02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

370 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
to be shapeshifters. The Aegyth have contact with
several other shards within and outside of their tribe
throughout the year. Since they lack a tribal fortress
of their own, the Aegyth Raefyll inhabit seasonal
dwellings: deep caves during the harsh months and a
valley that thaws during the warmer months imparting
them with plenty of vegetation and fresh running
water. They share the valley with the other shards of
their tribe. The Aegyth shard is comprised not only
of tribal hunters but keen traders as well. Throughout
the year they barter goods with other Nyss tribes and,
in turn, trade with humans during the spring and
summer thaw. Members of the shard venture as far
as the Khadoran town of Tverkutsk where they trade
exotic pelts and ivory for as much iron and metal
goods as they can carry in their sled-like carts.
Aegyth Raefyll has 34 members left of its 70
from before all the fighting. The shard is led by
Falcyr Raefyll (female Nyss Sor11) who took it over
after the death of her husband in battle against the
aforementioned savages. She is a potent spellwielder
and a tough negotiator adept at simply staring down
human traders, especially when she feels they are
trying to cheat her. She never meets humans without
her hunting party in tow, and her negotiations have
yet to erupt into hostilities. In truth, the death of her
husband has her feeling grim these days and willing to
take out her grief on anyone.
Dyrth Voassyr: Part of the stern and aggressive
Voassyr tribe, the Dyrth shard is comprised of
renowned hunters who follow the migration of musk
oxen throughout the year, particularly the rare white
ox herd leader—an animal they revere. In trailing
the herd, this shard has been known to venture as
far as the Scarsfell Forest. Along their journeys, the
Dyrth Voassyr take it upon themselves to root out all
encroachers upon Nyss territory—a duty they seem to
relish. When roused to battle they will stop at nothing,
and they are deadly fighters with nearly as much pride
in their fine bows as in their rune-blade claymores.
The shard consists of nine tightly interrelated
families and has over 100 members. Throughout the
year they travel to as many as five tribal fortresses. Most
of these are holdings of the Voassyr only occupied
during certain months of the year. The shard is also
known to make journeys to the fortresses of allied
shards from different tribes in times of need or to
exchange goods and information. Unless they are
between fortresses, the Dyrth split into smaller hunting
parties and leave just a few members behind to care for
their little ones. The hunters can sometimes be gone
for weeks at a time.
The Dyrth Voassyr shard is led by Ryllys Dyvvar
(male Nyss Rgr15), a great hunter in constant
competition with his wife Aelyth Vyr (female Nyss
Rgr10/Sor3). The two regularly lead separate hunting
parties and compare a tally of their kills at shard
gatherings. Aelyth’s uncle Lanae Dyrth (male Nyss
Clr4/Sor9) is the eldest member of the shard. He is
a powerful sorcerer who has lost his sight in recent
years, whereupon he soon thereafter joined the Fane
of Nyssor.
Maelwyrr Aeryn: An ancient shard of the Aeryn
tribe, the Maelwyrr have long served the Fane of
Nyssor. They count a high number of powerful priests
among their members. Though the Maelwyrr share
their administration and guard duties with other
shards from non-related tribes, they are so devoted
to the Winter Father they seldom venture away from
their icy fortress near Nyssor’s palace high in the
Sharde Spires.
The Maelwyrr Aeryn’s numbers are declining of
late. Fewer than fifty of the once numerous winter
elves exist, and few of them are younger than middle
aged with hardly any children. For whatever reason the
Maelwyr are not breeding as they once did, and they
are disinclined to say why. Rather, when not attending
Nyssor’s palace, they hide away in their fortress of
stone and ice.
From the exterior, their fortress is merely a squat,
yet solid structure, but beneath it is a network of
tunnels and chambers cut into the ice. The ingenious
design keeps the interior warm even during the
harshest periods of winter. The heart of the fortress
is a great and delicately beautiful shrine to Nyssor cut
from blocks of ice, and the shard members pray there
at all times, night and day.