The Stormlord Holds

ABBREVIATED HISTORY

Centuries in the past, the Stormlord Holds was a protectorate of Gazria and ally of Qadyrim. It was ruled by the legendary knight High Lord Eradric Oldynmenn along with his advisor, Graelan the Verdant.

When Eradric was slain by a malevolent dark elf general, Graelan the Verdant fell into a deep melancholy and left the mortal realm to live out his days as a hermit within the fey realm. The territory became sparsely populated with no central leadership.

During Andir's war with the Yahlish pirates, five of the leaders of the mercenaries and freebooters Andir contracted won titles of nobility and given land. The southeastern highlands of Andir were divided equally among the five, and they became known as the Stormlords. They have governed their holds for over a century now, though their grip on the populace is loosening as they fall victim to apathy, ennui, and infighting.

HISTORY: THE ONCE AND FUTURE HYPE

Centuries ago, when Qadyrim was a newly founded city-state, an ancient Gazrian noble - High Lord Eradric Oldynmenn - ruled the south Andiran highlands and steppes. Tales of his fairness and bravery spread far and wide, and to his side he attracted many adventurous nobles and travelers looking to serve in his court and record his stories.

Chief among his court was Graelan the Verdant, a clever and well-known wizard of considerable subtlety. He informed and aided Eradric, helped form the Order of the Griffon, a small band of Eradric's most trusted knights selected for skill and character regardless of their species or ethnicity. They traveled far, protected their people, and even brokered peace with Qadyrim during the Tide of Beasts.

High Lord Oldynmenn defeated fiends in single combat, befriended a dragon, and was gifted a magical spear crafted by the hands of Bright Court fey nobles. Even in life he was mythical, and his subjects referred to him by many monikers: Dragon-friend, The Fey-Blessed King, The Wise Lord, and the Undying Knight. It was said that prophecy spoke of him, a savior of the Southlands who would unite all under a banner of fairness, faith, and righteousness.

When he took fever due to a gangrenous wound received during a battle with a dark elf conqueror, his death was mourned by his subjects and his fey friends alike. For a year and a day, black banners were hung alongside his standard and subjects smudged ash on their foreheads. A new prophecy was spoken by Graelan the Verdant, that the days of Eradric's rule would return when House Oldynmenn rose once more.

In truth, it was all a lie.

Graelan cared deeply for the Southlands, but he feared Qadyrim expansion and the malign magic that its magicians used. Hearing the people's cries for a fair, unifying ruler, he found his mark in a young, headstrong knight of particular righteousness and morality. It was his hand who formed the Order of the Griffon, his honeyed words that convinced mortals, fey, and dragon alike that Eradric was a ruler of prophecy - a prophecy created by Graelan himself.

Graelan traveled to the fiendish world and goaded a devil to challenge Eradric. He used illusion and enchantment to convince raiders and bandits to attack Eradric's lands. It was his magic that turned blades away from Eradric's back when the heroic lord was in battle.

The only time Graelan was not with High Lord Oldynmenn was the day he received his fatal wound.

Heartbroken at his failure, a deep melancholy fell over him, and he retreated to the hidden forests of the fey world where he nurses the wound dealt his pride to this day.

Eradric's famed spear, Brennvyr, has been lost to history. To this day, those who remember hold out hope that the one to recover it will reform House Oldynmenn.

HISTORY: THE RISE OF THE STORMLORDS

After the death of High Lord Eradric Oldynmenn, the eastern highlands of the Southlands became a lawless territory. Bandits, orgrekin, and other assorted criminals took refuge here. Qadyrim labeled the province a territory and opened up settlement rights. The settlers who managed to carve out communities were mostly mercenary training forts, towns where thieves and pirates trafficked in local goods, and the odd fiendish magician looking to practice fell magic away from the eye of Qadyrim.

When the fishing town of Siren's Vigil was christened Dorithain, an Andiran naval port, Andiran warships launched a campaign against the Yahlish pirates harassing the Southlands, but the fleet commander underestimated the enemy's forces. Fearing defeat, he put out a call offering amnesty and a share of spoils to any local bands of raiders, bandits, pirates, and mercenaries who joined the cause. With their miscreant reinforcements, the Dorithain fleet claimed victory.

