Tag: loc-rhyl
Southdrop Tower (Rhyl)
Posted on April 2, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Southdrop Tower was built as a result of the War of Rundleman’s Revenge in CY 9041. It watches from the top of a valley that faces south, going down to the Beyne River a half mile away – one of the few places in the South Reedland Stretch that borders the Beyne River. Using this dip, it has a perfect view of almost all traffic on the mighty river. It has a commanding view to the west as well. The primary job of this tower is to light a beacon fire if any Enemy forces are seen on the river or on the land.
There is a small grain mill and some small farmsteads that surround it for support. These were destroyed in the War of Rundlemans Revenge in CY 9401 and all the inhabitants driven off. Back then it was known as just “Southdrop” hamlet.
Rulership/Governance: {Integrity ***} “Southdrop Commander” – a Lt. position
- Recognized Administrative Center/Seat of Power: The tower proper
- Crier Platform (announcements) – near civic hall, jail, and/or mayoral (equiv.) office; usually near market & gathering areas; Chartered policy, procedure, and laws posted here.
- Primary Settlement Upbringing Experience: Rural
Population: Approx. 120 in the surrounding area of human farmers; the garrison proper has at least 12 soldiers full time but can garrison 3x that.
Cultural Overview & References for the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
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.
Southdrop Tower was built as a result of the War of Rundleman’s Revenge in CY 9041. It watches from the top of a valley that faces south, going down to the Beyne River a half mile away. Using this dip, it has a perfect view of almost all traffic on the mighty river. It has a commanding view to the west as well. The primary job of this tower is to light a beacon fire if any Enemy forces are seen on the river or on the land.The tower is 30′ tall with 2 levels in that. A wooden scaffold goes up another 30′ like a crows nest. Given that its built on a 20 rise, it gives the tower a total of 80′.
Rumors About the Locale
- The beacon fires are magical.
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.
The beacon fires are blue for river forces, red for land. These are manned every hour of every day. The tower has devices with optics to be able to see far.
There is a underground level for storage. The tower hosts a few out buildings, chickens and goats and a few steer help to feed the inhabitants.
The tower can support a half dozen soldiers of the Ducal Guard. Double that in times of war.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
It was built on a spot where the Dragon of Rhyl once had a watch tower and had been smashed to rubble thousands of years ago.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
CAMPAIGN CHRONICLE >> The North Revealed is a Living World campaign set in The Northern Hearthlands/Grand Duchy of Rhyl of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms.
** The source of the following material is from this campaign. **
The tower goes 40 feet into the soil and rock. There was a complex under the dragon’s tower that had collapsed. It was not explored or dredged, but the rubble was used as an extra layer against sappers. It was in this that the old creek that vanishes into the ground a half mile away was found. It drains into the river, but all underground. This was re-used to provide a water source for the tower.
Letiy Mineit Lending House (Ten Stacks)
Posted on March 31, 2026
The Letiy Mineit Lending House in the town of Ten Stacks opened in CY 9130 serving only women for business opportunities and safety.
Cultural Overview & References for the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Chronicle/Facts of the Lodge
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.
This lodge was built in CY 9129 as a direct result of the activities that lead to Tea House Revival.
Rumors About the Locale
- Rumors say this is a hub of smuggling for the Tea House Lodges in Rhyl.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
A safe house is funded connected to the lending house, using its extended barracks of guards.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
A swaying a group of women connected to the Old Rhylian families – the “Old Rhylander Coalition” happens in CY 9130. In a meeting with political wives to turn them (and their husband’s) away from a particular course of a political power play their families are involved in. This power play could have de-stabilized the duchy; The leader of the (somewhat secret) Old Rhylander Coalition is talked out of pushing her husband and other nobles to influence their husbands in attempting a coup.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Krastivir’s Orblivat goes into a snow globe lamp in the Tea lodge of Sheffet the county of Dunaine. Here, meetings are held with the Old Rhylian families; The power “of two minds” is channeled in the “Old Rhylander Coalition” to influence their fulcrum on influence within the old noble families.Tea Lodge of Saltmarch
Posted on March 31, 2026 in Steel-Realms
The Tea Lodge of Saltmarch is part of the Tea Lodges of Rhyl tradition that has existed for thousands of years. This lodge was built in CY 9129 as a direct result of the activities that lead to Tea House Revival.
