Tag: loc-rhyl
Culture, Education, Institutions, and Traditions of Rhyl
Posted on May 27, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is ancient and long settled, especially in the eastern parts. It has a rich history of Culture, Education, Institutions, and Traditions of Rhyl – especially as a dedicated barrier against strife and turmoil from all sides. The western areas in the Great Forest of Rhyl still hold some mysteries; Many vales with their own traditions can be found in its depths, as well as stretches of dales and hollows long under the shadow of trees that never saw the light of day.
Symbol of Rhyl: Great Norther Owl; Owl clasps and patches were displayed prominently on the right shoulder. By the end of the first Duke of his name’s life, the owl eyes went from two yellow gems to a sapphire of Kaald and 1 yellow reflecting the yellow light from the Bastion of the Dawn.
Living in Rhyl
Citizen/Inhabitant Responsibility in Rhyl
- Age of Consent: 16 (increased in the Tea House Revival of CY 9126)
- Age of Betrothal: 8 (illegal to consummate until age 15)
Most inhabitants in Rhyl gain the standard benefits of Citizenship of the realms.
Populace of the High King: This territory is considered Dominion of the High King Lands means the rulers have given the Sworn Oath of High King’s Service to the High King of the Steel Realms.
Pledged to Fight: Citizenship in The Grand Duchy of Rhyl requires both pledges of Rylan the Living + Oath of the Day Watch.
Tours of Duty in the Grand Duchy of Rhyl
As with all allies of and lands under the Dominion of the High King, The Grand Duchy of Rhyl is subject to the Realms Levy.
- Aderod’s Shield (Hornguard outpost of Rhyl)
- Bophate’s Stretch (Hornguard outpost of Rhyl)
- Ceith East (“Blade” of Ceith Grebatain)
- Ceith North (“Blade” of Ceith Grebatain)
- Ceith South (“Blade” of Ceith Grebatain)
- Gaelen’s Mount (Hornguard outpost of Rhyl)
- Mistwhirl Tower (Hornguard outpost of Rhyl)
- North Gate Garrison Tour of Duty (Realms Levy)
- Taplight Keep (Hornguard outpost of Rhyl)
- Tower of the Dragon’s Eye (Hornguard outpost of Rhyl)
Citizen/Inhabitant Composition in Rhyl
Racial Composition: Humans (Gladnorean/common; Ilbarsi, Pinetribes), Elves (Plains/Wyld elves + one Half-Elf community; most smaller faerie races retreated to the heart of the forest), Ducateon (Tolkisson Mountain Range), Dwarves (mountains and hills in Ruhn-Aahn & Sun Stone Top); A few Giant Kin/Goliath families do exist in the northern reaches of the deep forest and the mountains opposite of it, as well as pockets of old blood descended from Giants like Stoneforge Valley. You will sometimes find half-Orrish (Half-Ork, etc.) – the Orrish are also occupied with the shared threat of the Lich Lords and so foundlings from the Heartlands get placed in the North by druids and priests of the Green Faiths. The remote Greykin Hill People are descended from a mix of Ilbarsi tribe and outcaste Nurth. Druunad and Foxilin are also said to be glimpsed here on a rare occasion. The lightly populated Halfling Montwold Pass Protectorate is technically part of the duchy, but they view themselves as members of North Pines culture.
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
Travel: Unrestricted w/Bureaucracy by Locale – no papers or constant checkpoints; assayers, assessors, custom agents, and random inspections by patrols.
Cultural Expressions in Rhyl
Renown: The duchy is massive and many areas have specific things they are known for, including the Mushrooms of Rhyl and for having more Lycanthropes of the Steel Realms (though less prone to killing humanoids). Outside the north, it is known for the *Silverstone Tower*. Deep in the Rhyl Forest this ancient fortified hollow tower is one of the few prisons for powerful mystic beings in the Steel Realms.
