Ferrumach Rilmani
Philosophy: Enforce the Balance through military might
Caste: Philosopher-Warrior
Alchemical Metal: Iron
The ferrumachs, now there’s a lesson written in the iron-scented blood of those foolish enough to upset the Balance. Imagine a being so solid, so unyielding, that even fierce storms or tempestuous battles cannot sway them from their purpose. The ferrumach see themselves as the anvil upon which the Balance is forged, standing tall and grim, their commitment to neutrality unwavering.
The ferrumachs are beings not born of flesh and blood, but of iron and resolve. Their skin, an ashy soot grey with whispers of gunmetal, conjuries thoughts of the battlefield even in their calmer moments. Each muscle is sculpted not for beauty or grace, but for battle. These are beings for whom conflict is not just a means to an end, but a solemn duty.
The ferrumachs march with the intent to maintain the balance, no matter the cost. Their fortresses, grey monoliths that pierce the skies near the Spire, stand as silent and vigilant sentinels of the rilmani heartlands.
They are warriors, through and through, but not of the kind that seek glory or renown. No, these soldiers fight for greater cause, they are the guardians of the Balance, the shield against the encroaching chaos of too much darkness or the suffocating embrace of too much light. When the call to arms is sounded by the Concordanach, the ferrumachs are the first to stand ready, their bodies honed weapons, their spirits as unbreakable as metal.
And oh, their prowess in battle is a sight to behold! Not for them the subtle magics or the cunning guile of the cuprilachs. No, the ferrumachs meet their foes head-on, a wave of iron resolve. Footsoldiers, kuldurath knights, archers; the ferrumach can fill all the roles.
Yet, despite their fearsome presence on the battlefield, there’s a solitude that clings to the ferrumachs. Apart from their kin, they dwell in their fortresses of stone and iron, keeping solitary vigil. But make no mistake, within this isolation burns a fierce loyalty to the rilmani, and above all to the Balance.
So, when you hear the march of the ferrumachs, know that the Balance is being righted, that these towering sentinels of iron and resolve are there to ensure that the scales neither tip too far towards chaos nor towards order.
- Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix II [2e] p90 here
- Morte’s Planar Parade [5e]
Source: Jon Winter-Holt. Canonwatch: The rilmani have changed a lot between 2e and 5e D&D, not least in terms of their appearance. I must confess I don’t like the futuristic robo-android-look of rilmani that 5e has introduced, I think it’s anachronistic compared with the rest of the setting, and 5e rilmani look more like golems than an outsider race. And obviously the lumpy blobs of 3e were dreadful. So I’ve reimagined them closer to the 2e form; humanoid, clearly metallic themed, androgynous, more planescapey, and I’ve tried to make each caste look more distinct from each other too. Please let me know what you think!
