Nature's Vanguard

Summary

Nature's Vanguard consists of the tribes and rangers throughout Sundren. This includes the ranger outpost of the Viridale as well as several nomadic, barbarian tribes in the region.

These protectors work diligently, often through force of arms, to ensure the safety of the wardens, nature, and each other. They are the "soldiers" of the Wardens of the Vale. Each group has agreed to lend their might and military when they are called to do so.

Typically, the groups of Nature's Vanguard live off the land. They take only what they need and hate the over-consumption of Sundren citizens. They shun civilized regions.

Location: All of Sundren

Typical Member Traits:

• Ranger, hunter, or elven scout; or, nomadic tribesman
  
• Attraction to melee or ranged combat; uses the wild to his advantage
  
• Typically non-lawful
  
• Belief in defending the powerful sages and druids of nature
  

Objectives

• Protect the Wardens of the Vale
  
• Fight against over hunting and mass consumption
  

Ranks

• Scout
• Tracker
• Guide
• Watchman
• Marksman

Persons of Note

Iauron - Leader of Nature's Vanguard

Class: Ranger/Barbarian
Deity: Corellon
Age: 215
Race: Wood Elven
Location: Ranger's Outpost in Viridale
Alignment: Chaotic/Neutral

Description:
Seen as a veteran in the wilds, many stories around the camp fires of the Wardens speak of Iauron, the master Ranger. Tales of his glory in combat and in the face of adversities has landed him a position in the council, though he'd rather be out acting on his own accord.

Tribes

Tribe of the Remorhez
Location: Spine of the World
Faction / Sub: Wardens of the Vale / Nature's Vanguard
Alignment: CN

Summary:

They are nomadic for all intensive purposes, but they stay within Icewind Dale and the surrounding lands. They usually follow the herds of elk/deer. The tribe keeps a few permanent buildings in the Tundra, usually to shelter scouts and hunters on long travels. Woolen hides make up the exterior of their tents and structures. When a encampment is formed a few semi permanent buildings are usually created from the surrounding forests(Food and wood storage primarily. The children are raised by their fathers to hunt for food. The men do most of the hunting and gathering in the society. The children are trained from a young age with a barbarian-type weapon of the father's choosing (warhammer, warmace, battle ax, great ax, great sword... - Most of the weapons tend to be larger and two-handed.) All but the rare members have black hair, blunt stubborn jaws, and short unimpressive noses. Brown eyes are the most common. The tribes is primarily human though there is some intermingling of orc and (secretly) celestial in it as well. The tribe will work with any faction so long as it is to the benefit of the tribe and doesn't have any fundamentally opposed issues (Undead, kin slaying, orc lovers, etc).

The tribe cling stubbornly to their traditions and lore. Often times this can cause undue racial tension, as black skin is treated as evil (even if its not a elf), and anyone showing magical talent is treated as if they were demon spawn. Reading and writing skills is rare among the tribe, instead the most intelligent members of the tribe pass along their history and traditions orally.

Origin/History:

The typical deity that is worshiped by this tribe is Tempus Foehammer. The tribe holds certain beliefs about the common races of Faerun. Drow are referred to as Demon elves or the En-slaver's Of Man, and are practically killed on sight. Elves are seen as magical but untrustworthy creatures on the whole. Dwarves are trustworthy and honorable, and mighty warriors. Hin and gnomes are fantasy stories and often believed to be only legends, commonly described as being flighty, reckless, and foolish. Half planar humans (tieflings, genasai, etc) are Called "Dark Ones" or less commonly the "Eaters of souls". Visitors of all races are typically treated with a distant caution, for the tribe knows that it cannot burn bridges needlessly and still stay strong when the time comes when it needs allies. The tribe of the Remorahz has always named its greatest foes to be Frost Giants who for many years have raided and slaved upon the tribes of Ice Wind dale. In so much, any giant seen by the tribe will immediately provoke a hostile response of some kind.

Base(s) of Operations:

The tribe of the Rhemoraz (Polar Worm) resides in Icewind Dale.

Leadership/People of Note

The leader of the tribe is a male in the books, but the females hold a measure of power as well. Both genders treat each other with respect and polygamy is frowned upon. They are closely knit too survive in the cold winters of Icewind Dale (or Northern Sundren).

Tribal Elder is advised by the legend tellers (cleric types). Tribal Elder delegates his wishes to the pathfinders who lead the tribe for him (druid types/ranger types) Only the elder is allowed to make agreements for the tribe as a whole.

Legends also speak of the mighty warrior Snow Hawk, and his prowess in battle. The warrior was one of the few of the tribe to come down to Sundren and into legends as the mightiest warrior the land had ever seen.

