World Information Extra: "Steam and Steel: The Age of Confrontation"
The world of "Steam and Steel" is a steampunk setting where the Ironclad Armada and the Seven Great Pirate Guilds vie for supremacy over the seas and the inhabited lands. However, our main characters have largely unexplored these factions' true composition and dynamics. This chapter aims to present a clearer and more organized breakdown of these entities
Allied Kingdoms:
Long ago, a war (called the Endless Night, which will be explained later) against a group called ‘Eldritch Cog Council’ (or at least that’s what Isaac Volta called them) nearly destroyed the world. In the aftermath, the strongest kingdoms that survived the crisis united under a single banner, aiming to create a government robust enough to restore the world to its former state. For several decades, this was indeed the case; however, as is common in many such tales, the original goal gradually became distorted. The nobles who had witnessed the horrors unleashed during the "Endless Night" passed away from old age, and their descendants remembered it only as a mere fairy tale. Consequently, greed, ego, and abuse began to permeate daily life.
No social classes are above or below the nobles, nor are there kings who govern everything. They are simply a group of individuals who make decisions collectively or according to their convenience, holding a position above common men due to their heritage.
The most well-known noble was a man named Lord Ashford. Tired of the decay he witnessed in noble society every day, he decided to leave it behind and eventually became the leader of the pirate guild known as the "Leviathan Hunters".
Unfortunately, by the end of the scenario, the most important city of the Allied Kingdoms, the royal city of Gegordrift—where the highest nobles gathered—was subjected to a nuclear bombardment. The entire city was obliterated, leaving behind nothing but a toxic wasteland. The remaining high-ranking nobles who survived the attack were hunted down and executed without trial, while the lower-ranking nobles were given the option to surrender, which most of them accepted. Over time, they assimilated into society as ordinary citizens of the Federation.
Ironclad Armada:
The Ironclad Armada is a formidable military force that operates with advanced steam-powered technology. It was established by the government of the Allied Kingdoms almost immediately after its founding, originally as a supporting force against remnants of factions still fighting in the name of the now-defeated ‘Eldritch Cog Council’. However, it would later evolve into a military force in its own right.
The structure of the Armada always includes direct descendants of the nobility in the highest ranks, preventing anyone not from a noble house from attaining too high a position, although there are exceptions.
Hierarchy:
Armada High directory: Filled with white-collar politicians of noble descent who are in charge of monitoring and making all decisions regarding the operations of the Ironclad Armada. Whatever is decided there is final, with no possibility for discussion.
Admirals: The most important military position. These are typically held only by family members of the nobility; however, with the arrival of Jasper Merrick, this changed, making him the sole exception. An admiral is appointed not only for their combat strength and achievements but also for their lineage, and once selected, they undergo numerous surgeries to have powerful prosthetic limbs and organs installed, enabling them to perform superhuman feats and effectively become an army unto themselves.
Vice-Admirals: We have yet to see them in action, but these soldiers of the Armada rank just below an admiral, making their individual strength overwhelming due to the mechanical implants that are only a rank below but extremely powerful. The last recorded instance of a vice admiral's death involved a combined effort of four pirate fleets to bring him down, resulting in the loss of many ships, including battleships.
Rear-Admirals: Unlike conventional soldiers, the Rear-Admirals hold more of an office position. They are the best of the best behind the desk, responsible for handling the heavy paperwork and creating the army's attack plans. Throughout the history of the Armada, no Rear-Admiral has ever set foot on the battlefield.
Commodore: Many nobles who truly wish to make a name for themselves in the Armada find themselves at this rank. They are granted an 'Ornament of Justice' in the form of a collar, symbolizing their commitment to the organization and their noble heritage. At this level, officers begin receiving advanced mechanical implants. One example is Kathlene, who has the control node for her mechanical arms implanted in her back like a backpack.
