Tenant

"Tenant" is a position given to select centaurs and satyrs of Herzströmen; while tenants were originally an annual position, the Half-Folk tribes eventually decided to make it a lifelong responsibility. The tasks ordained upon the tenants can be taxing, requiring mentally resilient volunteers. While the Half-Folk are sturdy in more ways than one, finding new members to fill the role of tenant every year proved impossible; those who had distanced themselves from the responsibility often swore off returning. With fewer volunteers year after year, the various tribes of Half-Folk decided to shift the role into a lifelong position.   Most Half-Folk of Eldurgrund live in the Kyte Forest: the territory given to them by the national governy. At the center of the Half-Folk territory is a keep known as Herzströmen; unlike most lordships, however, the Half-Folk keep serves no defensive role and rarely houses its people—instead, the centaurs and satyrs of the Kyte Forest break into wandering tribes, only returning to Herzströmen for the first month of winter. During this time, the Half-Folk trade goods and camp during the season's harshest period. Herzströmen is spiritually significant to its residents and must be protected for most of the year, even while abandoned by the tribes. To ensure the heart of their travel routes could be defended, the Half-Folk began electing individuals they now know as "tenants."  

---

Akin to Witches

  Several greater lordships claim land across Eldurgrund and dozens of lesser lords (or 'vassals') settle beneath them. With marriage politics playing a major role in the governy, it's no surprise that congregations and banquets often devolve into rumormongering and gossip. As such, there are already greater lords and vassals subject to criticism for their ways of life. The Rimetusk Clan is often scrutinized for its seclusion while the Heisel Family of Urrlógun is mocked for "Mingling with the commonfolk." The Threadweaver Family of Peatwood gains ire for the choice of land in the swamps; supposedly, the land was cursed in the dark era of Ettermiddag. Peatwood's denizens are often accused of witchcraft and bizarre experiments. Unfortunately for the Half-Folk, a popular theory of their origin is wrapped up in evil Threadweaver experiments.   The people of Eldurgrund already have divisive opinions of Half-Folk. Those who live in secluded villages often think they're a thing of myth and treat them with curiosity at first meeting. Large groups, often those in the southwest of Eldurgrund, subscribe to a litany of bizarre theories about their origin. Those who often engage with Half-Folk or live in the upper echelon of society often view them as no different from the peasantry (which has several implications, when observing folk aside from humans).   Regardless, paranoia and lack of understanding make the Half-Folk appear alien from the outside, and the presence of tenants hardly improves the optics. Outsiders will point to tenants and their 'dark magic' as ironic consequences finding their way to the Threadweaver Family, claiming that the "experiments are rising above the creators." Of course, the two peoples are on opposite sides of the nation, making it feasible that the Threadweaver Family are ignorant of the existence of both High Cap and tenants.   False notions aside, the tenants do perform magic rather foreign to the greater establishment of Eldurgrund. While the nation toils away learning the facets of fire magic and valuable technology therein, the Half-Folk focus on manipulating nature. Controlling the minds of animals and extending their senses through the connected roots of grass are the most popular examples, but they only scratch the surface (and the implications of both are often ignored). With domination over wildlife, tenants can control the waterways. Beavers may build dams and redirect rivers at their command while alligators are moved to line waterways overexploited by outsiders. Sensing through the grass can help determine if a small group of men are wandering the forest or a platoon of dozens. They can command the trees to redirect wind, slowing the travel of larger ships and domineering crop pollination. Luckily, they also use their power to maintain the roads, though it is intended to discourage travelers from straying into the forest. Legends of passersby often describe leaving the trail and feeling a deep sense of dread as the shrubbery shifts around them, creating mazes that perpetually lead them back to the roads.   While tenants prioritize misdirection above all, the Hellstrom Governy grows concerned about behavioral changes over time. Should their madness continue, what methods will the elderly witches turn to? Contingencies for such interactions are being made, but no formal plan with the people of Herzströmen has been defined. Governor Hellstrom fears that discussing contingencies may threaten relations with the Half-Folk, but if the tenants commit violent acts, public opinion of Herzströmen may be irreparably damaged.