Faction: Denyeni
Denyeni Isles
These arid and hot isles are situated southwest of the Rauc Islands and are home to a people known as the Denyeni. They are a people notorious for their raids which started in 805 CE when the volcano Mount Pelset erupted, causing the Denyeni to flee the isles to escape the lava and ash. They raided the coasts of Latys as well as the Sunlands and Harmony. Over the course of 25 years of raiding many would return to their isles and would see that the volcano would begin to erupt once a year, on the summer solstice. From then onwards, the Denyeni would largely live at the isles during the winter and spring, while raiding during the summer after the volcano erupted. Due to the harsh nature of the isles, most settlements were made out of the Denyeni raiding boats, which could then be used to quickly leave the isles when Mount Pelset erupted, leaving little of value behind. As such, there are no established or long standing cities but during the winter months, the Denyeni congregate into three tribes, each led by a warlord, denoting the island they live on: The Sherkasa, Danyoi and Pelset. The Denyeni favour different styles of fighting, whether it be tight formations and heavy infantry or ranged combat and skirmishing however they can all be identified through wearing feathers on their helmets, which they procure from harpies that nest across the mountainous areas of the isles.
During the slow months of winter and spring the Denyeni stock up on food whether it was stolen during a raid or fished from the sea. Before the raiding season begins, the warlords of the three tribes convene at a temple at the base of Mount Pelset and plan their raids. They often bring with them many treasures from the previous raid. Known only to them is that the temple is home to a sphinx named Haggariah. They offer treasure to gain a blessing from the sphinx, which may tell them bountiful settlements from which to pilfer and pillage. Haggariah protects her temple from the eruption using magical shields and some warlords have even believed that it was the sphinx that caused the initial eruption, however any that voiced this suspicion often disappeared and were replaced with a new warlord. The Denyeni worship most of the gods of the pantheon, primarily Lochor, Ogon, Myrmidonna, Naur and Nen.
Sherkasa
The Sherkasa were originally great metal workers before the eruption of Mount Pelset and wore thick armour that covered their whole body. They were adept at fighting in tight formation with shields and medium length spears. They cover their ships in bronze plates making them very defensible and turn them into small fortresses when raiding the mainland. Their current leader is a warlord named Ahmelech The Wall. A huge man with a quiet demeanour, he is an expert in warfare as well as close combat. He earned his title of ‘The Wall’ when he and six companions held the line when fighting minotaurs from Panna who had pursued his crew after a raid. With his tower shield and spear he did not allow any enemy to pass him while his crew were readying their ship.
Danyoi
The Danyoi were great seafarers and fishermen and have settled well into their new lifestyle of spending half of their years at sea. They travel lightly armed and armoured, making great use of throwing spears and harpoons. The Danyoi prefer to raid undefended coastal villages and make most of their wealth taking slaves and selling them to the Abhiran Sultan or Rajarasha to the south. When they are not raiding they enjoy fishing and hunting sea creatures. The warlord of the Danyoi is called Hanun. A lithe man with blonde hair. Adorned in Abhiran rings and jewellery. He has grown rich off slave trading.
Pelset
The Pelset were hit the hardest during the first eruption. Before the eruption they were a learned people, content to fish and trade with the other isles and the nations in the southern hemisphere. However, the eruption destroyed almost all of their knowledge, priests and academia. Now the Pelset are the archetypal raider. Light warriors wielding axes, spears and bows. They strike hard and disappear before any strong response can be presented to them. The Pelset warlord is named Jachan. He lives for war and plunder and occasionally targets his fellow Denyeni when raiding.