History

Siege of Dire Keep

In 683 BE the Red, White and Black pact started a two year siege of the minor Troll stronghold of Dire Keep. Thulg Beastlord was the captain holding the keep. The Troll captain was famous for his use of war beasts to shatter the morale of his enemies; Dire Keep was likely to have been a training and breeding ground for such beasts. The army was led by Inga Hawkeye, Thane of the Suaq Red Rune clan, as she commanded the greatest force. The sieging army was held in three camps with the Suaq covering the north flank, the Steinr in the centre and the Kallavesi covering the south flank.

Inga Hawkeye called for a siege which would last two years. Over the two year period they suffered heavy attrition greatly reducing their numbers. In 681 BE, against his orders, Wulfric, commander of the White Skull company, tried to take the walls in an assault which was repelled with heavy losses.

The next day, seeing how reduced the besieging army had become, Thulg Beastlord sent forth a sally that was headed by one of the great cold drakes or northern Wyverns. The Wyvern devastated the Suaq forces and threatened to throw the entire siege into a retreat.

The army was saved when Wulfric, eager for death or redemption following his failed assault, stood against the beast. He miraculously held his own, until the beast disarmed him of his shield and spear. He himself was saved by Inga Hawkeye who struck the Wyvern in the eye, distracting it long enough so that Wulfric could impale the beast with his spear. Still the Wyvern refused to die and it wasn’t until Wulfric charged it with a knife and carved out the Wyvern’s still beating heart that the beast was slain.

This feat provided Thorin and the Kallavesi with enough time to get close to the walls of the Keep and perform a ritual to bring down the southern walls. With that the army poured in, conquering the stronghold. Thulg Beastlord fought ferociously until the end when he was killed in single combat by Inga Hawkeye but not before mortally wounding her. The pact was victorious but at the cost of horrendous loss of life and the death of Inga.

Ancient Watch History

The Old Hall of Dire Keep

The Old Hall marks the ancient origins of the watch. This period saw the establishment of Dire Keep as a settlement, the beginnings of Watch culture and traditions as well as the lives of it’s most revered heroes.

This period was marked by the problems of hereditary rule and served as an important lesson in the virtue of elective rule.

Thane Wulfric Wyvernsbane I (Steinr)

677 BE – 598 BE

After the coronation of King Ulmo, the folk of the pact returned, lead by Thorin and Wulfric. With Thorin unwilling to take command of the burgeoning hall, Wulfric was the natural choice and so was crowned by Thorin and his people in 677 BE.

Wulfric’s reign is largely remembered by his attempts to do right by his people. He steadily expanded Dire Keep in to the surrounding lands, and brought prosperity.

Wulfric, courageous and kind, was not however known for his judgment and so heavily relied on the judgement and advice of Thorin Chainbreaker.

The People of Dire Keep lived in a relatively barren land and so hunting was a primary source of food. The nature of the hall's origins inspired a culture that deeply revered hunting and despised Wyverns and any such monstrous creatures.

Thane Allaya Wyvernsblood I (Steinr)

598 BE – 553 BE

Upon the death of Wulfric his daughter Allaya ascended by popular vote. The ascension of father to daughter would have a lasting impact for the next century on succession raising a debate over whether the title of Thane should be elected or hereditary.

Allaya was a bright woman unlike her father, and just as courageous, however she struggled to shine from her father’s shadow. As such she was far more focused on personal glory, founding a tradition where the greatest hunters from Dire Keep would range with her across Wintermark, trying to kill the strongest beasts. Her reign fostered a reputation for the folk of Dire Keep as beast slayers, to the extent that the Varushkans would often call on them for help dealing with their monster problems. She began the tradition of drinking the blood of ones kills to gain strength.

Allaya’s reign did not however spark any such stagnation in the prosperity of the Hall, with an old Thorin managing domestic affairs and ensuring continual prosperity.

