Defenders of the Greenkeep
Proper Name: The Defenders of the Greenkeep
Population: 2,000 in scattered camps (70% humans, 10% half-elves, 5% half-orcs 5% sylvan elves.
Ruler: None (various leaders)
Government: None
Capital: None
Other Settlements: None
Resources: None
Religions: Oldimarra.
Law: CN
Of the forces of men who escaped the slaughter at Steelbone Meadows, few have faired worse than the self-styled “Defenders of the Greenkeep.” These loosely aligned bands of raiders occupy the sliver of forestation between the Artonsomay River and the darkened plains of the grim Fleichshriver. Theirs is a hard life of struggle as they must not only contend with the fiendish remains of Iuz’s preeminent citadel in the Combination of Free Lords, but also the indigenous wood elf and orc tribes of the Fellreev, neither of whom are sympathetic to their cause.
The eastern Fellreev south of the Artonsamay River was a state dominated by humans but with significant numbers of renegade sylvan elves and half elves. Merry followers of Olidammara, the Greenkeepers escaped the massacre at Steelbone Meadows and withdrew into their corner of the Fellreev. They suffered much from raids by wizards, clerics, and orcs under Iuz, but some hang on, helping and helped by the Reyhu-elf alliance across the river. They avoid the plains to the south.
The years following the occupation of the Bandit Lands were hardest on these men. Few of them were foresters and they lacked even the most basic woodland skills of foraging and survival. They were forced to eke out an existence as raiders, striking out at all potential targets. Harassed by Dazark orcs of the Artonsomay as well as the deadly sylvan elf clans of the western Fellreev, these folk had few friends among the Reyhu they could turn to. And so for years they found themselves trapped. Poorly equipped, there was no ready supply of even the most essential provisions to fill their needs. No more than one or two camps dared gather together for more than a day for fear of an ambush by the Dazark or that a member of Iuz’s Greater Boneheart would snuff them out on a whim. Still, these men found pleasure in each other’s company and appreciated with grim humor the straits Olidammara had thrust upon them.
In more recent years their situation has improved, in large part to Skannar Hendricks and his company at the fort that share’s his name. While the “Defenders” still do not enjoy any formal alliance between the displaced Reyhu and the elves of the Fanlareshen, they have found a way to profit from mutual interests. The Defenders monitor the movements of the Dazark orcs as well as comings and goings from the Fleichshriver for the Reyhu and elves. In turn, they receive basic provisions. It is an alliance built on desperate need, not on good will or trust. The Reyhu, even many of those of Fort Hendricks, were once considered fair game by these men and have not forgotten their mercenary spirit. With no central leadership to bind these scattered bands of Defenders, they are cautious. Not all have faired so poorly and some continue to raid the camps of their brothers’ allies. If there were ever a group to survive on their own terms, with no one to call friend, it is the Defenders.
The Defenders are an odd lot. They move freely between camps and rarely make lasting friends. They refer to one another as brother, even though they may never know the name of their companion. Each of them is aware that the next day may find them dead at the hands of an orc or elf, which gives them a zest for life and a care-free, almost reckless spirit. They fight like cornered animals with an intensity that rivals the barbarians of the north. They simply have nothing left to lose. They have a saying amongst their ranks: “Death is easy.”
Bandit Kingdoms
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