The Jerodian Scourges

'' This article is being built very slowly, and will be updated as it goes. You can help Stan by not touching a goddamned thing here.''

What Are "Scourges?"
A "Scourge" is a common (unofficial) term for an uncommon event in the political and social mechanisms of the House of Jerod. As part of their religious and social beliefs, Jerodians believe (correctly) that they, the Rat race, were once the masters of all of the Old World, and many more lands beyond that, in ancient eras long ago. With the collapse of the Old Empire under the usurpatious Jerodians, the old territories were split up to the 'slave' races, according to an ancient tradition of instilling racial mistrust as a means of ensuring conquered lands don't rebel too fiercely.

Long story short (and there will be a long story), the Jerodians periodically attempt to rebuild the Old Empire by surging north in an orgy of violence. In order to make this work, however, all of the clans and warlords must unite in truce so that their forces can concentrate on actually leaving the wastes. The quality of the truce varies, and sometimes what looks like a totally united House turns out to be a mirage, and the military campaign north stops without ever penetrating the border. Only a few times in history have the rats gathered enough strength to actually push out of their own territory.

First Scourge: ~1,100 BW

Second Scourge: 210 BW

Third Scourge: 370 AW

Fourth Scourge: 550 AW

Fifth Scourge: 834 AW

Each Scourge has its own history, but most regional historians list important criterion as: -Unified House of Jerod under a single warlord/ war counsel -Military advances north of the Skull River bordering 800s-era Feline Sultanate and House of Jerod -Continued military operations for more than one year from date of border crossing

Anything other than that may rival the violence of a Scourge, but is not, by historians and politicians' accepted standards, a bona fide Scourge.

More to come!