Anterrel Expedition

The Anterrel Expedition is a large collection of explorers, adventurers, and mercenaries all united under the fictitious Aston Anterrel with the mission of exploring the Lawless Lands. The Expedition is governed by the Dunecrest Concord, but is comprised of citizens from all three nations of Garn. They departed in 8R-322.

## Structure

The Anterrel Expedition houses many groups, and thus operates under a very tenuous and stressful governance. In order to join the Expedition, you must be under the banner of one of the Fathers. The Fathers are considered the ruling bodies of the Expedition, and each holds a certain amount of authority as granted by the "First Father." Since the Dunecrest Concord is the official sponsor of the Expedition, each of the three nations of Garn holds partial authority within the caravan. Each nation operates as one of the Fathers, and emissaries from these groups act as leaders to their nation’s citizens within the Expedition. Each Father has one elected official called their Speaker, which serves on a council called Anterrel's Table.

The First Father is House Anterrel, having been granted ruling authority by the Dunecrest Concord. Lord Anterrel, the primary benefactor of the Expedition, is famously reclusive, and leaves much of the ruling tasks to his Speaker, the Servant of Many (often called SOM). House Anterrel has enlisted a mercenary group known as the Red Watch to serve as their personal military, led by Enzuk Grikorel.

Though House Anterrel is said to absolute authority, the Dunecrest Concord asserts itself as it sees fit. Alric Argon is the son of the Grand Concordat, Vassil Argon, and serves as the Premiere Concordant of the military within the Expedition. The Concord largely acts as peacekeepers in the Expedition, enforcing the laws and keeping each of the other Fathers in check. Niansa Argon (Alric's younger sister) serves as Speaker, and is more ambitious than her brother, but he often keeps her from holding any real power.

The Oakheart Dominion is one of the most influential Fathers, led by three members of the Tankotan Council: Vazoryn Laethia, Thesaren Vasesh, and Levis A'priith. A'priith serves as Speaker and relishes in his authority, constantly seeking to undermine House Anterrel and further his own agenda, while Vazoryn Laethia is more pragmatic and seeks to serve her people. Thesaren Vasesh is one of the Promisers, and a priest of Yin. As a follower of the Risen Ash, A'priith is the least respected of the Tankotan Council, and therefore hopes to find his place beyond Garn.

The Snowblood Alliance is another of the most influential Fathers, led by two emissaries from the north and south, as well as a representative of the Prime Allegiant. Niros Billowborn is the gnomish emissary of the south, while Relomia the Red Shade is the wolf emissary of north. Fernand Skire keeps the other two in check in the name of the Prime Allegiant, and serves as the Snowblood Speaker. Niros and Relomia do not trust each other, but share the common interest of keeping the Snowblood Alliance united. Some factions of their people are likewise divided, considering themselves "Claws" or "Talons" rather than members of the Alliance. The Alliance has many Snowblade guards traveling with them.

The Lakewalker Kingdom is seen as the weakest of the major Fathers, led by Deppo dol Deppo the tortle, frequently called Papa Deppo, who serves as Governor of the Southern Shores. The Lakewalkers who joined the Expedition only did so to escape what they see as a collapsing Kingdom, with Marcellia Mastis dividing the loyalties of his people. They do not exert their influence openly, but silently manipulate the other Fathers through the guise of being a kind and forgiving nation. Papa Deppo's son, also named Deppo dol Deppo but mockingly known as Wee Deppo, serves as Speaker for the Lakewalkers.

There are many lesser Fathers who also hold seats at Anterrel's Table. The Black Bands are a group of monster hunters, led by their tabaxi Speaker No Hair. The Hands of Heldor care for the dramelhogs that the Expedition rides upon, with Brommi Thralgud serving as their Speaker. The Ma'Tigal Dominion of the Astrevan Isles has a small group among the members of the Expedition, with Ra'Ciiark serving as their Speaker under the authority of Chieftain Sa'Qek. The Promisers act as the religious leaders of the Expedition, and Thesaren Vasesh serves as their Speaker at the Table. The Gild is a mercantile company responsible for maintaining the economy of the Expedition, and Never a Novice acts as their Speaker.

## Travel

The Expedition is built upon the backs of two Dramelhogs, which are cared for by the Hands of Heldor. The Dramelhogs were raised by House Anterrel, after being stolen from their mother as babies. The two eldest Dramelhogs, named Yomrul and Kudda, gave birth to a child of their own, Gruzko, which follows the expedition until it is strong enough to support a colony of its own. Yomrul and Kudda both support massive colonies upon their backs, allowing the Expedition to maintain a permanent infrastructure as they travel across the Lawless Lands. The Dramelhogs are capable of magically burrowing underground, allowing their backs to become perfectly flush with the ground.

In addition to the Dramelhogs, various populations of the Expedition make use of their own means of travel. The Snowblood Alliance uses airships of their own invention to fly alongside the Dramelhogs. The Oakheart Dominion often travel by horse and cart, and often make their own camps separately from the primary caravan. Denizens of the Lakewalker Kingdom typically ride upon the Dramelhogs, but there are also many who prefer to walk or ride horses alongside the main group. The Ma'Tigal Dominion provided Ruk'Tanii, commonly called Moon Gliders, to travel alongside the Expedition.

## The Fathers and their Notable Members

### **House Anterrel**

House Anterrel is in charge of overseeing and organizing the Anterrel Expedition.

