McEny Family

## The McEny Family

Native to Hillsbrad Foothills and Alterac, the McEny family has had a long hand in the underground of the occult and briganding of the southern Lordaeron countryside.

## Syndicate

The **Syndicate** is mostly a human criminal organization led by villainous nobles of the now fallen kingdom of Alterac. It was based in Strahnbrad and operates primarily in the Arathi Highlands and the Alterac Mountains, although a few small encampments were scattered in the Hillsbrad Foothills. These humans are enemies of the Alliance, especially for humans in the areas the Syndicate threatens, like the Trollbane family. The Syndicate is the rival of another rogue faction, the guild of Ravenholdt. All who encounter these rogue vagabonds should be prepared for battle.

Following the demise of Lord Aliden Perenolde, who directed the Syndicate's actions in the Alterac Mountains, Lord Falconcrest became one of the few Syndicate leaders, commanding their forces in Arathi from the semi-abandoned fortress of Stromgarde Keep. With the retaking of Stromgarde by the returning Galen Trollbane, the Syndicate stands leaderless.

The masks worn by the Syndicate members are orange, just like the color of the fallen kingdom of Alterac. Nobles can be found among their ranks hiding as normal agents, but their signet rings still make them recognizable.

## Garnet Eyes and Olive Skin

The McEny's are often tanned, olive colored people, who's irises are a deep brown-garnet color. A dominant trait, it is present in most members of the family. The exception to this rule was Emrys, who takes after his mother Evelyn.

This coloring is present in Derwyn , Cadfael, Wynevra and Eirwyn. It was one of the driving factors of Cadfael pressuring Derwyn to train Wynevra to re-enter the Syndicate, and continue on the family legacy.

## Defection

#### *As told by Wynevra McEny...*

Sal'narra Matheredor sits upon her bed, waiting for Wynnie to tell her a bedtime story.

"Well, I don't think I know that one..." she grinned, "But, starting as all stories do, Once Upon A Time..." she'd wave over Sal'narra to get in bed.

Sal'narra climed into bed covering herself, except with her head in her blanket.

Wynnie would tuck her in tight before adjusting herself to sit on the top corner of the bed. "Once upon a time... there was a young woman named Evelyn who lived in Alterac. Evelyn, was short- but her kindness was taller than many any had ever met. Do unto others, she'd say to the world, and she did her very best to live by this." Wynnie would place a finger against Sal'narra's forehead and, so very softly, would run the finger down to the tip of her nose. She'd repeat this pattern as she told the tale.

"One day, on Evelyn's way to Southshore, she was stopped by a group of highwaymen in orange masks. In the back of her cart was her goods that she intended to sell in Southshore's market, and all she had on her was a flimsy dagger for protection. They said, 'Give us your goods, and you'll go free unharmed.' She stared at them and said, "No", before clicking her reigns to have her horse continue to saunter towards Southshore. The highwaymen were not pleased with this..."

The girl listened intently to the story her eyelids slowly getting heavier at the words and movements of her finger.

"... One of them stepped forth in front of her horse. Y'see, he was a magickey- person like your father. Unlike your father, he was not kind. He was able to conjure a small fire ball in the palm of his hand and said, 'Miss... if you don't stop, we'll be forced to use force. And... we don't want that.' Evelyn huffed and said, 'Fine. Take it all. But... know that by takin' this, my family will starve. The Alterac winter is set to be especially cold this year.' The highwayman shrugged and ordered his friends to take the horse and the cart. Evelyn was forced to return home, empty handed, and her also unkind father struck her in his rage."

Wyn would grin at the sight of Sal'narra starting to drift.

"...What Evelyn did not know was that... she was being watched. One of the highwaymen had taken her words to heart and had seen the aftermath. The following day, Evelyn's family found a sack of gold on their porch. The next day, another sack of gold. On the third day, there was a larger sack of gold at the front door, and a gold locket on her windowsill. "

Sal'narra continued to listen, struggling to stay awake but determined to hear the end.

"...When she opened the locket, an enchantment played of a young handsome man revealing his face from behind a mask. He spoke of an apology for his group. And he wanted her help for a way out of the orange organization. He had hoped that the gold he had brought back would be enough to cover the lost goods and then some. He said to meet him in Southshore later on in the week. She wore the locket with pride and the two met in Southshore. Through the winter months, she showed the defecting highwayman, Derwyn was his name, the meaning of kindness unto others. When the earth was cold and barren, she was warmth. Through those months, the two talked of ways for him to hide. He would sometimes leave for days, weeks on end, but, he'd always come back to check in on her. By that next spring, Evelyn was with child and the two decided to wed. They had found the perfect spot to build their life together, situated under the nose of the orange-masks in the foothills of Hillsbrad. They'd live happily ever after, their daughter blessing their life, and a son a couple of years later to carry on the name."

Wynevra would lean over and peck Sal'narra's forehead. She had been absorbed in story-telling and ushering the child into sleep. If Adorlan had returned, she wouldn't have noticed.

Indeed, Adorlan did enter with his son. After putting Thorian to bed, he smirked as he listened. He waited until it was over, "That a real story?"

She'd eye Sal'narra, checking to ensure she was sleeping. Confident she was out, Wyn would slowly, very slowly, stand to leave Sal'narra's bedside. She'd sit on the edge of Adorlan's bed, nodding at him. "Some...child friendly redactions in detail, both for content and as I saw her nodding off. The happily ever after was interrupted, but, the story is real."

"The daughter that blessed their lives. Was that you?" he asked.

She grinned, "Okay. Maybe I pat myself on the back a little too hard with that phrase. Or, maybe I'm an *absolute* blessing."

## Quotes

* "Our family tradition is fuckin magickey types and rats. Ya see any feckin' priests or paladins? I sure as shit didn't. He broke the tradition by leavin' the Syndicate. You were the favorite by the both of 'em. Pa fawned over you and gave you anything he thought ya needed. Me? He wanted to keep me dumb and marry me off to the family down the road."
* "Cadfael is a magickey cheatin' bastard because he used magic - a skill no one in my family had at that point, to terrorize and torture a couple of children and murder a family. "

## Known Family Members

* Wynevra McEny
* Emrys McEny
* Eirwyn McEny
* Derwyn McEny
* Evelyn McEny
* Cadfael McEny

## Trivia

* The last name, "McEny" is a pun from the song "Anyway You Want It" by Journey. The name "Wynnie McEny" rhymed and was thought up while that song was playing.
* The first names of McEny family members are often direct, or amalgamations of Welsh names.