The Thylvunne, commonly called Zannyr rangers and Thylverryr, were a special distinction of soldiers within the Zannyr Tyranaen military. Though standard military units within the hierarchy, they were exceptional in their tasks, abilities, and prestige.

History

The young Tyranaen state was insecure in its position. Internally, it had not yet stabilized, and outside threats profited from the situation to see what they could gain. The duergar Krukl to the west, and the climate of wary hostility with Gezneth in the far north, created much need for scouting. There was no war going on, but probing units from Zann'Elth's enemies had to be caught early on, to discourage any larger offensive.

A group of scouts, headed by Thylvera Frenn - a young houseless drow - was very successful. They traveled much lighter than other scouts, by wearing no armor and living off the ground, contrasting with other scouts who had the equipment and moved like standard military units. The Thylverryr, as they called themselves, had much greater range and could cover more distance and go further.

The Thylverryr worked so well that their unit model was incorporated into standard military doctrine, and each zenfia received at least a couple Thylvunne units. These Zannyr scouts became the model for Caverealm rangers, which was used by many states and races. As the Tyrana's power consolidated, their role morphed from keeping track of and warning small enemy units to scouting out enemy positions, securing secondary travel routes through the Caverealm, and striking at isolated targets. Thylvunne - both male and female - received arcane training and were often given light weapons imbued with good magic.

During the Orc Wars, the Thylvunne units were massively expanded. Not only did they fight all over the Caverealm, but many were attributed to escort human convoys and other missions through the tunnels. Without the Thylvunne, Zann'Elth could never have created the extensive networks that allowed the emergence of its empire.

In the new Tyranaen Empire, Thylvunne personnel quickly shrank. Although there was still much need for ranger services, political ideology had grown much more important. The Thylvunne did not fit in the standardized and unified imperial society, and they remained only out of bitter necessity. In 99 OW, the Dhamynar were created - a scout group very similar to the Thylvunne, but with strictly male units, much more imperial indoctrination and rigidity, and no extraordinary equipment. They were not as effective as the Thylvunne, but were much more politically viable, and so they gradually replaced the Thylvunne (males were spread out thingly into the Dhamynar - so as to prevent Thylverrism from "infecting" the new units' culture - or elsewhere in the army). An elite core, constituted almost of women, survived until the bitter end in 105 OW, when the Thylvunne were silently but officially disbanded by imperial decree.

Nevertheless, the remaining Thylverrists could not be eradicated. Their skills were exceptional, and some special situations could be dealt with much better by them than the conventional Dhamynar. These elite units were called Red Swords, after their founder's magical blade, and kept outside public attention as much as possible.

Tyranean Opposition

Despite their military efficacy, the Thylvunne were a thorn in the Tyrana's side. In a regimented society under absolute control, they were proud loners who could openly show self-determination, and they had many cultural quirks going against the society's standards. There were women in their ranks, they called themselves a special name and set themselves apart from the regular troops, and they had a mystified leader - Thylvera - who was not the Tyrana and not even associated with the government.

While the Tyrana's efforts to erase Thylverrism from the original core, she tried to make the new Thylvunne units closer to the military, and to curb Thylvunnyr popularity. Tyranaen efforts failed to counter the powerful legends, folklore and individual prestige of the rangers, however, and they kept their ways. Worst of all, in the eyes of the clergy, young women (usually those of the lower nobility, or those with somewhat rebellious mindsets) continued to join the Thylvunne as mere soldiers or optias, and to mingle freely with men. But in the end, social ideology was outplayed by military usefulness - as the rangers were very important in keeping Zann'Elth on equal footing with Gezneth.