Five enterprising freebooters conferred at the end of the war, and approached Qadyrim officials with an offer: they would offer their share of spoils as tribute to Andir if they were given titles and land. Though loathe to give criminals any legitimate power, they did not believe that the highlands held any strategic or commercial value, and so appointed the five as "low nobles", splitting up the highlands between them so long as Dorithain remained beholden to Qadyrim.

Using their ill-gotten gains, these five mercenary captains and their families who weathered sea storms in defense of Andir became known, collectively, as the Stormlords. They have since governed the eastern Southlands much as they governed their criminal underlings in the past - with careless greed, apathy, and self-serving nonchalance.

The Stormlords rarely get along, save for when they decide to band together to participate in clandestine raids against towns, ships, and neighboring estates. They often pledge to bring the perpetrators to justice to deflect suspicion.

THE STORMLORD CLANS

House Vayner: The most urban of the Stormlord clans (and possibly the most involved with Witchport and their subjects) come from spies, saboteurs, thieves, and demonologists. The original Lord and Lady Vayner were said to be cambions, humans with fiendish blood in their veins.

Most ambitious among their fellows, House Vayner constantly looks to expand their influence and wealth, and often try to get their hands in the political pie of Witchport. They are known for providing criminal organizations with sanctuary - for a very steep price.

Only one male Vayner is born to a family every generation. No matter how many children they sire, every other child will be female. Vayner sons compete all through their youth to secure their place as Stormlord when the current one steps down or dies.

Their standard is a smiling mask surrounded by a wreath of nightshade.

House Mordyn: The most militant of the Stormlords, House Mordyn is the descendant of a large band of mercenaries who had turned to banditry when their tenacity in battled cause Andiran officials to dissolve their contract. Referred to as "The Kinslayers", though never to their face, for their habit of slaying friendly forces to claim the lion's share of any spoils.

Of all the Stormlord clans, they have kept their lands in the best repair, even if they see their subjects as an endless recruiting pool to build forces. They gain their wealth through selling ownership of the mercenaries they train to unscrupulous nobles.

Their standard is a horned helmet and flail.

House Longshore: Once an organization of pirates, House Longshore are the mariners of the Stormlord clans. They are the most careless clan when it comes to governing their subjects. They retain control over a port town on the border of Erislan, where they harbor their respectable group of warships. They claim sovereignty over their waters and demand tribute for any wishing to use their harbor or travel through their stretch of sea.

Of the Stormlords, House Longshore is the most willing to accept tribute from Witchport in exchange for maintaining a garrison of forces near the city.

Their standard is a ship encircled by a sea serpent.

House Traanor: Most pretentious of their fellows, House Traenor started as a loosely affiliated network of bandits and assassins. Unlike most Stormlords, they do not fear magic, and are drawn to its use. They boast the most legitimate business ventures and do their best to entertain important guests.

The other Stormlords derisively refer to them as "The House of Orphans", as their ancestors turned to banditry due to being jilted by the High Council and their habit of adopting any dispossessed nobles in a bid to try and curry favor.

House Traanor's decadence and pretention of true nobility has fostered ennui in their ranks, and they have neglected their lands and estates, preferring to spend their resources on maintaining a veneer of luxury and wealth.

Their standard was changed two generations earlier. It is now a gemstone with a scroll beneath and a crown atop.

House Nox: The quietest of the clans. Rarely in public and preferring to work from the shadows, House Nox is descended from a circle of fiendish sorcerers on the verge of being discovered by the many enemies they made. In every generation, at least one member of House Nox is born with the gift of magic.

House Nox controls the smallest amount of land, having sold parcels of it to other Stormlords. They rarely take direct action in governing their subjects, preferring to give settlements and towns charters and let them govern themselves. Their family estate boasts a hidden magical college (the only of its kind in the Southlands) where young magicians study and learn fell magic and demonology.

Agents of House Nox travel the Southlands in secret, looking for any young citizens born with the gift of magic to tempt into accepting their tutelage.

Their standard is a black flame.

