Across the Border

The forces of Iuz are detailed further in Iuz the Evil, but a general description is given here. The area a mile or so on both sides of Furyondy’s northern border is a “no-man’s land.” Neither side dares to send out regular patrols into this area where hostile encounters are very likely. Iuz’s soldiers in the conquered portion of the barony are mostly orcish, with a handful of orog leaders and low- to mid-level priests who keep well away from the border. The forces of Evil have not yet begun to fortify their own side of the border. The Razing Line (shown on the map) is a notable exception. The Razing Line is a quarter mile wide zone which priests of Iuz have defoliated and blasted into barren, dead soil with fire and acid. Belvor’s court sages have warned him that this destruction has one specific purpose. Somehow, although Belvor’s sages are not certain about the details, this dead ground will enable Iuz's priests to animate dead more effectively than their spells would normally allow. As if yet, no manifestation of this enhanced power is clear.

The orc soldiers facing the barony’s northern border are estimated at 4,000 not including the garrison of Crockport. Their morale and organization under the orogs appears good. These orcs seldom stage significant forays into Furyondy. They appear to be biding their time. Raids by Furyondian forces usually bring retaliatory attacks by warbands of 200 to 300 orcs.

Magically created and controlled monsters are frequently encountered along the border. The mage Cryennik, stationed in Crockport, uses charm monster spells and despatches these controlled beasts southward to cause mayhem with ferocious random attacks. Cryennik has some way of summoning highly magical monsters such as manticores and chimerae which can cause significant loss of life when they attack. On one occasion, Furyondy’s northern defenders were even attacked by a summoned dracolisk. Because these monsters often fly, they can strike behind defensive lines, striking terror into the barony's common folk.