The Iron Trees

The Iron Trees are one of the older military orders in the service of Lord Graendrek.  The history of this order predates the First Empire, with sagas referencing deeds of the Iron Trees during the Mythic Period of Tentandia.  As the order predated the Empyrean Hold their allegiance to Lord Graendrek was voluntary rather than borne of obligation, and as a consequence they are some of Graendrek's most trusted warriors.    The Iron Trees' base of operations is the Oaken Keep, located in the northern region Severnfyrd currently ruled by Lord Graendrek.  Given their long history and proximity to the ruling powers of Tentandia, the Oaken Keep houses an unknown number of artifacts significant to the Iron Trees and Tentandia at large.  The order is led by a "Bole-Spear", a leadership position conferred by election from members of the Iron Trees.  Below the Bole-Spear in descending order of rank come Crown Shields, Heart Keepers, Iron-Barks, and Root Protectors, each of which commands a group of varying size within the Iron Trees.    The Iron Trees have been constant combatants in the wars fought across Tentandia, and their storied history has become the stuff of legend and cultural significance across Tentandia.  Consequently, when the Iron Trees throw offer their allegiance to a claimant it carries significant cultural capital in addition to their military support.  Many claim for instance that the siding of the Iron Trees with the First Empire was the first step towards the latter's hegemony of Tentandia.  After the fall of the First Empire the Iron Trees stood as a bastion of order in the chaos which followed.  Significantly, the Iron Trees stood alone during the inter-hegemonic period, never siding with a political force until the Empyrean Hold came to Tentandia.   Since siding with the Empyrean Hold, however, the fortune of the Iron Trees has withered.  Sent into combat during the War of the High Hold as Lord Graendrek's shock troops, the Iron Trees have suffered significant and potentially crippling casualties; in the course of a year the order has lost two Bole-Spears (Wealdhare Farne and Gunhild Abildgaard) and the majority of their fighting forces.  A new Bole-Spear has not been named by the order.  The future of the order remains unclear as their numbers dwindle, but their significance to the people of Tentandia remains paramount.  

The Seven and the Iron Trees

The Seven first met the Iron Trees in Wyndfleot, where Ranvak Brawnbeard, Sir Gamot of the Oranges, Winston Underhill, and Umbreon Bronzescale were recruited by Bole-Spear Wealdhare Farne to steal the Oathstone of Lord Winescale.  Following their successful heist, the Iron Trees supported the Seven in a takeover of Wyndfleot.  During this struggle Wealdhare Farne was slain protecting the Seven, and Gunhild Abildgaard assumed control of the order at this time as interim leader.  Following their expulsion and subsequent retreat from Wyndfleot to Jian Ortheiad, the Iron Trees under then Crown Shield Gunhild continued to fight alongside the Seven during the Ruination of Jian Ortheiad.  When the city was evacuated to Salamis the Seven and the Iron Trees parted ways.  During this period Gunhild Abildgaard was declared the next Bole-Spear by the Iron Trees.   During their trek to Range's Edge the Seven came across Gunhild and the Iron Trees again, albeit under grim circumstances.  Having been dispatched to protect Mage-Scholar Nesterin in a diplomatic mission, the Iron Trees and Bole-Spear Gunhild were ambushed and slain on the road to Alcazar, Lord Albion's capital.  Since this event the Iron Trees have not been seen by the Seven.