Thane Wulfric Blindside II (Steinr)

553 – 550 BE

By right of primogeniture Wulfric the II gained rule. A weak ruler who often left governing to his council. He spent his reign hunting and throwing lavish feasts. Wulfric was however, by all accounts, a competent hunter. His great hunting deeds are not recorded, save for his death in a hunting accident, where he was hit by a stray arrow whilst hunting with his brother Valkar. He was hit in the right side below the ribs becoming immortalised as Blindside.

Thane Valkar Bittereyes I (Steinr)

550 BE – 548 BE

Valkar’s reign marked the end of the 1^st Hall of Dire Keep. He ascended in 550 BE after his brother’s death. Rumours of his brother’s murder were inescapable. He was a clever man and if one ignored his jealous and volatile personality he was a good ruler. He greatly improved the fortifications of Dire Keep (largely due to paranoia.), he subsidised industry, turning Dire Keep into a major smithing centre thus improving trade monumentally. His progress was cut short by a civil war, when his niece Arwenna Wolfsbite claimed rule. He successfully won the war, brutally purging Arwenna’s supporters. The night of the last purge he was murdered in his sleep.

(Arwenna Wolfsbite) (Steinr)

549 BE – 548 BE

Arwenna was considered by many to be Wyvernsbane reborn. Brave and kind but lacking good decision making. She was known for biting the throats of her enemies in battle. She was good friends with Thorin Chainbreaker and was spurred on by him to reclaim the Hall of Dire Keep. Ultimately she would die in a doomed assault on Dire Keep, leaving her army shattered and Valkar the victor. Her rebellion would lead to Valkar’s murder and the end of the first Hall of Dire Keep.

The Civil War

The civil war was sparked by a rumour set in motion by Thorin Chainbreaker. Chainbreaker was approaching 170 years of age! An unprecedented feat which caused much suspicion over his magical practices. Valkar’s paranoia caused him to side-line Thorin from leadership, deposing Thorin of Stewardship. This caused a great deal of animosity between the two and sparked a rapid decline in Thorin’s health, Thorin’s dying words were that Wulfric II had intended his niece Arwenna to succeed. This divided the people of Dire Keep.

Arwenna’s likeability was a major boost to her reputation in contrast with Valkar’s harsh rule and so she attracted huge support. Valkar was left only with some sparse loyalists and those too afraid to rebel.

Arwenna’s forces counted for naught when despite all council she chose to storm Dire Keep. The stronghold's recently improved fortifications proved too much for her army and whilst trying to inspire them she was shot dead through the neck.

Her army was shattered and Valkar claimed victory. Valkar ruthlessly executed all traitors and their families, devastating the population. His reprisals would only lead to his murder by embittered rivals.

First Interim

Following the civil war Dire Keep was steeped in devastation. This period saw the re-institution of order, oversight of rebuilding and a transition away from hereditary rule.

Steward Sigfried the Reformer I(Suaq)

548 BE – 539 BE

With Valkar and Arwenna dead, a void in the succession threatened to plunge Dire Keep into chaos, with some fearing that every warrior of prowess would seek to rule.

Sigfried had been appointed by Valkar as steward after his dismissal of Thorin. Sigfried was far less of a statesman than Thorin but he relished in intrigue and diplomacy. With the purges having taken place, it was easy for Sigfried to command the respect of the remaining loyalists. He imposed martial order on the lands of Dire Keep and maintained strict but fair order.

His Iron grip but relative leniency made him an obvious choice as successor. He was however un-able to prevent the institution of an elective rule by the Burned Council of Stormcrows. It was declared that it was the right of each man and woman of Wintermark to vote for their ruler.

The New Hall of Dire Keep

The new Hall can be considered the Watch in all but name; it had elective rule up until its end, a culture and a people dedicated to beast hunting, whilst still wearing the vestiges of a society. This period saw the high point in our history. This is where many of our greatest heroes and deeds can be found. It also shows our rise in the politics of Wintermark.

Thane Sigfried the Reformer I(Suaq)

539 BE - 530 BE

In 539 BE Sigfried was crowned Thane. His reign would see the rebuilding of damage to Dire Keep as well as a recovery in population and a flourish in trade. Dire Keep continued to expand its industrial power as a smithing center.

