Bandit Lands
The Bandit Lands, located in the southern province of the Tonarian Grasslands, is the most chaotic and uncontrolled domain in the Krovian Empire. Most outsiders think of the people from the Bandit Lands as marauding raiders and pillagers who ride across Tonarian, taking whatever they can by banditry. However, the thousands of people who live in the Bandit Lord's domain could not survive in such a manner alone.
While there are raiders aplenty, thousands also live a semi-nomadic life, traveling with large herds of livestock who forage on poor grazing and over-farmed lands. The Bandit Lands have cities and, within them, artisans and craftspeople. Others pledge themselves to one of the three Bandit Lords and serve as spies or become part of the rebellion fighting back the Krovian Empire from retaking their land.
It is generally agreed upon that the might of all three Bandit Lords is required to keep the Krovian Empire at bay. However, this has not stopped the ruling Bandit Lord from attempting to gain an advantage against the others, even knowing that no matter how powerful, one lord could never rule over the entire domain due to its sheer size and chaotic nature.
Type
Guild, Thieves
Alternative Names
Bandit Lords, Tonarian Bandit Lords
Location
Neighboring Nations
Current Bandit Lords
Urzen the Cruel
Lord of Crags
The hill giant Urzen came to power through the process of elimination, as in eliminating anyone foolish enough to attempt a challenge. Now in command of a personal bodyguard of cutthroats who never leaves his side, Urzen enjoys being at the front line when the Krovian Empire attempts to push into the Bandit Lands.
Xavendra Kerzin
Lady of Hallorn
Xavendra is a Lightbound believed to be "rehabilitated" by the Angelic Choir. After years of imprisonment in Sanctuary, an angelic prison in the Above, Xavendra took her second chance as a Bandit Lord. Never without the council of the half-giant Ma'kan, Xavendra enjoys the idea of suffering for its own sake and delights in the company of fiends and demons.
Skannar Hendricks
Stag Lord Keep
The handsome Nolimon was born with six fingers on both hands, which has helped the bard become a master harpist. He drinks wine rather than ale and prefers time alone to reflect by a woodland stream near his keep. Skannar claims he has never slain an innocent or defenseless person and is furious at any man who lifts a hand to strike a child.
Rift Canyon
This huge, nearly 200-mile-long fissure is over a mile deep in places, with great sheer rock faces and paths that only the most agile can clamber down. The canyon's walls are sheer and treacherous, honeycombed with warrens and caverns. The landscape is dry, with isolated patches of scrub and a few pitiful trees. The weather is unpredictable at best. Freak windstorms are a constant threat, as are rockslides and cave-ins. In the winter, bitter frosts can make the already treacherous footing of the canyon passes impassable. In the spring, drifting morning mists leave a damp cloak on the sheer cliffs for a similar effect.
Rift Canyon is populated by many of the former inhabitants of the Bandit Lands and surrounding barrens seeking refuge or facing exile. Food and water are scarce, but the Rift is ripe with silver ore for miners crazy enough to delve deep into the heart of the canyon. The bandits have made the best of their situation, managing to survive the hazards of the Rift against all odds. They have devised a complex communication system, rock markings and plant stains, among other techniques, to mark safe or hazardous passages.
The lowest recesses are still extremely dangerous and relatively unexplored. The caverns near Hallorn are avoided as it is well known several ogre clans den there. At the westernmost edge of the canyon lies the dreaded Wormcrawl Fissure, a place of legendary dark magics where some speculate the priest Avuss, follower of the Fallen Elf lived his last days on Erenel.
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