The Seg Band or Seg-Gnelh-Vekerbandal, meaning Southern Gnoll Hunter’s Alliance in Dwarven, was one of the most infamous and notorious dwarven mercenary companies in Bulwar and Cannor. They first found fame as becoming the official bodyguards of Jaher, and later on found infamy as traitors to the dwarven race for infiltrating and allowing Jexis to conquer the hold of Seghdihr and disband the Segbandal. After Jexis' death in 1162 the Seg Band, in a surprise to many, peacefully relinquished control of the hold in return for amnesty and returned to their mercenary roots.
History[]
- Greater context to the Seg Band can be found in the history of the Segbandal.
Founding[]
In 803 BA, a number of dwarves from Hehodovar, Seghdihr, and Gor Vazumbrog, had grown tired of fighting orcs and goblins had heard tales of Hyena-men from the merchants of the surface, formed the Seg Band, and began selling their services to Bulwari realms under threat of gnollish raids. Recruits would usually end up being dwarven exiles, from either Ovdal Tûngr or the Segbandal, or rarely even human warriors who joined their ranks after being liberated from slavery. Many warriors would adorn their armour with the pelt of their first slain gnoll.
Assisting the Castanorians[]
In 666 BA, the world saw the rise of the First Xhazobine. This forced the Seg Band to retreat eastwards, where they turned the Salahad into their base of operations against the Xhazobine's forces. Despite their best efforts, their actions amounted to little in the grand scheme, though it is said they were among the first to make for the armies of Castanor, and offered their services to Castan II “Beastbane” as mercenaries, beginning the long history of the Seg Band as a dwarven mercenary army.
Arrival of Jaher[]
With the fall of Azka-Sur to the Jaherian Legions, many dwarves of the Segbandal were concerned with Jaher turning his blade to the gates of Seghdihr. However, in 1015, Jaher himself stood before the gates of Seghdihr and wished to speak with the four Kings of the Segbandal. After talks and negotiations, Jaher decided to hire the Seg Band as his personal bodyguard as he ventured in Bulwar, Rahen and Haless.
New Loyalty[]
With the death of Jaher and the collapse of the Phoenix Empire, Jexis, his daughter began her reunification wars of Bulwar, the Burned Empress had made use of the Seg Band mercenary company extensively, much as her father did. However, beyond that, she saw that the conquest of the wealthy holds of the Segbandal would serve her purposes. Devising a plan, she saw to it that the Seg Band would infiltrate and open the gates of Seghdihr to her armies, who had at this time brought order to Azka-Sur. Under the guise of seeking new recruits for the Band, the Seg Band infiltrated the hold and overran the Gate guards, throwing open the gates of Seghdihr and allowed her armies to conquer the hold in 1139.
Her plan was, for the most part, a success. The suddenness of it meant that, by the time many of the defenders realized it, the Hold was already occupied by Elven legionaries, Bulwari auxiliaries, and Seg Band traitors. Using the Seg Band as proxy enforcers to her rule, Jexis effectively used Seghdihr's influence as the leader of the Segbandal to put the rest of the alliance under her sway, going as far as to dethrone the sitting king of Seghdihr, and replacing him with a puppet, Morgrend az-Segh.
Sack of Gor Ozumbrog and Death of Jexis[]
Two years after the occupation of Seghdihr, King Ombrindal az-Fiobmhor, King of Gor Ozumbrog, marched with a host to Seghdihr to ask for aid to reconquer Gor Vazumbrog. Morgrend decided to ask Jexis about the plea for aid, however, this only ended up with the Seg Band's Commander killing Morgrend as they opposed his desire to help Ombrindal, and blamed the Topaz Dwarf King for the death. This led to Gor Ozumbrog leaving the Segbandal and pursuing a closer alliance to Ovdal Kanzad. This caused the Seg Band to convince the other holds and Jexisian legionaries and magi to journey to Gor Ozumbrog as part of a punitive expedition.
With King Ombrindal occupied in the Tree of Stone fighting goblins, the punitive expedition laid siege on Gor Ozumbrog and broke through their gates using the combined power of the elven magi, laying waste to the hold and pillaging it. The Sack of Gor Ozumbrog was some of the most devastating violence in Dwarven history, with the Seg Band themselves encouraging levels of violence and behavior in the soldiers of the rest of the armies that many would in time regret. The damage however was done and many valuables were stolen from their owners, both living and deceased. After three days of bloody violence, the Seg Band and their forces retreated for Seghdihr with their bloody work done.
The Phoenix Empress Jexis Jaherzuir had been killed in 1162, and the rest of her empire was in rebellion or outright collapse as Elizar the Blooded attempted to hold it together. Forced with a collapsing alliance, discontent, and possible outright rebellion, the Seg Band quickly released the king who had originally been deposed, Morzad az-Segh, in exchange for promises of amnesty, compensation, and an eternal vow to bear no arms in the halls of Seghdihr.