Captains: Captains in the Armada represent the highest rank that soldiers without noble lineage can achieve. In contrast, it's the starting rank for officers who come from the officer school, which is exclusively for noble families. They are the only ones authorized to use shield-type 'Ornaments of Justice', and advanced combat armor.
Lieutenants: This rank is comprised of lower-class soldiers and experienced recruits. They are typically equipped with standard combat armor that includes mechanical boosters; however, this armor significantly reduces their speed, making them easy targets. This vulnerability was clearly demonstrated during the MCs' battle against a group of them.
Foot Soldiers: These soldiers are made up of new recruits and mandatory conscripts. They are only equipped with a mechanical pistol and a standard uniform. It's a running joke among the higher ranks that these soldiers aren't even good enough to be considered cannon fodder.
Misc Characters:
Commodore Kathlene: Kathlene comes from a family with a long legacy of high-ranking officers within the Ironclad Armada. Her great-grandfather was a former Admiral, and both her grandfather and father held the rank of Vice-Admiral. Although her family was initially against her joining the Armada due to her being a woman, as an only child, her father advocated for her and enrolled her in the academy. She graduated with honors and rose through the ranks to become a Commodore. Kathlene has a strong sense of justice, though she doesn't fully align with the Armada's more radical views.
Her pivotal meeting and conversation with Kazue gave her the final push to accept an offer from a Stratos Technology executive. After learning the details of the plan and what they hoped to achieve, she agreed to become Thaddeus’ personal guard, on the condition that her family would be spared if they surrendered. Although this wasn’t seen firsthand, her mechanical arms were upgraded with ‘Atomic tech’, making her even more formidable. After the fall of the Allied Kingdoms, Kathlene rose to prominence within the newly established Federation, she’s now married and has twins, one of them is a pretty little girl who likes to punch.
Admiral Augustus Redmond: Admiral Augustus was the most respected and beloved admiral in the Ironclad Armada, known for his kindness and approachability toward every member of the fleet, regardless of their social standing. He had joined the Armada at a young age, quickly rising through the ranks due to his results and heroic acts. His most remarkable achievement was a mission in which he faced off against a squadron of the newly created pirate "Sea Titans" to rescue a village unaffiliated with the Allied Kingdoms, despite orders to abandon the area. This act was later honored when it was discovered that the unit of "Thunderstrike Dreadnoughts" had actually been en route to a major noble city.
Augustus was the Armada soldier with the most mechanical implants ever recorded, granting him numerous powerful skills, including his signature ability, [The Man that Shattered the Stars - Lv?], which had rendered him invincible until his eventual death. His passing brought immense sorrow to many soldiers of the Armada, including those who had joined Stratos Technology. His body was recovered and given a funeral with the highest honors. It is said that, despite the heavy damage to his body, Augustus never lost the smile on his face, even as he was cremated.
Admiral Jasper Merrick: The prodigy and perfect soldier of the Ironclad Armada, Jasper Merrick, has an entire chapter dedicated to his backstory and motivations. However, there are two unresolved mysteries surrounding him. First, he possesses skills that defy the logic of his world. Second, he has a glitched information window similar to that of the system's users—something Adam noticed just before escaping. But what does this really mean?
It turns out that during the "Endless Night", one of the invaders from another world—specifically, a player named Alexander Merrick—had a child with a character from that scenario. While their child showed no unusual traits, their grandson, young Jasper, inherited user skills from his ancestor. This caused the system to malfunction, attempting to register him as a user even though he wasn’t one. Although it wasn't revealed, Jasper would have been able to see the system's announcement windows had any appeared in front of him. After the fall of the Allied Kingdoms, he stayed as a high officer for the Federation, known for his efforts to enhance people's quality of life.
Admiral Maxwell Hart: The third Admiral, who was fighting outside the Necrogear Citadel, never appeared during the MC’s adventure in the scenario, but it was known that he was a formidable strength due to his rank. Unfortunately, he became one of the casualties when the forces of 'Stratos Technology' arrived. However, it is known that before his death, he managed to destroy one of the massive black zeppelins by fighting side by side with his eternal rival, Lord Ashford. His final words were, "Who would've thought we'd make such a good team? Fate is ironic."
