Iron-Blood

“Children of the East” / “The Warriors” / “Steel and Honor”

“Iron-Blood are hard because the world is hard. Softness gets you killed. Strength keeps you alive.”
—Commandant Theron Vask

Quick Reference

The Iron-Blood - Children of the East

Overview

The Iron-Blood are descended from the warrior cultures of eastern Terrum Solidus—peoples who valued martial prowess, honor, and physical strength above all else. Pre-Shattering, they were the soldiers, guards, and defenders who protected civilization. Post-Shattering, they became the backbone of Ironhold’s military and the embodiment of survival through strength.

Pre-Shattering, the Iron-Blood’s ancestors inhabited the eastern mountains and highlands—harsh terrain that bred hardy people. They had warrior cultures with strict codes of honor, martial traditions passed through generations, and deep respect for strength and loyalty. They served as the military elite of pre-Shattering civilization, providing soldiers, guards, and defenders to the Luminar Council.

Post-Shattering, when survival required walls, weapons, and constant defense, Iron-Blood culture became essential. They gravitated to Ironhold, transforming it from a pre-Shattering military fortress into the most heavily defended settlement in the Aetherium. Their values—strength, discipline, loyalty—shape Ironhold’s character and increasingly influence broader Aetherium culture as militarization spreads.

Physical Characteristics

Appearance

Build: Stocky, muscular, broad-shouldered, built for strength

Skin: Range of tones (light to medium brown, some pale)

Hair: Red or brown (distinctive), straight or wavy, thick

Eyes: Blue, gray, green, brown

Height: Average to tall (men 175-185cm, women 165-175cm)

Features: Strong jaw, prominent brow, rugged

Aging: Age well (maintain strength longer), gray early (30s-40s)

History and Origins

Pre-Shattering Era

Ancestral Homeland: Eastern highlands and mountains - Harsh terrain, cold climate - Limited resources (bred toughness) - Warrior cultures (necessity and tradition) - Clan-based societies

Culture: - Martial prowess valued above all - Honor codes (complex, strict) - Loyalty to clan/lord (absolute) - Physical strength = social status - Warrior training (from childhood)

Role in Civilization: - Military elite - Guards, soldiers, defenders - Served Luminar Council - Respected and feared

The Shattering

Impact: - Lost 65% (slightly better than average—toughness helped) - Military discipline aided survival - Adapted to new reality quickly - Martial skills suddenly essential

Advantages: - Combat training (defended against early threats) - Discipline (organized survival efforts) - Physical strength (endured hardships) - Leadership (military hierarchy)

Post-Shattering Adaptation (0-287 S.)

Ironhold: - Gravitated to pre-Shattering fortress - Transformed it into stronghold - Became dominant population there - Military culture embedded

Military Dominance: - Provide most soldiers, guards - Train others in combat - Maintain martial traditions - Essential for defense

Cultural Influence: - Forge worship spreading - Strength values increasing - Militarization of society - Mixed blessing

Culture and Values

Core Values

Honor: - Word is bond - Oaths are sacred - Reputation matters - Dishonor worse than death

Loyalty: - To clan, commander, settlement - Absolute, unquestioning - Betrayal unforgivable - Die for those you’re loyal to

Strength: - Physical strength valued - Weakness shameful - Training constant - Prove yourself through action

Discipline: - Self-control essential - Follow orders - Maintain standards - Weakness is failure

Duty: - Obligations matter - Serve community - Protect the weak - No shirking

Courage: - Face danger without flinching - Cowardice unforgivable - Death before dishonor - Prove bravery constantly

Social Structure

Clan Bonds: - Extended family units - Clan loyalty primary - Inter-clan rivalries (friendly competition) - Clan honor collective

Hierarchy: - Respect for rank, age, achievement - Earned through strength and honor - Challenge system (prove yourself) - Clear chain of command

Gender: - Egalitarian in combat (strength matters, not gender) - Traditional in family (some holdouts) - Women warriors respected - Practical equality

Coming of Age: - Trial by combat (age 15) - Must prove strength - Receive adult name - Join warriors

Daily Life

Typical Day (Ironhold)

Dawn: - Wake early (military schedule) - Physical training (mandatory) - Breakfast (substantial)

Morning: - Work (military service, crafting, labor) - Training (combat, fitness) - Duties (guard, patrol, maintenance)

Midday: - Brief meal - Continue work - Training continues

Afternoon: - Work/training - Sparring (common) - Weapon maintenance

Evening: - Family meal - Stories (warrior tales) - Weapon care (ritual) - Early sleep

