Tag: srlm
Tallow’s Deep
Posted on October 26, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Tallow’s Deep is a fortress of the Orrish in the south of the Tolkisson range, in the Grayjag spur. It is east of the duchy of N’lokrha. It is debated as its full disposition, though it it is definitely part of the Underlands of the Steel Realms. At times, the effect of The Deeping of the Steel Realms is seen and felt – even at times the full shadow of a Deeping Hollows. The entrance(s) to the legendary fortress are in turn guarded by the forces at the edge of the Black Hillz.
Originally it was carved out by the the goblin king Mogoglub as his personal domain and fortress. The numerous sons of dark one threaten to crush the hill, mountain and valley dwellers in the Grayjag spur range, east of the duchy and bring the protective evil shadow of the Curtain of Night over the mountains.
It was so resilient and indefatigable initially, it was believed by the greatest and wisest of sages that it was protected by the magic of the Murkenstone, relic of Everdark.
History
Call to Arms: In CY ????, the need to capture the underground fortress of Tallow’s Deep to occupy it and keep the hordes from overrunning the outnumbered forces of Ynth and Rockholm. King Arfenon of Ynth was personally in charge of the defensive force. King Arfenon desperately awaits the aid of the heroes of the realm. The forces of Arfenon cannot hold out unless the forces at Tallows Deep are crushed so that the soldiers of Gladnor can secure and occupy the fort for defense. The armies will clash in the foothills, and the heroes are needed to enter stealthily, and kill the goblin king. This will close the gateway forever, as the king has tied his life force to the Curtain of Night. After this, the twin “Towers” in the Black Hillz were built to keep the Orrish in check.
= FAILED! Mogoglub is now a lich?
Manse Jonesh
Posted on October 26, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Manse Jonesh is the crumbling home of Sira Holey Torril and is part of the direct territorial lands of the rulers of the Riverdan of Horpan in the capital of Broken Spear Ford. The Torril family has stood watch on the border of County Faer, County Dunstrand and the Jonesh Hills.
A minor entrance to the Underlands of the Steel Realms that the Orrish had tunneled into several times. Never a major egress, or subject to the effects of The Deeping, constant vigilance kept the forces of darkness at bay. It was close enough to forces outside the Riverdans, that the forces of the 2 bordering counties often supplemented the scouting and defense of the area.
Torril’s Tower
A series of three small watch towers with lit beacons that could be seen from the tower at Manse Jonesh were the bulwark of the defense against the Orrish raids. They were often manned by soldiers of the Duke or the Count of Faer.
- Wolf Thicket Tower
- Ruby Creek Tower (named because of the heavy iron content in one of its tributaries)
- Twin Creek Tower
Pa-Ulsey Bells
Posted on October 24, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Pa-Ulsey Bells were used by the priests of the Unholy Trio to drive forwards black rain and black clouds to cover the march of the Orrish in Orrishai, their original northern home. All the bells were all destroyed in their drive south, though they were instrumental in the capture and claim of The Fallen East that would become the Dark Lands. There are no more, their secrets of making lost and even if not, the process seemingly unable to be replicated in the current climate; At least no new ones have ever been created. Their name has carried down through the ages, though those that made them, carried them, and their known properties are long lost when the east was conquered by the Orrish.
Chronicle of Pa-Ulsey Bells
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability; 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.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Pa-Ulsey Bells were used by the priests of the Unholy Trio to drive forwards black rain and black clouds to cover the march of the Orrish in Orrishai, their original northern home. All the bells were all destroyed in their drive south, though they were instrumental in the capture and claim of The Fallen East that would become the Dark Lands. There are no more, their secrets of making lost and even if not, the process seemingly unable to be replicated in the current climate; At least no new ones have ever been created. Their name has carried down through the ages, though those that made them, carried them, and their known properties are long lost when the east was conquered by the Orrish.Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
Repeated attempts by sages to discern any remaining ones have indicated they are ALL destroyed.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Pa’Ulsey Bell – An Unattributed Account:
There is a vibration at first that travels from the lowest part of you to the top of your head. Right behind it is a sound, as though a bell had been rung deep underground – its ringing heavily muffled. Then a wave of nausea hits you, and the ringing makes your stomach churn and your teeth chatter. A deep sense of vertigo washes over you, and your eyes roll up as your throat feel like its being crushed. Reeling, you taste bile in your mouth, and you realize you are biting your tongue and bile is mixing with blood as you moan out loud. Your bowels suddenly let loose, and a sense of wretched shame cascades over you like a waterfall. Your own tears join with it, and your knees buckle, you fall blubbering into a pile of fluids.