Admiral Nathaniel Voss: Admiral who was in the royal city of Gegordrift during the uprising of 'Stratos Technology' forces, intending to protect the nobles, died during the nuclear bombing that struck the city. In life, he was known for specializing in underwater combat, equipped with implants that allowed him to breathe underwater and propel himself like a torpedo. He felt envy toward Jasper Merrick after the latter ascended and proved he could do the same, but better.
Admiral Seraphina Gray: The admiral who didn't appear during the scenario accepted the ceasefire after one of the 'Atomica Sea Knights' wiped out his entire unit in a single attack. She ultimately chose to surrender and join 'Stratos Technology' upon learning that the Allied Kingdoms had been destroyed. Known by the nickname 'Crimson Typhoon,' she harbored a significant crush on Jasper Merrick, believing it to be a secret, though everyone who knew her had noticed.
Misc:
Ornament of Justice: Artifacts delivered to the Armada by 'Stratos Technology' as weapons to combat the pirate threat; however, as Adam discovered, these are actually fragments of cursed crystals that unleash a curse with various effects under the guise of another skill.
Azure Hex of Pride: Owl motif, reduces skill proficiency, skill power, and skill efficiency.
Crimson Hex of Wrath: Eagle motif, reduces strength, resistance, and physical prowess.
Viridian Hex of Greed: Wolf motif, reduces senses, perception, and mental agility.
Amaranth Hex of Lust: Horse motif, reduces pain threshold, limits imagination, and causes depression.
Indigo Hex of Gluttony: Bear motif, reduces defense, produces hunger, and slows natural regeneration.
Onyx Hex of Envy: Dragon motif, seals skills.
Golden Hex of Sloth: Lion motif, reduces speed, reflexes, and agility.
Seven Pirate Guilds:
The seven pirate guilds essentially function as the government of all the *Free Peoples*, or any kingdom not affiliated with the Allied Kingdoms. They act as protectors at times and as landholders at others; after all, they are not heroes, nor do they act out of the goodness of their hearts, even if many among their ranks genuinely want to help those oppressed by the Armada. Each guild has a leader, said to possess power comparable to that of an Admiral in the Armada, though direct confrontations between these forces do not occur frequently.
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After the uprising of the forces of ‘Stratos Technology’, many pirates revealed that they had allied with them for a long time. Following the nuclear bombing of Gearspire Stronghold, the guilds suffered a blow from which they never recovered. Gradually, the remnants of these guilds were hunted down and exterminated, or they surrendered and voluntarily joined the Federation.
Guilds:
Gearforged Raiders: The Buccaneers and Mercenaries Guild is dedicated to raiding enemy ships and cities affiliated with the Allied Kingdoms. They are the largest of the seven pirate guilds, known for their practice of capturing people and forcing them into becoming "combat slaves," essentially cannon fodder. They serve as the primary offensive force of the pirate factions, but they are also the most difficult to control since most members are little more than criminals.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Davey Stralth, widely considered the weakest of all the guild leaders. He gained his position primarily through cunning, after the previous leader’s death, rather than through strength. Davey was the first leader to ally with ‘Stratos Technology’ as soon as he learned of their plans, taking only a handful of his most trusted men with him and leaving the thousands of other members to be hunted down. After a confrontation with Admiral Augustus, Davey ended up with a shattered face, requiring surgery and a permanent facial implant.
Arcanotinker Crew: The Arcane Blacksmiths Guild specializes in the art of Mechanomancy—the creation and enchantment of powerful machines and weapons for the pirate forces. No one knows exactly how they acquired this knowledge, which originally belonged to the Ironclad Armada, but it is widely speculated that it was obtained through secret deals with corrupt officials within the Allied Kingdoms.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Vesper Callen, a brilliant inventor with a knack for fusing magic and machinery. He did not appear during the MCs' adventure, and unfortunately, he was in his main workshop at Gearspire Stronghold during the nuclear attack, becoming one of the many casualties of the bombing.
