The Rhennee state they have existed for centuries. It was an evolution of their people to travel by lakes and streams. Many Rhennee claim they were a land locked people until other cultures forced them out of lands they once called home. The Rhennee had to get use to the idea their free-spirited way of life helped them adapt to the world around them.
The Rhennee state they use to travel in Vardos (Decorative wagons) and trade their skills and wares where ever the roads lead them. Some cultures welcomed them and accepted them. But most feared the Rhennee way of life and wished to destroy it.
Because the Rhenee way of life was alien to most civilized cultures many were wrongfully prosecuted and banned from entering many new kingdoms.
During the time of the Great Kingdoms rise to power. Many Rhennee tribes were forced to be assimilated into what was known as civilized society. Even though their spirits were high many Rhennee were either assimilated or put to death.
Their is a story the Rhennee recall. It tells of a Rhennee family wish refused to forget their way of life and were constantly prosecuted for their resistence. The Father of this family had packed their Vardo and planned to leave the hostile lands. On their journey the family was stopped by the authorities of the land. But the Father refused and continued on pressing his way thourgh them. The soldiers chased them by horse and harassed them. The father took his Vardo towards the riverbed and tried to throw off his pursuer's. It was then as his enemy's approached closer that one of his wheels snapped forcing the Vardo into the raging rapids of the river. But instead of it sinking the Vardo floated leading the family from the soldiers grasp.
It was rumored that this family were the forefathers of the Rhennee barge people. As many Rhennee familys chose to live on the fringes of society were no man was ruler. The river and streams were like the Rhennee spirit. Strong and powerful yet cool to the touch. The Rhennee that exist today have this family to thank for their salvation.
Even modern day Rhennee are harassed for their way of life. But many goverments have found uses for a people who know the waterways better than any land lubber can. To quote a Furyondian Noble, "They are a necessary evil as they have access to places no civilized man would go". The Rhennee resent any reference to them being thieves. As the Rhennee put it, "we took land and life from no one, and we travel on that which has no claim, If we are thieves then what have we taken".
Well this is my version of the Rhennee what have you done with them let me know.
In recent materials they have stated that the Rhenee are of Extra-Oerthen origin. Another plane or were perhaps early users of Spelljammer vessles whos vessle crashlanded up to a thousand years ago. Their legends speak of their first coming to a forest that is now known as the Adri in the Great Kindom, and were pursued by monsters and hostile Aerdi. They fled westward taking refuge on the waters of the Nyr Dyv.
Most of this comes out of the Living Greyhawk Journal. But my ideas of the Rhenee being gypsies were in use well before the LGG. My campaign focussed on a band of rogue Rhenee who had decided to strike out on their own to find the "lost palace" somewhere around the Adri forest. Also hoping to find evidence of a homeland called Rhop.
Through many adventures they finally reached the forest and located a strange swath of young trees ending in a mound or low hill. They eventually located an entrance and were able to explore an ancient starship of their ancestors. Finding many strange magic items, and odd tools. It was a good campaign.
High sea adventures would be better suited with the Hold of the Sea Princes or The Scarlet Brotherhood. You could have a pirate group which attacks the cargo vessels of the Scalet Brotherhood and trades their goods with the Brotherhoods enemies.
You could even play a pirate from the Hold of the Sea Princes which plauge any non Brotherhood vessel and trade their goods with the Brotherhood. You have many options, but the Rhennee are primarily useful when providing transport across rivers, lake's, and streams for the PC's. You can set the gypsy like mood and have them delve themselves into the culture of the Rhennee.
Then we spied them aiding with the forces of Iuz around the Nyr Dyv making them fair game now unfortunately any trip to the river quarter, foreign quarter or slums in GH has to be done armed to the teeth. :D
GOOD LUCK !
We're limited to the High and Garden quarters pretty much to avoid their revenge and its costing an arm and a leg in tavern fees and will likely end in a big scrap soon. We've told the authorities in GH but they don't care it seems so either we decamp to Furyondy to attack Iuz from there or sort out the Rhenee in GH once and for all, send a message by sinking all their barges .... problem is we're only 7th lvl and some of them are tough hombres.
We shall see.
For a taste of the article, you can read about the Darkhagard PrC on WotC's LG web site at http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=lg/articles/20030604darkhagard
In fact, here's the stats I created for them. I'd love to see what others think of it.
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=450709
I found another reference to the Rhennee in the Player's Guide to Greyhawk (p. 35); it specifically says they arrived on Oerth around 150 CY.