He also settled the lands west of Dire Keep's valley, allowing for agriculture as well as mining and foresting enterprises to be established.

Thane Jorma Bearsblood I(Suaq)

530 BE – 501 BE

In 530 BE Sigfried died and rule smoothly transitioned when a moot declared Jorma Bearsblood as Thane. Sigfried's reign has served to re-establish the region and recover much of the devastation following the civil war. However, the culture of beast hunting and heroism had somewhat diminished and so the highly traditional Jorma sought to rectify this.

Jorma re-established the patrol system and the idea of trophy hunting. The folk of Dire Keep would once again be known for their hunting prowess and a new cast of warrior/hunter elites was established. Jorma’s reign is considered by the Wyvern’s Watch to be the archetypal period for Dire Keep. He was known for his role in eradicating native Dire bears from the Northspires.

Thane Aelson Drakefoe I(Steinr)

501 BE – 496 BE

Following the death of Jorma Bearsblood the Hall peacefully transferred to Aelson. Aelson was the greatest hero the watch had seen for decades, before his ascension he had killed more beasts than any of the previous Thanes had in their entire lives.

Good heroes do not always make good Thanes as proven by Aelson. Aelson horribly mismanaged the economy of Dire Keep, levying huge taxes to fund a large and elite fighting force in a time of relative national peace. His actions were fueled by a desire to kill a Wyvern in single combat as none had ever done before. He ruthlessly ranged across the mark trying to find a Wyvern to kill, mercilessly slaughtering several lesser drakes.

Eventually Aelson found one and engaged in single combat with it, whilst by no means outmatched Aelson was overwhelmed and ultimately killed. It would have been an underwhelming end to a great warrior had the Wyvern itself not choked on Aelson's armour as it devoured him. Even in death Aelson proved to be formidable.

King Rurik Hammer of the Jotun (Steinr)

496 BE – 448 BE

In 496 BE following the death of Aelson, Rurik I began his reign. Rurik I was formidable in every sense of the word, a bold warrior, skilled strategist, adept diplomat and shrewd statesman. His early reign started very well as he recovered much of the economic damage done by Aelson without diminishing Dire Keep's hunter traditions.

His tight management ended when he was elected to the Throne of Wintermark in 488BE. He quickly found himself embroiled in the management of the nation and so left the governorship of the region to his son Rurik II.

Rurik I spent the later years of his reign fighting a war with the Jotun which he decisively won reclaiming previously lost parts of Sermersuaq for Wintermark. For this he earned the name Hammer of the Jotun. Rurik I frequently used the elite troops established by Aelson to fight as a vanguard and exercise control over the nation; this established the Hall as a significant power in Wintermark and began its links to the Wintermark military.

Thane Rurik the Bold II (Steinr)

448 BE – 394 BE

After the death of Rurik I in 448 BE his son had been governing the region for over 20 years, making him the natural choice to succeed for some. To others the idea of a hereditary succession raised ethical questions. Nevertheless the moot elected Rurik and his reign began. He did have initial attempts to try and claim the crown of Wintermark like his father but he was passed over due to him being a Steinr in a time of peace.

Rurik was a brilliant leader - perhaps the greatest in watch history. Under his reign the Watch prospered, to the point by which the settlement expanded to both banks of the river and right to the end of the valley. Dire Keep became one of the wealthiest settlements in Hahnmark; briefly surpassing Stormspire in importance.

The Thane of Dire Keep played an important role in national politics supporting the king financially and militarily. With the crown owing the Thane debts and Rurik even being appointed as a general.

Rurik personally was known for his bold behaviour when hunting and battling; constantly leading charges and engaging in single combat.

Rurik however unfortunately established an Iron grip on Dire Keep being hugely popular and so in his later years was able to proclaim the re-institution of primogeniture. Upon his death his son succeeded him.

