Scale and populations
It is dawning on me that the scale of Dolmenwood factions is actually quite small.
Most villages have small populations: (Blackeswell 90)(Dreg 300)(Fort Vulgar 90)(Lankshorn 1100)(Meagres Reach 120)(Orbswallow 80)(Woodcutters 180)
Population largest settlements: (Castle Brackenwood city = 8700)(High Hankle 5300)(Prigwort 2700).
Duke's army is "sizeable" and has longbowmen. Could decree conscription to raise peasant militia.
Population of Crookhorns = (Baron Lucius 24)(Captain Snarkscorn 60)(Nag Lord "army") = Total 150? 200?
Army of Cold Prince = "formidable army"
Drune = (max 30 congregate at Drunemoot)(12 shadows & 9 phantoms serve the Elder Phanatarch)
In such a scale, a squad of high level adventurers really can be movers and shakers. And in this scale, a single harridan or troll can be a huge problem for a village like Dreg to deal with).
While the Nag Lord's commanders really think twice before sending a squad of 20 Crookhorns to scout a nearby adventure site. That represents 10% of their entire force! (and we have no idea how they replenish their Crookhorn forces - no Crookhorn settlements for breeding or forced mutating is described).
I guess I am thinking about these questions because I want to see how much of a resistance the Drune really could put up against a concerted grab by the Nag Lord of remaining nodal stones. And whether they could hold those stones against a counterattack from the Duke / Church.