Tag: adv-idea
The Lodge of the Songbird (Heralds Hall of Rhyl)
Posted on September 15, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Lodge of the Songbird is the ‘Heralds Hall’ of the Duke of Rhyl and the primary Bard & Herald Archetype order of the north. It is located in the City of Rhylan of the Grand Duchy of Rhyl. It is a center of knowledge and training for the Heraldic Boreal Tradition. World Watchers are welcome here, as are any who wish to study Lores of the Steel Realms. A record of all members exists in the ducal sponsored Lodge of the Songbird, in Rhylan. There are also bardic supplies and facilities here.
A duplicate of all the heraldry, lineages and rulership of the northern heartlands has been collected and stored here for training. Most are duplicated in the Deepstone Archive of Rhylan and the Libraries of Port Towne. The traditional Law and Legal Procedures in Rhyl, Laws and Codes of the Realms, and the Freelander Way are studied by the Heralds of the lodge. Lute, harps, and guitars made with the “acoustic bronze” elements from Inderood Brozeworks and silver strings for bards in the Lodge of the Songbird from the Heraldic Boreal Tradition.
Initial Description: The Lodge of the Songbird is a large structure of white limestone, painted white and green to reflect the heraldry of the Duke of Rhyl. It contains a central college of scribes and scriveners, a dormitory (that could hold two hundred or more & supportive facilities), a library, a workshop for music and art, a visitors wing, a scholars workshop and a large arch dedicated to the 2 pillars of knowledge venerated here – Delleth and Ezrilus.
Cultural Overview & References for the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Heraldry/Symbol: The boreal chickadee (songbird of the North) with a sealed letter in its grip, half sun on the left, half moon on the right – symbolizes they operate at all times.
Greater Sovereignty: Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Type: Campus (see Settlement Planning and Design in The Realms)
Governance: Internal, Distinct – “High Boreal Heraldsmein” Annetia Ivistus (see Titles and Honors of The Realms)
Population: 300 / Transient: 100
Demographics: 90% human, visitors of all races and creeds.
Laws and Protocols of Note: Heraldic Protocols + standard Laws and Codes of the Realms
Groups/Factions: Bards, Scholars and Heralds; Although distinct in their roles and functions, these groups collaborate to ensure operations and functions are handled efficiently and with the reputation of the lodge at the forefront.
Primary Hospitality/Accommodations: Visitors quarters are spacious and lavish by most accounts. Even the dormitory is decorated with local art and heavily stylized.
- Dormitory > Housing (long term)/Entertainment (arts & crafts)
- Visitors Quarters > Housing (long or short)/Entertainment (arts & crafts, intimacy)
Commerce: Research, Scribe & Scrivening, Entertainment (music, art, dance) (see Trade Organizations/Institutions of the Realms)
Institutions: (see institutions of The Realms)
This Locale has a Office of the Herald representing the local Lord/Lady.
- This location as a Autumnleaf Ale Houses.
- Shrine of Delleth > Primary Services Secondary Services
- Shrine of Ezrilus > Primary Services Secondary Services
+ Hartwood Presence: This location leans heavily to the Wyld Faith, and has the presence of both Rhylian Briarwood and Rhylian Beastwood.
Founding: {approximate year/age and culture of origin}
Primary Surrounding Habitat and Weather:
Roads, Streets, & Thoroughfares:
- Waste: Runs/Bins > Collection | Minor Sewers or Major Sewers
Defenses: {defensive works, fortifications, garrisons, holdouts}
- Police/Watch: | Officers:
- Constables & Detectives:
- Elite Tactical Forces: | Officers:
- Militia/Volunteers: | Officers: > War Time Only?
