These followers leave it to be found in places to create chaos. The followers that survive carrying the work to place it are believed to gain a small bit of sorcerous power; Others succumb to its draw and fall into madness – either way strengthening Yog-Thuuls power or reputation. The cult of Yog-Thuul though seems to destroy itself whenever it achieves any power in a locale this way. The plans often consume themselves due to the chaos the cult and the evil work spreads.