OOC: This text is scribbled very haphazardly with a large amount of dried...something blurring out the bottom of the pages.
"The King of Blood is not a simple braggart. He and his people have been the Boogeyman of the Highlands for nigh on Sixty years, which honestly feels a bit off for one human to be a menace for that long, but what do I know." - Get The Adventurer
Besides the obviously ,that Rodan is not a braggart, there may be some truth in that Sixty years is a very long time for your average warmonger to actively continue to raid and destroy and amass power. With information that he may have undead forces in some way shape or form, he himself may in fact be some form of undead, or nearly there. Likewise he may have in his possession an artifact that allows him to extend his life, or at least take the toll of how he lives off of him. That or he rarely needs to fight himself, making his age an non-issue. I however am more likely to believe that either he is some form of undead, or close, or is a heroic soul'd person, thusly throwing most issues of age out the window.
My dad did his best not to talk about them in front of me, but one time I overheard Finn telling the story about why he had to retire. He said that the guy he was fighting fought with "undead determination and ferocity," and that no matter how many arrows he put into him he just wouldn't stop charging. He fought the bastard blade to blade, and he survived, but his injuries were such that he couldn't even draw his bow let alone shoot it after he healed. I thought he was exaggerating because he got concussed in that fight but... Uncle Gregory was right, keep your silver on you. -Amhrán
This solidifies the theory that undead are being used in some way shape or form, but what is interesting with this story is that Finn lived, which unless given specific orders, is against the prime directive of undead. So While I do not think there is exaggerating the bit of truth that is happening here is that it seems likely that Killing is not the first objective of Rodan and his forces, or at least killing of not targeted bystanders. This would allude that Rodan does in fact have some sort of moral code he is adhering too, otherwise why not let settlements burn and perish. This thought it also supported by the scouting reports
We've only been able to fend off his probes into our territory back home. we've not been able to mount an attack- we dinnae have th' numbers nor th' power o' many heroes. We don't have the numbers to do that. - Father Donald
This is the interesting part about the forces. If They are undead he must be keeping them somewhere, but in order for the feeling of being unable to make a dent in them, they have to be displayed in some manner, I'm inclined to believe that not all of his forces are undead because of this. I would also believe that means he often displays them in some manner, that isn't active combat. People often forget that reputations can be built on displays and I think, in order to keep fear, but stick to some form of his morality, he often does displays of power. As soon as he sets up, he can leave, given that undead require little upkeep. This gives the displays of simultaneously appearing and disappearing that are said in further stories, but also can allow for the fear of said forces, since they are purposely seen.
Narcissus Malagan
Narcissus,
Do not forget that combat is different even between clans than what is practiced in Kormyre. the massed infantry in a line technique used by places like Gaaldron falls apart when their slaving parties are mugged in thick woods for example. I for one think his probes are falling into familiar patterns- the cattle raids of the young and impetuous among us. Should he be undead, he may be viewing us as cattle and raiding to replenish his armies.
-Father Donald MacFhionnlaigh
I have some comments in response to your thoughts, but I'll get back to that later. First I have some thoughts on the Band of the Fallen Shield.
From what we know I think that they were a legendary group of warriors (even though I've never heard of them before) that were very good at what they did, and what they did was be invincible, hence their original name of the Band of the Stalwart Shield. They fought perfectly with each other and one member, who I assume to be their leader, was thought to be strong enough to not only take on the old man, but also defeat him.
But from what we know, they were brought down, and Rodan renamed them. I'm betting that the old man took these rumors as a challenge, and then went and proved his strength to the world. He killed the Band of the Stalwart Shield somehow, and then added them to his armies. Which just might be what he plans to do with Travance.
- Amhrán Briste-Laoch