- Military:
Heraldic Halls in Rhyl
- Ceith East (“Blade” of Ceith Grebatain)
- Ceith North (“Blade” of Ceith Grebatain)
- Ceith South (“Blade” of Ceith Grebatain)
- City of Correl (Capital of Meargensdale; Rhyl)
- City of Fortun (Rhyl)
- City of Rhylan (capital of the Grand Duchy of Rhyl)
- City of Sheffet (capital of Kopriane; Rhyl)
- City of Thunderfall (Rhyl)
- City of Twin Springs (Rhyl)
- Pine Sap Meadow (North Pines)
- Terrent’s Redoubt (Hornguard Headquarters)
- The Lodge of the Songbird (Heralds Hall of Rhyl)
Heralds in Rhyl
- Admon-Duul (Heraldic Office of House Narcosa)
- Alestren, Peace Speaker of Aerna
- Aylee, Peace Speaker of Aerna
- Belinda, Ducal Herald of the West (of Rhyl)
- Celine, Ducal Herald of the Stars (of Rhyl)
- Deane, Ducal Herald of the East (of Rhyl)
- Eastern Har-Utehn (Herald of the Har Cunetha)
- Jelcol, Ducal Herald of the North (of Rhyl)
- Naila, Peace Speaker of Aerna
- Northern Har-Utehn (Herald of the Har Cunetha)
- Sandrain, Ducal Herald of the South (of Rhyl)
- Slidell, Peace Speaker of Aerna
- Southern Har-Utehn (Herald of the Har Cunetha)
- Vivendel, Peace Speaker of Aerna
Chronicle of the Locale
Historical Chronicle Information
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.
Establishment of the Grand Duchy of Rhyl, fiefdom of the Kingdom of Gladnor > CY 6514
Ties With the Heralds of Rhyl: The Ducal Lineage, the Ducal Guard, the speakers for the Elven Wealds of Rhyl, locals of the Territories and Fiefdoms of Rhyl know those near them, and all those trained and dwelling in the Lodge of the Songbird know the Heralds of Rhyl
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
The Transit of Western Fire is another way, though small, that The Grand Duchy of Rhyl maintains cultural connection to its ancient northern kin and political cooperation more so than other of the High King’s allies. Usually one of the Lodge of the Songbird, or person versed in Heraldic Boreal Tradition is present too. It is a great honor to be chosen for this.
Hothwillow’s Wound (Orrish redoubt?)
Posted on August 24, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Hothwillow’s Wound is a place in the Forest of Rhyl where the Orrish continue to attack from. It is somehow hidden from the druids and other divine powers. The hills and mountains of The Giants Steps that run through the western edge of the Forest of Rhyl are thought to be home to it.
Rulership/Governance: {Integrity ?} Unknown
- Recognized Administrative Center/Seat of Power: Unknown
- Primary Settlement Upbringing Experience: Unknown
Population: Unknown
> Note: There is no official census provided.
It is a continuing source of menace and fear, though it rarely Disgorges enough Orrish to necessitate an army. It has been sought many times, and never found.
It bears the name of the founder of Meargansdale Vale – Meargan Hothwillow, the High King’s Ranger who killed the Cloud Giant Krael Bolga in the nearby river’s headwaters.
It is thought it stays obscured through some magic of The Deeping and the shamans of the Formorian Giants.
Mushrooms of Rhyl
Posted on August 7, 2025 in Steel-Realms
One of the Notable Places and Geographical Features of the Grand Duchy of Rhyl are the Mushrooms of Rhyl. The many forests and moist environments as well as the Wylden quality have made it famous for its mushrooms.
Mushroom Farms: There are MANY mushroom farms around the forest that are shared resources for the Council of Rhylan.
Mushroom Sustenance: The myriad of mushrooms is a major source of protein and grown and harvested in both domesticated areas and protected wild ones.
The power of Rhyl’s natural bounty and Wylden many times creates faerie rings in the forest, and causes strange and powerful mushrooms to grow naturally in certain areas. The mystic effects of the rarer ‘blooms’ naturally draws strange and wondrous defenders. Whispers of strange mushrooms, like Fremlie Fold of elven origins, are rife throughout the north. Despite repeated attempts, the Criminal Presence in Rhyl has never been able to restrict access to or control the Mushrooms of Rhyl.
Pink Pantry Mushroom
Castigan’s Cap Mushroom
Bonnet Cap Mix
The forests have several minor anima fonts and powerful Laey Lines. Some of the mushrooms that grow in Rhyl are a direct result of this. These mushrooms are capable of being mixed into a solution that can be used as Spell Components to increase the potency of a spell. They must be mixed in a specific ratio, this mix is referred to as the “Bonnet Cap” of Rhyl.