* Aston Anterrel is the head of House Anterrel, and patron of the Expedition. By all appearances, he only wants to see the world, and does not enjoy being disturbed. In reality, he does not exist at all.
* Servant of Many is the Speaker of House Anterrel. They want to keep order in the Expedition, and discover the Bearers of Anterrel in an effort to become the next Avatar of Anterrel.
* Garrick Zenwhyl is a traveling performer under the employ of House Anterrel. He is being paid exorbitantly to play Lord Anterrel when necessary, but is trying to find a way to remove himself from his pact with Boltusut.
* Enzuk Grikorel is the leader of the Red Watch. She is seeking the ancient dragons in the Lawless Lands, hoping to restore Dragonborn to the glory of their ancestry.

### **Dunecrest Concord**

The Dunecrest Concord is in charge of keeping the laws of the Anterrel Expedition.

* Alric Argon is the Premiere Concordant within the Expedition. He seeks to impress his father by wielding his power like a weapon. He is entangled with Pilfer despite her marriage to No Hair.
* Niansa Argon is the Speaker of the Dunecrest Concord. She seeks to surpass the power of her brother, and take over the Expedition with the help of her lover Mienne.
* Mienne Eyssa is the Captain of the Bloodsands. She and Niansa are in love, and are scheming to take over the Expedition.

### **Oakheart Dominion**

The Oakheart Dominion is in charge of representing their people within the Lawless Lands.

* Vazoryn Laethia is the Bishop of Territory and the leader of the Oakheart Dominion within the Expedition. She wants to use the Expedition as a means of weakening the other nations for an impending invasion from the Oakhearts.
* Levis A'priith is the Speaker of the Oakheart Dominion. He wants to take over the Expedition entirely, and form a new society of his own in the Lawless Lands.
* Shacaryn Azurewing is a prostitute, but is secretly Imarona Ildran in disguise. She is attempting to find Garrick Zenwhyl and steal back what he took from the Zylem Vaults.

### **Snowblood Alliance**

The Snowblood Alliance is in charge of representing their people within the Lawless Lands.

* Fernand Skire is the Speaker of the Snowblood Alliance. He is serving out of duty to his friend and Prime Allegiant, Misri Omeri.
* Niros Billowborn is the Emissary of the South. He seeks to keep the Snowblood Alliance united.
* Relomia the Red Shade is the Emissary of the North. She seeks to keep the Snowblood Alliance united.

### **Lakewalker Kingdom**

The Lakewalker Kingdom is in charge of representing their people within the Lawless Lands.

* Papa Deppo is the leader of the Lakewalker Kingdom in the Expedition.
* Wee Deppo is the Speaker of the Lakewalker Kingdom.

### **The Black Bands**

The Black Bands are in charge of defending the Expedition from the beasts of the Lawless Lands.

* No Hair is the Speaker of the Black Bands. He hopes to find and kill the Children of morgull, and use their blood to strengthen himself and his companions.
* Pilfer is the wife of No Hair. She is having an affair with Alric Argon, and hopes to kill No Hair at an opportune moment and join Alric at the head of the Dunecrest Concord.
* Storrik is a respected member of the Black Bands. He hopes to find other Bugbears in the Lawless Lands, and maybe find a new home for himself.

### **Hands of Heldor**

The Hands of Heldor are in charge of caring for the Dramelhogs and other creatures of the Expedition.

* Brommi Thralgud is the Speaker of the Hands of Heldor. He is motivated by trying to find the original home of the Dramelhogs.

### **Ma'Tigal Dominion**

The Ma'Tigal Dominion is in charge of representing their people within the Lawless Lands.

* Sa'Qek is the leader of the Ma'Tigal Dominion within the Expedition. He seeks to find the source of the Devouring Dark that scours his lands.
* Ra'Ciiark is the Speaker of the Ma'Tigal Dominion. He is secretly Skazir Kasiruch in disguise, and is siphoning information back to Haemon Xaroth while investigating the Devouring Dark.
* Kri'Kess is the wife of Sa'Qek. She is there to heal and protect the people of the Ma'Tigal Dominion.

### **The Promisers**

The Promisers are in charge of the spiritual lives of all within the Expedition.

* Salathiel is the Runekeeper of the Promisers. She seeks to keep balance between all the faiths of the Expedition by any means necessary.
* Rutish Dalyn is the bodyguard of Salathiel. He is only motivated by her safety.
* Bear Hug is the Promiser of Orillian. She is hoping to discover rare plants on the journey.
* Kitildis is the Promiser of Eltaran. She is a Watcher of the Ring, and is gathering as much information for Thalmir Cinderstep as she can.
* Thesaren Vasesh is the Promiser of Yin, and Speaker of the Promisers. His goal is to spiritually lead the people, and make them resolute against the Council's attempts to stir mistrust between the nations.
* Aza Naavine is the Promiser of Nervin. She seeks to upset the hierarchy of the Expedition with the help of the disenfranchised.
* Kralzak Halfscale is the Promiser of Theliel. He seeks to keep the truth sacred in the Expedition.

### **The Gild**

The Gild is in charge of the commerce of the Expedition.

* Never a Novice is the Speaker of the Gild. She has been tasked by Orupp Coppercloak to find wealth in the Lawless Lands to further cement the Gild's role in the power structure of the Dunecrest Concord.