No man can make a full accounting of the Wastes. So great is its size, and so barren, that it remains an untamed wilderness where few can tread with impunity. With so many miles between that place and civilization, even small evils can cast very long shadows. Bands of thieves and slavers, clans of goblins and orcs, secreted lairs of powerful men plotting foul deeds. All of these exist in the Wastes in quantity.

Yet even in the midst of this wickedness, innocence still lives. Scraping a clever, submarginal living from the arid rocks and stagnant waters there are still honest men and women who call the Wastes home. Though they are surrounded by danger, they steadfastly remain in the land of their birth, for their will is toughened with the hardship of many years.

Vinehaeven set down its roots in the Wastes in the hopes of aiding these people, of giving them a chance at a better life. We laid the strong foundation of our town, stone and mortar, honor and pride, all things that people could rely on. And the township grew as people came to a place where they come feel some small security in their hard lives.

This growth we expected, but there was something else that came as a surprise. Men and women started coming to us not simply for refuge, but for training. There were those who had had enough of being afraid. There were those who wanted to help make their homeland a place worth living in. Far be it from us to refuse a request with so much purpose behind it, so we took them into our fold.

We taught them the arts of swordplay, the science of tactics, and finally, the necessity of discipline as we organized them into their own military unit. Thus the Oaken Guard was born.

Made up of these brave souls from the Wastes, or from further parts unknown, the Oaken Guard has learned to add their own strength to the endless realms-born quests to bring good into the world. At their nearby bastion, Fort Oakenbrook, the Guard continues a regiment of strict training. No oath binds them to that place but their own will to live a life of heroism, and we predict that many will go on to do great deeds, either having remained a part of the Guard, or gone forth to lend their skills to other groups of heroes.

The lives we men and woman lead, be we farmer or swordsman, are ones of choice and circumstance. We made the choice to place foundations here in this shadowed land. They made the choice that a life of action was greater than a life of simply being. And circumstance brought us together, perhaps with the aim that we could accomplish something important.

In that duty, we shall not fail.

Aeston Stromgate
September 30th, Y.L. 2006

The following is a list of notable members of the Oaken Guard, from the birth of the organization to present, organized by season that they came into our kinship.

Listed as well is the date that previous members graduated on to join the ranks of the glorius nations of the Realms.

Kahlenar (Nate Soule)- Graduated to Ivory in 08 Kyntela Gwyn (Alysha Metcalf)* - Graduated to Rhiassa in 08 Taliea Aelise Gathalion (Heather Magnoli) - Graduated to Rhiassa in 10 Lumia (Allison Hopkins) Saxton (John Gouthro) - Graduated to Ivory in 08 Morgana (Christine Poulin) - Graduated to Rhiassa in 09 Feorana Amytheron (Angie Ruzzo) - Graduated to Rhiassa in 08 Marduke Laboh (Adam Ruzzo) - Graduated to Rhiassa in 08 Stripes Lightstride (Alex Elwood)* - Graduated to Ivory in 07 Locke (Carlos Silva)* Zev (Rob Luppi) - Graduated to the Southern Wates in 10 Toth (Nick Hoffman) Carina Celeste (Charlotte Smith) Gwen (Lani Jones)* - Graduated to Rhiassa in 08 Xavan (Cavan Kalonia) - Graduated to Ivory in 08 Silth Felagund (Billy Lake) Styrkar (David Caldon) - Graduated to Southern Wastes in 10 Sigfried (Ryan Vallieres) Brutella (Chelsea Walsh) Kayjerine (Kay Zoeller) Orado (Tim Shaffer) - Graduated to Ivory in 10 Spanky (Derek Marotta) Laurieel (Rebecca Kogan) Lynnora (Melanie Kazmercyk) Raynor Skyline (Nick Quadrini) Caleal Deiard (Michael Preato) Umbra (Alyssa Lee) Pardus (Benje Ding) Aria (Kim Cerullo) Giselle D'Ombre (April Kenney) Vulpenard (Trevor King) Kayle Amers (Matthew Wise) Jaegar (Tyler Sharnick) Unctious (Tomas Massari) Magdalene (Jade Amber)

The Original Members of the Oaken Guard, Winter 2007