Wyld Constraints: Repeated efforts to domesticate these by Quizmans Magisterium in Rhyl have failed. In fact, concerted attempts to organize harvesting in the wild have failed due to the influence of Wylden. Something about Rhyl’s strong attachment to the Laey prevents anything but individual foraging from evert turning up more than Dryad’s Fireknot.
- Dryad’s Fireknot: Constricts the throat, burns, useful for nothing for humanoids
- Weeping Faerie: Flavorful, tastes like garlic and onion
- Polyphore Bonnet: Large and highly nutritious
i20™ Bonnet Cap Details
Requires Botany DC 16 check
Foraging
Casual = +5 to DC.
- Dryad’s Fireknot DC 15 to find 1-3
- Weeping Faerie ; DC 20 to find 1-2
- Polyphore Bonnet; DC 25 to find 1
iCore™ Bonnet Cap Details
Pages on the web site lean towards i20™ text flavor, discrepancies will be noted in the iCore™ tab.
Candy Cap Mushroom
The Candy Cap Mushroom Trade Pipeline: The Greykin Hill People have handled the Candy Cap Mushroom Harvest the Candy Cap Mushrooms of Rhyl. It is a sweet mushroom that only grows in their areas of The Bromarre Stretch with their techniques, and it makes the meat of the huge cave millipedes sweet from consuming it. They trade the millipedes with the The Kemethian Fisherfolk who in turn prepare and sell it to others in the Barony and county as a well known delicacy. Even more rare is the trade in the mushroom themselves – 100 grams goes for 100sc.
Chronicle/Facts of The Mushrooms
Item Powers (common and Attuned) can be found under Common Knowledge tab.
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 Locale
Rhyl Formative Events
See the Herald's Quarterly for world updates.
Rhyl Formative Events
CY 7007 The area of North Gate Garrison freed & The Red March created; Money, supplies, armaments, and manpower flow into the north to fight the Lich Lords.
CY 6514 The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is created by the High King. In exchange for the resources and organization that can be brought to bear against the now organized undead armies, the lands become part of the High King's domain.
CY 6909 The Fall of the Grand Barony of Altair from a curse by the Lich Lords. The main passage of troops and supplies from the hinterlands and nfar north to the The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is sacked by an undead army led by a ghoul king.
CY 5980 The Kingdoms of old Rhylan united settled as a single Kingdom of Rhyl to fight the Lich Lords drive south. After centuries of warfare between territories and races, the common cause of the threat to the north secures a lasting peace.
> For 3000 years, the Kingdoms of old Rhylan was the primary form of Rulership in the territory of the current Grand Duchy.
CY 5580 Fall of Dundaria in the North - Frostfang spreads, the Lich Lord power rises. Hordes of the undead, fortunately disorganized (at first), sweep south and west from the heart of old Dundaria.
CY 2330's Fall of East / Rise of the Dark Lands (Orrishai Abandoned); Refugees flee - some cross the Tolkisson Mountain Range into the 'Lands of Rhylan' that would become the Kingdoms of old Rhylan and finally.
CY 1000 (Approximately) The Dragon of Rhyl is killed and its influence ends in the area around the Great Forest of Rhyl and the surrounding territories.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
The Smallfolk of Faerie in The Realms are attracted to these mushrooms.Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Though it is not well known and mostly forgotten, the Mushrooms of Rhyl in the Great Forest of Rhyl have a higher tendency to grow in the areas once Frost Melded; The Wylden of Rhyl somehow influences the areas of the Dragon of Rhyl’s breath was used – sites for hunting or fighting.
North Gate Garrison Locations and Areas
Posted on August 1, 2025 in Steel-Realms
North Gate Garrison Locations and Areas are many. It is a large area consisting of the length of the The Autumn Wall and everything on the west side of it. Territorially, the entire area is under the administration of The Grand Duchy of Rhyl in The Fortified city of Alstaad. The military presence is all managed by agents of the High King of the Steel Realms. It is not unusual to see some of Order of the Black Gorgon agents here. The Hoarblight is a terrifying death effect that targets places near and along The Autumn Wall and The Red March.
