Tag: loc-mont-prot
‘The Concern of Montwold’ (Rhyl/North Pines)
Posted on April 8, 2026 in Steel-Realms
‘The Concern of Montwold‘ is a condition that the Halflings of the Montwold Pass Protectorate seemingly embrace. The folk here are more suspicious, less whimsical & gregarious (even seemingly worrisome or aggrieved at times) than their kin elsewhere. They are community minded, but more on a local level, not societal. Physically, they are no different than others of their kind, except what seems like a permanent furrow from worry on their foreheads; While no one knows for sure, it is believed that some deep seated worry is the root of this.
Chronicle/Facts of the Effect
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.
Most of the Halfling folk that make it to being adult are aware of most of these. They do not complain or talk in public about it though – for fear of giving any of them more power.
Rumors About the Source of the ‘Concern’
- Hostages are being held by Criminal Presence in Rhyl to secure passage through the region.
- They are afflicted with a curse from the ancient Plague of Hags.
- They are bullied by giants from the north.
- They sacrifice to some dark entity.
- They control a hidden smuggling route under the mountains to the Hinterlands used by the Tea Lodges of Rhyl.
- A secret society among them has imprisoned an ancient evil as their sacred charge.
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.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
The Sources of the ‘Concern of Montwold’
‘The Concern of Montwold‘ has multiple facets.
- The first is the strange influence of suspicion and fear that emanates from presence of the Witch-Harriers of Montwold that are trained in secret in the protectorate.
- The second (and biggest) is the burden of protecting the Druunad colony of Garbon-Hayed.
- Halflings with this condition gain Advantage on any check to resist divulging its existence.
- The third is the constant attempts by the criminal elements of The Salamanders Guild and their allies of to exert more control over the hidden Reifling Passage and the trade that flows through it.
Places in the Montwold Pass Protectorate
Posted on April 8, 2026
There are many unique Places in the Montwold Pass Protectorate… There is no central ruler or model of governorship in Halfling Leadership.
Elerai’s Spike (Montwold/Rhyl)
Posted on April 8, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Elerai’s Spike is a massive escarpment about 500 feet up from the base of the hills next to a small waterfall (Elerai’s Drop). The escarpment runs a full mile to the east. From the west edge, the East Weigolar hill fort of the ‘Eyes of Weigolar‘ can barely be seen.
The two small Halfling villages of Butterpool and Climbers Rest in small hill valleys are within a half mile of the enigmatic Elerai’s Spike.
Rulership/Governance: None {Integrity ?}
- Recognized Administrative Center/Seat of Power: None
- Primary Settlement Upbringing Experience: Rural
Population: Mix of scattered halfling subsistence farmers
> Note: There is no official census provided.
Cultural Overview & References for the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Elerai’s Drop (Waterfall)
This waterfall is a steady though not great flow that mostly becomes mist before it pools at the base and runs off as a stream further down the hills to the plain below.
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.
Kroith Passage (Montwold Pass Protectorate)
Posted on April 8, 2026 in Steel-Realms
The Kroith Passage is a east-west passage between the territory of North Pines and the Altain Mountain Range that leads through the Montwold Pass Protectorate to eventually go south and open into the The Grand Duchy of Rhyl.
Kroith Road: The Kroith Road winds its was along flat patches east-west not far from the base of the Altain Mountains. There are enough patrols and stop over points to make it safe for Travelers throughout the year.
Rulership/Governance: Halfling Leadership has no centralized government or formal “fiefs” and does not use peerage titles. When they need to, they send a hetman or mayor to any gatherings that affect all in the community. Humans live among the Halflings, but positions of leadership are all of the small-folk. This makes diplomatic relations difficult at best, and thankfully their good nature offsets the confusion and disorganization.
> Administrative Center (“Capital”): While there is no capital, Willfordshire serves as a gathering place – especially when meeting with outsiders is necessary.
Population: Halflings and Humans
The Altain Corridor: Kroith Passage was once the gateway between North Pines and the Grand Duchy of Rhyl and the Altair Pass to the west that granted access to the western Freelands of the North of the Northern Heartlands.
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.
Defenses of Kulim’s Expanse
Posted on October 31, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Defenses of Kulim’s Expanse covers the coordinated defenses by the Kalurians for Kulim’s Expanse. They typically use a lance and the Thunder Bow. The Kalurian armaments and tactics vary from place to place depending on terrain and environment, but there are some well known militant groups that operate within North Pines in general and consider the entire territory as a place in which they decide what it is best for defense.
At one time the Duke of Rhyl protects them in return they serve as an elite force guarding and patrolling the north approaches to Rhyl.