Tag: loc-rhyl
Education in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Posted on July 31, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Education in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl follows most of the approach laid out in Education in the Steel Realms. Because Rhyl has a constant influx of people and goods, it has a need to educate a certain percentage of its populace. The Heraldic Boreal Tradition includes a Basic Primary Education in Rhyl.
Curriculum: The basic curriculum is universal and defined through the efforts of the priests of the faiths and the heralds of the duchy; It is recorded and disseminated through the heraldic members.
Educators: Private tutors, family & community teachers/record keepers, heraldic tutors, and priests and clergy.
- 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.
Unless a specific location offers alternatives, Steel Realms Characters coming of age in/from this locale will shape their perspective to the primary experience of Cultural Experience of Rhyl.
- A Cultural Experience is on top of any background, archetype, or species character elements; Normally a PC may only have a single Basic Cultural/Regional Experience at the time of Character Inception. A group of characters with the same cultural experience can come together to form a shared Cultural Bond.
Languages Commonly Spoken: 75% bi-lingual/40% tri-lingual {Gladnorian (‘common’), Dundarian (old northern), Mercat (trade)}; Feyloise (Elven)
Literacy (Average % of Population): Urban 60% | Rural 35% | Wyldes 15% > Education in Rhyl
Primary Education Elements of Rhyl
Access to Pervasive (Primary) Education varies by Social Standing/Status
Pariah 5% | Poor 15% | Lower 30% | Middle 50% | Upper 65% | Privileged 90%| Elite 100%
Unique Elements of Rhylian Education: Part of the Education in Rhyl is an overview of one of its own famous citizen called The Mind’s Dark Shine – covering the passions of learning and oddly the ‘variant’ of Lycanthropes of the Steel Realms in the Rhyl referred to as Silver Pelts. In Rhyl and the Feelands, Lycanthropes seems to be particularly prone to hunting and killing the undead minions of the Lich Lords.
i20™ Education Details
- Social Integration: Character’s Best Practice Starting Charisma is 9/Minimum 8 when generating Attributes.
Language > Gladnorian{& literate} (‘common’); > Lower = Dundarian (old northern); > Middle = Mercat {+ literate} (‘trade tongue’) - Scholarship: Trade/Vocational Practices >
Studious > Lores > +1 Kingdom of Gladnor, +1 Merchant Cities of the North, +2 Grand Duchy of Rhyl - Critical Thinking:
Accomplished Activity > - Physicality: Character’s Best Practice Starting Constitution is 9/Minimum 8 when generating Attributes.
Athletics >
Advanced Primary Implementation
Upper + Privileged + Elite:
- Social Integration:
Language & Literacy > Feyloise{& literate} (Elven)
iCore™ Education Details
Institutions of Learning in Rhyl
- Autumn Hall of Records (Rhyl)
- Baghara’s Temple (Rhyl)
- Botanical Studies Campus (Rhyl)
- Cunee Abbey (disrepair; Rhyl)
- Klyben Trading Guild (Rhyl)
- Scholar and Artisan District of Thunderfall (Rhyl)
- The Lodge of the Songbird (Heralds Hall of Rhyl)
- University of Baratriae (Rhyl)
Deepstone Archive of Rhylan
Posted on July 31, 2025
The Deepstone Archive of Rhylan is overseen by the Duke of Rhyl’s house mages and priests, in addition to Rhylander Green Conjurists and House Narcosa – helping to keep copies of a lot of it in the Libraries of Port Towne. The Order of the Black Gorgons is known to take interest in what transpires here.
Next to the Deepstone Archive of Rhylan, the Westbrook Hall of Records in the Cunee Abbey is the best source for the time of the Kingdoms of old Rhylan.
This place is a Safe Haven for members of the Rhylander Green Conjurists.
In fact, this ancient underground location in the heart of Rhyl forest has an ‘elevator’ built by Ducateons enslaved by the dragon of Rhyl. The dragon itself was an astute archivist – many stone, leather, metal parchment and paper records were kept recording mostly mundane things for a thousand years while the dragon observed. It is also an earth priest and druidic sanctuary. An elemental is bargained with each year to make the elevator more powerful and quick. Many rumors exist about this play… a doomsday bunker is but one of them. A pilgrimage spot to Seekers of Delleth as well. It is the only place to have a complete map of all the locations of the Thane Libraries of the Hinterlands marked on a map made from a sheet of bronze..
