Ironreach

Chronicle of Ironreach
Scribed by Torren Ashveil, Keeper of the Iron Quill, in the Year 300 AC
Faction Color: #4A2C2A

Description: I, Torren Ashveil, scribe in the shadow of the Iron Crucible, record the tale of Ironreach, a land of grinding gears and choking smog, forged from the Aetherian Empire’s ashes after the Calamity (0 AC). Beneath Forgemaster Drenvar Steelrend’s iron crown, our forges blaze, fueling Ravensgate’s lockdown with darkstone war machines. Yet, whispers of Morgrath stir unrest, and Xulthar’s voids tempt our Forgemaster’s greed through cursed relics traded in secret.

Core Identity & Philosophy:
Ironreach is the beating heart of industry, where steam and darkstone defy the plagues ravaging Ecliptica. Our creed holds that steel is salvation, labor our bulwark against the void. Forgemaster Drenvar, with his rune-etched arm, scorns the arcane as cursed, yet his hunger for relics risks our doom.

History & Origins:
When the Calamity (0 AC) shattered the Aetherian Empire, Ironreach rose from its forges, mining darkstone to power steam machines. In 150 AC, Drenvar, then a master smith, united our clans against Starveplague cannibals in the Battle of Ashen Gorge, forging his mechanical arm from their blades. His hydroponic vats, brass and crystal wonders, fed our starving kin by 160 AC. When King Thorne II sealed Ravensgate in 290 AC to cage the Aetherian seal’s leaks, Drenvar’s forges supplied ward-gear, binding us to the city’s fate. Yet, in 295 AC, his relic trade with the Ember Syndicate drew Ebon Star’s shadow, tainting our iron with whispers of Xulthar.

Goals & Motivations:
Drenvar dreams of Ironreach ruling Ecliptica’s trade, hoarding Aetherian relics to secure dominion. In these plague-ridden days, he sends darkstone tech to Ravensgate’s District of Desolation, bartering relics in secret. Vortulon’s hunger drives him, but Morgrath’s madness clouds his iron will.

Methods & Tactics:
Our foundries roar openly, crafting war machines, while Drenvar’s agents trade relics in shadowed rifts. We intimidate rivals with steam-forged might and guard caravans with ironclad fists. In “Forgepurge” rituals, we burn tainted relics to defy Xulthar’s voids, though the fumes poison the weak. Hydroponic vats sustain us, their steam mingling with miasma.

Relationships & Alliances/Enmities:
The Plague Doctors take our tech, and Skyrunners’ Guild carries it through rifts. The Ember Syndicate trades relics, but their Ebon Star ties breed mistrust. Sylvaris curses our mines, blaming us for Xyraxis’s decay, while the Verdant Covenant scorns our smog. King Thorne II buys our gear but eyes Drenvar’s secrets warily.

Internal Structure & Culture:
Drenvar rules with the Iron Council, grizzled smiths and foremen. Laborers earn their place in forge trials; mutants prove loyalty in mines. “Steel over flesh” is our code—work or perish. Betrayal means exile to the Withered Mine’s depths. Our halls echo with gears and dread, Morgrath’s whispers sowing fear.

Key Members & Archetypes:

  • Forgemaster Drenvar Steelrend, Dwarf Artificer, his mechanical arm glowing with runes, leads with ruthless fire.

  • Smithmaster Kael Ironvein, Dwarf Artificer, crafts ward-gear, wary of Ebon Star’s taint.

  • Riftbinder Torva Coalshade, Gnome Rogue, threads rifts to deliver tech, dodging void-beasts.

  • Archetypes: Mutated smiths, steam engineers, darkstone scavengers.

Public Perception & Reputation:
Ravensgate sees us as vital yet brutal, our mutations a mark of shame. Whispers claim Drenvar’s arm drinks void-energy, threatening a second Calamity. We strive to be seen as saviors of industry, hiding our shadowed trades.

Resources & Assets:
Darkstone trade fills our coffers, though plague cleanup drains them. The Iron Crucible, Ashen Forge, and Withered Mine are ours, housing hydroponic vats and rune-forged arms. Our strength lies in output and resilience, but mutations and Ebon Star’s corruption weaken us.

Notable Deeds & Current Status:
We built hydroponic machines (160 AC) and armed Ravensgate’s lockdown (290 AC). Now, in 300 AC, we supply the District of Desolation, but Drenvar’s relic trade with Ebon Star courts Xulthar’s voids, threatening the Aetherian seal. The Iron Crucible hums, yet shadows grow long.