V'shrang

Originally settled by the Ts'dan (Ts. "Water's People") in the fourth century of the Second Age, the five, mountainous islands of V'Shrang lie off the coast of eastern Middle-earth. They guard a rocky but strategic channel in the Romenëar. Here, east of the southeastern part of Ruuriik, the Orosúli rise straight from the sea.

V'Shrang is ruled by a female Ollm (Ts. "Mother") and administered by a male O'lan (Ts. "Counsel"). The O'lan is usually the Ollm's, uncle, brother, or son. He serves as the warlord of a fierce, martial society.

Ts'dan shipwrights are famous for their T'illa (Ts. "Water-travelers"), the great warships that once dominated the west-central Romenëar. T'illa-borne raiders conquered Ka'ish in S.A. 323-48. These invaders reflected V'Shrang 's traditional military triad, and included the Ra'thorfa, the G'ekka, and the Ts'balla.

The elite, all-female Ra'thorfa (Ts. "Running Fangs") serve as a mounted shock force. They ride large, grey panthers called F'anna (Ts. "Ghost-panthers"), which are peculiar to V'Shrang and are undoubtedly the most noble of the big cats of eastern Endor. Organized in packs of five, the well-trained Ra'thorfan riders carry flails and a variety of lighter weapons. They comprise a formidable and highly mobile scouting and raiding force, especially under nocturnal or arboreal conditions.

The all-male G'ekka, or "Long-ears," are lightly-armed Ts'dan bowmen. They carry elaborately-carved composite bows. Like the Ra'thorfa, they are organized in units of five warriors called Y'wofu. Five Y'wofu form an Y'wekka, which is the traditional foundation of any Ts'dan force.

Most of V'Shrang 's warriors serve as part of the Ts'balla (Ts. "Ts'dan Mustering"). A primarily-male mixture, this grouping of lightly-trained and irregularly-armed infantry includes all of the unmarried Ts'dan maidens and all of the youthful Ts'dan men. While spirited, they are somewhat undependable when it comes to a pitched melee.