Tag: loc-rhyl
Blackstone Tower
Posted on July 6, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Blackburrow (Rhyl) is one of the three towers of the Blackburrow region in the Southern Edgelands of the Forest of Rhyl. Each of the Blackburrow towers is slightly different but the same materials comprise the structures. Like all the towers and their structures, they are seamless, without entry or windows, and rise straight out of the earth. They have no crenelation but have an odd spiral peak. The forest has overgrown it all if anything stood nearby. The towers are about 7m diameter & 25m tall, and vegetation and trees grow right up next to them now. No one knows how deep they go, though several attempts to dig down have met more of the same material even at 5m below the surface. The inky black substance appears oily but is solid.
This particular construct is the eastern most one in the line that runs roughly east-west.
At a Distance:
Close Observation:
Markers: This named spot in particular has been designated for Historical Designation and Exploration in the Steel Realms.
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.
There may once have been outbuildings and other structures, but they are gone now. If there were, they were likely of organic material and long rotted. If they were stone, the materials were probably used in far away building projects rather than cutting from quarries.
Rumors About the Locale
- The tower is cursed.
- The tower comes from the time of the Godswar.
- Strange lights can be seen on certain nights.
- Fumes cause those sleeping nearby to be poisoned.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
While the cold does not radiate from the ‘tower’, it does seem to provide some minor fire-retardant effect for the plants and trees growing with 10m of it. It takes about 2x or 3x the prolonged flame to catch them alight.
Property – Cold: The materials are cold to the touch. They do not do damage or radiate cold any further than direct contact.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
Property – Impervious: The stone towers seem impervious to all attempts to mar them – many have been made. Even siege weapons were brought up and launched against them to no avail.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Property – Dark: Any source of light does not reflect off the material it is made from. In addition, any light that is within 5m of it has its luminosity decreased by half. It does not reduce heat radiance from fire based light sources.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
During the time of summer equinox, the tops of the tower flash with colored lights, though at the same time a fog covers the entire structure and masks most the effects from being seen.
Blackwall Tower
Posted on July 6, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Blackburrow (Rhyl) is one of the three towers of the Blackburrow region in the Southern Edgelands of the Forest of Rhyl. Each of the Blackburrow towers is slightly different but the same materials comprise the structures. Like all the towers and their structures, they are seamless, without entry or windows, and rise straight out of the earth. They have no crenelation but have an odd spiral peak. The forest has overgrown it all if anything stood nearby. The towers are about 7m diameter & 25m tall, and vegetation and trees grow right up next to them now. No one knows how deep they go, though several attempts to dig down have met more of the same material even at 5m below the surface. The inky black substance appears oily but is solid.
This particular construct is the central one of the three. A moss covered rocky 20m tall hill rises out of the forest. The tower is built into the rock 30m away from the rock escarpment that flanksit. A wall-like structure 10m comes away from the crag starting at 3m tall and runs to the tower straight out – 20m tall same height. Everything is made of the same materials.
At a Distance:
Close Observation: The silence is pressing, like a weight.
Markers: This named spot in particular has been designated for Historical Designation and Exploration in the Steel Realms.
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.
There may once have been outbuildings and other structures, but they are gone now. If there were, they were likely of organic material and long rotted. If they were stone, the materials were probably used in far away building projects rather than cutting from quarries.
Rumors About the Locale
- The tower is cursed.
- The tower comes from the time of the Godswar.
- Strange lights can be seen on certain nights.
- Fumes cause those sleeping nearby to be poisoned.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
While the cold does not radiate from the ‘tower’, it does seem to provide some minor fire-retardant effect for the plants and trees growing with 10m of it. It takes about 2x or 3x the prolonged flame to catch them alight.
Property – Cold: The materials are cold to the touch. They do not do damage or radiate cold any further than direct contact.
Minor Outcome / Average Difficulty & Uncommon Knowledge
Property – Impervious: The stone towers seem impervious to all attempts to mar them – many have been made. Even siege weapons were brought up and launched against them to no avail.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Property – Dark: Any source of light does not reflect off the material it is made from. In addition, any light that is within 5m of it has its luminosity decreased by half. It does not reduce heat radiance from fire based light sources.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
During the time of summer equinox, the tops of the tower flash with colored lights, though at the same time a fog covers the entire structure and masks most the effects from being seen.
Blackburrow (Rhyl)
Posted on July 6, 2026 in Steel-Realms
Blackburrow is an area defined by three ancient and abandoned black towers in the Southern Edgelands of the Forest of Rhyl within the Grand Duchy of Rhyl. The entire area, running roughly east-west, is considered strange and unnerving. The area is known to be ancient. It is assumed there are roads and settlement remains somewhere under the overgrowth. Although no specific records exists as to why, no ruler has ever sought to build in the area – though there are lots of natural resources known to be there.
Blackburrow gets its name from the rumors that there are ancient tunnels that connect the towers deep underground. There is nothing that reveals this notion to be true – no entrances can be found or are currently marked on any map. There have been several attempts to dig and burrow into the earth to find any sub structures or tunnels, but to no avail. These rumors persist because it would make sense if they were defensive works. The towers are separated by about 1km to the east from the center and near the frost meld Icen Churnidz, and 2km to the west.
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. There is a very remote chance some new expedition of treasure seekers or archeologists will be once again trying to find the rumored tunnels to dig an entrance into the base of or some sub structure of the towers in the area.
- Normal Settlement Encounters > Patrols | Recruiting | Sellers | Begging | Crime
- Markers: This named spot in particular has been designated for Historical Designation and Exploration in the Steel Realms.
The Black Towers of Blackburrow
Each of the Blackburrow towers is slightly different but the same materials comprise the structures.
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
Checking for Rumors:
- Birds fly upside down in the area.
- Burrowing animals nest in trees in the area.
- Fire refuse to burn in the area.
Simple Outcome / Easy Difficulty & Common Knowledge
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Cutnay Ridge
Posted on July 4, 2026
This is a 20 mile winding ridge that runs between 100 and 130’ drop to the south. It turns north at the Ablocris Pasturelands, goes 2 miles north-northwest, then gets shallower and bends west again for a long ways.
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 are not present – it is in ruins and abandoned. Because of its Umbakian origins and reputation of strange happenings, the locals, travelers, and near everyone avoids it – even for casual cover from bandits or the weather. At night, those camped will experience the Hares Dream.
> Patrols (none; even these stay away)| Recruiting | Sellers | Begging | Crime, etc.
Ablocris Pasturelands (Rhyl)
Posted on July 4, 2026 in Steel-Realms
The Ablocris Pasturelands is an original land grant that went with the Ablocris Ranch Farm Steading and the Monastery of Ablocris. It is SE of the Ablocris Ranch Farm Steading, contains about 170 acres of land. The pasturelands are rolling pastures with low spots filling with water. Callums Stream runs north of them, cutting west but losing some of the “hard” water that mixed from Offham Creek down into the pasturelands.
Currently it is being used by the Hoofclod Farm.
Even the original marker stones that the Umbakians normally use to demarcate areas of care and custody are overgrown, unseen and unreadable.
HISTORY: The Shared Settlement of Umbakian Territory of the Monastery Lands…
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 are not present – it is in ruins and abandoned. Because of its Umbakian origins and reputation of strange happenings, the locals, travelers, and near everyone avoids it – even for casual cover from bandits or the weather. At night, those camped will experience the Hares Dream.
> Patrols (none; even these stay away)| Recruiting | Sellers | Begging | Crime, etc.