The Remnants

"Always watching, always waiting, that's the Remnants for you. Feel they've been treated unfairly by the rest of Astora, and maybe they have, though I don't really like to talk about it, always listening you know." - Harold Weiss, Caravanner out of Weathersby
The Remnants, or Ironwood Loyalists, are an illegal organization situated in the heart of Astora. It is a group comprised of primarily elves, though other, typically non-human, creatures have been spotted amongst them. They are notorious in the region as guerrilla fighters or terrorists, partaking in acts of violence and destruction against Astora military or state interests. Many members are remaining warriors from the days of the Ironwood War, bent on revenge against Astora, the country that ended the Ironwood Kingdom's hold in the region.

Organization

Formation

Formed after the end of the Ironwood War, the Remnants rose from the ashes of their capital city; Arnad-Ang, to enact vengeance against the Astoran government and the countries' military forces. Most believe that the bulk of Remnant members arose from the remainder of the Ironwood's military force, then joined by others that could not accept the annexation of the Ironwood Kingdom by Astora. The controversial Operation Torchwood had left a permanent scar on the elves of Astora, a notion that the Remnants vow to avenge. In AoR 455, the Remnants began to properly organize and began to enact retribution against the perceived wrongs committed against them during the War. Within a year of establishment, The Remnants managed to strike a devastating blow against Astoran interests, managing to kidnap and subsequently murder a member of the Astoran High Council. This shocked the Astoran sense of security, leading to a highly militarized patrol of the major roads and settlements surrounding the Ironwood Forest.

Ideology

While most elves moved from within the Ironwood Forest to settle among the general population in both Astora and Meridian, many refused to accept the perceived ferocity and scorched earth policies adopted by the Astoran military during the war. Operation Torchwood was seen as an attack to not just win the war, but to completely wipe away any trace of the old Ironwood Kingdom, and the sense of elven culture with it. It was from this hate and indignation that the Remnants ideology rose to power within the elves of Astora and the Ironwood Forest. For the elves of the Ironwood Kingdom were a prideful group, and losing the Ironwood War was devastating for their society and sense of community. With Arad-Ang burned to the ground and now lost, most elves found themselves homeless, while the rest had lost their primary means of support. Without Arnad-Ang, the Ironwood Elves no longer had a hub of elfdom on Naneth, for it was a place strong in natural life and magic.
For Eldath and Silvanus had created the Eldar Folk first, the god's most valued creations. Losing the magic of their capital, bestowed by their godly parents, was a devastating loss which could be felt by all elves - either because they were aware of this magical bond or because it manifested itself as a metaphorical hole in their chest. Combined with the oncoming annexation of the Kingdom, their citizens were forced to abandon the Ironwood as a whole and take their chances living among man and dwarf. Certainly these feelings are still felt by all elves that lived within the old Kingdom to some degree, though few would ever dream of acting on these impressions, as joining a rebellious cause in the face of Astoran superiority is a desperate notion.
Through their devotion to Silvanus and the other nature gods, the Remnants' goals do not end only with Astoran unrest. Additionally, the group is quite concerned with the preservation of the Ironwood Forest as a whole, often situating themselves against any that would see harm come to the woodland realm. This has often led to confrontations with another group active in Astora; The Guardians. These shared values of conservation have led to some overlap, with members of both groups working towards the same goals. Though the Guardians are typically peaceful, this relation to the Remnants have led some to question the values of the conservationist group.

Activities

Remnant activities are often enacted with the purpose of disrupting Astoran interests. Typically these are reserved for military operations or patrols, and occasionally the disruptions of supply trains or caravans. Astoran military patrols or outposts around Vinguard and the Ironwood as a whole seem to be more at risk for Remnant ambush, with the elven group using the cover of the forest as their greatest weapon. However, settlements and private citizens seem to be exempt from Remnant retribution, the group forgoing these easier targets in favor of Astoran state interests. Indeed the Remnants have occasionally been spotted giving back to the communities nearby to their operations, providing coin and supplies to elves that have chose a peaceful life in Astora.
After each of their attacks or demonstrations, the Remnants often leave behind a calling card, taking ownership for their deeds. Usually it is a charred plank of wood or a branch, an item to remind the public of the burning of Arnad-Ang. However, this has become problematic as groups of vigilantes and bandits have begun to pin their crimes on the Remnants, a fact that the Astoran military seems all too willing to overlook. These frequent violent actions toward Astora have led some to believe that Bekur has reserved a spot in Remnant principles. Always the God of War is seeking to further seats of unrest, hoping to enact conflict on a larger scale.

Tactics

The Remnant are the masters of their domain, using guerrilla warfare tactics to secure their position within the forest. Popular among Remnant use are a variety of traps, including pits, tripwire triggered spike traps and many others. Many of these traps are covered in various poisons and toxins harvested from the forest’s bounty. While not initially deadly, repeated exposure to these toxins will eventually render the target immobile, allowing the forest to slowly reclaim the living body as a debt that was once taken.
Thought preferring bows and swords, the art of magic has not be lost on the Remnants. The group has been glimpsed using various forms of nature magic, perfected by the druids within their ranks. In fact, the use of magic to conceal Remnant forces is one of the Astoran public's prime fears. Remnant casters can render entire groups of Remnant forces undetected by patrols. This is primarily done using a Seeming Spell, allowing entire groups to disguise themselves as Astoran soldiers and allowing them to move into the surrounding areas without harassment.

