Tag: dwarf
Vegas Deep (ruined dwarven mine)
Posted on September 21, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Vegas Deep is a place in the mountains of The Giants Steps where dwarves once mined mithiril – the only place they ever found it outside of Ynth. Vegas Deep was abandoned when activities here affected The Glimmerglen not far away. The village of Vegas Shallows is at the top. The dwarves have long abandoned this as a primary settlement, but a small village mines a small copper mine vein near the surface.
Rulership/Governance: {Integrity ****} Hetman
- Recognized Administrative Center/Seat of Power: Vegas Shallows (village)
Population: Approx. 440 dwarves in the village of Vegas Shallows.
> Note: There is no official census provided.
Encounters & Dangers in the Area
See Encounters in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl for common potential scenarios of notable events and creatures.
- Normal Settlement Encounters > Patrols | Recruiting | Sellers | Begging | Crime
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.
Rhyl General Events
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 The Grand Duchy of Rhyl.
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 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.
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 7007 The area of North Gate Garrison freed & The Red March created; Money, supplies, and manpower flow into the north to fight the Lich Lords.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
It is said to have been the deepest mine the dwarves themselves has ever made in the north.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
It is unknown why there is no evidence that the Ducateon never tried to mine here.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Stellan of the Dust
Stellan of the Dust was a wizard that was seeking to become a lich. He sought lichdom to delve deep into and exploit the ancient mine of Vegas Deep, where once they mined mithril. He was attacked by a group of priests, wizards and druids of Rhyl, and killed after a multi day battle in the hills of the The Giants Steps. His talisman was left on the field and though his body was crushed into oblivion, its spirit haunted the talisman and the talisman was found by Warren Marto over a hundred years later.Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Warren Marto
Warren Marto became a powerful warlock with the talisman of Stellan of the Dust and gathered unto himself forces of Nurth, Orrish, disaffected mercenaries and criminals. He sacked scareths Hall in _. His army was harried and it broke up. Most of the treasure was recovered, but some items never were. The body of Warren and the smashed talisman was cast into a great fire are The druids of Gaia. It released Spirit that turned many into lycanthropes as a final plague before being destroyed forever.Ruhn-Aahn (Ducateon Holt ruins)
Posted on July 30, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Ruhn-Aahn is the Ducateon settlement in the Altain Mountains of the north that built the machines and helped defend Balient’s Breach. It was built in the west side of the breach, into the wall. This was once a thriving holt, trading in silver and coal. After The Sundering in CY 5000, it was never heard from again; all the upper grounds and entrances were collapsed. Only a handful survived. The Ducateon collapsed its depths, keeping the Outholt for the dwarves to take over. The only thing keeping it worth their while was the continued silver mining. The limits and stipulations for Historical Designation and Exploration in the Steel Realms are well documented.
< Balient’s Breach was more dangerous and expensive than Altair Pass, but was an alternative until the Grand Barony fell and the pass became a wasteland and impossible due to the evil spirits that refused to rest – hostile to Lich Lord minion and the living alike.
Dwarven Enclave of Ruhn-Aahn
The dwarves officially took over in CY 5094 as the Dwarven Enclave of Ruhn-Aahn. They agreed to be allies of the Grand Duchy of Rhyl in CY 5219, though maintain a agreed upon level of autonomy. They keep in close contact with their brethren in the dwarven enclave of Sun Stone Top.
Hurda Cheq (dwarven town/mine, Rhyl)
Posted on July 29, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The dwarven Settlement of Hurda Cheq on Sun Stone Top is both home and a working mine of the same name. There are small high valley fields with wild grains and mountain flowers planted and raised by the elves to be hardier (they bring fresh seeds every decade or so), in exchange for stone work done by the dwarves. The dwarves have found springs and created a series of cisterns and gates to keep the fields watered with even temperature water even in the coldest months. The town is not large, and almost everyone works in the mine industry.
The War Torches of Sun Stone Top are made by the dwarves in the enclave of Sun Stone Top (in Hurda Cheq) in the The Grand Duchy of Rhyl.
This locale trains characters in the practice of the Rhylian Undead Hunters.
The primary mining done nearby is iron, coal, and unique to the area high mountain sapphires. They employ and trade with the hill folk of Flat Peak Ridge.
This town represents the northern boundary of the dwarven Sun Stone Top enclave.
Initial Description:
This is…
Greater Sovereignty: {part of larger territory?}
Type: {type} (see Settlement Planning and Design in The Realms)
Governance: {model} (see Titles and Honors of The Realms)
Population: {total perm} / Transient:
Demographics:
Groups/Factions:
Primary Hospitality/Accommodations:
- {place} > Housing (long or short)/Entertainment (type)
Commerce: {commerce} (see Trade Organizations/Institutions of the Realms)
Barents Burning Harvest Trade Pipeline: Barents Burning Harvest is done by dwarves of Hurda Cheq & Mrallin Cheq on Sun Stone Top. They are sold in both places, though in alternating years.
Institutions: (see institutions of The Realms)
- {inst-name} > Primary Services Secondary Services
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:
Encounters & Dangers in the Area
See Encounters in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl for common potential scenarios of notable events and creatures.
