Iron Dawn: Of Science and Sorcery Obscura

By Jave Harron

Notes: This project is a bit of an experiment on my part. Since one of my complaints on the Forgotten Realms setting is there is too much magic, I decided to create a little rivalry with a new force: technology. Given the relatively 'common' planar travel in the Realms, it's only a matter of time until they come into contact with an advanced world.

The technology in here will NOT be modern era or futuristic devices. There's too many Shadowrun rip-offs with that. The technology here will be 'steam-punk,' or alternative 'weird science' based around steam-powered devices. Ravenloft was once semi-steam-punk, but there are some other examples.

Examples of steam-punk are the awful movies: Wild, Wild West and the recent stinker League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Also, any Jules Verne, HG Wells, and Victorian science fiction counts. Devices will include things like clockwork automatons powered by steam, analytical engines (clockwork computers), and Frankenstein-style resurrections.

This story is a crossover with Baldur's Gate, and takes place shortly after BGII. That's before the main characters become (too) powerful, and makes them seem vulnerable. Now, the crossed over story is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. Basically, it's about an Industrial Revolution in a Victorian fantasy world. Some of the characters that appear are not in the original Arcanum game, but instead were created by me. If any of you play tabletop RPGs, I've got a campaign setting for steam punk technologies and guns. (Pitiful, I know.) That said, on with the show.

Prologue: Dark Skies

The small orcish village seemed deceptively peaceful. The sun rose, spreading its golden rays upon the crude, thatched hunts of the settlement. It seemed like another day of pillaging, raping, and hunting for the simple minds of the orcish tribe. The shaman awoke his fellow orcs, and the set out. They had prepared to raid a human settlement, and it was the tribe's tradition to attack at dawn.

However, other forces had plans for the orcs. Those forces that were not from Faerun, yet somehow adapted very fast to this new setting. Fate and luck had given them a new world. First, these orcs would be a test to see how well they would adapt.

The orcish raiding party had assembled in the middle of town when a strange sound was heard of in the distance. The orcs were in a near frenzied state, so the droning in the distance only helped set the volatile horde off. The members began to cheer and holler, especially as the shaman performed a war dance.

However, that changed when the source of the buzzing was visible. Small, canvas and metal birds appeared in the sky, apparently piloted by humans. The orcs began to shoot arrows and throw spears into the air, but the artificial birds were too high to be hit.

The artificial birds then did something that both scared and interested the orcs. They began dropping metal eggs from their wings, creating a whistling sound as they fell. The orcs gathered around in circles around the spots the eggs were falling.

This was a huge mistake on their part. Once the 'eggs' hit the ground, massive explosions wiped out the tightly-knit groups of orcs. Those not killed in the original bombing panicked and began to flee. However, they were retreating in a closely knit group. A prime target for the biplanes.

One of the biplanes stooped down to treetop level, but made a strafing run on the fleeing group. Three quarters were cut down, and the survivors were too afraid to run for cover. All of them, however, did not anticipate the next wave of the assault.

Massive, steel boxes with treads and cannons rolled into the village, killing or plowing over any survivors. The tanks, however, were only there to ensure one thing: everyone in the village was dead. After making several rounds of the village, the tank commander gave a signal by wireless telegraph to their leader. No survivors. The raid was successful.

The rich mineral veins under the burned village were now under their control. High above the ashes, on board a steam-driven, armored zeppelin, their leader was pleased. Her name was Alivina Andersmith. She was the Overwoman, a creator of values. Her values centered on strength and power, something she had in abundance. If this was how easy it was to wipe out a town in this world, she would have an easy time taking it over.