Rechist

Rechist is the furthest frontier outpost of the Mardhelm Empire in the eastern realms. It lies on the western bank of the Ulfgrahd River, and is little more than a military outpost. As the empire pushed further into the Vostian forests, they encountered more resistance from a number of local tribes. Accustomed to fighting large battles on open plains and siege warfare, the imperial army was met by defeat after defeat at the hands of the unconventional forest warriors. Ambushes, raids, and other forms of resistance ground the advancement of the imperial order to a halt, and Rechist became the last bastion to hold back the threat of the uncivilized northmen of the forest. When the tribes came together to form the Vostian Confederation, the outpost became a de facto border between two nations.

V by Saeed Ramez

Rechist was founded in 845 I.R., and for nearly five years has served to stem the tide of the Vostani tribes attempts to take back the lands already settled by the Empire. Battles ranging from small skirmishes to major ambushes range along both banks of the river, but the stalemate has held and neither faction has gained ground on crossing the Ulfgrahd.
The outpost is lead by a military governor of low regard named Boric Garrus. Boric was at the lead of several failed pushes into the Vostian Forest. When winter was upon his men in 844 I.R., he built a semi-permanent encampment to shelter them for the winter. Over the campaign season of the next spring and summer, he again failed to make advances. Imperial decrees were sent to convert the encampment into a permanent settlement, and Boric was placed in charge of it indefinitely.

The Empire rewards all efforts, whether they end in success or failure. Imperial Proverb

Settlement

Military Outpost

Owning Organization

The Mardhelm Empire

Population

1,000

Demographics

90% Tambard
9% Rikenian
1% Vostani

The Long Winter's Toll

Every year, Rechist looses more and more imperial soldiers to the long, harsh winters of the Vostian Forest. Some freeze to death, some starve from the limited stores, and others desert their post. The latter is the most concerning for Garrus, as over the past several years he has observed his men becoming less aggressive towards their enemy and more inclined to adopt ways from the native cultures. Imperial standards of conduct, appearance, and discipline have been eroded as his men become more and more like the barbarians they were sent to conquer. The empire is familiar with methods of cultural subversion as they have absorbed dozens of cultures into their own, but in Rechist the process seems to be occurring in reverse.