History

Founding

The Remnants themselves rose from the ashes of the old Ironwood Kingdom, a group paralyzed with thoughts of revenge, eager to act against those that had caused them so much pain. They formed from the remaining members of Ironwood military, combined with other elves refusing to accept Astora's annexation of the Ironwood Kingdom. AoR 455 was the first year in which the Remnants were observed operating in Astora, using merciless guerrilla tactics to ambush and destroy solitary Astoran forces. This led to strife and feelings of distrust among the Astoran populace, which combined with the recent end of the war and these terroristic attacks, began to perceive all elves as possible threats to public safety.

The Killing of One

In AoR 456, the Remnants made perhaps their greatest statement to date, as they succeeded in the infiltration of Vinguard; a human city from which Operation Torchwood was initially launched. Posing as Astoran forces under disguise of physical and magical means, the Remnants kidnapped One of The Council of Nine; Astora's highest office of government. They extracted the official from the city, fleeing into the safety of the Ironwood. Knowing that Astora's retribution would be swift, the Remnants quickly made an example of the Council member, tying him to a wooden stake and setting him alight. In their eyes, this was a grisly beginning to the repayment they'd be seeking for the destruction of Arnad-Ang.
In response, Astora saturated the Ironwood perimeter with a heavy military presence, looking to dissuade any further public displays of violence. For a time, this would keep Remnant activities to a minimum, giving Astora's elves and humans a chance to bond together, an attempt to lessen tensions between the two races. Collectively, this tactic proved successful for Astora, who saw less activity from the Remnants during these years, with most incidents isolated to ambushes inside the forest. Of course, for those dissuaded with the Ironwood War, specifically the end, this public execution was a powerful message and a call to arms.

Siege of Weathersby

In AoR 569, a small splinter cell of Remnant forces gathered themselves outside the forest town of Weathersby. By all accounts, this action was not sanctioned by The Talon himself, but was instead instigated by a malcontent member of the group. Enraged by Weathersby's existence in the Ironwood and the human's usage of Il'Eska, this warrior planned the destruction of the town itself, intending to burn it in the name of Arnad-Ang. However, the attempt was thwarted by a group of adventurers, notably led by the young mage Kezro the Curious. This group engaged the Remnants in combat over a separate disagreement and unknowingly saved Weathersby from destruction in the process.

Capture of the Spell Forge

In AoR 599, The Spell Forge had been rediscovered by the dwarves or Marklund, specifically by a miner named Gundren Rockseeker. While uncovering the Forge itself, Wave Echo Cave and the Forge were invaded by a group of Remnants, this time led by a mysterious elf named The Black Spider. Hired by Gundren, a group now known as the The Marklund Five engaged the Black Spider's forces in combat, including a number of Quaan-bred Orcs. Successfully reclaiming the Forge, the group unmasked The Black Spider, revealing him as a drow, a type of elf native to the Sunrise Jungle in the southeast of Naneth.
This was the first example of the Remnants joining with another organization for means of combat, and the first example of Quaan interests being carried out in Astora. However, many believe that the Black Spider merely posed as a Remnant, using his deceitful nature and magical prowess to ensnare cooperation for his own means. Unfortunately, the Black Spider and all Quaan Forces perished during the events inside Wave Echo Cave, his intentions now forever lost to explanation. This has certainly not helped the public image of the Remnants, as working with the Quaan Empire would be considered a crime of the highest degree.

Notable Members

• Sundumar Araleth: Known to the public as The Talon, Sundumar Araleth is likely the current leader of the Remnants in the Ironwood. He is rumored to be a legendary warrior and one of the top Ironwood generals during the war. He is likely one of the founding members of the group as a whole.

• Eilleth of Astora: A member of the The Marklund Five, Eilleth disbanded from the Remnants after witnessing the group working alongside Quaan Orcs. She would later engage the Black Spider in combat, helping to slay the drow warlock.

• The Black Spider: The Black Spider worked as a commanding member of Remnant forces during the invasion of the Spell Forge. Later, he would be unmasked as a drow, one loyal to the Quaan Empire.

Basic Information

Aliases: Remnants, Ironwood Loyalists
Base of Operations: Ironwood Forest, Astora
Leader/s: Sundumar Araleth (Rumoured)
Favoured Diety/s: Silvanus, Eldath, Virdi, The Shadow Mother, Bekur (Rumoured)
Notable Members: The Black Spider, Eilleth of Astora (Formerly)

Relationships

Allegiances: The Guardians
Enemies: Astoran Military, Vinguard Academy, Any that would see harm done to the Ironwood Forest