Most fortifications of the area have the Anvil of Mizras treatment.
These places are one of many that Commoners of the Steel Realms serve in as part of the Realms Levy to directly stand watch & fight in.
The Red March
Posted on August 1, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Red March is the pathway that leads through Grand Duchy of Rhyl to North Gate Garrison to fight the Lich Lords. A constant train of supplies and man power are coming and going along its length that mostly goes over the Bronzed-Edge Tableland. It supports the oaths for those that serve – All Must Serve Against the Undead – Those who take the Oath of the Day Watch and Rhylan the Living are part of a system in their region that determines who is sent to represent their home on The Autumn Wall. Halfling operators drive the constant passage of the supplies along the tracks of the Rails of The Red March.
Governance Martial law and necessary changes are obvious along the track of The Red March all the way to North Gate Garrison.
Lich Lord’s Wrath: As one of the Encounters in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl here, the Lich Lord’s Anger Manifest attempt to summon the terrifying death effect of the Hoarblight along and near the The Autumn Wall and The Red March.
Many arches along The Red March and at many places in North Gate Garrison are equipped with the keystone of Aerna’s Rhylan Reveal to detect undead.
Travel upon The Red March is grim, and few speak in raised voices. Far from silent, there is a constant bustle of groups no less than 30 moving to and fro, of shifting equipment & the rumbling of carts and wagons, orders being shouted, and… the groans of the wounded on the return. A haunted look on those returning, and trepidation and bravado on those headed north. Merchants, soldiers, patrols, knights & hopefuls seeking entry to a martial order, volunteers, and pilgrims fill the road. The most devout pilgrims all wear color coded bright head bands for quick identification by priests in dire need of the power to which they have dedicated themselves to. On the outside edges are the legendary “Red Rails” – if you are lucky, their swift movement can be witnessed… though it is a harbinger of dire need or dire consequences – depending on the direction of travel.
Prevailing Weather in Rhyl: The Lich Lords send cold blasts of hoarwind and frost.
The only area the Merchant City trading interests step lightly in is the Grand Duchy of Rhyl – the stability of the flow of goods and soldiers along The Red March is paramount.
Cultural Overview & References for the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Chronicle/Facts of the Locale
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.
The The Bread Barges of Soriano are technically sailcraft, not a barge. However, they are wide and stable, slow moving but ensure a continuous safe flow of the bread of The Wheat Fields of Elmond’s Shire and other smaller areas. These sail primarily to the City of Redmark at the start of The Red March – their ultimate destination to feed those fighting on The Autumn Wall.
Rumors About the Locale
Rhyl Formative Events
See the Herald's Quarterly for world updates.
Rhyl Formative Events
CY 7007 The area of North Gate Garrison freed & The Red March created; Money, supplies, armaments, and manpower flow into the north to fight the Lich Lords.
CY 6514 The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is created by the High King. In exchange for the resources and organization that can be brought to bear against the now organized undead armies, the lands become part of the High King's domain.
CY 6909 The Fall of the Grand Barony of Altair from a curse by the Lich Lords. The main passage of troops and supplies from the hinterlands and nfar north to the The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is sacked by an undead army led by a ghoul king.
CY 5980 The Kingdoms of old Rhylan united settled as a single Kingdom of Rhyl to fight the Lich Lords drive south. After centuries of warfare between territories and races, the common cause of the threat to the north secures a lasting peace.
> For 3000 years, the Kingdoms of old Rhylan was the primary form of Rulership in the territory of the current Grand Duchy.
CY 5580 Fall of Dundaria in the North - Frostfang spreads, the Lich Lord power rises. Hordes of the undead, fortunately disorganized (at first), sweep south and west from the heart of old Dundaria.
CY 2330's Fall of East / Rise of the Dark Lands (Orrishai Abandoned); Refugees flee - some cross the Tolkisson Mountain Range into the 'Lands of Rhylan' that would become the Kingdoms of old Rhylan and finally.
CY 1000 (Approximately) The Dragon of Rhyl is killed and its influence ends in the area around the Great Forest of Rhyl and the surrounding territories.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
It began as a series of forts.