Thane Rurik the lesser III (Steinr)

394 BE – 389 BE

Rurik took up rule in 394 BE due to his fathers re-institution of primogeniture. The nature of his accession made him many enemies; however the legacy of his father and the prosperity of the Hall made his foes reluctant to act. Rurik expressed a disinterest in ruling directly, often deferring to his advisers and counsellors. This was something that served him well in the short term as his adept council made steady economic and political growth. Rurik did have an impeccable reputation as a hunter, having been part of a hunt that killed several northern Wyverns. It appeared that Dire Keep may be able to survive the reign of the ambivalent Thane.

Troubles arose when Rurik decided to marry Kane Sigfriedson, effectively ending the chances of him producing a natural heir. As a result there was an immense scramble to see who Rurik would name as heir. Several figures would vie for Rurik's affection: Rurik's Housecarl Suvi Ironeyes, a prominent warrior and the people's favourite Dunstan Silvertongue, and the Thane's Husband Kane Sigfriedson himself.

Towards the 5th year of his reign Rurik begun to make it clear he intended Kane to succeed. Kane proved to be an unpopular choice due to his lack of prowess as either a warrior or hunter. Approaching his 6th year of rule Rurik was murdered in his sleep.

There was tremendous speculation over Rurik's death, some blaming the elective faction trying to curb royal reform. Others blamed Rurik's potential heirs who wished to nip Kane's rise to power in the bud; others blamed Kane saying he wanted to seize power whilst he was still in favour.

The Dark Times

389 BE – 356 BE

The dark times mark a bloody struggle for the rule of Dire Keep. Upon Rurik's death, Kane would mobilise, quickly taking control of the Keep and declaring himself Thane. Kane lacked any real support for his cause. He suffered a major blow when Suvi simply ordered the troops of Dire Keep to abandon the stronghold, marching the army out of the Northspires to Bruckland where she made camp. Vastly more popular with the troops than Kane, the majority joined her.

Kane ruled uneasily in Dire keep for 4 years, constantly fearing that Suvi might attempt an invasion. He spent much time improving the outer fortifications of Dire keep - as such prosperity stagnated rousing the ire of the people.

A movement against Kane and the hereditary succession began to build; many of Rurik's critics joined and the numbers of the elective faction began to swell. The movement launched into a riot, headed by Dunstan Silvertongue.

Kane would hole himself up in Dire Keep, and a long 5 year siege began. Huge damage was suffered to the main keep; with Kallavesi mystics bringing down a heavy landslide on the northern side of the castle, permanently destroying that section of the stronghold.

What looked like an inevitable elective victory was shattered when Suvi returned with her forces in 380 BE attacking the besieging force from the rear. The electives were shattered with only a fraction surviving, including Dunstan; they would retreat deep into the mountains to gather strength. Suvi's attack devastated the population of the area and heavily ruined the settlement. Suvi would continue to siege the main keep for 2 more years before Kane surrendered it to her. Suvi beheaded Kane at Dire Keep and took power.

She would then spend the next 10 years trying to eradicate Dunstan's forces in the mountains suffering heavy attrition with little gain. Ultimately she would have to postpone her campaign on the orders of the King due to war with the Thule. She spent the next 12 years fighting the Thule. Dunstan would exploit this raiding Dire Keep and inflicting more damage onto the population and settlement.

Once the war with the Thule concluded Suvi would return, infuriated by Dunstan's raids. As a result she would launch her largest campaign into the mountains leading it personally. This would end in disaster when her army was engaged in a surprise attack on the wolf's pass.

Her army was completely unprepared for an attack and promptly shattered. Suvi would die in battle refusing to retreat. Upon the laws of primogeniture, her young Daughter Lyydia would succeed her. However, Dunstan, with victory in hand, would lead an immediate assault on Dire Keep. Losses were heavy on both sides and by this point the settlement of Dire Keep had been reduced to rubble; only the initial fortification remained. Dunstan took the Keep and executed Lyydia. The electives had won; however, less than a month into his reign Dunstan declared his eldest son as heir at a moot. This enraged his supporters and a mob formed. Dunstan and his entire family would be torn apart by a mob in what would become known as the red moot.