- Normal Settlement Encounters > Patrols | Recruiting | Sellers | Begging | Crime
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.
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.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
CY 9185, Months 2-5 Corpsefire Days: Corpses in the The Winter Host of the Lich Lord’s appear on the battlefields in the Dark Lands, Kaald, and remote eastern edges of The Grand Duchy of Rhyl; They are quickly consumed by their own instability or used as shock troops before they suffered dissolution. It is thought they were affected by the Blood Sky over The North.
Mrallin Cheq (dwarven town/mine, Rhyl)
Posted on July 29, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The dwarven Settlement of Mrallin Cheq on Sun Stone Top is both home and a working mine of the same name. There are small high valley fields with wild grains and mountain flowers planted and raised by the elves to be hardier (they bring fresh seeds every decade or so), in exchange for stone work done by the dwarves. The dwarves have found springs and created a series of cisterns and gates to keep the fields watered with even temperature water even in the coldest months. The town is not large, and almost everyone works in the mine or smithing industries.
The primary mining done nearby is iron, coal, and high mountain topaz unique to the area. They employ and trade with the hill folk of Flat Peak Ridge. They have a unique relationship with the House of Mannachaim there.
This town represents the southern boundary of the dwarven Sun Stone Top enclave.
Initial Description:
This is…
Greater Sovereignty: {part of larger territory?}
Type: {type} (see Settlement Planning and Design in The Realms)
Governance: Mayor (see Titles and Honors of The Realms)
Population: 11,800 / Transient: 1,000
Demographics:
Groups/Factions:
Primary Hospitality/Accommodations:
- {place} > Housing (long or short)/Entertainment (type)
Commerce: {commerce} (see Trade Organizations/Institutions of the Realms)
Barents Burning Harvest Trade Pipeline: Barents Burning Harvest is done by dwarves of Hurda Cheq & Mrallin Cheq on Sun Stone Top. They are sold in both places, though in alternating years.
Institutions: (see institutions of The Realms) There are multiple smiths that follow the standard Crafting and Trades & Smithing Culture practices. Folk come a long way to have “Mrallin Styled” weapons.
- {inst-name} > Primary Services Secondary Services
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:
Encounters & Dangers in the Area
See Encounters in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl for common potential scenarios of notable events and creatures.
- Normal Settlement Encounters > Patrols | Recruiting | Sellers | Begging | Crime
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.
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.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
CY 9185, Months 2-5 Corpsefire Days: Corpses in the The Winter Host of the Lich Lord’s appear on the battlefields in the Dark Lands, Kaald, and remote eastern edges of The Grand Duchy of Rhyl; They are quickly consumed by their own instability or used as shock troops before they suffered dissolution. It is thought they were affected by the Blood Sky over The North. They attacked here.
Sun Stone Top (dwarven enclave; Rhyl)
Posted on July 29, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The dwarven enclave of Sun Stone Top sits high up in the peaks of the Tolkisson Mountain Range on the border of The Grand Duchy of Rhyl and the Fallen Kingdom of Dundaria – now Lichrya – home of the Lich Lords. A few settlements are centered on a collapsed Ducateon mine of Kar-Kadurr and old fallen Ducateon fortress of the Holt of Bromek-Mar. They maintain close contact with their brethren in the Dwarven Enclave of Ruhn-Aahn. The area was the site of many battles between the Ducateon folk and the invading Lich Lords.
Rulership/Governance: {Integrity ****}
- Recognized Administrative Center/Seat of Power:
- Primary Settlement Upbringing Experience: All
Population: Dwarves, Human
Cultural Overview & References for the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Prevailing Weather in the area: Misty, Foggy and clear in the summer.
Defense of the Region
Eventually the Ducateon built the Rhenclaves of The Hornguard of Rhyl (now tended by dwarves) and moved out of the area. The hearty dwarves moved in, along with some independent and hearty hillfolk of the Pine Tribes on Flat peak Ridge. The dwarves and Hornguard have taken on the first line of defense in the region and are given a tax reduction dispensation by the Duke of Rhyl and the Count of Dunaine for their work. The World Watchers know it as a place where they can rest as well. They work closely with the elves of Three Blades of Ceith Grebatain.
- Sun Stone Top will have about a dozen of the followers of The Suddahk scouting remotely outside the community at any given time.
Elven Friendship: They coordinate with the elves manning their watch towers in Shoulder to warn of any underground threats or creatures making it past their lines from The Valley of Sighs, The Dark Lands, or the Fallen Kingdom of Dundaria. They NEVER take wood from North Vinewood Forest. They only take from their own managed Highspear Grove and the edges of the South Vinewood Forest in the lands near Ten Stacks, where the woodland is managed using Elven ways by the half elf locals for their brick ovens in collaboration with the inhabitants of the Weald.
Chronicle 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
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
The area around Sun Stone Top was originally cleared out in support of the Picket Keep.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
CY 9185, Months 2-5 Corpsefire Days: Corpses in the The Winter Host of the Lich Lord’s appear on the battlefields in the Dark Lands, Kaald, and remote eastern edges of The Grand Duchy of Rhyl; They are quickly consumed by their own instability or used as shock troops before they suffered dissolution. It is thought they were affected by the Blood Sky over The North. They attacked here.