Tag: srlm
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.
Kroneminas
Posted on November 3, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The Kroneminas Reach is a low ridge that runs east to the high mountains separating the 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. It is from this region that the Stones of Isich come from – though the mine or location they were found in is now lost to history. The high valley of Norbrin’s Call was where one of the last of the actively menacing Frost Giant clans and their allies in the north were destroyed. This hard and remote place was home to the Tower of Isich, named after the conjuror Isich that slew the last Frost Giant in the valley. The magus, his traditions, and the crystals he was famous for making all vanished when the Lich Lords took control of the north.
Faerie Faith in the Steel Realms
Posted on November 2, 2024 in Steel-Realms
All Faerie genus in the Steel Realms share the typical animistic outlook. There is a distant awareness by the faeries on Helca that there is a greater sphere of planets upon which they have related faerie kin flourishing. The Faerie Faith in the Steel Realms encompasses this as well as the more organized faiths adopted by the elves.
Elven Faith on Helca
The Aelfpaths of Helca have been closed going off Helca for as long as the records of the elves show and tests reveal. Many elves follow either the Green Church of Wyld Faith. A few have local connections to the wyld host of numinous spirits of beast and land, and all of these can tie the elves with their Flora Bound feature, activating it to its full potential on Helca.
Common Amesha Element of the Wealds
In the Steel Realms, the elves of Ynth have a special connection to Phelaedea, Lady (goddess) of Air – and her djinn servant Pahlavi. Elsewhere on Helca, the Amesha are all animal spirits; Those of the Pale Plains are known for their wolf companions.
i20™ Faerie Faith Details
Beast Sense 1/day; no concentration within the Weald.
iCore™ Faerie Faith Details
Faerie Species of the Steel Realms
Posted on November 2, 2024 in Steel-Realms
There are multiple species within the Faerie genus in the Steel Realms.
Faerie Names of the steel Realms
Long ago were the ancient Aelf names abandoned, though because of their long lives, some still persist… or echoes of them. The use of last names has never been of importance among the elves, most adopt of “of _X_”, where _X_ is the clan, Weald, of Soul Well they are closest bound to. All faeries follow the same conventions, regardless of sub species. Generally naming is universal for faeries across Helca, with nuances as normally provided for in Feyloise of the Steel Realms.
- Female: Lirazel, Lurulu, Vilael, Thyliel
- Male: Orion, Cuhic, Urael, Runnaer
Quest of Black Tears (unified purpose)
Posted on October 31, 2024 in Steel-Realms
This quest/purpose unifies all of the efforts of the Church of Darkness and their followers.
United Against the Light: Though the Unholy Trio is not a unified pantheon, all of the Orrish of Helca and their followers and agents under their sway are wholly enjoined in the Divine Quest of the Quest of Black Tears.
Goal: Accumulated enough power to push the Curtain of Night forward over the entire Tolkisson Mountain Range and drive the inhabitants of the lands of light to the sea (Thadrician Ocean of Helca) in an spasm of violence, blood, and death, destroying the Sun-Bane.
- Gather items of power from the lands of light
- Gather breeding stock from the lands of light
- Gather supplies and materials from the lands of light
- Create fear and collect it to feed the Curtain of Night and the The Murkenstone
All the conquered lands will supply the resources then needed to move the Interloper moon (home of the Unholy Trio) and their followers into the dark beyond.
The modern age is heavily defined by the clash of faiths in the “Affray of Darkness and Light“. Death and strife stalk the land relentlessly from beyond the Curtain of Night; peace is a fleeting feeling for those doomed to survive in the midst of constant calamity that defines the current state of things.
Chronicle of the Quest of Black Tears
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
… From the teachings of the Orrish prophets:
… One day we shall burst forth and with us we will draw a curtain over the lands of light. All will know the cool darkness and the soothing balm of its presence. When the only light we see when we look up is the light of distant Stars, stars who are only suns that have yet to fuel the eternal quietude that will engulf them and finally bring peace to the dark beyond.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
The Orrish use the terror of slavery and breeding, torture, pain and suffering to generate Elan for the Unholy Trio, and that goes to serve the part of their mission to: “Create fear and collect it to feed the Curtain of Night and the The Murkenstone.”
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Scholarly musings on the Quest of Black Tears.
Unknown Origins : The exact ritual source and the efficiency of the dweomer behind this effect is not known to scholars. The effect seems to claim all or some of the Elan that the followers of the Unholy Trio would claim. To that end, how much is required to sustain it, and how much can be “fed” into it, or what else it may accomplish are all shrouded in mystery. It may not even be feasible for the desired outcome of the Quest of Black Tears to even have a chance of being fulfilled for a dozen, a hundred, a thousand or ten thousand more years.
Lich Lord Perspective :The Lich Lords draw off Orrish power and are a constant source of fresh bodies for their armies – mostly used against North Gate Garrison to psychologically shift the hatred of its defenders. They are not as virulently hateful to the Orrish only as a matter of practicality. The Lich Lords would love to see this succeed. It would be easier if the Orrish crusade were realized since food supplies would be affected and it would weaken them.
Reality of Success : Most of the promise of the Orrish crusade is easily dissected with the known science and logic of the world of Helca, to debunk its success. Success would result in the death of all living things when the light is taken away and everything would starve and die. Most scholars believe it is just a motivating force for the Unholy Trio to achieve enough power to break free of the Sune Bane and the planet they find themselves chained to. It is a waiting game. It’s hardly believable to think that the Orrish can be eradicated without the Godspeak Accord being violated by the unholy trio to step in and save their kin. On the other hand, the Numinous spirits of Helca itself don’t wish to inflict this on some other planet and so have kept them shackled to the orbit of the interloper which they somehow are forced to abide by. Letting them win enough to get off the planet. Also would result in millions of deaths and no one wishes that. So it is a tenuous balance, a dance with death until some unknown or unforeseen opportunity presents itself with a solution to the problem.