Sons of Romulus

The **Sons of Romulus** are an underground right-wing
nationalist group active in the Hedgelands and surrounding areas.

## History

The Sons of Romulus were founded shortly after the Hedge Charter was signed in 830. While the intent of the charter was to unify the various towns and villages of the area into a unified force to counter the political influence of Valouria to the south and Altathair to the north, a sizable minority opposed to agreement, believing the intent behind the alliance was for the larger settlements to take the sovereignty and authority of the others.

One such individual, Garrison Shephardson of Boarhedge, took the sentiment to the extreme, believing the Hedge Charter to be a plot to fundamentally alter their way of life by introducing outside morals and principals and replacing the traditional values of the locals. Over the years, he put together a network of like-minded individuals. Though he died before he could enact the pollical change he sought, he successfully blocked reforms in his native home and in other nearby hamlets through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and threats.

Though the power of the organization ebbed and flowed throughout the years, they remained operating in the shadows of the Hedgelands.

## Attitude

The Sons of Romulus are a right-wing terror organization.
Members and sympathizers who support the group possess the typical attitudes of
rural, conservative societies- they have a healthy suspicion of outsiders, seek
to return their homeland to its more pure “roots”, and are against what they
see as the meddling of outsiders in their own affairs. Most are insular and
seek to be left to their own devices, free from the interference of those who
they consider to be threats to their simple way of life.

To most, Romulus is a symbolic figure, an archetype for the
ideal Hedgelander man: strong, fierce, loyal, and dedicated to the community.
Some see Romulus as a literal semi-divine figure, who is worshipped in defiant
opposition of the Old Gods, the primary faith of the Hedgelands. An even
smaller minority are involved in a cult dedicated to Romulus.

## Organization

The Sons of Romulus are very decentralized. Cells and
members often do not know of the existence of other cells and members, despite
possibly even knowing the individuals the other cells are composed of. Only the
upper echelons of the organization know the identities of fellow members, but
even in these cases, that information is often severely limited. The leader of
the Sons, Darryl Morninghorn is one of the few to have a thorough listing of
members of the organization, though even his contact list is generally limited
to cell leaders or members who have some amount of influence due to their
social status and/or profession.

## Regions of Influence

A right-wing nationalist organization, the Sons of Romulus are
concerned only about the Hedgelands. As such, they recruit and operate
primarily in the confederation, though operations sometimes take place in locations
in nations that border the Hedgelands. The organization is strongest in the
settlements and farmsteads located the in southcentral portions of the nation,
such as Witchhedge, Thunderhedge, Grayhedge, Moonhedge, and Boarhedge. Though
located in the south, Southhedge is a notable exemption, given its status as a
port city and the constant coming and going of non-Hedgelanders, their goods,
and their philosophies.

## Leadership

In public, the leader of the Sons, Darryl Morninghorn, is a woodcutter
who lives on a small homestead in Boarhedge with a wife and two sons. He has lived
on the plot of land for his entire life, much like his parents before him, and
their parents before them, and has dedicated his life to protecting and
providing for his family. Behind closed doors, he has a keen intellect that he
carefully guards in his day-to-day life. Considering himself a political radical,
Morninghorn commands a small army of insurgents who blend in with the community
and has the blood of hundreds on his hands.

Because the group is so decentralized, Morninghorn is
virtually the only member of the organization who has a full accounting of how
large the group is, those who are members, and those who he considers
sympathetic to the cause. He shares this information with on an as-needed basis
with his lieutenants, who oversee the day-to-day operations of the cells they administer.

## Allies

True to their xenophobic mentality, the Sons of Romulus have
no others they can truly depend on, outside of themselves. Higher-ranking
members often have contacts in other nations that they regularly call on to
procure equipment, information, or other things for the cause, but these
individuals are generally seen as means-to-ends, rather than allies; They are
seen as tools, trustworthy only as far as coin can buy them.

## Enemies

The Sons of Romulus consider those who seek to change their
way of life in the Hedgelands their enemy. They do not necessarily hate
outsiders, or non-Hedgelanders, but they hate the concept of these individuals
and groups changing their way of life, a way of life that they have enjoyed,
and their fathers enjoyed, and their father’s fathers enjoyed.

## Joining the Sons of Romulus

Because it is a secret society, the Sons of Romulus are very
careful about who they allow into their ranks. Membership is generally “passed
down” from father to son, simply because parents can more easily mold the
political beliefs of children, and because they are safer to trust than
acquaintances, because of the familial connection.

Women are generally not allowed to formally join the
organization, though doubtless wives, sisters, and daughters know of the Sons
because of the membership of their significant other and support it. The group
perpetuates the patriarchal attitudes that are prevalent in most rural,
conservative societies- the fact that the church of the Earthmother is
primarily tended to by women cannot be a coincidence, either.

Before an individual can join the Sons of Romulus, an
existing member must petition his cell leader. Depending on the candidate to join
the group, this starts an observation process that can last anywhere from a few
days to a few months. The potential candidate is not made aware of the petition
on behalf of another Son, and is secretly watched, to better assess his
worthiness of joining the group. Once the cell leader is satisfied that the
proposed recruit would be an upstanding member of the group, the proposed
recruit is contacted. If he does not express interest in joining, something is
done to ensure that he never speaks up about the group- this ranges from
threats to murder, depending on the individual and the circumstances of the
rejection. If the prospective recruit expresses interest in joining, the
membership process begins in earnest.

For a period of time that ranges from cell to cell, the
prospect is mentored by existing members of the group. He is tutored in the
physical skills that are employed by the organization, as well as in the
religious aspects of it. When the prospect has been deemed worthy of becoming a
full member of the Sons of Romulus, the cell leader has him participate in his
final trial on the night of the next full moon. Armed only with a dagger, the
prospect is sent into the woods to kill a wolf. He is not supposed to return
until he slays the creature and returns with its pelt. Upon completion of the
trial, the prospect is deemed a full member of the Sons of Romulus.

## Costs and Benefits of Membership

Among conservative Hedgelanders who seek to protect their
way of life, membership in the Sons of Romulus is a cherished thing. It gives
them access to the resources needed to turn their ideals into reality, from
like-minded individuals to a preexisting political structure willing to take
action.

Being a member comes with costs, however. Like any
underworld organization, members know that the price of betrayal, failure, and
other shortcomings are harsh. Hedgeland authorities are often just as harsh,
given the damage that the Sons have cost them in the past. While membership
itself is not illegal in the nation, being identified as a member generally
turns one into a coconspirator of other crimes.