Glossary
Below are listed and defined a number of terms that are part of the Yeoman vernacular.
Academy of Lore: The Academy of Lore is a branch of the University at Loftwick dedicated to exploring, mapping, and bringing back artifacts from the extensive number of Suel (and other) ruins that dot the Yeoman countryside. As a secondary task, they are expected to protect these same sites from those who would exploit those treasures for personal gain and without permission of the Academy or the Yeoman government.
Army: The Yeoman Army consists of the professional soldiers of the Yeomanry. Members of the Yeoman Militia who have gained citizenship may elect to continue their military service via the Army. Similar to Militia service, Army members select whether they wish to belong to the infantry, archery, or cavalry corps. Unlike the Militia, Army members are paid for their service, and the job is often full-time. The Army supplies good training and many Army soldiers are quite veteran.
Brace: The standard, twelve-person archery unit in the Yeoman Army or Militia. Its elected leader is referred to as a Yeoman.
Captain (including: of the Guard, of the Militia, etc.): A Captain is the highest-ranking officer in the Yeomanry armed services. They oversee various Serjeants to make sure they are doing their jobs correctly, and they can lead hundreds of troops into battle in times of great need.
Church of Seven Faiths: The Church of the Seven Faiths is the dominant church in the Yeomanry, comprised of worshippers of Allitur, Delleb, Fortubo, Joramy, Kord, Norebo, and Phaulkon. Also known as the Church of the Divine Seven and the Sevenfold Church.
Citizen: A Yeoman citizen is a resident who has gained Citizenship either through military service, achieving Master level in the Yeoman Trade and Craft Guild, or achieving the rank of Priest in the Church of Seven Faiths. Citizens have the ability to own land, to vote for representatives in local and state government, and to run for office themselves.
Council of Common Grosspokesmen: The Council of Common Grosspokesmen is the national governing body of the Yeomanry, located in Loftwick. It consists of 108 elected representatives from all reaches of the Yeomanry. They make a majority of the national policy decisions for the Yeomanry, and are overseen by the Freeholder.
Dozen: Twelve is the "sacred" number of the Yeomanry, as the original migrant tribes were divided into groups of twelve. A number of modern organizations (the military, for example) use a factor of twelve in their hierarchical structure.
Dustdigger: A Dustdigger is a scientist, archaeologist, and treasure hunter in the most classic sense. Dustiggers wish to collect, record, and preserve the artifacts of lost cultures in an effort to learn about their history. They also wish to keep such treasures out of the hands of those who would exploit them. Dustdigger status is gained through the Academy of Lore.
Freeholder: Elected from the pool of Greater Landowners, the Freeholder acts as the chief administrator, head diplomat, and commander of the Free Captains of Battles of the Yeomanry.
Freeknight (including: of the Shield, of the Spear, etc.)
Greater Landholder: There are currently 36 - one for each of the primary districts in the Yeomanry. They are Lords of a sort, although not in name. Their primary role is to oversee the daily commerce and development of their district.
Gross: The collective name for twelve twelve-man units in the Yeoman Army or Militia. It is referred to specifically as a grossmarch in the infantry, a grossbrace in archery units, and a grosslance in cavalry units. The twelve elected Yeomen (the leaders of each twelve-man unit) in the gross in turn elect a Serjeant to lead them.
Grosspokesman: One of the 108 (3 for each of the 36 districts in the Yeomanry) elected officials of the Council of Common Grosspokesmen. A Grosspokesmen is the chief political executive of one of the local towns.
Hillman: The Hillmnen are a distinct clan of humans living within the Yeoman's Little Hills. They do not consider themselves part of the official Yeoman structure, although they do tolerate the Yeoman government so long as it does not interfere in their affairs. They are a fierce and proud race full of tradition, culture, and history. Negotiations are currently underway to strengthen the ties between the Hillmen and the Yeomanry proper.
"Keewee": Slang for someone hailing from Keoland, as referred to by many Yeomen.
Lance: The standard, twelve-person cavalry unit in the Yeoman Army or Militia. Its elected leader is referred to as a Yeoman.
"Land and sky, luck and strength": An old Suel greeting still in use today. Derived from the four main Suel gods: Fortubo = land, Phaulkon = sky, Norebo = luck, and Kord =strength.
Landstraad: Year Two of the Yeomanry Living Greyhawk adventures (592 CY) centers around a large earthquake that takes place at the beginning of the year. While the epicenter was almost directly under the town of Hardwick, ifs effects could be felt as far east as Longspear. Soothsayers and self-proclaimed prophets espouse that the earthquake, called the "Landstraad" by locals, was an ill omen of things to come in the Yeomanry. While the damage was great and hundreds of lives were lost due to the tremor and its aftershocks, other activities in and around the Yeomanry have been far more alarming. In the weeks following the quake, heavy humanoid, ogre, and giant activity was detected throughout the mountains. Reports of strange sounds, disappearing townsfolk, and screams in the night have been heard in Dark Gate, causing people to fear that something has emerged from Slerotin's Tunnel. There is a feeling of dread that is slowly spreading throughout the land. People are afraid that the soothsayers may have spoken the truth...
March: The standard, twelve-person infantry unit in the Yeoman Army or Militia. Its elected leader is referred to as a Yeoman.
Militia: The Yeomanry Militia is the backbone of Yeoman Army and society as a whole. As such, nearly all common men and women in the Yeomanry own at least leather armor, a hand weapon, and a bow or crossbow of some kind, and they know how to use them well. Due to the incentives that a person receives for serving in the Yeomanry militia, enlistment is entirely voluntary, and the Yeoman government has never had any trouble meeting their needs for manpower. Because of its voluntary nature, morale is very high and the soldiers are both proud and energetic in their work. Distrust of its neighbors, combined with a strong sense of pride and nationalism, means that the Yeomanry refuses to import mercenaries to defend its people and resources.
Old Faith: The Old Faith is used to describe those religious sects who do not follow the structure dictated by the Church of Seven Faiths, despite many of the deities being similar. Followers of the Old Faith are often considered "tribal" or "animist" in nature. The Old Faith is closely associated with Hillmen, barbarians, and druids.
"Raise the Spear": A generic term used to describe taking arms against the enemies of the Yeomanry. It is often used as a rallying cry by officers during times of battle.
Serjeant: A level of rank in the Yeoman Army and Militia below that of Captain but above that of Yeoman. A Serjeant is usually in charge of a group of 144 men.
Spokesman: The level of government officeal below that of grosspokesman. Spokesmen are lower-level officials elected by the people.
Trail of Trithereon: Rumored to be a way for refugees to get out of the Hold of the Sea Princes and escape to the north.
Yeoman: (1)A term used to describe anyone residing in the Yeomanry, (2) The lowest-ranking officer in the Yeoman Militia and Army, usually in charge of 11 other soldiers.