Aen Vani
Deep in the Wilderland Hills, the Vanigothic town of Aen Vani falls into the territory of Suilley only upon maps drawn in the civilized realms. In reality, the Vanigoths have their own king and do not acknowledge any other rulership. Indeed, they barely acknowledge their own king, being organized into independent tribes ruled by a Rohalac. The Rohalac of a Vanigoth tribe is essentially a hereditary chieftain, although the tribe can vote to remove a Rohalac in favor of another Vanigoth of any Rohalac bloodline, including one from another tribe.
Aen Vani is the seat of the Vanigoth King, currently a seasoned warrior by the title of Saldevic II. At the age of 20, Saldevic led several Vanigoth tribes into Keston Province during the Wilderlands Clan Wars and managed to avoid the slaughter at Broch Tarna. His forces in Aen Vani are small in number, perhaps 200 raiders, but most of these are trained and experienced fighters rather than mere tribal warriors. Moreover, the Highland Vanigoths appear to have a strong strain of ogrish blood, for some of the Highlanders are utterly massive by human standards. Saldevic himself is one of these apparent half-breeds, standing 7ft tall and roped in muscle. The Vanigoths of the Lowlands, by contrast, do not appear to have the strain of ogre blood that runs in the Vanigoths of the Highlands. Aen Vani itself is a trading town and meeting point for different Vanigoths tribes. The outskirts are “decorated” with heads on pikes, and outriders circle at a distance, watching for intruders. The town is built within the ruins of an old stone fort. The old walls rise to only half their original height, and only circle half the town, but they are supplemented with walls of sharpened logs and some wooden watchtowers. Given the fighting strength of the Vanigoths living here, most monsters give the town a very wide berth in any case.
Most of the Vanigoths worship an ancient god referred to only as “The Father,” a violent, primitive deity whose worship dates back to the Neolithic era of Akados at least. He has a large number of shamans scattered throughout the Vanigoth tribes, and his high priest in Aen Vani is a true cleric of high level.
Outsiders are curiosities here, and quite well tolerated as long as the Vanigoths do not consider them to be spies. Those who appear to be warriors may be challenged to contests of strength or combat prowess, but these are seldom lethal.
Aen Vani is the seat of the Vanigoth King, currently a seasoned warrior by the title of Saldevic II. At the age of 20, Saldevic led several Vanigoth tribes into Keston Province during the Wilderlands Clan Wars and managed to avoid the slaughter at Broch Tarna. His forces in Aen Vani are small in number, perhaps 200 raiders, but most of these are trained and experienced fighters rather than mere tribal warriors. Moreover, the Highland Vanigoths appear to have a strong strain of ogrish blood, for some of the Highlanders are utterly massive by human standards. Saldevic himself is one of these apparent half-breeds, standing 7ft tall and roped in muscle. The Vanigoths of the Lowlands, by contrast, do not appear to have the strain of ogre blood that runs in the Vanigoths of the Highlands. Aen Vani itself is a trading town and meeting point for different Vanigoths tribes. The outskirts are “decorated” with heads on pikes, and outriders circle at a distance, watching for intruders. The town is built within the ruins of an old stone fort. The old walls rise to only half their original height, and only circle half the town, but they are supplemented with walls of sharpened logs and some wooden watchtowers. Given the fighting strength of the Vanigoths living here, most monsters give the town a very wide berth in any case.
Most of the Vanigoths worship an ancient god referred to only as “The Father,” a violent, primitive deity whose worship dates back to the Neolithic era of Akados at least. He has a large number of shamans scattered throughout the Vanigoth tribes, and his high priest in Aen Vani is a true cleric of high level.
Outsiders are curiosities here, and quite well tolerated as long as the Vanigoths do not consider them to be spies. Those who appear to be warriors may be challenged to contests of strength or combat prowess, but these are seldom lethal.
Settlement
Aen Vani, Town of
Type
Town
Owning Organization
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