Vardvorkai

Vardvorkai, meaning "the sentinel", is a rocky island in the north of the Edynor continent, between the **Stonemist Swamps** and **Dyrrheimr**. Tall, near vertical moutains rise from the sea. Save one small tribe in the Stonemist Swamps, this is the last region in Edynor where harpies roost. They have been driven to near extinction during the last Collossi war. Until relatively recent times, death rained from above upon anyone who dared approach the island; in more recent years, some outsiders have been tolerated and tentative agreements formed.

A couple of settlements have appeared where the rocky shores allowed it, serving as trading outposts. Delegations of lizardfolk are allowed in, as well as envoys of the raiding clans of Dyrrheimr. A couple of other humanoid individuals provide the main services. The traded goods are transported up the mountains with a system of pulleys under strict supervision. Unless explicitly invited or instructed, foreigners climbing "higher than a dozen people are tall" are swiftly punished. In practice, this means the upper warehouses on scaffolds.

### Geographical Features

Rocks, rocks, rocks, and even more dark grey or black rocks are the main feature of the island. The cliffs appear needle like from the sea, and unless one has wings, climbing the sheer walls is near impossible. Small stretches of land between cliffs and the sea have allowed for a couple of settlements to be built, serving as trading posts.

Small lush plateaus exist scattered among the tall peaks, but outsiders have no view of them. Also concealed among the tall peaks are the mine shafts leading deep into the mountains - the source of the newly established trade. A couple of humanoid villages exist. Access to them is always a one-way ticket. Humans and a couple of other races work small farms, but mainly the mines. As humans multiply relatively slow, the harpies will occasionally buy older children to swell the population ranks. While "groundlings" are not exactly prisoners or slaves, they are also not free to ever leave the island.

### Population

The harpies roost among the peaks and few are seen in the settlemets below. A couple of representatives will be there to settle disputes or negotiate new contracts, but "groundlings" do all the work. Xenophobic, paranoid and skittish by nature, these traits have been accentuated by the species being almost wiped out in former wars. Agile fliers and keen archers, their lack of advanced tactics or technologies have led to many defeats once their flight advantages were countered. Survivors have retreated to unreachable areas and have led centuries of isolationist policies.

In recent years, frail relations have been established with the denizens of the Stonemist Swamps. Perhaps the harpies sensed a kinship with the lizardfolk, who fared similarly in the last war, or they were far enough removed from humans, elves, or orcs that the harpies listened before they fired arrows. Even more recently, a lucrative relationship has been budding with the werefolk of the Dyrrheimr clans, where once again their partly animalic scent has stalled arrows long enough for parlay.

### Social and Political Organization

A matriarchal society, harpies are organized in tribes headed by an Archmatriarch. Three main tribes vye for dominance over the island, often breaking out in skirmishes. The main bone of contention is control over the mines, which afford them the luxury of shiny things and better foods via trade. Alliances shift frequently, and the changing allegiance of the smaller tribes add to the power imbalace. It took prolonged efforts to agree to some terms of combat - something unprecented. The Archmatriarchs have vowed that eggs, younglings and the "groundlings" are not to be attacked or destroyed. Furthermore, the established trade with the outsiders will continue - even if the tribe representatives in the settlement change due to a powershift. The arrangement has had its hiccups, but so far the system has been in place and mostly abided by for half a decade.

### Known settlements

n.a.

n.a.

### Material and Contribution

Vardvorkai and the Stonemist Swamps are developed by @arashisenshi on instagram.

The Dyrrheimr raiders are developed by @mandomc\_designs on instagram.