The Grey Company [OOC] (medieval, fantasy, warfare)

[Word Smith]

And when the Dark Tower blinds the sun and when the Five Servants prowl the land
The Grey Lion will roar one last time, and the Company will ride the land one last time.
The Throneless One shall be enthroned, the Honourless One shall be honoured,
And what was and what will be, will balance on the edge of an ax.

- Fragment from the Arcane Prophecy by Neille Komalin

History

For centuries, humans have eked out a living in this land, forming groups that became tribes, tribes that became nations. Yes, we fight often among ourselves, we crave for each others’ lands, we plot behind each others’ back, but it was a relatively peaceful existence. Compared to now.

It started ten years ago. Five renowned scholars from the famed Library of Ksander set forth on a fateful expedition ten years ago. Their quest was the prophesied mana, the source of pure energy that is destined to make humans the absolute rulers of the land. They traveled for years, into the frigid Northern Plains, far beyond the known limits of topography. They traveled in their mind too, trying to come to terms with ideas and concepts unknown to the minds of men. But they traveled too far; they probed too deep.

None of them returned, and they were largely presumed dead. It was a great loss, to be sure. They were the best scholars of our Age, learned in the various arts and crafts of men, well-versed in history and strategy, strong thinkers and fierce individuals. In their time, they had helped humans everywhere improve the quality of their life. They invented new ways of healing the sick, new contraptions to irrigate the fields and revived in us an interest in our own history. It was sad that they had to lose their lives in search of a dream. How wrong we were!

Rise of the Dreadlords

The Five returned, though not in the way anyone expected. They had been transformed by the power they had sought. It now consumed them, turning them into faithful servants. They were still the same men, but their core had changed. They were still the sharp minds, but they were also tools of a higher, darker power.

They called themselves the Dreadlords and initially people were curious. They wondered if these were the prophesied ones, destined to lead humans to glory. Men joined their ranks. But the intentions of the Dreadlords soon became clear. They were here to turn the land over to the Shadow, to usher in a new era of Darkness, ruled by the Great Lord of the Dark – the source of their dark powers. Minions of the Darkness served them too – grotesque orcs and bestial grolms. The men that fought in their ranks became less than men, became feral themselves, running with the beasts and hacking.

Nations crumbled in their wake. Even Belindor – the largest and strongest nation – has done nothing so far to stop the advancing hordes of darkness. As we speak, three nations have gone under, and Belindor stands exposed. If the walls of Shara fall, then all humanity falls.

The Grey Company

The Arcane Prophecy has been the study of many scholars for many years. Recorded by a student of the legendary seer, Neille Komalin, the Arcane Prophecy contains references to the future of humanity, to the last battle, and most importantly, to a legendary band of heroes called the Grey Company.

The Grey Company is said to ride the land when humanity needs it the most. From time to time, adventurers and hot-headed rebels try and raise the standard of the Grey Company, but they never last long. But now that a very real threat of annihilation looms before us, the time for the real Grey Company is at hand.

Plot Background

General Gergoran Barka is the charismatic and brilliant general of Belindor, a man more popular than his king. For thirty years, he has served his king and his nation faithfully, and is considered by his enemies to be a worthy foe and a mastermind strategist. When the Armies of the Night poured out of the Northern Plains, General Barka immediately petitioned his king to allow the army to march against them. The cowardly king sat on his hands as nations fell.

A month ago, after the fall of Faernia, General Barka had had enough. He ordered his army to march out, much to the displeasure of the helpless king, and has proclaimed himself independent of Belindor. On the advice of his friend and prophecy-scholar, old Balin, General Barka has raised the Grey Standard.

The proclamation sent new surges of hope into the hearts of the weary population. Every day, more men and women join the Company, because they now realize that this is the last battle, the big one. From here, it is either salvation or devastation.

