The Deepsteel Tide
Among the titanic city-ships that steam along the coastlines of Largitas, none are more feared—or more fiercely loved—than The Iron Leviathan. A mountainous construct of blackened steel plates, pressure-welded rivets, and thrumming arcano-engines, it houses a unique and resilient society: a bonded culture of Dwarves and Orcs, known together as The Deepsteel Tide.
Forged from the aftermath of The Blooming and necessity, the Leviathan's population began as a cooperative effort between a number of displaced Dwarven forge-clans and Orcish warbands. Forced to coexist, they gradually grew into kin by working side by side, defending one another, and surviving the dangers of the open sea.
Now, generations later, Deepsteel Dwarves and Orcs are kin in all but blood. They share homes, hold festivals together, and even form hybrid guilds, where the Dwarves’ precision and the Orcs’ strength combine into something formidable.
They often say: “Stone shatters. Steel bends. But chain holds.”
Life aboard the Iron Leviathan is not easy. The hull groans. The pipes scream. The engines never rest. But its people are strong, loyal, and bound by steel and fire.
Here, Dwarves and Orcs have not merely endured together—they have forged something new.
“We are not of the mountain or the crag. We are their shadow on the waves.”
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Dwarves bring their craftsmanship, engineering knowledge, and deep respect for tradition.
Orcs contribute brawn, martial prowess, and an adaptive, live-fast ethos.
Law and Order
Despite their chaotic setting, the Deepsteel Tide follows a strict code of conduct, enforced jointly by:
- Iron-Kin Lawkeepers (Dwarven)
- Anchor-Fangs (Orcish enforcers)
Interpretations of The Stone Laws aboard the ship are uniquely adaptive, often reflecting the hybrid needs of both cultures while still honoring tradition.
Shared customary codes and values
Though born from two very different peoples—stone-steeped Dwarves and storm-tempered Orcs—the Deepsteel Tide has forged a distinct cultural identity built on mutual respect, earned loyalty, and unrelenting practicality.
Here are the cornerstones of their shared code:
1. “Chain Holds” — Loyalty Through Action
The Tide values proven loyalty, not lofty promises. Every relationship—whether between crewmates, friends, or lovers—is expected to be demonstrated through deeds, not words.
- Chainbond Ceremonies symbolize this: a Dwarf and an Orc each hammer a link of iron together and wear it around their necks. To break one’s chain is a grave offense.
- Cowardice, especially in the face of duty or danger, is viewed with deep disdain.
2. “No Rust on the Forge” — Everyone Pulls Weight
The ship is a living thing, and every part must serve. Regardless of ancestry, everyone aboard is expected to contribute, work hard, and excel at their craft.
- Idleness is considered one of the few true shames aboard the Leviathan.
- Apprenticeships are taken seriously—often cross-cultural, with young Orcs learning forging, and Dwarves learning deckfighting.
3. “Bend, Don’t Shatter” — Pragmatism Over Pride
While both Orc and Dwarven cultures are traditionally proud, the Deepsteel Tide teaches flexibility without weakness.
- Holding onto obsolete customs that hinder survival is frowned upon.
- This value allows the culture to blend old traditions with new methods, creating a living code rather than a static one.
4. “Flame Burns Equal” — Kinship Above Kind
Perhaps the most revolutionary idea of the Deepsteel Tide is that clan is earned, not inherited.
- Orcs and Dwarves often adopt one another into mixed-clans or forge-crews.
- Mixed children are rare but culturally embraced as living proof of the ship’s unity.
- Clan-terms like “Forgekin,” “Deckblood,” and “Iron-Sibs” are common.
5. “Seal Before Storm” — Disputes Must Be Solved Before Danger
Fighting is permitted (and even encouraged) only when it's safe to do so—never when the ship is in motion, under threat, or short-handed.
- Deck duels must be overseen and registered by a Steamwright or Iron-Kin officer.
- Grudges must be aired and cleared before storms, battles, or major voyages, lest the crew fracture at a critical time.
Final Note:
The Deepsteel Tide’s hybrid culture doesn’t erase its Dwarven or Orcish roots—it tempers them into something stronger. It teaches that survival isn't about blood or tradition alone, but about adaptability, solidarity, and shared fire.
“One hammer strikes strong. Two hammers strike true.”
Foods & Cuisine
The Leviathan's cuisine is hearty, pungent, and shockingly inventive. The Dwarves provide fermentation techniques and stone-preserved staples, while the Orcs introduce salt-brined meats, fermented krill paste, and sea-foraged roots.
Signature dishes include:
- Rust-Fried Tunneltuber
- Brine-Crusted Hogcheeks
- Forge-Grease Stew
- Smeltback Crackers (made with actual powdered fish bones)
Drinks are mostly strong, smoky, or sour—especially the infamous Deck Ale, which "tastes like ship grease and freedom."
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Together, these Dwarves and Orcs have developed customs found nowhere else:
- Chainbond Ceremonies: A ritual of mutual loyalty where Dwarf and Orc hammer a single link of steel together, worn as a necklace until death.
- Scrap Festivals: Competitive games where teams build functional tools or weapons from nothing but refuse and wreckage.
- Deck Duels: Orcish one-on-one sparring contests held on wet steel plates; the loser often owes the winner a pint of Deck Ale and a song of apology.
Industry & Innovation
- Steamwright Forges: Modular smithies that slide on rails across the deck, converting seawater and coal into endless pressure for industrial needs.
- Runesteel Rigs: An innovation of Deepsteel Rune Masters and Orcish Iron-Shamans—combining ancestral runes with primal iron charms.
- Fire-Tide Barrels: Explosive barrels wrapped in soaked canvas and blood-runes, used to clear sea monsters or pirates from the ship’s path.
Alright this group sound like my kind of people, this is a fantastic response for this prompt, I enjoyed learning about the unique blending of these two groups and traditions into one, and how they meld it together. I love the philosophies, and one that in particularly struck a chord with me was the bit about 'clan is earned, not inherited' that's so powerful, I love that. Another one into the collection, fantastic read, excellent article :)