With no clear candidate for succession, Dire Keep descended into anarchy. Some warriors of minor note would attempt to claim rule but ultimately they would kill one another leaving the title empty.

The inhabitants of the region had been reduced to a handful, many would simply abandon the area and move to other halls.

It is worth saying the Watch today does not consider any of the pretenders of the Dark Times to be worthy of being called Thane.

Second Interim

This period refers to the aftermath of the dark times in which a council of Stormcrows united to guide us to a new era. A purpose and morality would be given and the watch would be born.

The Burned Council (Kallavesi)

356 BE – 354 BE

Following the decline of Dire Keep the remaining inhabitants amounted to little more than a village, life continued on slowly with little purpose. Ultimately the people turned to their spiritual leaders for guidance. A council of stormcrows joined together to decide how best to move forward. Ultimately they felt it would be unwise to re-grow Dire Keep believing it should simply be left to die-out. However In the true Wintermark way it was decided that those remaining should dedicate the rest of their lives to a purpose. With the inhabitants' considerable skill at hunting they felt the best choice was to serve as beast hunters to better ensure the security of the nation, particularly from their ancient enemies; the Wyverns. The council then approached Eawyn Ironwill to serve as the leader of this group. Whilst neither the greatest warrior nor hunter, she was honest and steadfast to her principles - truly, a stable choice.

Classical Watch History

The 1st Wyvern’s Watch

The first watch was formed out of the remnants of the new Hall of Dire Keep. With dwindled numbers the folk of the watch swore to dedicate their lives to protecting the people of Wintermark from bestial threats. Originally intended to be the last hurrah of the folk of Dire Keep, their cause inspired a new generation of warriors who would take up the pledge to protect the people.

For the first time Dire Keep was home to people from all over the mark. In this period the watch oversaw the extinction of the northern Wyverns and a mass reduction in the number of deadly creatures in central Wintermark.

Grand Housecarl Eawyn Ironwill I (Steinr)

354 – 311BE

Eawyn Ironwill was placed in charge of Dire Keep by the burned council, a firm elective she would refuse the title of Thane due to its historical connotations with Instability; taking the title of Grand Housecarl instead. Both her and the Burned Council agreed; rather than put her efforts to rebuilding the Thanedom, the people of the region should become selfless devoting to helping others instead. As such Eawyn assembled the remaining folk into four patrols; one for each Wintermark territory, sending them off to their respective regions to seek work as hunters.

At first the patrols were met with scepticism - most lands already had capable hunters, and the reputation of the folk of Dire Keep for infighting had spread far. The watch gradually built up their reputation, however, by being willing to lay down their lives for others no matter what.

This Heroic behaviour had an unexpected consequence. Recruits. As the legend of the patrols spread with many young warriors wanting to join to prove themselves and many old and famous warriors wanting to put their last years to use. For every brother and sister that fell two more were inspired to join. What had started as a last crusade had sparked a new chapter. Eventually the patrols became roving armies and Eawyn was forced to order them back to Dire Keep to establish a base of operations. Eawyn had to limit how many were allowed to patrol, in the end she decided that this new order could continue where the old one could not. With surplus manpower the ruins of Dire Keep became, a fort, a stronghold and finally a settlement.

In 311 BE Eawyn died having re-vitalised the area and spawned a new generation of inhabitants.

Grand Housecarl Wulfric Watcher III (Steinr)

311 BE- 288 BE

A moot would be held in 311 BE following the death of Eawyn, Wulfric a charismatic member of the new generation took the reigns. In his hands he held the beginnings of something great, however it lacked solid institutions, law, organisation and traditions.

Wulfric spawned what would become a cultural revolution in the region, idolising the heroes of the past, his people grew up on their legends and developed a fierce warrior/hunter culture the likes of which had never been seen before. Industry and agriculture were sidelined; only the hunt mattered. Members would have a strict daily regiment: people would train together, eat together and sleep together.