Objectives:

Tribal Purity: Arcane Magic is called "The Corrupter" and is taught from child birth to be the brother of greed as such that they both will divide and destroy the tribe should they ever find a foot hold among the people. The tribe is currently in its gathering and storage season in preparation for the coming winter, which the Shamans have foretold will be darker and colder then can be remembered.

Tribal Strength: The tribe eschews contact with civilized cities as much as is humanly possible. Children are indoctrinated early on to the idea that life in the city makes a warrior lazy of thought and feet, and will lead to their doom. If travel to a city is necessary, a single tribesman is sent, after a night of spiritual preparation with a shaman to ward their soul from the lush intoxication of the easy life.

Ranks Initiation Process:

In the tribe of the Rhemoraz a teenager/early twenties male must defeat a polar worm with his bare hands and alone. The worm either eats him or he defeats it using his wits and the surrounding terrain. The worm is usually beaten by using its heat-source (a red glowing epidermis along its back) to the warrior's advantage. Once beaten, the new warrior is tattooed with a polar worm on their forehead in an ice-blue hue to show they are adults.

The only way an outsider may join the tribe is to marry into it, which typically only happens when a warrior chooses a bride from outside the tribe. These newcomers are welcomed with full privileged as if they had been born into the tribe.

Rituals/Ceremonies of Note:

The rhemoraz is particularly revered as it the kill needed to obtain adult hood. Other animals are respected for power and strength, along with speed. The barbarians typically do not waste a kill and use all parts of the body for some purpose. The furs of the animal are typically used to keep warm or cover up metal armor that would normally freeze in the harsh winter winds. Only men that have passed the trial of the worm, may take a woman for a wife, which tends to encourage the warriors to attempt their trials during their later adolescence and weeds out the weak , slow, and stupid at early ages.

Death rituals are handled one of two ways. Should it be an honorable death in battle, the fallen are celebrated by feasting and drinking in their honor. Should a tribesman die in another way, there is mourning and fasting for a day, to appease Tempus for one of his warriors not dying a "honorable" death.

Timeline/Historical Events of Note:

They are from Icewind Dale and could have migrated south (slightly) to the Cold Climb region of Sundren. They do not interfere with Lord Colibrus' manse and are usually selective about who they welcome into their town. They are innately distrustful of wizards, sorcerers and bardic magic. They are sometimes suspicious of clerics, but the tribe has it's own shamanistic/clerical backgrounds. The Keeper of the grove has allowed fishing and hunting in his woods as long as the animals are respected and taken for food not for sport and not over hunted. The tribe of the Remorahz is one of the smallest tribes of the dales, though its members are considered to be among the strongest, should you ask any other tribe of them.

Integration:

The tribe can be seen as purchasers of large quantities of medicine, spices, and healing items. They can provide some of the warmest (strongest vs cold) clothing available in the area (mostly cloth,leather, and hide. Their weapons are typically designed for hunting or fighting their primary enemies, giants, so they may be able to sell some weapons designed for those two aspects. There are a few children of the tribe who are reaching the age to take their worm test, and should they pass, might try to take brides from the Sundren valley. There is a major issue for them, coming down from the cold climb and seeing the Thayan buildings there. They aren't tolerated by Aquor's townsfolk very well.

Snow Elk Tribe
Location: Spine of the World
Faction / Subfaction: Wardens of the Vale / Nature's Vanguard
Alignment: CN / CE

Summary: The Snow Elk tribe is composed of descendants of the Elk Tribe, formerly led by Heafstaag. After Heafstaag's defeat in an assault on Tentowns, the tribe was splintered. One sect remained near Tentowns. Another followed Wulfgar to reclaim Mithral Hall. A third group disappeared into the Icedale.

It was this third group that was discovered by Eidior and his small group of Auril priests. They were called to the Dale by visions of reclaiming a lost temple and saw this wandering tribe as a boon from Auril.

Eidor had Lief Ninetrees challenge the champion of the tribe. The champion was slain, and Eidor assumed leadership. She lead them purely by visions into the mountains, where they re-discovered the temple.

The Snow Elk tribe now mainly worship Auril, but they are not devout in the way the priests would have liked them to be. They still worship the spirit world and revere many gods rather than one. With the Geimhreadh rebuilt, the Aurilite priests allowed the Snow Elk tribe to slip back into their nomadic ways.

Today, the tribe roams the western-most mountains of the Spine. They stay near Geimhreadh and make a yearly pilgrimage for worship. They are fiercely territorial and often attack traders and travelers who wander through their territory--which changes by the season, according to their nomadic whims.