Characters

The General (played by Word Smith)
Character name: Gergoran Barka
Nearing 60, General Barka is a grizzled lion, veteran of many battles. Belindor is what it is today because of him. His men love him and his enemies respect him. He has authored two books on the art of war and is an avid reader. General Barka came under the influence of his mentor, Balin, during his middle ages, and the two share a healthy friendship. Since the death of his wife ten years ago, Barka has remained a single father to his daughter, and it is rumoured that he writes poetry.
Traits: brilliant strategist, thinker, leader, charismatic, intelligent, master swordsman

The Prince (played by Rulaan)
Character name: Quentyn Merithese
He is the crown prince of Malene, a tiny nation south of Belindor. Historically, Malene has always tried to overcome the influence of Belindor, and the Noble knows that he has a tough game to play when he ascends to the throne. He has been trying to arrange a powerful political marriage to gather support for his cause when the Grey Standard was raised. Seeing in this an opportunity to increase his reputation, he has convinced his father to pledge his troops to General Barka and let him lead the contingent. He is now a part of the Grey Company, under the command of General Barka, and beginning to not enjoy the situation very much.
Traits: master swordsman, honourable, proud, haughty, vain.

The Veteran (played by Kegger)
Character name: Toric
He is an old friend of the General and is known as one of the fiercest fighters in the land. Three years ago, he decided to hang up his armour and live a quiet life farming in the mountains. The legions were sorry to see him go, and he realized even he is not comfortable sitting far away from the action. When he heard news of the Grey Company, he quickly sold off his farm, gathered his retinue of 100 soldiers and joined his old friend to ride once more into battle. Since his coming, the General relies on him to share his burden and the Veteran does that gladly.
Traits: powerful axman, strong, faithful, indulgent, slow.

The Princess (played by Brigantia)
Character name: Vianne
The Princess and sole heir of the nation of Faernia which now lies in ruins. As a nation bordering the White Ranges of the north, Faernia faced the full force of the Dreadlords before anyone had time to respond. The King and the Queen were slain in their chambers and it was only with the help of her trusted general did she manage to escape the palace. She has had no time to mourn her family or her people and has been driven by a burning desire to avenge them. Despite the quick getaway, she has managed to bring five regiments to the Grey Company. She has pledged her full support to the General and is keen to take part in strategy discussions with the generals. The General has come to see her as an intelligent ruler, capable of understanding tactics.
Traits: intelligent, arrogant, beautiful, vengeful, passionate.

The Dark Servant (played by Dndd8686)
Character name: Azurus Baurum
He was a simple foot soldier in Faernia, visiting his parents on his leave, when the hordes poured in from the mountains. He could fight two of them, even three of them, but what could he do when they came in through the windows in tens? He managed to kill seven of them with his spear before they finished off his parents and caught him. Luckily for him, they were mostly men, not orcs or grolms, and despite the darkness in their souls, the men knew a good fighter when they saw one. They captured him, and took him to one of the five Dreadlords, Lord Damrun. In the magic chambers of Lord Damrun, the poor spearman underwent a painful transformation as the source of the Dark Lord’s power was transferred to him. He had become stronger, faster, and chained to the Great Lord. Lord Damrun has ordered the Dark Spearman to join the ranks of the Grey Company, infiltrate, and assassinate the General and disrupt the Company.
Traits: master spearman, quick, nimble, shrewd, possessed.

The Swordsman (played by Nightbringer)
Character name: Ervin
Born to a soldier family in Belindor, he grew up listening to stories of war and valour. As soon as he was old enough, he was enrolled into the army and given proper training. The desire of the little boy coupled with the strength of the young man has moulded him into a fantastic fighter. He is still young and has not seen enough battle to wear any scars, but he knows that he has it in him to follow in the footsteps of the great General. He gladly marched out with the General and has quickly risen up the ranks with his sharp eyes and quick moves. He has recently been promoted to a captain by the General and leads a band of knights and swordsmen.
Traits: brilliant swordsman, handsome, ambitious, inexperienced, sharp, charismatic.

The General’s Daughter (played by DotCom)
Character name: Aema el'Barka
She is twenty years old and beginning to worry her father a great deal. Perhaps he had always wanted a son, or perhaps he saw in her a fighting spirit, but the General had raised her as a boy, and is now regretting that. She has grown too bold and mischievous for her own good, not to mention the fact that she has turned into a vivacious, pretty girl. She has learned the art of war from her father, whom she dotes on but also detests for his restrictions. She has already won the annual archery contest twice in Belindor, and is considered a crack shot with a shortbow. Much against the wishes of her father, she has joined him in his Company. He has forbidden her to take part in any fighting, but she keeps finding ways to sneak out into the thick of battle with her sturdy short bow and arrow.
Traits: brilliant archer, vivacious, tomboy, mischievous, willful, careless.

