Reavers

The Reavers are a northern tribe of men living a precarious existence on the coast of the Grey Sea. In the past they were a constant threat to all the towns and villages in the north as they were much given to raiding to steal what resources they could including human slaves. They tend to be fair-haired and taller than the Reets and have a reputation as ferocious warriors. They believe that if they die in battle they will be invited to the feast halls of their gods.

In the early years of Cambria they posed as big a threat as the Reetlanders for the security of the realm and even at one stage threatened to settle permanently on Cambria's northern coasts. St. Olwyn, however, won a decisive victory over them and secured oaths from them recognising her rule over all Cambria after which they ceased to bother Cambria for the rest of her lifetime.

When Reaver activity increased again in the fifth century both Cambria and Reetland built navies to operate in the Grey Sea and neutralise the threat. Although the Reaver ships could generally outrun those of the northern kingdoms they now feared to row their ships up the northern rivers for fear of being blockaded. In the sixth century therefore they switched their focus to finding a northerly route which allowed them to trade with the Western Khanate. In this they succeeded but the destruction of that kingdom by the Gnoll Horde put paid to their efforts to expand to the East.

It was in the eighth century that the Elves first encountered them on the Great Ocean but they proved ill-equipped to take on the Elvish mariners in the fast and manoeuvrable Elvish vessels and had little luck when they tried to raid the Elven ports. In the early ninth century they made a surprise raid on the Sambian port of Ledoon the coast of the Blue Sea but their ships, heavy with loot, were caught by the Cambrian navy and the crews were captured and hung. Other acts of piracy further south, however, were more successful. In recent times their ships have come into the Blue Sea seeking trading opportunities but it is also known that they would like to establish a permanent base in the region maybe on the southern shore of the Sea.



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