Tag: srlm
Moon-Breaker (“the breaker of blades”)
Posted on September 1, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Moon-Breaker the blade of the dark gods. Very little is known about, as it has vanished for thousands of years… it assumed to be lost or sundered in the wars between the Sea King enclaves around the Raj Sea when The Sundering happens in CY 5000. About it, it was said that a wielder and onlooker could feel its weight not just in the hand, but “… its blunt weight felt like a cold weight on the spirit and mind.” It was a tool of malice personified, and exuded the bitterness and hatred of its maker – the dark elves in conjunction with Sun Stealer. Its very shadow was like a “… spreading of black wings” when unsheathed. So evil was the blade, even Sun Stealer himself was loathe to wield it without great cause.
Chronicle of the Sword
Item Powers (common and Attuned) can be found under Common Knowledge tab.
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
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Moon-Breaker the blade of the dark gods. Very little is known about, as it has vanished for thousands of years… it assumed to be lost or sundered in the wars between the Sea King enclaves around the Raj Sea when The Sundering happens in CY 5000. About it, it was said that a wielder and onlooker could feel its weight not just in the hand, but “… its blunt weight felt like a cold weight on the spirit and mind.” It was a tool of malice personified, and exuded the bitterness and hatred of its maker – the dark elves in conjunction with Sun Stealer. Its very shadow was like a “… spreading of black wings” when unsheathed. So evil was the blade, even Sun Stealer himself was loathe to wield it without great cause.The blade has a sinister black light on its edge. In darkness it looks like black water. The blood that it lets turns black, looking as if the surface of the blade is splashing itself across the area.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
Dissonant whispers eminate from the weapon. It is quiter when in daylight.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Stone Cutter was forged to fight Moon-Breaker. Once the blade breaking Stone Cutter was fielded, Sun Stealer developed as fear of wielding the Moon-Breaker, because each time he did or lent its manifestation, Stone Cutter would be unleashed. In the edges of the Orrishai and the Dark Lands are many a collapsed peak that cast a protective shadow and was hewn down, exposing Orrish to the Sun-Bane. This must have been at great cost; Neither blade was wielded much after the other went into ‘hiding’. The true purpose and animosity of the blades to each other has mostly been lost to time. Stone Cutter would occasionally be used, taken from the Hall of Heroes, but without its greater purpose, most of its powers (while impressive) were underused.The Shielders of Pomata
Posted on August 29, 2024
Hear-Ye! Hear-Ye! Read all about it! The Herald’s Quarterly. A semi-regular quasi-quarterly journal of events in The Steel Realms published by the World Watchers.
Herald’s Quarterly 9169, 2nd Quarter CY 9169 Month 4 – 6
Heartlands Spark > Set in Duchy of Dunstrand of the [Fantasy] Steel Realms, as a Living World storyline.
The Shielders of Pomata is an adventuring band operating out of Pomata in the Southern Merchant Cities.
Current Members of the Band
- Huel, priest of Mizras (cleric, war, 15)
- Byrin Cordan, magus of Ados (wizard, necromancer, 15)
- Krut (fighter, champion, 16) and Garul (barbarian, berserker, 14), dwarven axe-brothers
- Weston the Shieldman (paladin, ancients, 15)
- Sven the Darktreader (rogue, swashbuckler, 15)
- Zoltani the Darkhunter (ranger, Gloom Stalker, 15)
Exploits of the Band
In 9141 The band first made a name for themselves tearing up renegade bands of plains elves that were raiding between Ynth and Pomata.
They put to rest the Torgul war band by infiltrating them and killing its leaders.
They tracked down the poisoner of the Setlands of N’lokrhia.
With a host of mercenaries they formed a shield against Agbant the Merciless and his orrish horde in the battle of Olrans Narrows. They killed his general, the demon-knight Phalfahr.
They tracked down the kidnapped daughter of high mayor Uruja of Pomata.
They awakened the mummy of Gareath Moon heart and caused the Eye Plague in the Tolkisson range and bordering lands SW. However they quested for a cure in the south Tower Lands. Eventually, they assaulted the lair-become-city-of-the-dead the priest of the self-sacrificed mummy, they stopped his Eye Plague and drove him east into the Dark Lands.
When the lightning serpent broke from the Valley of Sighs, and started fires on The dry tall grass of the Pale Plains, they worked with the elves to track it down and kill it.
They took down an awakened stone spirit rampaging through the Stormfront Shield Eastlands.
Raising a force against the Necromancer of Vale Evander
The Necromancer is said to have an attendant now, someone named The Silt Man. He has laid siege to a couple of the ancient towers in the Vale Evander, the combined might of the wizards of the Vale Evander has held firm and defenses have not yet been breached, though many have died and clouds of residual corrupt magic roll across the land for days before dispersing.
They coordinated and lead a force of High Kings soldiers and stormfront hillfolk in a three way attack with the Merchant City Coin Riders mercenary band and Hadzyhn Greenshimmer the elven general of Ynth with an army of spear and bow.
They plan to converge on the broken dam of Turtleback. It is said the necromancer has amassed an army of skeletons and zombies. Also with him is an army of blights that his powers have drained of life from Ynth. The Silt Man commands these blights.