The Woodsman (played by ElRey)
Character name: Remulon "Remi" Farnswell
When the Orcs poured out of the Northern Plains, he was caught unawares. Within moments, his life had been obliterated in front of his eyes. Hounded by the bestial creatures for days and nights, the woodsman was able to survive by his wits. Using his knowledge of the forest and his ability to forage, he managed to evade the orcs and is now within sight of the Fields of Mennor.
Traits: survivor, tough, keen observer, distant, vengeful

The Priest (played by happyhobo2000)
Character name: Zalon
He is one of the healers in the Ax Legion and is considered by the veteran as a dependable fellow. After having lived the quiet life of the priest in a tucked away village, Zalon's penchant for adventure drove him out to the wider land, seeking to aid the truly grievous.
Traits: witty, cynical, proficient.

The Priestess (played by AmazinglyVivid)
Character name: Ayleth
Haunted by a troubled past, hounded by regrets, Ayleth lives a life of exile in the quiet village of Ferend. The villagefolk respect her words, and admire her skills at healing. But deep within her, there burns the memory of a failed life - one that has made her who she was. With the raising of the Grey Standard, that life is coming to confront her. Little does she realize that even the future of humanity may depend on her choices.
Traits: nostalgic, remorseful, passionate.

The Spy (played by hymusia)
Character name: Fida
All is not well in the ruling family of Malene. Son has usurped the Father. The Prince has joined his legions with those of the General's, and the king of Malene is too short-sighted to see the impending doom. The King worries that his son will be caught in Belindor's machinations, and wants to make sure he doesn't. The answer? The Spy. She has been his trusted assassin for years, and who better than her to keep a close watch on the passionate prince?
Traits: devious, crafty, greedy.

Character Application guidelines

All the characters are in the Grey Company at the start of the RP. The Company is currently camped in the Fields of Mennor, ten miles north of Belindor. The Company is about 50,000 men strong and growing everyday. Apart from soldiers, there are farriers, blacksmiths, food caravans – you know, the usual army. Though the Grey Company has different armies within it, it is not exactly a coalition. The General is the absolute commander though lords and other generals are still in control of their respective regiments. But till the last battle is over, the regiment lords have sworn allegiance to the General.

1. As an application, I want a sample post. Not a bio-data. Try to make it about three paragraphs long.
2. I have given you a general overview of the character’s history up to this point. You can fill in any gaps you see fit and relevant.
3. The traits are provided for you to shape your character. These traits are fairly solid so don’t deviate too much from the essence of your character.
4. Try to give me a situation that will best showcase your character’s persona and your own writing style. You can arrange a small battle scene in your sample post if you want.
5. In these kinds of games, rules of fighting are very important. We will need absolute terms of victory. I will shortly be posting a set of fighting rules, but I warn you to not overstep and god-mod your characters. They are powerful as it is.
6. There is currently no magic for the good side. There are no elves or dwarves other non-humans. There is a type of magic that will be available to the players after a point in the story, but more on that later.
7. I expect you to be imaginative. I know only the general plot, and I can’t be expected to come with direction all the time. Stick to your character’s goals (whatever they are likely to be) and respond imaginatively to the world we build around us.
8. Currently, I want the main character slots to be filled. After that, I will accept suggestions and applications for new characters.

Appendix

1. Banners and Coats of Arms

• Grey Company - Called the Grey Standard, the banner of the Company is a silver-grey lion rearing on its hind legs in a field of black.
• Belindor - A golden castle in a field of white. The castle represents the Fort at Shara, Belindor's capital.
• Malene - A black two-headed Eagle clutching a sword and a scepter in its talons. The scepter depicted is the royal scepter of the ruling house of Malene.
• Faernia - Three golden fleur-de-lis in a field of blue.
• Ax Legion - Two half-moon axes crossed with the motto 'Defiant till Death' inscribed underneath in the Old Tongue
• The Dark Army - A clenched iron fist in a field of red.