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 Tea Lodge of Saltmarch is part of the Tea Lodges of Rhyl tradition that has existed for thousands of years. This lodge was built in CY 9129 as a direct result of the activities that lead to Tea House Revival.
Rumors About the Locale
- Rumors say this is a hub of smuggling for the Tea House Lodges in Rhyl.
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.
The tea lodge tradition here oversees the only operation of actual vessels by the lodge houses on Lake Caolite.
Moonrise of the Greenwood Knot
Posted on March 31, 2026 in Steel-Realms
The Moonrise of the Greenwood Knot was an Event in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl that saw a resurgence in the interest and power of the Greenwood Knot Order of Darupet in Rhyl. On a night of a full moon, the children of Darupet called out to the moon mistress Ezrilus to give meaning to their remaining days instead of tending gardens for the order. Transformed into lycans, they loped to the Autumn Wall and with breathing still ragged from their journey, climbed its heights and dropped onto the other side – directly into moving towers of bone and units of wights, ghouls and animations hiding under the cover of a fog. Forces on the wall had been allocated elsewhere, and these powerful druid-werewolves dropped in, knowing a violent, glorious death awaited them… and went willingly. Those the Moonrise Tradition was created, that still persists.
Chronicle/Facts of the Event
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 Moonrise of the Greenwood Knot was an Event in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl that saw a resurgence in the interest and power of the Greenwood Knot Order of Darupet in Rhyl. On a night of a full moon, the children of Darupet called out to the moon mistress Ezrilus to give meaning to their remaining days instead of tending gardens for the order. Transformed into lycans, they loped to the Autumn Wall and with breathing still ragged from their journey, climbed its heights and dropped onto the other side – directly into moving towers of bone and units of wights, ghouls and animations hiding under the cover of a fog. Forces on the wall had been allocated elsewhere, and these powerful druid-werewolves dropped in, knowing a violent, glorious death awaited them… and went willingly. Those the Moonrise Tradition was created, that still persists.
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.
The trek from the abbey to the Autumn Wall that the lycanthropes run is now a Pilgrims trek.
An assault that was working to undermine and overwhelm part of the Autumn Wall was stopped. Somehow the relief schedule was discovered and a vulnerable moment had been discerned by the Lich Lords agents – this leak was also corrected.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
There is now a watch post that signals when the lycanthrope run is happening so that unlike the first time, they are not attacked by those they are there to protect.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
The Moon Children of Cunee: A group of Ezrilus priestesses is sometimes known to be along the path to the Autumn Wall, and to coerce the running lycanthropes into sex on theior way to their death. Although the Moon Mistress Ezrilus favors her wolfen brothers and sisters, the Moon Children offspring are not granted lycanthropy, but are all marked with her symbol, a primal fierceness, survival instincts, and wolf eyes and their sense of hearing and smell.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
CAMPAIGN CHRONICLE >> The North Revealed is a Living World campaign set in The Northern Hearthlands/Grand Duchy of Rhyl of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms.
** The source of the following material is from this campaign. **
Demonic Knowledge Kept Hidden: On the battlefield was a new object the Lich Lords were testing, a Binding Object made from an ancient ghoul’s skull and jaw bone was guarded by terrifying demonic beings. The last of the druids that were called by the moon sacrificed themselves to ensure this horrific process failed. Ethereal Wurms, summoned from an ethereal storm, were being used to gnaw the foundations of The Autumn Wall. The demon that brought forth this knowledge was destroyed and the Lich Lords were unable to replicate it. Without this victory, the Ligh Lords were unable to make a sacrifice of captives that would have opened a second front into the grand Duchy of Rhyl through the Tolkisson Mountains that would have not been defended by The Autumn Wall. This would have seen a plague of undead in the north, and the destruction of the Goliath community in the north as well as elves and halflings in great numbers and forcing characters to serve in the north (a chance of not even surviving their early days).
Prevented the Dwarven Exodus: The dwarves of Sun Stone Top, who had a reserve force of 380 used to close the gap on The Autumn Wall after the battle. They witnessed the humans that sacrificed themselves instead. The survivors report back, and a contingent of dwarves that were advocating moving a quarter of the population (of dwarvens in Rhyl) are swayed not to. This would have triggered the Broken Tip Run scenario and likely even a greater exodus of Dwarven population from Rhyl.
Thirsty Mare’s Tavern (Sheffet)
Posted on March 20, 2026
The Thirsty Mare’s Tavern is a notorious place of scoundrel’s and more salacious types in the City of Sheffet.