The Riders of Falconhold is an organization that exists within the shared world campaign of the Living Forgotten Realms, an ongoing campaign created by Wizards of the Coast and run by the RPGA.  The Riders of Falconhold are completely unofficial, created by the cast, crew and friends of Radio Free Hommlet to act as a touchpoint in the backgrounds of their characters, and presented here in hopes that their listeners will likewise want to participate.  You are welcome to use this information however you want.  Do you want to be a former student of The Riders? Great!  Do you want to be a descendent of Mihail's third cousin twice removed?  Great!  Do you want to have a vendetta against The Riders because a group of Peregrines did wrong by you or yours? Great!  Use it as you will, and if you've got cool ideas, tell us about them at NewsDesk@Hommlet.com.

In northern Cormyr, high in The Stormhorns, stands a fortress known as Falcon Hold, so named since it is perched precariously on the crest of a mountain, so inaccessible that only falcons are said to go there.  But all is not as it seems.  The fortress was crafted by dwarven stonecunning.  Its wells run deep, and secret ways lead to its gates.  Those who know such things say that two grandmothers with brooms and sacks of stones could hold off an orkish warband from its battlements, and that the forces that call the castle home can move like shadows at sunset.

Falcon Hold is a holy place.  The body of the Paladin Mihail Patronus rests there.  His spirit now serves Tyr Evenhand.  His shrine is sacred also to those who venerate Helm and Tempus, for he died facing down an army alone, and held them in the very pass that Falcon Hold guards while his friends brought reinforcements from three nations of Faerun.

For their part in saving all Faerun perhaps from a plague of darkness, Patronus’ companions were given land and title by the king of Cormyr.  They chose to erect a fortress on the site of the great battle, and to name it with their fallen friend’s badge of honor.

Kalfer Stonebender, the dwarven warrior, promised his cohort of kinsmen to carve the stone and build the keep.  Jenna Blue-eyes, a priest, and Patronus’ wife, swore to maintain the shrine.  She worshiped Helm, and called to her service a band of His warriors and other servants.  Those, and other young souls who came to Falcon Hold to learn from the heroes of the Battle of the Bloodshards, became the core of a new force in the world.  Patronus’ companions realized that their efforts as free blades and adventure-seekers had only limited effect.  The world had nearly paid the price for their free-wheeling ways.  When the time came that armies and nobles were needed, they came almost too late.  The Harpers were effective, if scattered, but what was needed was something different: an army without a country, ready to fight wherever needed to maintain security.

The Riders of Falcon Hold were born.

The original Riders, Patronus’ companions, continued to adventure from time to time, but increasingly they turned their efforts to training the next generation.  Out of several bands of followers, they forged the beginnings of an army.  The Stonebender’s kin, and later other mercenaries of many races who wished to serve alongside him, were the sergeants and special troops.  The yeomen of Helm who came to serve Lady Jenna provided the beginnings of a regular army.  Martigan Mourn, the secretive woodsman, was never much interested in living indoors, but as other rangers came to learn at his feet, he provided services and teaching to the Falcon Hold. 

Their friend Leask the Halfling had seen far too much of war, and retired to Waterdeep for a life of comfortable beds, good meals, and willing women.  Along the way, he accidentally became a major player in the Thieves’ Guild, and his loyal allies have spread across the world.  Those in the Riders who show skill at spycraft are often sent to spend a year or two at the “University” in Waterdeep.  They often come back wealthier, and more prone to sleep with one eye open. 

Iosef Eversun, the wizard, also had little interest in living in a castle and running an army.  He turned his hand to magical study, but his tower was not far away, and he has always consented to train magicians for the Riders.  As such efforts often do, it started small, and now his “solitary tower” is surrounded by a small village and a magical academy.

The Riders of Falcon Hold are primarily a ground-based army.  They maintain no navy, but have combined forces with naval organizations when needed. 
There are main companies, which are primarily infantry but include light cavalry, engineers, and at least one or two magical members.  There is also a specialized engineering company, two heavy cavalry companies, and a magical “company” that consists of only a single, very well-regarded squad.  Those provide the bulk of the Riders’ military might.  But the original adventurers knew the limitations of conventional military forces.

Besides the soldiers, there is one special company called the Peregrines.  The Peregrines are not trained to fight, although all of them have some combat training.  They are messengers and scouts par excellence.  In fact, they make good money for the company by selling their services for mail delivery and the like when they aren’t needed for the Riders.  Another non-standard branch is the Kestrels, who are spies and diplomats.  (Some soldiers grumble that those are two words for the same thing.)  There is some friction between the Kestrels and the rest of the Riders since the Kestrels are trained in Waterdeep, and often seem to have their own agenda.

Finally, the Riders of Falcon Hold maintain a variable number of “Free Talons.”  A Talon is the smallest fighting force the Riders train, usually from four to eight men.  A Free Talon is a Talon not connected to any squad or company.  The members are often drawn from many branches of the army.  Their missions are the least “military” of any.  In fact, they are basically adventurers themselves.  Some even pursue freelance work alongside their service to the Riders.