Gulf Foresters

Originating from a loosely organized group of woodcutters, gamekeepers, and rangers in the Redwood, the Redwoodsmen were initially a simple labor union. They ensured fair conditions and prices for the work of their members and the conservation of the region's flora and fauna. With the overwhelming bulk of their membership living and working in the riverlands south of the Wild Mountains between the Axia River and the Windy Woods, they became very popular and gained notoriety and widespread support even among folk unconnected to their work.

As the organization grew and attracted members well beyond the Redwood and Axia city, they formally organized themselves as a guild under the name Gulf Foresters of Axia. They constructued guildhalls in Axia city and Vhelmonte as well as numerous smaller lodges, most notably along Cutter Creek and other rivers where trade routes cross. These lodges frequently serve as waystations for members and merchants alike and are generally viewed as safe places to rest and trade.

Over the years members who grew older would frequently retire to Axia city where they would tend the extensive gardens of the primary guildhall. This practice eventually attracted more folk from the city who the Foresters would teach the knowledge and techniques to care for a healthy and productive garden. This proved incredibly popular, earning the guild even more support among the citizenry and, by extension, the patronage of numerous Axial politicians looking to win favor among the people. The Gulf Foresters leveraged this boosted income to create programs for educating the populace on the care and managemennt of Axia's natural resources. The proved particularly popular for young children, leading to the subgroups the Sons and Daughters of the Wood. Young people would come and develop skills which could help them build a career with the Foresters while also providing community and resources for those in need, such as food assistance or the construction of small houses.

All this has dramatically increased the reach and membership of the Gulf Foresters to the point where they hardly seem a simple labor guild, yet their core remains supporting the people who use and maintain the wild places of Axia. While the organization has formally remained within the borders of the Axial Empire their model has influenced similar organizations which have attempted to make headway in the Vellan Dominion and across the sea in the Kingdom of Derathain. Neither has grown to the extent that the Gulf Foresters have, but they are reasonably successful in their own rights.