A firm purpose was established that Wintermark have its bestial threats removed, above all the Wyverns, legendary enemies of the past had to fall. It was in Wulfric III's reign that the name Wyverns Watch was first attributed to the folk of Dire Keep. The name derived from the order's core belief that Wyverns were the pre-eminent threat to human destiny and the watch reviled them as devious allies of the trolls. To the watch the war with the trolls was not over until the Wyverns were gone.

Wulfric's reign can be seen as the period of history in which modern Watch culture stems from. Much of the history we have about the ancient Watch derives from accounts written in this period. Wulfric III died in 288 BE and he is known as Watcher for his formal establishment of the order.

Grand Housecarl Riikka Ranger I (Suaq)

288 BE – 250BE

Following the death of Wulfric III Riikka was elected Grand Housecarl by a moot; having served as Steward five years prior, she was well placed to succeed. Riikka, inherited a fully formed Watch, this would not impact her drive to forge her own legacy. Riikka heavily reformed the recruiting process, advocating for an elite selection process. She instituted a list of formal tactics for dealing with certain types of beasts, which she would enforce through scheduled drills.

Riikka would create a messenger system across the Mark so that the Watch could be informed quickly of threats. Riikka would also create a series of outposts in the outer-end of the valley which would eventually become populated settlements that served to farm, mine and gather resources for the Watch. Riikka fostered relationships with other Halls in Wintermark, drafting various agreements to accommodate and feed Watchers on patrol.

Perhaps the most significant development of her reign was the institution of the great rangings. Riikka spent much of her reign compiling records on the habits of the Wyverns, such as: their hunting styles, migration patterns and diet. Riikka used this information to organise great rangings where the entire Watch would be marshalled to hunt the beasts. She would create the rank of shieldbearer to lead each patrol and improve order relay. This level of organisation was revolutionary in Wyvern hunting.

Unfortunately in 250 BE Riikka was wounded in a hunt by a Wyvern, later dying of poisoned wounds. Ultimately her reign made the Watch into an efficient fighting force, had she not died prematurely she might have eliminated the Wyverns. Nevertheless, she would pave the way for her successors.

Grand Housecarl Aarne the Great I (Suaq)

250 BE - 210 BE

Aarne the Great in 251 BE would not have been a likely candidate to succeed, he was a proven warrior but not one likely to be picked over more senior warriors or the likes of Riikka's Steward Gunbrand. However in 250 BE during a great ranging Riikka's personal guard was attacked directly by a Wyvern, resulting in the death of Gunbrand and wounding of Riikka. This loss of leadership threatened to throw the entire Watch into panic, had Aarne not charged forward mounting the Wyvern and decapitating it. To all those present it was a deed not easily forgotten and in the ensuing moot he was voted as Grand Housecarl.

If one looked purely at Aarne's domestic reign one would not see anything particularly "Great"; he created the position of Quartermaster to manage Dire Keep's economy, a move that arguably boosted prosperity more that anything else Aarne could have done. Aarne also further delegated creating the roles of Head Mage and Court Physician to manage magic and healing respectively. The bureaucracy he created helped to boost efficiency in the leadership.

With the free time Aarne gained he devoted it to a great project. Aarne used the information on Wyvern habits, collected by Riikka to establish a clear plan to cull the Wyvern's once and for all. Aarne launched yearly rangings that would aim to kill younger Wyverns eliminating Wyvern offspring before they could become a serious threat. Aarne would often let older Wyverns die of old age only engaging them if they attacked people. By the end of Aarne's reign in 210 BE a Wyvern had not been seen for over ten years in Wintermark, leaving most to believe they were extinct. Aarne would ultimately become the true bane of the Wyvens, where others had failed something the Watch will never forget. He was truly Aarne the Great.

Grand Housecarl Eerik the last hunter I(Suaq)

210 BE – 193BE

Eerik served as a Shieldbearer for the Skarsind patrol, he was a great warrior and ultimately had superior martial skills to any competitors to the throne such as Aarne's Steward, Lumi. Eerik had been on several successful Wyvern hunts and so the moot declared him Grand Housecarl.