The Black Fens
Posted on October 24, 2024 in Steel-Realms
The Black Fens is a huge tract of land covered in a toxic, disease filled swamp and slurry. It was once a rich river flood plain that was filled with lush fields and boulders from a glacial lahare from long ago. The ‘land’ sank with The Sundering in CY 5000 and became a withered, blighted land that is feared by Orrish in the Dark Lands AND the dwellers in the lands of light. The Curtain of Night flows and ebbs on a daily basis, making it unstable as a place to launch attacks in either direction.
It is rumored that Aproshol the Black still lies in repose here, safe from forces of light and dark.
Chronicle of The Black Fens
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability; 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.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Nagel’s Toll
Posted on October 24, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Nagel’s Toll is a singular hand-bell made from one of the malignant Pa-Ulsey Bells of the Orrish. Its hideous ringing has been transformed into a potent device cast back upon its creators, sewing a disorienting effect. It was crafted by the half-elf druid named Nagel in the Dark Lands, from the original bell found in The Black Fens in CY 8729.
The Legend of Nagel: Nagel was a half elf druid that came from the south and served his brethren by becoming a wander in the Dark Lands. His Numinous spirit of choice was Africa, the great elephant mother – the wise protector. His brothers feared that his identity would collapse, so long had he spent in the dark, his visage itself began to warp and become shrouded without any source to cast a shadow. Brought back from the threshold of dark and despair, he was rehabilitated and claimed the The Black Fens as his wylding weald. Nagel’s compromised identity allowed him to reach a place in the fens that was consumed by madness. He alone is said to have cleansed it, drawing forth the shadow, but it made him unfit except for the company of Darkland Rangers. It is said that he pulled the bell from this place, swaying in the wind, casting a pall over an area that caused madness in all but him. His final days stretched out further and further – unnaturally. During that time he mentored many a Darkland Ranger. He finally passed in CY 9164. He told everyone that he had returned the relic of evil to the fens, sunk deep into them so that none would find it.
Item Powers (common and Attuned) can be found under Common Knowledge tab.
Chronicle of Nagel’s Toll
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability; 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.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Nagel’s Toll is a singular hand-bell made from one of the malignant Pa-Ulsey Bells of the Orrish. Its hideous ringing has been transformed into a potent device cast back upon its creators, sewing a disorienting effect. It was crafted by the half-elf druid named Nagel in the Dark Lands, from the original bell found in The Black Fens in CY 8729.Nagel used it to make forays into the Dark Lands, using the bell to get away from pursuers when discovered. The Black Fens were his charge – a place teeming with sickness and disease as a barrier to both expansion and invasion of the Dark Lands.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
Item Purpose: The confounding of Orrish attention
Lesser Attunement (1 Essence total)
The wielder takes no damage from ringing it as long as they are immune to the effects of the Heartseeker shards. A wielder with a Benevolent or Good Code of Conduct cannot be bound to the item.
- Prolonged Toll: It must be rung for 2 rounds, can only be used 1/Long Rest for a maximum of 10 minutes, and takes quite a bit of activity to bring forth its effects. When used, it is as loud as a cowbell, it cannot be muffled and be effective but the sound that it makes cannot be direction or source determined by normal means.
- Orrish Confusion: It causes confusion in Orrish within 20m, for 3 rounds.
Greater Attunement (2 Essence total)
Only those on a Pathway of a Ranger or Druid can attune at this level.
- Anathema to Orrish Magic: 2 Essence cost to activate protection from any Orrish source of magic within 40m targeting wielder allies within 5m; Those of greater developed path way ring it quicker.
i20™ Nagel’s Toll Details
Prolonged Toll: uses an Action then a Bonus Action and a hand/appendage each round until done.
Orrish Confusion: DC 12 Wisdom save or Confused (per spell)
Anathema to Orrish Magic: Advantage on all saves vs spells; Ringing can be done in 1 round as a Bonus Action after wielder achieves 6th level.
iCore™ Nagel’s Toll Details
Estimated Value: ? (Silver Crowns)
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
After removing the bell from its resting place where its tolling cast madness on the breeze it swayed in, Nagel quieted it. It had spent hundreds of years there, moved by hands unclaimed and making all around it sick – even the Orrish it belonged to. Some force had entered the fens, thinking it would hold the sickness at bay, but it somehow claimed them. There was nothing to indicate the force that had come with it, everything else had been swallowed by the fens, all organic matter eaten, all else sunk.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
The bell was cleansed of its evil taint through a means known only to Nagel (perhaps not as good and natural as some had wished), its role as a holy relic of the Orrish has been nullified.