The Southern Vesve Front

Xenvelen has command of the troops in the small southern Vesve battle and skirmish front. Most of this area borders on the Badlands to the west, which are described in The Marklands. But in brief, these are mostly old Celbit homelands which were utterly despoiled by destructive magic during the wars. Thousands of Celbits, other humanoids, and warriors were slain here in one of Iuz's most comprehensive defeats at the hand of Highfolk and Furyondian troops. The Badlands are very dangerous, being places of acid-despoiled, smoking ruins, malign drifting magical effects, lyrannikin within the Defiled Glades, insanely hostile forest creatures and worse. Entering here is suicidal for any forces, and thus the southern front is a very limited one.

However, Xenvelen channels the fury of the defeated Celbits into a series of major skirmish actions around Castle Ehlenestra, home of a swanmay-ranger, Sharnalem. When Xenvelen senses that his soldiers are getting restless, he dispatches a few hundred to this area of the Vesve on skirmishing and wrecking missions. Fighting-here can be fierce and if Xenvelen could occupy the forest around Castle Ehlenestra and push on westward through the southern Vesve margins, he would do much to threaten Furyondy’s Royal Highway and the vital routes to Highfolk and Highvale. However, he also meets with significant resistance. The lands north and east of the Badlands within the forest are occupied by orcs, but are also subject to raids from high elves, rangers, forces from Ironstead and freelance adventurers. For adventurers seeking plenty of orc bashing opportunities, this is certainly the place to be. However, Xenvelen is very careful and crafty. He often uses weak orc/losel parties as lures, so that forest folk pursuing them run into ambushing orog, priests and mages.