The Greenstone Archway
The Greenstone Archway is located in the depths of the Deepstone Archive of Rhylan. It is an ancient artifact of mysterious origins. Only the senior members of the Rhylander Green Conjurists know its workings. All of the Greenstone Bracelets worn by the Ducal Guard are somehow bound to the mysterious Greenstone Archway. It is more of an arched passage that runs about 30 into a wall of soil and green moss that is alive and warm.
Rhylander Green Conjurists (Rhyl)
Posted on July 31, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Rhylander Green Conjurists is an martial occult ‘order’ of magi and pact makers in the Northern heartlands that operates only around The Grand Duchy of Rhyl. They are bound to the Great Forest of Rhyl in some way as well. They hail from an ancient tradition of service to free thinking folk of the north and don’t follow many of the norms of Occult Culture in the Steel Realms. Its early traditions came about in fighting the Sea King incursions far up the Beyne River and into the Great Forest of Rhy and Lands of Rhylan. It has no formal chapter houses, but does have a few centers of power and allies that help to maintain sacred places for the source of their power.
The various faiths represented at The Autumn Wall and the Rhylander Green Conjurists organize most of the Recovery Operations at North Gate Garrison to ensure evil auras, curses, taints and corruptions don’t enter the ranks of those serving or the lands behind the wall.
The order is genuinely seeking decent and good outcomes for the peoples of The Lands of Rhylan. It is less concerned with the welfare of the nobles.
Seeking an Audience: Sira Greensmein, Herald of the Rhylander Green Conjurist. This figure can be found at Ten Box Chemists of Klyben – it is the only place that the order can be contacted by people outside of the nobility of Rhyl.
Safe Havens for Members: “Safe Haven” usually means a well guarded place where members can rest. Basic supplies are provided.
- Deepstone Archive of Rhylan
- Ducal Estate of Rhylan (Summerblaze)
- Highpoint Garrison (of Rhyl)
- Houska Pass/Castle
- Silverstone Tower (prison)
- Tell Cunetha (ruins)
- Ten Box Chemists (Klyben)
- Terrent’s Redoubt (Hornguard Headquarters)
- The Broken Wall/Lasthope (redoubt)
- The Glimmerglen
Preeminent Occult Orders in Rhyl:
- Guild of Solars (High Magistry Order of the Realms)
- House Narcosa (Necromancer Order of Salt Shore)
- Quizmans Magusterum > Arcane Mercantile
- Rhylander Green Conjurists (Rhyl)
Occult/Magi Services: General Occult Services is provided here mostly by Quizmans Magusterum in Rhyl. Because Rhylanders don’t have formal chapter houses, they partner with Quizmans to provide local supplies and get priority service over others for the common items they deal in. The other Orders of Magi generally focus their efforts on supplying and defending The Red March and North Gate Garrison against the forces of The Lich Lords.
Locations of Quizmans Within Rhyl
Occult Style
Signifiers: The culture of this order demands that they carry with them a large pinecone from deep within the Forest of Rhyl to remind them of the wild natural beauty and presence they defend. Each also carries a scroll tube and records the names of those of the order they have also seen. It is unknown to outsiders why this is done. To others of the order, it is to be able to call their spirits to witness when they attempt mastery for the order.
- General Thematic Emphasis: Abjuration, Earth
- General Thematic Frailty: Fire, Lightning
Credo
- Defend the Lands of Rhylan against unnatural incursions
- Defend the Lands of Rhylan against war between the humanoid races (dwarf, Ducateon, elf, and human)
- Defend the Lands of Rhylan by accumulating & revealing lost knowledge, powers, and artifacts
- Defend the Lands of Rhylan by doing good acts for the common folk to promote perceptions of the occult
Traditions
The Path: Warlock Or Wizard and level 2 warlock then wizard. “This is the way”
Chronicle/Facts of the Group
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.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
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.
They have a documented permanent presence at the Deepstone Archive of Rhylan.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Open Alliance with House Narcosa: In Rhyl, the Rhylander Green Conjurists have a close alliance with House Narcosa (a Necromancer Order of Salt Shore) – The Purge of Hermenna that ousted every malign master and apprentice along the shores of Lake Caolite in 9120 left both groups untouched.
