Tag: srlm
Black Hillz
Posted on November 5, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The Black Hillz are the lands where the Curtain of Night constantly moves back and forth (hence the term ‘black hills’ for the moving evil shadow) depending on the fortunes of the Orrish in their fortress of Tallow’s Deep. The High King’s rangers have a constant presence here, as do the twin towers (a misnomer really, they are each a full walled keep) that sit at the end of the valley about 800 feet high that drops out into the bordering civilized lands. The first settlement is about 20 miles away, along wetlands with game in abundance, fed by a mostly underground river coming out of the Tolkisson Mountain Range.
The Black Hillz lands closes to the Orrish (often called the “Tallowed Uplands”) themselves are barren and inhospitable. Countless thousands have died here over millennium. The Curtain of Night has shadowed the area too often, and nothing grows any more. There is no cover, and massive forces have trampled anything that might have once lived here. The ridge/valley has been left strewn with boulders rolled onto it for cover by both sides.
Chronicle of the Black Hillz
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
This place is famous all across the realms for centuries of unending vigilance and militarism in fighting the Orrish forces of Tallow’s Deep.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
Heartlands Spark > Set in Grand Duchy of Dunstrand of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms, as a Living World storyline.
CY 91689 A massive battle took place here, drawing in forces from as far away as the Barony of Matchalk. The tower of U’dethe was set ablaze with a sickly bruised flame, corrupting the forms of the defenders. The Orrish spilled out of the Black Hillz and fought the forces of the High King’s army from the garrison at Climante Keep to a standstill. The Curtain of Night swept forward, along a several kilometer front, pouring black waters down and flooding swathes of the Tallowed Uplands in the Black Hillz and driving the forces of light back – a new foothold was achieved! It has isolated the tower of U’runde, now under constant siege and supplied through the mystical arts of the druids of the Wyld and Lightbringer clergy.
Folded Edge Smithy
Posted on November 4, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The Folded Edge Smithy is settled and worked by about 50 dwarven smiths and their extended families – originally from the Redlaen enclave. It is part of the Gaeraen’s Vein Ironworks.
Gaeraen’s Vein Ironworks
Posted on November 4, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Gaeraen’s Vein Ironworks is located in the primary section of the Hawktail Hills within the Riverdan of Pelmon. Discovered in CY 7418, not long after Cathwell’s Silverworks, the iron vein was large and deep. So large in fact, that a refining operation was made on site. Soon afterwards, a smithy was propped up to make basic armor and weapons for the surrounding regions. Nestled deep in the hills, its location was its primary defense.
Chronicle of Gaeraen’s Vein Ironworks
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Gaeraen’s Vein Ironworks is located in the primary section of the Hawktail Hills within the Riverdan of Pelmon. Discovered in CY 7418, not long after Cathwell’s Silverworks, the iron vein was large and deep. So large in fact, that a refining operation was made on site. Soon afterwards, a smithy was propped up to make basic armor and weapons for the surrounding regions. Nestled deep in the hills, its location was its primary defense.Dwarves had been brought in to assist with the initial assessment and work of the silver mine, and a scouting party on their time off discovered the vein of iron ore and a set of caverns nearby. The dwarves laid claim on the iron, and set up refining and a smithy in the caverns nearby. Soon, the armaments coming from the smithy began to be highly valued. The Folded Edge dwarven ironworks/smithy is now renowned all over Dunstrand and beyond.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
The caverns got settled, but over the years, dwellers in the Underlands have appeared there, and they were abandoned and made a dug-in settlement set up to manage the mining and ironworks. Now the caverns of Hraendul’s Bluff are nothing more than a kill pocket, and the Orrish and other monsters just keep trying to break through. Better to entice and control the intruders. A fake encampment and at least 30 dwarven scouts and a small group of priests keep the shrine of Ikribu empowered as a decoy, waiting to sense and alert the ironworks proper of attempts to enter again and destroy the dwarves.
Cathwell’s Silverworks
Posted on November 4, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Cathwell’s Silverworks is located in the primary section of the Hawktail Hills within the Riverdan of Pelmon. The original mine was discovered in CY 7341. It is a massive strike, multiple veins and was quickly brought under control of the High King’s Mintworks. Nestled deep in the hills, its location was its primary defense.
Chronicle of Cathwell’s Silverworks
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Cathwell’s Silverworks is located in the primary section of the Hawktail Hills within the Riverdan of Pelmon. The original mine was discovered in CY 7341. It is a massive strike, multiple veins and was quickly brought under control of the High King’s Mintworks. Nestled deep in the hills, its location was its primary defense.Ore processing and refining is done on site by dwarves and humans in collaboration. It is one of several sources for the minting of new coins and trade bars. Remote and built with hardened defenses, the silverworks have operated in a controlled and highly managed facility that ONLY provides for the Mintworks.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
The World Watchers are regularly in the area, mostly through the Wylder Wends rangers. It is said that there are stamps and dies on site.
A n c i e n t Blood – A Living World storyline Set in the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms.