2. The Dark creatures

Orcs: Orcs are cross-bred species between men and beasts. They are usually of a pale, tough skin with claws for hands and fangs. They are almost as intelligent as the humans, especially when it comes to fighting. Orcs can converse with humans, but they rarely choose to. They are also quick to form bands and hunt each other, so it takes the powers of a Dreadlord to unite them into a cohesive fighting unit. Each band of Orcs has an alpha-male leader, who is usually smarter than the rest. Orcs are usually lightly armored to increase their movement speed and are often armed with a scythe or a mace. Orc archers are also quite common. Orcs eat anything.

Grolms: Grolms are stupid but great hulking beasts that are sometimes led into battle by a group of hulks. Grolms are the size of a large bear on an average and have one eye in the center of their forehead. The Grolms have extremely thick hides and it is potentially suicidal to get close to a grolm. Piercing the eye of a grolm is the surest way of killing it. Grolms can never be outrun despite their bulk and they are savage killers in close quarters. The Orcs keep the grolms in check with the help of a harness - and in battle, a grolm can carry two orcs on its back. Riderless, a grolm is as dangerous to an orc as it is to a human.

Fallen: The Fallen are the men and women who have been turned to serve the Dark Lord's will. They are humans for all visual appearances, but there is no soul left in them. The Fallen are usually faster and stronger than a human of the same size and strength, but they live much shorter life spans. Besides, when the Orcs or the grolms get hungry, the Fallen are usually the meat. The Fallen form the bulk of the rank and file of the Dark Army.

3. Religion and culture

In the beginning there was Gea, the mother. Nothing was when Gea wasn't. When Gea is, everything is. As the mother awoke, she gave birth to two sons - Jhi (Light) and Shun (Darkness). It came to pass that one day, when Jhi and Shun were playing in the clouds, they both spotted the nubile Rea, the Goddess of Earth, playing in the oceans. Coveting her at the same time, Jhi and Shun sped to get her. Jhi arched in the form of a rainbow, while Shun spread across the land, draping it in shadow. The brothers both reached Rea at the same time, and Rea could not decide between the two. Jhi and Shun battled each other for 64 days, trying to get at Rea. The Divine Mother, having witnessed this battle, intervened and judged that Rea be wedded to them both. She divided Time into two, giving the first half to Jhi and the second half to Shun. Jhi would lie with Rea during the day, while Shun would embrace her at night. All the animate, living creatures are children of Jhi and Rea, while all the inanimate, nonliving things are children of Shun and Rea.

The lands are dotted with numerous shrines to Jhi and Rea, the parents of men and woman everywhere. Apart from one powerful shrine dedicated to Shun in Faernia, there are no known shrines for Shun. Priests and priestesses inhabit the shrines, and work in its premises. They are usually well-versed in herbal lore and act as village healers. Priests are often a powerful voice in local village councils. The head of all priests in the land is known as the Mahdi. The Mahdi is selected on the basis of divine revelation by the previous Mahdi. A child is usually named, and the said child is tested for proof of divinity. The test involves the child being able to correctly identify the personal effects of the previous Mahdi. Then the child is raised as the new Mahdi. Mahdis have always resided in the independent stretch of land east of Belindor, known as Trista. The Temple at Trista is the largest shrine to Jhi ever built.

The Mahdis are not magically powerful individuals. They are men and women born with the mark of Jhi - boundless love for all things under him. The Mahdi are said to be the positive force that balances the acts of Shun. While Shun is not exactly an antagonistic god, priests do not take his name freely. "Shun take you!" is considered a really terrible oath.

Summer is said to be Jhi's favorite time, and the advent of summer sees a lot of different fertility rituals and festivals taking place across the land. In most villages, they celebrate the first day of summer as Jhindin, the day of Jhi. Celebration involves offerings, competitions, music and dance.

[DotCom]

Aaaaand subscribed. I'm not sure I'll be able to get anything up tonight, because my brain ceases to work after 2am, but I'll have my 'application' up for the General's Daughter tomorrow. =) I'm looking forward to this.

[Kegger]

I have two questions.

1.) The Veteran: Is his skill with an ax limited or does it range from a throwing ax to a poleaxe?
2.) Whats the skill difference with the sword in regards to the Swordsman and Noble

[Word Smith]

I have two questions.