Defining Construction & Building Characteristics: The motif of the white dragon is everywhere. Rhyl’s ancient days before the North fell into the times of the old kingdoms produced highly stylized buildings. Castles of nobles were no exception. After the fall of Dundaria, construction became more simplistic and most nobles abandoned castles and moved to big cities, making ‘fortified villas’ within walled cities.
A Unifying Game: The ancient game of Rauket is still played with its rivals of the Merchant Cities of the North to help keep the peace with the descendants of the fallen Yvaldysean Empire of the Sea Kings. Even if the lands are warring or engaged in one of their endless disagreements, they come together for this tradition.
Technology in Rhyl: Advanced technology is not prevalent in Rhyl, though Merkaine’s Shrine of Shieldfire is the source of the Lamasoil Lamps in Rhyl.
Institutional Presence in Rhyl
Preeminent Occult Orders
Occult/Magi Services: General Occult Services is provided here mostly by Quizmans Magusterum in Rhyl. Others focus on supplying and defending The Red March and North Gate Garrison against The Lich Lords forces. |
Preeminent Faiths All Lightbringer & Wyld are welcome > Faith in Rhyl |
Preeminent Martial Institutions
Notable Armories in Rhyl (note that some goods cannot merely be purchased): While the Chipped Anvil Forgeworks at Stoneforge Valley is not considered exceptional, they do make large weapons made for large characters. Their specialty is mauls, and massive hammers and tree splitters. |
Social Class Distribution in Rhyl
| Social Standing/Status | % | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Outcast | 0-4 | Outcasts are always living at the urban fringe – slums, etc. A few flee to the countryside. |
| Least | 5-18 | |
| Lower | 19-40 | |
| Average | 41-85 | |
| Upper | 86-95 | |
| Privileged | 96-99 | >/td> |
| Elite | 100 |
Lake Iblis
Posted on May 27, 2025 in Steel-Realms
Lake Iblis is a highland lake (about 2km up) in The Bromarre Stretch of the Barony of Kopriane. It is very deep in the center, about 1.5km at its deepest – though the SE end is very shallow. It is approximately 2km wide, and 4km long.
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.
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.
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. Horses 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.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Barony of Kopriane
Posted on May 27, 2025 in Steel-Realms
The Barony of Kopriane in the County of Dunaine of The Grand Duchy of Rhyl runs from the north shore of the Faeum River, a tributary to the Silvershine River, on its northern boundary. That larger river flows to Lake Caolite to the west. Its eastern edge is the Tolkisson Mountain Range. Cutting east into the mountains is the Coisling Gap, the foothills that border it on the south are The Bromarre Stretch, and those on the north are The Kerriman Peaks.
Patrols: The Greenwood Knot order works close with the elves of Haivelaugh Weald, the dwarves of Sun Stone Top, normal patrols of Barony of Kopriane and even the Greykin Hill People.
At the base of the Kerriman Peaks is a town that is sometimes used as a trading post for the Ilbarsi Hill People. On the edge of the Mehrimday Tributary is the capital city of Sheffet, presided over by the Morglayne Baronial Family.
Known For: This area is well known for the signature yellow clothing and ceramics that come from Ten Stacks.
The full scattered and settled population, including the farm steadings, is around 29,000.
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.
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.
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. Horses 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.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Claybottom Meadows
Posted on September 11, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Claybottom Meadows is the eastern edge of the Montwold Pass Protectorate.
Crime: Crime in Halfling settlements is infrequent, mischievous, and mostly petty. There may be a couple dissatisfied locals, but there is no organized crime.
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.
Crippin’s Thumb (Montwold Protectorate)
Posted on September 11, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Crippin’s Thumb is a spur in the NE of the North Pines Forest and part of the Montwold Pass Protectorate.
Crime: Crime in Halfling settlements is infrequent, mischievous, and mostly petty. There may be a couple dissatisfied locals, but there is no organized crime.