From Legonia

File:Cblackforesters.jpgThe Black Foresters are a group of bandits and vigilants operating in the western shires of Middle Kingdom and especially in the Outlaw hills. Their symbol is a deer and brown and green colours.

Background

The farming villages in the Outlaw hills, west of Adlersmark were the last big colonisation projects of the Lion kingdom. Because military costs increased dramatically in the 1490's, King Lionell raised the normal tax. The new colonists in the poor western settlements weren't able to pay these, and so a little rebellion against the nobility started. The royal shire didn't care for their problems, so some farmers, workers and other people without enough income decided to take their needings from the king's men. It was a guy named Bodin Rhoo, who founded the Black foresters group and robbed rich people in Outlaw hills, Totenfelde and Adlersmark in professional way. 1505 o.C. the main group and its chief was catched by loyal guards, the criminal wave ended for a while. But after their idol, many outlaws are living until today.

The Foresters and political development of Outlaw hills

In most history books, the Foresters are seen as criminal bandits in a dangerous time, but it's fact, that a lot of civilians in the Outlaw hills supported their work and mistrust to the king decayed more and more. Finally, the Foresters were just the begin of a social change, which should started a call for independence in the Outlaw hills. They're followed by other, more agressive groups like the Wolfpack or the Bull's tribe.

Behaviour/Culture

The definition of a "Black forester" changed though time. Originally, only Sir Rhoo and his partners are meant, but today a Black Forester is a classic ranger living outside the settlements. Most of them are still living from robbery today, but also copied a lot of elven lifestyle. The Forestmen are freedom-loving people, who are known to live after local changing codexes unlike other bandit groups like wolfpack. For example, a Forester would never kill innocent people or kidnapp these. Robbery and betray are their only crimes. Members can live in small societies or alone, they identify themselves by clothes in brown or green and a deer sign, which is very similiar to tree elves emblems. Favourited weapons are simple ones like, short sword, spear or bow. While other groups are just criminal, the Black Foresters developed an own culture which is a mix of elven and human lifestyle.