Steamcraze Tinkerers: A guild of blacksmiths and mechanics specialized in creating weapons and vehicles for the pirate forces, using gears, oil, and steam. All siege engines and combat armor are the work of these engineers, who typically spend all day in their forges.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Roderick Finnegan, obsessed with steam-powered innovations, and known for pushing his crew to the brink of madness with his wild experiments. He joined ‘Stratos Technology’ before the uprising and was the person in charge of the secret mass production of the ‘Atomica High Armor’ item for their forces.
Brasscoin Brotherhood: A guild of bankers and moneylenders, they act as the financial backbone for all the other guilds and the Free Kingdoms. They are responsible for generating and regulating the currency known as the "Iron Shilling." It's said that every member of this guild would sell their own mother if it meant gaining a few extra shillings.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Barrett "Goldtooth" Vance, a shrewd and cunning leader who joined ‘Stratos Technology’ instantly after the initial attack, It is said that the Brasscoin Brotherhood is the only guild that lost almost no member during the revolution.
Thunderstrike Dreadnoughts: A guild dedicated exclusively to operating the powerful "Sea Titans" and "Sea Destroyers," massive siege robots powered by electricity and steam. Only the most skilled pilots are recruited into this guild, undergoing a rigorous training period, as each mech is nearly invaluable due to the immense cost of money and resources to create them. Unlike other guilds, this one had the highest number of traitors secretly allied with 'Stratos Technology' even before the uprising, they immediately switched sides, launching surprise attacks on any member still loyal to the pirate faction.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Gideon Graves, pilot of the great robot ‘Sea Overlord’, said to be a machine of massive destruction capable of destroying a whole city on its own, but he used it only to protect the Free Kingdoms when needed. He tragically died before being able to respond to ‘Stratos Technology’ invasion of their base, when his whole elite squad shot his mech in the back with their own ‘Sea Titans’, destroying the pilot pit instantly.
Mechanica Medics: This is the smallest guild among the pirate faction, responsible for managing the healthcare sector. Its ranks include several "combat medics," essentially pirates with just enough medical knowledge to treat injuries in the heat of battle. It's said that in many cases, injured individuals end up even worse off after encountering the guild's rough-and-tumble nurses, due to the harsh way they handle patients. However, it is well-documented that the real doctors who work here are experts, capable of mending even an amputated arm with precision.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Doctor Lira Volta, a skilled medic and engineer who fuses human biology with machinery, revered by her guild for her life-saving techniques. She ended up surrendering and joining ‘Stratos Technology’ after the attack on Gearspire Stronghold, seeing that it would be impossible to resist. Her last name being Volta was just a funny coincidence.
Leviathan Hunters: A relatively new guild, this faction specializes in underwater battles and the hunting of Mechanical Sea Beasts using a wide variety of submarines. It holds the highest mortality rate of all the guilds, due in large part to their activities and relentless pursuit of new sea creatures to hunt down. Their missions often lead them into encounters with entire swarms of these mechanical monstrosities, driven by a singular goal: to rid the seas of these abominations, no matter the cost.
Their leader during the scenario storyline was Lord Ashford, a renegade noble who left his home and kingdom to join the pirate faction with hopes of actually helping the free people. It commands a massive black submarine capable of confronting even an Armada ‘Sea Knight’; he died fighting off the ‘Stratos Technology’ forces near Necrogear Citadel alongside his eternal rival Admiral Maxwell Hart, his last thoughts were that his rival last words were right, maybe in another life they would end up as allies.
