The Heldannic Order - Vaults of Pandius

THE PEOPLES AND FAUNA OF THE TERRITORIES
class distinctions or are ignored outright.
While some individual variation of
appearance is expected, all lupins follow
the standard lupin build. Further, their
presence in the Known World is
curtailed.
The troops hired by the Heldannic
Order included trackers (Das Hund),
guards (Doggerman), and standard
soldiers (basic lupin, Renardois Folk).
Many of the guards have since been
reassigned to Hattias. Those who retired
to the pastoral life are called Heldann
Shepherds.
Ye Great Dogge – the Ostland Stövare
– is a single individual of great prowess
who was hired by the Ostmann clan
following his escape from Garald the
Blue.
The Norwold White Foxfolk, Glantri
Mountaineer, and Hound of Klantyre are
unrelated to the Heldannic lupins.
The Fighting Fennec of Ylaruam is a
true sub-species/new race. Its ancestors,
along with the Rambler’s, were brought
to Nithia during the closing days of the
Empire. Fennecs number only a few 100,
while Ramblers are extinct or nearly so –
clinging to Nithia’s forgotten shadows.
Trolls
To the Freeholders, nothing is more
terrifying than the prospect of trolls once
more organizing. Several groups of trolls
can be found at the Territories’ edges.
Those from Vestland’s Trollheim Hills
occasionally range as far west as
Grunturm and as far north as Kaltstein.
There is no rhythm to trollish excursions,
and travelers to Vestland must take care.
The Frug Hak trolls control the foothills
north of Grauenberg. These trolls have
been pushing outward with increasing
regularity. Darokinian merchants
traveling to Wendar have complained,
but nothing has been done. The Frug
Haken also have been seen near Pflanzen.
There may be as many as 250 trolls.
The Gagur Hak trolls dominate the hill
country north of the Elber. From there,
they sporadically attack the residents of
the Altenwald and settlements west of
Altendorf. They would pose a greater
risk, but conflicts with nearby giants,
gnolls, and thouls have distracted the
trolls. The Gagur Haken are 300 strong.
The last group of trolls, the 140 Plag
Rith, is north of Isoður in Heldland. The
three western groups speak a common,
unnamed dialect.
Other Humanoids
Most of the other humanoids in the
Territories are semi-nomadic, traveling in
both family-sized groups and raiding
bands of up to 100. Humanoids are
rarely encountered in mixed groups, but
those in the south speak a common blend
of Ethengarian and Heldannic. Assume
60% compatibility with either human
tongue. In total, there are 750 orcs, 320
bugbears, 100 thouls, 50 ogres, and 130
hobgoblins here. The ogres are exclusive
to the Red Fangs region.
Another 60 hobgoblins of similar stock
live west of Eisenturm. They are joined
by 400 orcs and 600 bugbears that belong
to the Wendarian Range meta-group.
These latter groups speak a language
unrelated to either Heldannic or
Ethengarian.
The gnolls most familiar to Heldanners
are the Memphic Howlers (500) near the
Altenwald. Their language has preserved
many Nithian elements. They viciously
defend their territory, but nearby
settlements go unmolested. Very rarely –
perhaps once a decade – small packs of
gnolls from the Naga Hills cross the
Menguls into Heldann to trade or war.
The true repositors of Nithian relics are
the mountain thouls. Scrolls, pottery, and
other items litter their hovels, their value
long forgotten. These creatures are still
primitive, even by thoulish standards.
Perhaps 1000 live in the mountains from
Hawknar to the Final Range, but there are
no discernable areas of concentration.
The Fey and Gremlins
Heldann and other locations along the
Norwold coast host the faerie court of
Queen Hildur, a nixie. The arrival of her
court is always preceded by
thunderstorms that leave the land soaked.
The Heldanners know the fairy races as
the Hidden People. Those common to
the Territories are the sidhe, nixies,
pixies, and sprites. Sprites play much the
same role as brownies elsewhere. They
befriend and befuddle humans based on
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their actions, but clothing gifts have no
effect. Mandrakes also visit the region,
but they do not travel with Hildur.
Traditionally allied races (e.g.
centaurs), are noticeably absent here. A
few dryads populate the Altenwald, but
there are no treants. A river and lake
version of the dryad does exist, however.
They are called the drowned maidens,
and more worldly travelers might mistake
them for nixies. Instead of being drawn
into a tree, victims become a part of the
water. Drowned maidens are very
jealous of the nixies and are notably cruel
– or at least mercurial – in comparison to
their tree sisters.
Gremlins were unknown to Heldann
before the arrival of the warbirds. Their
high-jinx is thus far limited to Freiburg.
Giants, Dragons, and
Sphinxes
On more than one occasion, giants were
lords and masters of the region, yet today
they are regarded as ancient history or
even legend. Only the storm and sea
giants of the Sea of Dawn are seen, and
they with only fleeting glimpses. Yet the
other true giants still exist. 100 mountain
giants and 200 frost giants make their
homes in the western mountains, and
deep within the Altar of Vanya, 120 fire
giants toil away to nefarious ends.
85 hill giants of the Thorn-Kogr Clan
form a dangerous and aggressive enemy
for those living in Heldland. Twentysome
odd stone giants also inhabit the
foothills in the Heldland area.
Most mentions of dragons in Heldannic
lore were actually easily-confused
monsters such as sea serpents,
tannystrophei, and wyverns. True
dragons have made their home in
Heldann, however, and can be seen flying
over the plains or roosting on the cliffs of
the Altar of Vanya. Heldann’s dragons
are semi-migratory, a legacy of the land’s
poor resources. These creatures number
20 whites and five reds, almost all small
individuals of animal intelligence. Scale
color is more muted and grayed.
There is one small red, Feuer-surtr, and
three small whites capable of speaking
and casting spells. The white dragons are
Nith-ogg, and Helaga, and Gorbric.