Nevernever Locale: The Iron Spires

[Sanctaphrax]

The Nevernever is like Earth, but more so. The mountains are higher, the shadows are darker, and the houses of sin are more sinful. One excellent example of this principle can be found in The Iron Spires, an inhospitable region of the Nevernever that embodies the harshness and grandeur of the natural world.

The Iron Spires are an enormous mountain range formed entirely of cast iron blades. Even the rain is made of metal. The spires are hot enough to boil water during the day and cold enough to freeze alcohol during the night. As you can imagine, most people don't last for very long there.

Nonetheless, the spires do support life of a sort. For one hour in twelve, as day changes to night and night changes to day, the climate of the spires is actually fairly comfortable. During those hours, swarms of metallic bladeflies and sharp-feathered iron birds cloud the skies, searching for something nonmetallic to devour. They don't actually need to eat, of course, but that doesn't matter.

You might be wondering why anyone would ever choose to go to The Iron Spires. And indeed, almost nobody ever does. People wander into it through the Ways, which are inevitably located in the harshest environments on Earth. But once they're there, people become strangely reluctant to leave. Despite (or perhaps because of) their extreme inhospitability, The Iron Spires cast a sort of spell that makes people refuse to leave. Those affected become something other than human, and spend their lives in a fruitless search for a legendary treasure called the Crown Of The Iron Spires. They take pride in their honour, which demands three things of them. First, that they never give up the search for the Crown. Second, that they never show pain, sadness, or discomfort. And third, that they never mention the Monster of The Iron Spires.

The Monster Of The Iron Spires is the undisputed master of this locale. It resembles an enormous tiger made entirely out of blades, with six legs and a face like a set of gardening shears. It is the reason that the spires are so terrible. It created the spires as a reflection of what it believes. If it could talk, it might say that the true beauty of nature is in its brutality.

The Iron Spires look beautiful on a postcard, it's true. But no-one sane would want to live there.

[Sanctaphrax]

Game Info:

The Iron Spires are not a nice place to live. The environment makes a Great physical attack against each inhabitant each hour. This attack can be defended against with Endurance modified by Survival. Those damaged by this attack do not heal stress or consequences at all over the next hour unless they have recovery powers. If they do have recovery powers, those powers are reduced by one step until they successfully resist the environmental attack.

The spell of the spires is represented by a similar attack. However, the spell's attack is mental, occurs every day instead of every hour, and is resisted with Discipline modified by Survival.

Stats for the inhabitants of the spires are forthcoming.

[Sanctaphrax]

Monster Of The Iron Spires (Scuba Diving)

High Concept: Monster Of The Iron Spires
Other Aspects: In Here I'm God, Natural Brutality, Force Of Nature, Crown Wearer's Minion, Bound To The Spires
Skills:
Fantastic: Fists, Discipline
Superb: Survival, Endurance
Great: Athletics, Might
Good: Conviction, Alertness
Fair: Stealth, Lore, Investigation
Average: Scholarship, Presence, Intimidation
Stunts:
Native To The Iron Spires (Survival): +2 to resist environmental damage.
Landscape Weapon (Discipline): Attacks with Demense are Weapon: 2.
Demense-Assisted Combat Focus (Fists): +1 to all attacks in which aspect created with Demense is invoked or tagged.
Demense-Assisted Combat Specialization (Fists): All attacks in which Demense is invoked or tagged inflict +2 stress.
Brutality (Fists): May inflict consequences with maneuvers. See Homebrew Stunts thread for mechanics.
Powers:
Demense [-1]
Claws [-1]
Supernatural Strength [-4]
Supernatural Speed [-4]
Supernatural Toughness [-4]
Inhuman Recovery [-2]
The Catch (unknown) [+0]
Total Refresh Cost:
-21
Refresh Total:
-4


Native Of The Iron Spires (Up To Your Waist)

High Concept: Native Of The Iron Spires
Other Aspects: Code Of Honour, Toughness Above All, The Crown Of The Iron Spires, No Need To Eat, Bound To The Spires
Skills:
Great: Survival
Good: Discipline, Endurance, Weapons
Fair: Alertness, Performance, Athletics, Conviction
Average: Presence, Rapport, Stealth, Lore
Stunts:
Native To The Iron Spires (Survival): +2 to resist environmental attacks.
Fronteirsmen Have To Improvise (Survival): Use Survival for improvised Craftsmanship.
Mountain Man (Athletics): +2 to Athletics for bypassing mountainous barriers.
Powers:
Inhuman Toughness [-2]
Inhuman Recovery [-2]
The Catch (unknown) [+0]
Total Refresh Cost:
-7
Refresh Total:
0


Razor-Winged Bird (On The Beach)

High Concept: Iron Bird With Bladed Feathers
Other Aspects: Awake One Hour In Twelve, Inexplicably Bloodthirsty
Skills:
Good: Fists, Survival
Fair: Endurance, Discipline, Athletics
Average: Alertness, Investigation, Conviction
Stunts:
Native To The Iron Spires (Survival): +2 to resist environmental attacks.
Powers:
Wings [-1]
Claws [-1]
Inhuman Toughness [-2]
The Catch (unknown) [+0]
Total Refresh Cost:
-5
Refresh Total:
-1

[HobbitGuy1420]

Yikes.  that's a horrible and wonderful place - sounds quite a bit like one of the realms of the True Fae in white-wolf's Changeling: the Lost. 

Also a wonderful location to throw the characters to see 'em squirm.  *evil grin.*

Does a character need to have spent a full day in the area of the Iron Spires before they are mentally attacked, or does the attack occur at some other point, and every day thereafter?

[Tbora]

Seems like you could make a plot based around looking for the Crown of the Iron Spires, what is it?

[HobbitGuy1420]

an Item of Power granting Demesne over the Iron Spires themselves and control over the Monster (as well as some other critters). 

also, probably a Macguffin.

[Sanctaphrax]

Here are the stats of the Crown:

[-1] Crown Of The Iron Spires
An ornate iron crown that grants rulership of the Iron Spires, which is a region of the Nevernever.
[+2] Rebate
[-1] Demense
[-1] Improved Demense (Attacks with Demense power are weapon 2)
[-2] Swift Transition (From anywhere to the Iron Spires, and then back where you came from)
[+1] No Mortal Home (It sends you to the Iron Spires if you fall unconcious)

These stats may look a bit familiar, since I've posted them to other threads already. It should be noted that the Crown also has some plot-device powers, like controlling the monster.

As for the timing of the mental attack, it's up to you. Personally, I'd have it happen every time the sun rises.

PS: I forgot one of the monster's stunts. Adding it now.

[bibliophile20]

It would be interesting if the Iron Spires bordered Winter, a natural (or constructed) border between Mab and whatever lies beyond.