Longbowmen of Geoff
Encyclopedia
The Longbowmen of Geoff is an organization in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game
, as part of the Duchy of Geoff
region. Players of the living campaign
can join the Longbowmen as a meta-organization.
are no ordinary archery corps. Armed with the famous Gyri five-foot yew longbows they have trained with since early childhood, the Longbowmen are the best archers to be found in any army of the Flanaess. In Geoff, archery and the Longbowmen are cultural institutions that have shaped the land long before the giants’ attack. The Longbowmen of Geoff count amongst their ranks elven archers from the forests of Geoff and many have close ties to the Old Faith. The Longbowmen’s cultural heritage and varied influences result in a varied fighting force, capable of fighting in any terrain from open field to deep forest, and honed in warfare skills such as ambushes, scouting, and close combat fighting.
In CY595 the Longbowmen rekindled the Old Ways of their organization that had been set aside while they were part of the Army of Liberation. Once again the Longbowmen are independent and report solely to the Grand Duke. And once again the Longbowmen are composed of three different branches, each holding the others in balance and tension that gives strength in the same way that the opposed forces of the bow, pulled string, and arrow shaft give purpose to the bow and flight to the arrow. The three paths of the Longbowmen are the Path of Heroes (Arwriaeth, composed of Longbowmen and Elite Longbowmen), Path of Faith (Crefydd, composed of Longbowmen of the Old Ways and Longbowmen of the Balance), and Dark Path (Fferru, composed of Snipers, Ghost Snipers, and Deep Recon). Each path has a subculture and even secrets. These secrets become known to members once they join a particular path.
Longbowmen are organized by cantrev, reporting to the First Bow but considering the needs of the local Llwyr and the Brenin should they be called to action. One deviation from the Old Ways that remains today is the loosening of the restrictions to allow the use of short bows and composite varieties of either bow.
Despite their name, Gyri of all genders flourish within the organization.
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, as part of the Duchy of Geoff
Geoff (Greyhawk)
Geoff is a fictional land that is part of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Geoff was first described in 1983 in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting, where Geoff is properly known as the Grand Duchy of Geoff, and is a ducal political state of the fictional continent called the...
region. Players of the living campaign
Living campaigns
Living Campaigns are a gaming format within the table-top role-playing game community that provide the opportunity for play by an extended community within a shared universe...
can join the Longbowmen as a meta-organization.
Overview of the Longbowmen of Geoff
An important part of any army is its archery corps. But the Longbowmen of GeoffGeoff (Greyhawk)
Geoff is a fictional land that is part of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Geoff was first described in 1983 in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting, where Geoff is properly known as the Grand Duchy of Geoff, and is a ducal political state of the fictional continent called the...
are no ordinary archery corps. Armed with the famous Gyri five-foot yew longbows they have trained with since early childhood, the Longbowmen are the best archers to be found in any army of the Flanaess. In Geoff, archery and the Longbowmen are cultural institutions that have shaped the land long before the giants’ attack. The Longbowmen of Geoff count amongst their ranks elven archers from the forests of Geoff and many have close ties to the Old Faith. The Longbowmen’s cultural heritage and varied influences result in a varied fighting force, capable of fighting in any terrain from open field to deep forest, and honed in warfare skills such as ambushes, scouting, and close combat fighting.
In CY595 the Longbowmen rekindled the Old Ways of their organization that had been set aside while they were part of the Army of Liberation. Once again the Longbowmen are independent and report solely to the Grand Duke. And once again the Longbowmen are composed of three different branches, each holding the others in balance and tension that gives strength in the same way that the opposed forces of the bow, pulled string, and arrow shaft give purpose to the bow and flight to the arrow. The three paths of the Longbowmen are the Path of Heroes (Arwriaeth, composed of Longbowmen and Elite Longbowmen), Path of Faith (Crefydd, composed of Longbowmen of the Old Ways and Longbowmen of the Balance), and Dark Path (Fferru, composed of Snipers, Ghost Snipers, and Deep Recon). Each path has a subculture and even secrets. These secrets become known to members once they join a particular path.
Longbowmen are organized by cantrev, reporting to the First Bow but considering the needs of the local Llwyr and the Brenin should they be called to action. One deviation from the Old Ways that remains today is the loosening of the restrictions to allow the use of short bows and composite varieties of either bow.
Despite their name, Gyri of all genders flourish within the organization.