Hefiosa Hills
The Hefiosa Hills are rugged wildlands deep in the heart of the Thardic Republic, enclosed by the Kom and Coranan Provinces.
It is the home to evasive bandits, the fiercely independent Hill Clans, Yelgri nests, monstrous Ivashu of all sizes and shapes and the belligerent V‘hir Giant Goat.
The republics legions have never subdued these hills. Bandits strike almost at will at the surrounding provinces, retreating before the legions can follow. Those that have been foolish enough to do so usually lose the quarry and likely a number of men to ambush, snipers or environmental hazards as rockslides or falling boulders. The hill clans are the masters of this rugged land and know all the hidden pathways.
In the summer of 717, the frustrated local official in the Kom province has hired a mercenary company, The Iron bulls, over 40 men strong to eradicate an exceptionally troublesome band of bandits. They haven’t been heard from again.
Hill Clans
The hill clans, descendants of Old Jarinese tribes, that have since intermingled with successive waves of newcomers and four centuries of criminals and outcasts from the Coranni Empire, The Theocracy of Tekos, the Thardic League and now the Thardic Republic. Typically, they form small fortified villages with a population of 50 to 150. The number of these holds is hard to determine, likely numbering over 20.
Led by an elected Clan Chief, these settlements are very diverse. Each clan hold has able warriors equipped with a range of melee weapons from oversized two-handed swords to the more practical shorts sword and buckler. For ranged attack, they use the short bow and light crossbow and have also developed the heavy Hefiosa bola, a heavy short-range weapon designed to bring down the giant V’hir Goat mid-charge.
Traditionally clansmen are attired in warm, loose-fitting clothing usually in a tartan design in clan colors. Animal hide armor is common, often interwoven with stolen or scavenged metal pieces. The clansmen favor medium or light armor over heavy to maintain speed and mobility.
Although there are rivalries and the odd vendettas, the clans do not generally fight among themselves. Against significant threats such as an invading legion or Orc swarm, they will independently mount guerrilla-style warfare against the invaders, carefully choosing terrain and making use of elevation and choke points. Although individual clanholds may fight together, it is rarely under unified leadership.
The Hefiosa hill clans are a boisterous, fun-loving lot, reveling in tales of their cunning and brave deeds. They have contacts with the thieves’ guilds throughout the republic to on-sell their acquired goods.
Each clanhold as a specific color and tartan pattern which they display and wear with pride.
They are not especially religious but tend to favor Ilivir. A small number of blind priests of the Order of the Children of the Blind Serpent travel among clanholds administering the needs of the locals. This small cult is based at the Orhai-Cia shrine found in the hills highest peak, up along harrowing and winding stone cut tracks. The church of Peoni have sent missionaries with surprisingly good reception but little success to date.
Geography
The terrain is likewise challenging with craggy hills and small mountains, steep tree filled valleys, jagged rock formations, chiseled waterways, boulder fields and always harsh landscape. Settlements are connected by long winding paths, dangerous stone cut trails and shaky rope bridges.
Fauna & Flora
The Hefiosan valleys are densely filled with trees mostly deciduous turning to a thin scattering of coniferous as the hills gain in elevation.
Animal life is surprising abundant and goats thrive, especially the V‘hir Giant Goat. Goat skins and horns are a valuable commodity.
Mountain lions, bird life and wild sheep thrive as do the Yelgri. Persistent rumors that the famed Sabretooth Dracofelas has been seen and Wyverns have moved into the hills in recent years. Occasionally nomadic bands of Gargu-Arak (small Orcs) migrate into the hills but they do not last long.
Ivashu are relatively abundant, particularly in the north. The somewhere in the valleys is said to be a large colony of Hru rock giants and the Babble Valley is apparently filled with the Umbathri gargoyles. Trolls and more unique Ivashu are frequently reported and can cause considerable problems. Some clanholds capture and sell these monsters to the Pamesani Games against the objections of the local wandering priests of Ilvir (Order of the Children of the Blind Serpent).
Natural Resources
Hefiosa has abundant rare herbs and a few hardy root vegetables, mushrooms and berries. Other crops are scarce, the main source of agriculture is goat herding.
The hills have rich mineral wealth however the clanholds make it expensive to exploit. Several Iron, Tin and Mica mines operate in the region and pay sizable protection money to nearby Clanholds as does the famous Telen Pink Marble Quarries. One Silver mine uses Coranan legionary garrison for security to remain in operation.
Maps
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Hefiosian Hills
The Hefiosa Hills are rugged wild lands deep in the heart of the Thardic Republic.
Orhai-Cia Shrine
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Order of the Children of the Blind SerpentThardic Republic
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