LIFE IN THE STORMLORD HOLDS

"I don't involve myself much in politic talk. I will say, though, that the Stormlords are some of the most clever and well-organized bandits I've ever seen."

- Lodgemaster Faerd Duinnahan

Being a citizen of the Stormlord Holds means one is on their own. Towns and settlements often rule themselves. A few specifically concerned citizens of martial skill are given the title Marshal, but those who are not daunted by poor funding and resources turn out to be about as bad as the Stormlords themselves.

Most towns and estates seek a charter from their resident Stormlord in order to purchase autonomy and receive lower taxes, whereas those beholden to the clans rarely meet agents of their lords except when taxes are due. Wheat and barley grow readily during harvest, but other than root vegetables, little in the way of fruit or produce can be found. A typical diet in the Stormlord Holds consists of cheese, simple bread, and game. Towns with higher resources import most of their textiles and produce from Witchport.

The people of the highlands and steppes are strong-willed, but they live with the constant dread of knowing, at any moment, a contingent of Stormlord guards will come to demand tribute, in the form of conscripts and coins usually. The Stormlords each hold a yearly festival in their lands, but these festivals are merely ways to force the locals to offer further tribute and services, such as Hallow Night, where drunken members of House Nox, stumbling about in masks and robes, demand offerings of drink, food, and romantic partners lest they pretend (or not pretend) to place curses on a household or town.

Having to fend for themselves makes the locals independent, however, and they are loathe to offer servile obeisance to agents of their Stormlord. Most Stormlords find this entertaining, and tales exist of locals clouting a particularly nasty Stormlord soldier or sheriff and being rewarded with a position as an estate guard for showing bravery and martial skill.

Some locals remember the tale of High Lord Eradric, and secretly cling to the prophecy of House Oldynmenn being reformed when Brennvyr is reclaimed. Optimism is a coveted commodity in the Stormlord Holds.

The Holds boast some of the countries most skilled equestrians, and local ranchers are said to breed strong, swift horses. Due to the Stormlords having little interest in animal husbandry, they simply levy a flat tax to collect what coin they can. Mercenaries, Andiran military, and denizens of House Mordyn purchase many of their mounts exclusively from these ranches.

RELATIONSHIP WITH WITCHPORT

The one concession that the Stormlords make to Andir is accepting tribute from Witchport in order to station guards in the city, though in the aftermath of the Antagonist War, the High Council of Qadyrim has less and less of a grip on the Stormlords.

Witchport's status as a free city means that it is not directly under Stormlord rule. Though the Stormlords believe they could take over the city with their combined might, they would risk the ire of Andir given the small number of Andiran guards garrisoned there. They also have an unspoken fear of angering the rumored "shadow cabinet" of powerful individuals secretly governing the city. Since the Stormlords rely on the port for imported goods, the cost, they believe, outweighs the benefit, so they continue to begrudgingly accept the free city's sovereignty.

House Vayner is the only Stormlord clan that actively tries to foster good relations with Witchport, if only to try and bid on contracts allowing their forces increased influence in the city. The current Stormlord's three daughters are seen at many upper class social gatherings, each attempting to charm (or simply bully) important bachelors enough to marry them.

As one young city clerk said, "they're like sharks with gemstones for teeth."

CLIMATE, GEOGRAPHY, & FEATURES

The Stormlord Holds are mostly composed of highlands near the eastern mountains that meander into high steppes. A few streams snake their way south and west, and sparse forests spring up here and there. The craggy regions and narrow canyons that exist are not near as rich for mining as the first Stormlords initially believed.

The Holds are colder than surrounding lands due to their elevation, and thought they rarely receive lasting snowfall, the winter offers them flurries and frost. High winds and thunder storms are common, and the spring rains are longed for.

Game is plentiful, so most farms and ranches keep beef, hens, and goats for milk and eggs. Pork is the most commonly consumed domestic meat. Rabbit is a prized treat, and many of the highlands multiple falconers make a simple living by selling rabbits.

During the days of House Oldynmenn, many structures and towns were built, but have now fallen to disrepair. The naturally superstitious people of The Holds spread many rumors of these ruins now being home to monsters and malevolent spirits.