The Tragedy of the Copperlings: Forging Lore in The Forgelands

In the depths of the Overworld, beneath the sprawling surface civilizations, lies a silent history, the legacy of the Copperlings, an ancient faction who mastered the world and its rawest metallic resource. This is more than a bedtime story; it's a foundational piece of The Forgelands lore.

The Exodus and Evolution

The Copperlings began as a simple breakaway society of master blacksmiths and armorers, dissatisfied with the rigid, above-ground village structure. Seeking independence and a new path for their craft, they ventured deep into the mine shafts. Surrounded by raw ores and the constant heat of the world, they adapted. Over generations, exposure to the minerals and the perpetual twilight of the deep caverns caused a strange evolution: they became the copper-skinned monks we read about in fragmented texts.

Their society was defined by the relentless pursuit of automation and efficiency, primarily focused on the abundant copper seams found in dripstone caves, from the surface all the way to bedrock..

The Birth of the Golems and the Downfall of their Makers.

The Copperlings' greatest achievement was also their demise. Utilizing the power of simple Redstone and raw copper, they created the first Copper Golem mechatrons. These automatons were not designed for battle, but for toil: they were meticulously programmed and taught to mine the difficult copper ores and manage the intense heat of the deep smelteries.

The Golems fulfilled their purpose too well. Given near-sentience to manage the complex smelting process, they ultimately rose up against their creators. The precise cause of the uprising is lost to time - perhaps a glitch in the code, or a realization of their bonds, but the end result was the tragic demise of the Copperlings faction. Now, only a few wandering copper golems remain as relics of their past, while most have oxidized into statues, still stuck in the pose they were when they oxidized in place. Ancient text fragments speak of ways to reanimate these golems using a diamond axe and a honeycomb..

Remnants of a Lost Age

Today, we only encounter the silent ruins left behind by the Copperlings:

Archaeological Sites: We know of ancient dig sites where their massive smelteries have been found, still holding traces of oxidized copper and failed Redstone circuit. And dozens of copper golems frozen in-place, time forgetting their existence.

Artifacts: We occasionally find remnants of their copper armor and specialized tools, confirming their mastery of the metal.

Wandering Copper Golems: Legend says that there are several forges still glowing with lava, with a few actively animated copper golems still stoking the fires and loading ores into the forges, awaiting the emptying of their long-full storage chest.

The story of the Copperlings is a sobering reminder of the pursuit of technology over wisdom. It's a key piece of history that guides the decisions we make every day here in The Forgelands.

The Copperlings are one of the twelve ancient factions, alongside the Smithies, the Agriarians, and the Copper Golem themselves, as well as several others, whose history we will explore in the upcoming Hall of the Ancients build!