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
Some feel the Rhylander Green Conjurists have a connection to the Bromarrin Vultures but nothing has ever been proven other than the birds have been used by them to send messages.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
There is a place they go to test themselves as full masters, but prior to this their efforts are very individualistic. Masters take on one to four apprentices.
Hidden Alliance: Some time around CY 8850, it is determined that some sort of alliance exists between the Seers and the Rhylander Green Conjurists. The nature of this is kept secret, the alliance is only known because one of the conjurist’s members is given priority over others at the Double Vision Inn, happening again around CY 8979, revealing their presence and some ongoing agreement.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Origins of the ‘Order’ of Rhylander Green Conjurists
The origins are not hidden, though they are just mostly unknown because they are so mundane. In fact, The origins are simply the initial mages that were gathered to assist with the initial affliction of Rot Mark. Eventually protection of Rhyl was the embodiment of their ideal, simple patriotism. Now they are part of and helped define the formal processes for the Recovery Operations at North Gate Garrison.
Hidden Knowledge > One of the Children of Blacknail serves the Rhylander Green Conjurists at Ten Box Chemists in the city of Klyben.Silverstone Tower (prison)
Posted on July 31, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Silverstone Tower is a type supermax prison for creatures which cannot be killed. Many of these have spewed forth from the Valley of Sighs. It is one of the things The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is known for. Construction was began in CY __ and completed in CY ___. The World Watchers and the Order of the Black Gorgon both have a constant presence here to monitor and assist. The “Wraith Era of Kaald‘s” (500 years beginning around CY 7000) saw several powerful wraiths bound in the prison until a means of finally killing them could be found.
It is an open center tower with mirrors reflecting sunlight & moonlight at the doors. It is windowless with 10 foot thick walls. It holds traitors, shackled undead, spirits that can normally walk through walls, powerful creatures, and all that cannot by killed but must be held, and those held for questioning until their usefulness is done.
Initial Description: It has an oppressive atmosphere, permeated with the presence of creatures that have been sent there to die and their spirits never walking in sunlight until the day that they fade and finally pass into nothingness.
Heraldry/Symbol:
Greater Sovereignty: Grand Duchy of Rhyl
Type: (see Settlement Planning and Design in The Realms)
Governance: “{title}” (see Titles and Honors of The Realms)
Population: / Transient:
Demographics:
Laws and Protocols of Note: + standard Laws and Codes of the Realms
Groups/Factions:
Primary Hospitality/Accommodations:
- Visitors Quarters > Housing (long or short)/Entertainment (arts & crafts, intimacy)
Commerce: (see Trade Organizations/Institutions of the Realms)
Institutions: (see institutions of The Realms)
-
Tower of Voices
Within the prison there is the Tower of Voices. Within the tower are the primary scribes that collect the ‘voices’ – a strange byproduct of the prison. These are the whispers that travel throughout the prison, echoes of thoughts in a multitude of languages. These enigmatic sounds are recorded by scholars in the ‘Tomes of Rhylian Whispers’.
- Letters Corps: In exchange for an education, many minor nobles and 2nd and 3rd born offspring are sent here to serve time as copiers, runners, and messengers for the scholars in the Tower of Voices. Those who leave after their 3 year time in service most often look 10 years older than they actually are. Those who survive the ordeal often never speak of it. Some even forget it entirely… because they need to.
- > Primary Services Secondary Services
- > 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:
Garrison of Merrim
The Ducal Guard maintains the Garrison of Merrim at Silverstone Tower of around 60 soldiers and 10 officers, and 10-20 swift riders and horses to alert those necessary in the event of an emergency. All those serving here are taught the scarcely known potential fate of the “Empty Guards“.
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.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
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
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
This place is a Safe Haven for members of the Rhylander Green Conjurists.
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
Rumors say Morkoth had a hand in its making, and its first inhabitant was a creature that was once imprisoned in his own tower and theater he knew he could not watch over it forever.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
The Empty Guards: Guards would sometimes collapse or even sit down and never rise from their location. Taken to an infirmary where their bodies were looked after as they withered and their essence passed into further realms.
