Navarr groups

Overview

There are many Steadings and Stridings across Navarr, but only a comparative handful are involved in the affairs of the Empire (that is, attend the seasonal summits at Anvil. The influence of a these Steadings and Stridings can wax and wane, and involvement in Imperial affairs is not always a reflection of their influence within the nation itself.

Steadings

Foxden

Foxden Steading was founded a few hundred years ago by a Changeling Navarr, Jhessail Cedny and a Draughir Navarr, Rymel Cedny. The two had met on a trod, as their Stridings passed each other. Jhessail and Rymel traveled north with those who wished to follow them, to where the boundaries between Varushka and Wintermark met, into the Lands of Hercynia. Here, in the place where in winter the darkness is great, and in summer the light seemingly never-ending, they came upon a hill clearing with sparse forest around it. In this region of Summersend atop the hill sat a vixen with her cubs, looking down upon the pair. She yipped, and then trotted away into the trees with her cubs. Here is where they built the Steading of Foxden, it’s eyes watchful to the North and to the Vallorn of Hercynia.

The Steading is a place where the Navarr, and other nations, can come to rest, trade news and goods, and seek guidance on the many paths that life takes them. Here is a place to preserving history and stories, music and art. A place to gather and organise against the Vallorn. It is the home of an ever growing information network set in place by Jhessail and Rymel to ensure that the Empire is upheld against the many forces that oppose it,

Foxden is a diverse steading with many different focuses, it has produced many a fine Thorn, Vate, Broker, Guide and Brand. It is a home to any in need, and is willing to accept any into it’s fold, provided they bring no harm to it. Over the years the Steading has produced a number of Stridings, as the Dance of those within has dictated. Strong ties still bind a number of these groups together into a Collective of Stridings and Steadings, who regularly get together at Anvil to share information and the like.

Stridings

The Eternal Family

Eternal Family

The Eternal Family is an old striding, so old it is claimed that their roots trace back to the days of Terunael. Whether this is true or not is unclear but it is clear that the striding is very old. The Family is made up of an extended group of both blood relations and adopted individuals who are collectively recognised as family.

Highly active as a group, those able to travel journey widely along the trods and beyond. They offer support to those in need and explore old ruins, trying to find out all they can about the history of their people. Those unable to travel live in and run a Wayhouse in Goldglades, in the territory of Miaren.

In recent years the Family has became known for the core of the striding being a strong coven specialised in the magic of the Day realm and the Spring realm. Something very unusual happened around 378YE, however, and the ritualists’ affinity for Spring magic has changed markedly. Today, the Eternal Family are known to be powerful practitioners of Summer magic, in addition to their mastery of the arts of Day.

Alongside their use of ritual magic the Family use all skills at their disposal to help their nation and the Empire. On the battlefield they are reputed to fight defensively, using shields, medical skills and magic to support frontline warriors.

Tarw

Compared to many steadings and stridings, the striding of Tarw are young. Formed in the heat of battle in Reikos by former elements of striding’s, mercenary’s and desperate soldiers of many nations of the empire, the striding has arisen from the mud of the field to seek a better life. Exactly what that better life is depends on the thorn asked, be it in loot, pleasure, drink or a better future. It was on the muddy blood drenched battlefields that the striding was formed, a collection of broken souls seeking vengeance, hope, glory, a future, or a fellow warrior to watch their backs. Many folk from all the corners of the empire can be found in the striding of Tarw, be they once Varuskhan, Highguard, Dawnish or League, any imperial without a home to call their own is welcome to travel with the striding as part of finding their place in the dance. More a Thornborne than a typical striding, the companions are unrelenting, and fierce in battle. Often the striding of Tarw take contracts to support their striding or other thorns economically, as they have no land with which to grow herbs, or gather resources, just sharpened blades and a will to wield them.A true striding, home is the open trod, unbound by the restrictions of house or hearth. The striding always looks to the future, forging their own path in the dance no matter its bloody tune. When not on the field members of Tarw can be found seeking out work with the Iron Raptors, honing their skills or chatting to their many extended friends or family across the empire.

Y’Basden

Y'Basen Striding

Striding Symbol: Three Thorns
Y’Basden Striding traces its roots back to the earliest days of the Empire and was first established by three Navarr outcasts (The Three Thorns) who banded together out of a mutual and visceral dislike for each other and a desire to both ‘one up’ and profit from each other’s failures.

Their bond was later cemented by an event known as “The Battle of the Black Woods” - an incident where reputedly they destroyed (and looted) an entire raiding contingent of a hundred barbarians whilst outwitting a pursuing force of vallorn. Official Imperial records cast doubts around the stories of this alleged event.

The story drew like minded citizens and the striding grew in relation to their reputation (or notoriety) throughout the Empire. It is not uncommon in bars for many tall tales to be told of The Three Thorns exploits with eternals or adventures across battlefields. It is assumed that most of these tales are allegorical in nature as many conflict established Imperial historical records (or are simply too far fetched to be believable).

In the intervening years the direction of striding went through many changes in both role, name and attitude. These ranged from fringe outcasts to established traders, mercenary bands and even a period outside of Imperial territory … allegedly.

Y’Basden Striding was the eventual result. A disciplined fighting force led by a trio of leaders; The Wit, The Wisdom and The Brand in honour of the original Three Thorns. They consider themselves serving soldiers who will give anyone, including non-Navarr, a chance to travel with them awhile and they take pride in their ability to scout into dangerous, even Vallorn, territory. Their reputation as an aggressive and effective fighting force on the battlefield has yet to be disproved. Visits to Anvil are considered opportunities for rest and relaxation and as a result they can seem a little less refined than the average Imperial Citizen but tend to treat allies as firm family regardless of nation or circumstance.

The last decade has had them at the lead of insurgency actions in Liathaven where they have helped found the Black Scar Thornborne along with the support of other Liathaven Stridings and Steadings.