Misc Characters:
Magnus Stormsail: Captain Magnus, a member of the Gearforged Raiders, is one of the few pirates in this guild who truly adheres to a code of honor. This principle has caused him numerous problems with various pirate executives within his own faction. His mechanical arm serves as a reminder of a past encounter in which he defended civilians from a village being raided; he believed it was unnecessary to kill them once they surrendered. Unfortunately, this act of mercy resulted in him losing his arm at the hands of his then-captain. Magnus is also one of the few captains who genuinely cares for his crew. This sense of loyalty drove him to protect the main characters during the siege of Ironwave Anchorage, where he ultimately faced defeat at the hands of Commodore Kathlene and was taken prisoner.
Curiously, Li's recommendation was what prompted a representative from Stratos Technology to approach him with a deal, which he ultimately accepted after they promised to eliminate all the high-ranking members of the pirate faction deemed too dangerous for civilian life. Although it wasn't shown during the scenario, his mechanical arm was enhanced with Atomica tech, making it far more powerful than it was when he first appeared. After the fall of the Allied Kingdoms, Magnus became an official of the Federation and eventually got married, having twins in the process. One of his children is a young boy who loves to wield four swords.
Chrono Flint: A pirate deeply passionate about history and antiques, he was a member of Magnus's crew and was completely absorbed when his captain was recruited by ‘Stratos Technology’—a decision Flint was initially reluctant to accept but ultimately agreed to out of fear for his own life. He is unaware of what happened to the group of MCs he interacted with, but, sometimes, while sorting through his belongings, he comes across his book on the Necrogear Citadel and thinks fondly of the boy with whom he enjoyed researching, hoping that he is doing well.
Rook Bladebender: One of the best blacksmiths among the Steamcraze Tinkerers, whom the MCs encountered during their adventure, struggled with gambling issues, and the money he made selling items to them didn't alleviate his problems. Unfortunately, he was working in his workshop when Gearspire Stronghold was bombed, dying instantly in the attack.
Stratos Technology:
Stratos Technology is a company and developer of cutting-edge technology in a world driven by electricity and steam. Many of the weapons and objects used in this world originate from its laboratories, designed to end the war and allow humanity to focus on more productive pursuits. Unfortunately, much of this military technology ended up in the hands of the pirate faction for some reason, enabling them to replicate it with varying degrees of success.
Misc Characters:
Isaac Volta: Considered the most intelligent scientist of all time, he was the founding member of Stratos Technology alongside his wife, Liliana Amm, aiming to achieve significant advancements to improve people's lives—an ambition he initially succeeded in. However, tragedy struck eighteen years after the birth of his son, Thaddeus, when the boy suddenly developed an incurable illness that would inevitably stop his heart. This desperation led him to resort to ancient and newly discovered technology in a bid to save Thaddeus. This choice ultimately required the voluntary sacrifice of his wife, whose soul he used as a power source to bring their son back to life.
He was a staunch defender of the laws of physics within his world and was the one who categorized the skills that naturally manifested in it, developing a theory about how they functioned. Unfortunately, he was eventually murdered by his son, Thaddeus, and his soul was transferred into Sebastian's Aviatrix. However, he is much more at peace and happier in this form than when alive, as if a huge burden has finally been lifted from his shoulders. Now, he is eager to embark on this new adventure filled with discoveries and mysteries.
A brief story about the world’s past
The Endless Night: A long time ago, over a hundred years in the storyline, a team of users arrived in a scenario that at the time had a difficulty rating of E. However, instead of traversing the story and claiming an ending as was customary, they chose to stay indefinitely, believing they would be safe there and could rebuild their lives. Unfortunately, these individuals possessed items and abilities never before seen by any of the inhabitants of the scenario, making it easy for them to begin conquering territories that they declared would be their new home.
But like everything in life, the nature of power was to corrupt those who possessed it. These users eventually realized they had no rivals in this world, prompting them to conquer and rule it as they pleased. This marked the beginning of a nightmare for the inhabitants of the scenario, as it introduced concepts that should not have existed in the original story, such as curses, soul control, and the creation of artificial life through necromancy.