The crowns with the spirits of The Betrayal of the Three are housed forever in the prison of Silverstone Tower.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Well Kept Secret: The Hidden Hand cult of Malek still has a shrine and sacred attendants in Silverstone Tower. The ritual performed cleanses the aura for a time, hides the aura of life and allows secret forays north Rangers and World Watchers. This is an extraordinary well kept secret known only to a few in the prison who maintain it, a few who use it, The Shroudmaster of Rhylan, the Sisterhood of Dohar Jaideen and a few of the Order of the Black Gorgon.
- Congregation of the Sightless: This congregation at the prison is an ancient congregation of the sect of The Hidden Hand of Malek at Silverstone Tower only. Their senior members enact a ritual in which they remove their eyes. This grants them access to a ceremony in which they can enact The Hidden Hand of Malek upon a target to hide them utterly from any divination or detection of their presence or aura. This is used to anonymize interactions in the facility as well as send special scouts and missions into the Lich Lord’s lands, hiding their aura of life. The lesser attendants see to the senior ones’ needs, though they seem to do fine without sight of the physical sort.
- Some adherents are sent to infiltrate the ranks of the heralds in the north in order to gain information which might compromise the mystical prison.
- Rumors say the cult was involved in creating the tower itself.
Enthavelaugh (Elven Weald, Rhyl – Gaur Dinae)
Posted on July 30, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Enthavelaugh Weald is the dark forest Weald of the elves in the north boundary along the edge of the Tolkisson Mountain range in the Gaur Dinae Forest of Rhyl. Long has this clan been secretive and independent. Allies in time of need for certain, but more wild and alien than civilized by the Grand Duchy of Rhyl’s standards. The Autumn Goldfind Quarry to the NW provides a steady supply of cut stone for what little the elves need.
Governance of the Weald
Rulership/Governance: “Green Sleeves“: Burntleaf Greenspeaker is the office for Weald who represents it to outsiders. {Integrity ***} – uses Elven Wealden Titles. They are led by an Elven magus known as “The Doget” (dough-get)- named after the wild blue and white tulip that grows in The Forest of Rhyl proper. She has led their clan for over a thousand years, far longer than the normal Wyld Elven lifespan – and it is thought she is of a Ynthian bloodline since the clan became more secretive when she assumed control.
- Blood Leaf – “The Hand of the Doget”: The war leader that handles incursions or must work with outsiders to coordinate efforts.
- Administrative Center/Seat of Power:
Population: Approx. 20,000 Wyld Elves
> Note: There is no official census provided.
Protector Spirit: Karhu the BEAR – the senior followers are involved in both Defense and Faith of the community.
+ Hartwood Presence: This location leans heavily to the Wyld Faith, and has the presence of both Rhylian Briarwood and Rhylian Beastwood.
Resource Accord with Rhyl: The active version of the Rhylan Weald Accordance that govern resource management is carved upon a preserved tree stump in the City of Klyben in the North District of Klyben for all traders to be able to reference. Per this accord the elves post signs using bright yellow ribbons (from Ten Stacks) to mark their Weald Boundaries.
All the Elven Wealds of the Steel Realms in Helca have Laey Lines going through them that can be activated.
- Typical of Elven Wealds of the Steel Realms, this faerie home is lit using Elven Lake Lamps including the annual festival; This eerie glow sometimes seen by outsiders and centennial festival add to the typical mystery and wariness of the Elvish home.
Characters from the Weald
Characters with their origins here have the Wyld Elf of the Weald Experience available to them.
Those entities Flora Bound to the Wealds have access to the powers described under the Common Amesha Element of the Wealds of the elven faith of the Steel Realms.
List of Elven Wealds of Rhyl
The Har’ahdu Cunaigh – Aelfpath of Helca twines through the Great Forest of Rhyl, also connecting all the Elven Wealds within the Grand Duchy of Rhyl.
- Enthavelaugh (Elven Weald, Rhyl – Gaur Dinae)
- Haivelaugh (Elven Weald, Rhyl)
- Naighvelaugh (Elven Weald; Rhyl – North Pines)
- Ostravelaugh (Elven Weald, Rhyl)
- Rhysvelaugh (Elven Weald, Rhyl)
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.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
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.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Decade of Dead Leaves: The fall of Doget’s Burial to Soul Reaver‘s forces precipitated the “decade of dead leaves” – about 13 years (CY 8817 – 8830) of serious loss (100,000+) as the area was inundated with the Lich Lords armies as they tried to flank North Gate Garrison.