Customs and Traditions

The Trial: - Age 15, prove strength - Combat test (against adult) - Must show courage, skill - Failure = shame (rare)

The Oath: - Swear loyalty to clan, settlement - Witnessed by elders - Sacred, binding - Breaking = exile or death

The Forge-Blessing: - Weapons blessed at Forge temples - Ritual before battles - Belief in divine strength - Cultural touchstone

The Honor Duel: - Settle disputes through combat - Formal rules - To first blood (usually) - Restores honor

The Funeral: - Warriors cremated (fire = purification) - Weapons buried separately (passed to worthy) - Stories told (remember deeds) - Solemn but celebrating warrior’s life

In Ironhold

Dominant Culture

Population: 60% of Ironhold

Influence: Shapes settlement character

Military: Provide most soldiers

Values: Embedded in governance

Commandant Vask’s Influence

Amplification: - Iron-Blood values taken to extreme - Strength worship - Harshness normalized - Compassion seen as weakness

Tension: - Some Iron-Blood uncomfortable - Traditional values vs. authoritarianism - Honor vs. cruelty - Internal debate

Resistance: - Some Iron-Blood in resistance - “This isn’t honor—it’s tyranny” - Quiet dissent - Growing movement

Relationship with Other Peoples

With Bright-Folk

Alliance: Strong (economic-military partnership)

Respect: Mutual (different strengths)

Tension: Values clash (commerce vs. honor)

Intermarriage: Common

With Veil-Born

Incomprehension: Don’t understand mysticism

Respect: For knowledge (grudging)

Distance: Cultures too different

Rare Alliance: When mystical guidance needed

With Sun-Touched

Respect: For adaptability

Tension: Nomadic vs. settled

Cultural Exchange: Music, stories

Limited Interaction: Different lifestyles

With Void-Kin

Concern: About their differences

Training: Some Void-Kin show martial aptitude

Hope: Could be strong warriors

Wariness: Unknown potential

Notable Iron-Blood

Historical

Theron Ironwright (Current Hammer of Stars): - Forged Ironhold’s gates - Embodies Iron-Blood virtues - Religious and martial leader

Marta the Builder (87 S.): - Designed Bulwark - Died completing it - Hero to Iron-Blood

Contemporary

Commandant Theron Vask: - Military leader of Ironhold - Iron-Blood (obviously) - Controversial (authoritarian) - Embodies strength values (twisted?)

Garrick Stonehand: - Master blacksmith - Iron-Blood traditions - Forge-blessed - Legendary craftsman

Captain Deryn Fastblade: - Guard captain (Skyport Eos) - Iron-Blood serving in Bright-Folk settlement - Honorable, conflicted - Represents diaspora

Sayings and Proverbs

“Strength protects. Weakness kills.”

“Honor is heavier than mountains, lighter than feathers.”

“Iron-Blood bends but doesn’t break.”

“Loyalty to death. Duty beyond.”

“Prove yourself through action, not words.”

“The Forge shapes us. We shape the world.”

Related Topics

• Ironhold - Primary settlement
• Constellation of the Forge - Patron deity
• Commandant Theron Vask - Controversial leader
• Garrick Stonehand - Exemplar
• Bright-Folk - Allied people
• Military Culture - Dominant profession

In-World Documents

Iron-Blood Oath (Traditional)

I swear by the Forge:

My strength protects the weak.
My loyalty serves my people.
My honor guides my actions.
My courage faces any danger.

I will not break.
I will not yield.
I will not dishonor my ancestors.

Iron-Blood to the end.

Coming-of-Age Speech (Elder to Youth)

Today you prove yourself.

Today you show you have the strength to protect.
The courage to face danger.
The discipline to serve.
The honor to be called Iron-Blood.

Fight well. Fight honorably.

Win or lose, show us you’re worthy.

The Forge watches. Your ancestors watch. We watch.

Prove yourself.

“Iron-Blood are the Aetherium’s warriors—strong, disciplined, honorable, and sometimes harsh. They value strength because strength keeps people alive. They value loyalty because betrayal gets people killed. They value honor because without it, strength is just violence. They’re not perfect. They can be rigid, militaristic, sometimes cruel. But they’re the reason settlements have walls, the reason guards patrol, the reason humanity can defend itself. Without Iron-Blood, we’d have been overrun by Rot-Beasts centuries ago. Remember that before judging them too harshly.”
—From Peoples of the Aetherium by Historian Elias Stormchaser