Eerik's reign is tragic to some degree as he presided over the rapid decline of the Watch, with the Wyvern's gone many felt the Watch had completed its purpose and so many Watchers returned home to their previous halls to live normal lives. Ultimately only the native inhabitants of Dire Keep and those too old to return to civilian life remained. Furthermore Riikka's outer valley settlements had grown to an extent where they desired independence from the Watch wanting to serve their own interests. Eerik lacked the forces to maintain control and so they broke away.

Eerik continued to utilise the bureaucracy of Aarne and Riikka to sustain the smaller watch. However even the greatest mercantile minds of the Watch were unable to build prosperity from the depleted and weak region. Even locals began to relocate to richer lands. Eerik was hard in his resolve and continued to patrol and range solving the more minor bestial problems of the nation where ever they occurred. Eventually most felt that they could handle these threats locally and simply stopped asking for aid.

The last few years were filled with silence as the Watch lay dormant, rotting. Until a Watcher spotted a great figure on the horizon. A Wyvern huge and bloated with age. This Wyvern had strode into the valley itself. The alerts sounded and the members of the Watch assembled, at this point the Watch consisted of old men and women eager for a good death. The Watch gave a final charge. Many died but the Wyvern fell. Eerik died in the fight and there were only three survivors. The survivors looked back on Dire Keep one last time before leaving on patrol one final time.

Dissolution of the Watch

193BE - 166BE

Towards the end of the 3rd century BE the Watch had eliminated the last Wyverns in the north and had largely become defunct in their purpose as such their numbers slowly dwindled until the final generation died out on hunts as intended almost three hundred years earlier.

The 2^nd Wyvern’s Watch

The second watch formed out of a reactionary purpose following a mass invasion by Thule and Jotun forces. They brought many war beasts into battle which gave them a severe edge over the wintermarkers. A group of veteran warriors became highly skilled in the art of dealing with such beasts, their camaraderie and skills lead them to reform the Watch taking in many folk from the old keep. They reformed the order successfully aiding the mark in its war effort.

This period saw the watch transformed into not just a domestic force but a military order that played an active role in wars as well as beast related matters.

Thane Ymma the defender I (Kallavesi)

166 BE – 100 BE

In 98 BE the Thule Launched a massive invasion of Skarsind which was paired with a Jotun assault into Kallavesa. The armies of Wintermark were placed on the back foot as massive forces equipped with advanced magics and terrifying war beasts rolled forward.

Ymma was a simple farmer of Dirvaal, one of the settlements established by Riikka nearly a hundred years ago. Like most Winterfolk she jumped at the chance to go to war, but her expectation was shattered when she witnessed firsthand, the carnage of war. She saw ogres tear warriors in two with their bare hands, she saw war rhinos crush legions of men underfoot and she saw fierce drakes devour her countrymen.

Ymma devoted several years to learning how to combat the great beats of the war and slowly she became skilled in taking out beasts on her own. She heavily relied on her powerful Kallavesi magics and rituals to do so. This was observed by many of her fellow warriors who desired to learn from her, so she taught them with rigorous drills, rituals and exercises. Eventually after many kills and a great victory at the battle of the White Valley she was declared Thane by her warriors. Thane of what though?

Ymma had no formal lands or home for her people and was consumed by stress over where to settle her people. She remembered the tales of her youth though. Tales of a mighty Watch that were the greatest hunters in the known world. On these thoughts she decided to re-settle Dire Keep and found the 2nd Watch.

Ymma had little time to reform the traditions of old or for repairing the keep. She would devote her entire life and that of her people to fighting the war with the Thule and Jotun. Under her reign the Watch became accustomed to fighting orcs more than it ever had and it ultimately became a great para-military force. She also expanded the Watch's delving into magic.

Ymma died of battle wounds in 100 BE just five years before a peace was reached. Her death was honoured by the Queen of Wintermark herself in a grand moot that would see the entire Mark pay homage to her devotion and aid.