1.) The Veteran: Is his skill with an ax limited or does it range from a throwing ax to a poleaxe?
2.) Whats the skill difference with the sword in regards to the Swordsman and Noble

1) The veteran is a melee warrior, and he does not usually throw his ax. His is a hefty ax with a long shaft, a mean half-moon blade. Not something designed to throw. (He might feel at home with a war hammer too)
2) I would say the Noble is a better swordsman than the Swordsman. But you will have to understand that because he's had a Noble's training, his swordsmanship will be more show than substance. Meaning, he would spend time getting into the correct stance. Be that as it may, at their current skill levels, the Noble would win 3 out of five times against the Swordsman.

[Brigantia]

I'll be working on a post for the princess.

[Word Smith]

I'll be working on a post for the princess.

Excellent. She needs care, that one. She is fierce, but she is tied down by the weight of responsibility. While the other rulers of the land are already plotting who gets what after the last battle, she is a queen of a dead nation. Where does she go from here?

[Brigantia]

I have some ideas on that front. I probably won't get a post up until tonight though since I'm traveling and holiday shopping with the family today.

[Kegger]

Thank you for clarification.

- - - Updated - - -

Going veteran.

[happyhobo2000]

The war council was at hand. This was a rare occurrence for the small nation of Malene, as the most powerful weapons the peninsula nation held were diplomacy from intellect and gold from the massive merchant fleet. Long ago the kings of Malene had given up on the conquest of land, and now the only neighbor was at the end of the peninsula and massive. Belindor had stood many years with power over Malene, but the king was convinced that it was time to fight back. Belindor was weak, sad, and sorry. The recent demon invasions had brought it down to little more than a shadow of it's former self, withering like the branches of a dead tree. If there was a time to strike it, the king was convinced that it would be now. The lord's fist pounded on the table, adding emphasis as he spoke of the easy glory for everyone there. Defeating the crushed northern neighbor would be easier than picking a grape off a vine.

"... And that will be the end of them!" Another fist pounding. Everyone cheered but the crown prince, who sat in silence. Slowly, people realized this as they started to look at him, most of them confused.

"This is a day where glory comes! What bothers you, Argon?" It was his old tutor who asked this, General Kalak.

"My dearest lords." Prince Argon rose, as if to raise his moral ground above those around him. The Prince was on the tall side of the scale, so most of them had to look up slightly in order to see his eyes. "Is there a point in holding two crowns and a ramp of corpses as your land?" The others looked at him, slightly confused. So long had they been struggling against Belindor that they had forgotten the real threat. "If we took over Belindor, we'd be stretched thin and just easier pickings for the armies of darkness. It would be better for us to stay here, well defended." He looked around, noticing that in the whole council only Kalak was nodding. The others weren't convinced. "But how long could we last? Ten years, a hundred, a thousand? Does it matter? Father, would you want to live in a house where robbers and thieves try to break in every moment? One will eventually succeed and you know it, no matter how many times you board up the windows and block the light of the outside. One day, we would fall. I don't want to inherit a kingdom that I hold at the end of a sword." Argon knew that this was the convincing moment, the moment of true honor and glory. "The Grey Company is lead by our dearest foe Barka! We know we fear him, and now that he is gone are we going to rob his land behind his back, while he works to build up a glorious cause?" A deep breath. A quieter and more emotional voice. "Father, you always cursed Belindor for their lack of honor and the way they bully their neighbors. But if their armies march for the greater good and we don't, what does that make us? Swine?"

Five knights and a month later, the army of Malene found the Grey Company after riding off the merchant ships that had sailed them to the nearest port. Prince Argon looked around at the group, seeing true dedication from every man, boy, woman, and child. They were working hard to build up the camp for the night, cooking and raising tents. It seemed like a never ending line. "Send for Barka. We need to talk." A knight rode off, the flag on the end of his spear showing the red and the gold of Malene.

[Dndd8686]

Ill be working on the dark servant, but want to know about some liberties as I write:

1.) I assume the servant has some dark communal connection with the lord of the dark, or maybe even lower in the form of lord damrun? Can they communicate through him, and could there eventually be a larger backstory?
2.) does this character possess any dark magics? I was going to assume only lower magics, nothing useful for combat, and only through the darkness of his controllers, meaning he'd slowly lose it over the long stretch of time. Also exactly how rare is magic in this universe, if present at all?
3.) Is there more of a certain reasoning behind the lord of the darks/damrums attempt at infiltration or am i free to create that part of the story at my leisure whenever i find it fit?