They have retreated and sealed up the mine. The place is partially sacked and a lot of it destroyed. A force of two dozen or more goblins is stationed to keep a watch out and fire projectiles to make sure they keep the miners bottled up. They are waiting for reinforcements to dig into the tunnels. The whole camp has had all the tools and weapons stolen, and taken to the the nearby caves where the army from the Dark Lands is holed up.
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
The mining camp is fortified, and large. There are about 350 on site, including mining operations and ore processing. About 20-30 soldiers have a permanent barracks in the camp, and mercenaries are hired to augment shipments of silver leaving the area every other month or so. Additionally, another 50 camp followers and a similar amount of workers for stores and hauling.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
A small group of about 6-9 dwarven senior miners from Redlaen are on site (in every work shift) for consultation at any given time.
Stones of Isich
Posted on November 3, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The Stones of Isich are strange magical stones that make make the wielders’ presence mutable in relation to their own conjuration spells. They have a faint glow and each had a symbol cut into it that had meaning only to their creators. Little is known of their creator, only that the name he went by was Isich. Isich was said to have used an enchanted blade of a Frost Giant’s ax to cut the unique markings of each. It is estimated that a dozen or so were made, before their creator and his apprentices who possessed them were swept up in the fall of the northern kingdom of Dundaria (now “Lichrya”) to the Lich Lords.
Knowledge/Facts About/Chronicle of [Thing]
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
The Stones of Isich are strange magical stones that make make the wielders’ presence mutable in relation to their own conjuration spells. They have a faint glow and each had a symbol cut into it that had meaning only to their creators. Little is known of their creator, only that the name he went by was Isich. Isich was said to have used an enchanted blade of a Frost Giant’s ax to cut the unique markings of each. It is estimated that a dozen or so were made, before their creator and his apprentices who possessed them were swept up in the fall of the northern kingdom of Dundaria (now “Lichrya”) to the Lich Lords.
The stones were made in the Kroneminas Reach – a low ridge that runs east to the high mountains separating the far north of Dundaria from the ancient lands of Orrishai. It is a hard region, on a rift plateau that made its temperature barely tolerable at the height of summer.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
The mine or location they were found in is now lost to history. In this remote place was the Tower of Isich, named after the conjuror Isich that slew the last Frost Giant in the area. The magus, his traditions, location of the mine and the secrets around mining and crafting the crystals all vanished when the Lich Lords took control of the north. Some apprentices may have survived, but after millennium, there is no evidence. A few purported sightings of one or two and a rough description of the marking on them have been recorded, but no one has stepped forward to claim the legacy of their power for either position or reputation.
Item Purpose: Protect the wielder from the detrimental effects of their own conjurations.
Greater Attunement (2 Essence total )
Conjuration Spells cast by the wielder become as mutable to them as a shaper of the highest art of magic. They can see through conjured clouds, weather, and walls, walk through a cloud of conjured weapons or an area effect damage from their own spell without being damaged, terrain changes done by the wielders’ spells do not affect the wielder, and creatures conjured by them – even if they lose control – cannot harm them.
i20™ Stones of Isich Details
- Create Food/Water gives no sustenance!
- Find Familiar has no telepathy benefit.
- Extra Concentration for a conjuration spell.
- @ 4th: 1/Long Rest: Sleet Storm; @6th 2/Long Rest
- @ 3rd: Unseen Servant is recovered in Arcane Recovery (if it is known/in the occult reservoir) in addition to normal recovery
- @ 6th: Misty Step is recovered in Arcane Recovery (if it is known/in the occult reservoir) in addition to normal recovery
- @ 8th: Summon Fey is recovered in Arcane Recovery (if it is known/in the occult reservoir) in addition to normal recovery
- Unseen Servant has the movement rate of the wielder and the capabilities of Mage Hand – any facet they overlap in (weight moved, speed, etc.), the effect with the greatest value takes precedence.
- Minor Conjuration: You can have a second item, as long as its an item wielded or worn by the conjuror. A staff, a jacket/robe, a shield, a cap/helmet. When you conjure it, it will appear worn or held as appropriate.
iCore™ Stones of Isich Details
Estimated Value: ? (Silver Crowns)
Item Source: i20™ 10/2024
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
Isich made several forays into the Fallen East using the stones. During that time he had several apprentices – all of which he seemed willing to sacrifice for his own ends. Who knows what his ultimate plans were, but the Lich Lords brought those, like most others in the north, to an abrupt end. He did not survive, and did not make a Cold Bargain like some of the powerful magi of the north did, like Thebadoux.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Isich was an elf-hunter, and managed to kill several elves under a different name, taking the Soul Gem of each and using it as the basis for the Stones of Isich. He told people they were mined from a hidden source in the region where he settled, and cut/shaped with the enchanted blade of a Frost Giant’s ax, but this was just a cover. Whatever it was that produced them, he sought out a hard and remote place, where he could work without leaving a trace of whatever it was that he did. The secrets he possessed to transform them have been long lost, but suffice to say Isich was not a magus of scruples or altruistic drives. He stayed far enough away from elven wealds and forests where they are normally comfortable living.
- Elves will recognize it if they see it directly because it still gives off a faint hint of Heartshine.