The power and control of these users were so immense that they established their own nation, filled with followers who worshiped them as if they were gods: the Necrogear Citadel. This place became a hub for all kinds of experiments and a center of hatred for any living being within the scenario. More and more kingdoms and subversive movements arose throughout the landscape, but none succeeded in achieving anything beyond merely irritating the users. In a moment of madness, they decided they had had enough and set out to eradicate all forms of life within the scenario, marking the beginning of a true struggle for survival.
Eldritch Cog Council: This is the name given to the group of users who invaded the scenario, whose function was to experiment with everything they had at hand, including innocent characters. Their most notable achievement was the mastery of soul manipulation and the creation of biomechanical undead that they used as an army.
When the war was over, this group still had hundreds of sects and followers throughout the scenario, managing to expand their influence long after there were no users left alive.
The sea beasts: One of the users from the invading group, named Alaric Faulkner, could extract the soul from a living being and place it into an inanimate object. As a result, he spent much of the 'Endless Night' sending his minions to capture as many living people as possible, with whom he began to experiment to create an army, murdering them under special conditions to use their souls as fuel for infernal war machines.
After the death of their master, the sea beasts lost the control that was exerted over them and were sealed beneath the Necrogear Citadel. It wasn't until much later that an exploration of the ruins finally set them free, causing them to invade and spread across the sea as if they were mere beasts.
The Seven Lights: It is a small group that was born thanks to a user who used curses as a combat style and who many people revered as an enlightened one or a god-made flesh. This individual used countless human lives and his own abilities to create what would be known as "The Stone of the Seven Sins." However, after the massive attack on the Necrogear Citadel and its subsequent destruction, the stone shattered into seven distinct fragments that influenced the mechanical guardians still remaining in the area, which were turned into relics by their followers.
The Atomica Arcanum: Due to the constant and indiscriminate abuse by the group of users, the characters in the scenario began to evolve naturally, and the brightest minds of the world at that time discovered a source of energy that should not exist in a world that was not even set in a steampunk environment yet. The creation of an item of rank S in a low-rank scenario, such as the 'Atomica Arcanum,' was an anomaly resulting from user interference, so it was hidden in a largely inaccessible place for anyone daring enough to try to retrieve it.
It is unclear whether the technology of that time would have been capable of controlling the power of the 'Atomica Arcanum,' despite being its inventors. The reality was that the abilities it conferred were so great that they not only managed to eliminate the invading users and semi-destroy their legacy, but also caused catastrophes and accidents in the kingdoms where it was attempted to be used, nearly destroying the known world.
Another Continent: It seems there is another continent in this scenario, especially if the fruits that contain gasoline are indicative of something that may have happened or could happen now that the scenario has evolved.
Misc:
Our main characters did not manage to find subplot #1, but had they done so, it would have been this one, only activatable upon encountering the character Vesper Callen, leader of the Arcanotinker Crew, and earning their trust through tasks or demonstrating proficiency in areas similar to their work to gain their admiration.
⌠Hidden SubPlot [1/3]: The desperate request of a scientist who wants to unify the world⌡ ⌠You have met the requirements to access the hidden subplot #1 of the scenario⌡ ⌠The renowned scientist Vesper Callen dreams of unifying all the pirate guilds into a true faction that protects the people and achieves a balance of power with the Ironclad Armada. To accomplish this, it is essential to convince, by any means necessary, the leaders of the other pirate guilds to put aside their personal grievances and join together for one final strike against the Allied Kingdoms. If the users can find a way to unite all the pirates into a single faction, a well-organized surprise attack would be enough to deliver a blow so severe that the enemies of the Free Kingdoms would never again attempt to impose themselves upon them.⌡
Each subplot concludes with the victory of a particular faction, and this one would have ended with the triumph of the pirate faction. The rewards would have been based on the seven great guilds, in addition to receiving a special skill from Vesper: [True Mechanomancy Lv1], which serves as the foundation for building functional and totally operational A+ class items 'Sea Destroyers'.