Saison Ale
Posted on August 27, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Saison Ale, though technically now a “type” of ale, the Saison region of Umbak has been home for thousands of years of the origins of the traditional Umbakian drink of the farmstead and traditions of the hearth – the Amarata. The Saison Fields in the NE of Umbak, where the original yeast and pears and apples are originally from in, is the uplands of Falcon Reach. With every calamity, with every natural disaster, with every war, afterwards it is a priority to stabilize, preserve and tend to the ancient orchards and grains to preserve the tradition. The Automata Brigade of Virtue and Reason is one of the care-takers of the materials, despite it not being a strictly military charge.
“Saison” Tradition
for Umbakian families, the local making of this type of ale is a traditional family practice and event that is part of their shared culture. Families and regions are known for their specific implementations of this. These are just ‘family saisons’.
“Saison” Brand
Although many ales will call themselves ‘Saison’, only the original is considered “authentic”; It is made with the secret recipe that gives it its crispness and injects it with bubbles. The bubbles are mostly lost in transport, so it cannot be shipped far. Normally it is only sold on site, or regionally in the kingdom. It is said that the Automata Brigade designed the mechanisms that inject the bubbles in a heavily guarded process.
The brewers have been known to get the finest hard glass firkins from the glassblowers of Ruary to ship their materials in to Umbakian nobles. These are send to be miraculous works that convey great wealth and station.
Saison Technology
The secret to the production of the blissful drink is well guarded by the Automata Brigade of Virtue and Reason and the knight and soldier Order’s of Umbak. They have created the Spunding Valve that enables carbonation.
The valve container is a strange metal pressure vessel about the size of a large modern bar keg – just like the wooden ones made everywhere. In Ruary, they brew carbonated drinks but without such a valve, they don’t last long and sometimes rupture. The valve allows for a more safe and longer lasting carbonation. They ferment in the pressure vessel and the valve lets off a set amount of pressure so the carbonation is maintained without the risk of blowing a seam or exploding; As it developed (and others tried to copy it) there have been many deaths and maiming. Any tours never include these operations or expose the technology to outsiders.
Mostly it is the nobility of Umbak that enjoys the benefits of their technology and crafting. It is said the Umbakians are working on a means of chilling (using Elemental Hearth Magik of Umbak), and other drinks (wines, etc.) using special glass containers from the Glassblowers and Bottlers Guild of Ruary that use the sacred waters of the Spring of Pristos.
Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray
Posted on August 24, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray is part of Pavecia and the North Border Principality of Umbak. On the western edge of Falcon Reach, it is on the west side of the bend in the Falcon River, but considered part of the principality. It is a town of about 800 and a commune of Aerna.
The further into the Eastern reaches of Umbak, you go, the tone gets softer with more holy places of Aerna and Whelm than of Ikribu and the patron of the kingdom – Balthazaar.
Population: 800 permanent residents (all human) + 60-80 in farming settlements outside of town.
Rulership: Maire (Mayor)
> Mayoral offices houses 5
Defenses: 20 town watch, stable + barracks for Silver Talents; can raise 60 militia in 1 day.
Services: Smithy, Stables, Bathhouse, Legal Adjudication, Inn
> Sundry: clothiers, leather work, agriculture/foodstuffs
Known For: Saison Fields and the ales that come from the region.
Commune of Aerna du Belle Guérison
The Commune of Aerna the Beautiful Healer is a large walled complex in the midst of a settlement. It houses about 300 and occupies over 2 acres. It is a training center for healers of Aerna, not the White Sisters (though they do teach here) but normal medics and priestesses. In addition, there are servitors of Whelm that are trained to cover the healers in battle, fending off attacks and and take down attacks on the battlefield.
A long and adorned (a few 1m tall statues) pathway leads up to it, with painted white rocks framing it.
Travel in the Steel Realms
Posted on August 18, 2024 in Steel-Realms
Travel in the Steel Realms is mostly safe. Most inhabitants of the realms do not travel far from their local area. Certain cultures and places are an exception to this, as well as higher social classes in general. Individuals and small groups as well as Parcel Services can sustain the best movement rates. Most people walk about 3-8 miles per day incidentally as part of their job or daily activities. Roads are most often placed with Place and Boundary Markers.
Time and Distance Rates
Movement rates represent comfortable rates and all individuals and animals involved are proficient at doing their jobs to achieve normal travel rates. In most cases this means the character and/or their mounts will not be fatigued or injured, and have opportunity to rest, relax, and stay healthy as they go. Jeopardizing this could result in malaise, fatigue, or Exhaustion, putting characters at risk if attacked.
Large Groups: Large groups must have a logistical support mechanism in order to travel. Generally, they must bring their own sustenance, accommodations, shelter, and security. This generally slows down the movement rate by a %, depending on the desired comfort.
| Movement Method |
Primary Roads |
Secondary Roads |
Unbroken Land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horseback/Mount | 24 | 18 | 12 |
| Walking (Encumbered) |
12 | 10 | 8 |
| Walking (Unencumbered) |
18 | 14 | 12 |
| Transport/Baggage | 12 | 10 | 8 |
Pushing the Limits
Travel may be pushed to 150% of normal rates. This will automatically result in Exhaustion for mounts and/or riders/individuals. Those Who Range and some of the World Watcher members can travel at unencumbered travel rates even though they are personally encumbered by gear. They know the land and roads well enough to travel more efficiently.
- Unskilled Riders: A character without skill can increase their movement by riding, but they will automatically suffer a Fatigue or Exhaustion for a number of days per day of riding. Movement rates in excess of normal result in real damage AND exhaustion. The maximum increase that can be sustained is 25% of normal.