[CHAR] Battle of the Maw

[Zetsuko]

Lothian

Name: Lothian

Physical: As is common among the elves, Lothian towers over most other races at a height of 7'4" with a build that is slender for his size. His hair is short and dark silver in color and a runic branding covers part of his face curving around his left eye, most of this is hidden when he wears his helmet, revealing only his dark grey eyes.

Equipment: Lothian is clad in the blackplate armor of Noldor's Darkforest wardens. He armaments include a greatsword with a long black slender blade, several daggers, and a large powerful warbow. If it comes down to it the fingers on his gauntlets are pointed similar to claws, so he could still do some damage even if he is disarmed.

Background: Lothian was born into the military caste of Noldor, other kingdoms could see it as lower nobility, and was trained from a young age. His family's position meant he would go on to become a Darkforest Ranger, one of Noldor's main military force. Noldor's isolation meant that there wasn't much to their task, they guarded the forests that bordered the kingdom, oversaw dealings with traders and envoys from other factions, and occasionally eliminate invading expeditions or armies if need be.

The most troublesome region was close to the southern orc tribes, as they would often get bands of raiding orcs. This was where Lothian spent most of his time as a ranger and he would often see combat, be it repelling a warband of marching out with a small force to put down an overambitious tribe. Of course the elves recognized the splintered nature of the orcs so no formal was was declared between the two, but it was these constant skirmishes that saw Lothian rise to one of the Wardens that kept the realm of Noldor safe.

Faction: Noldor

A kingdom nestled in the mountains and hidden deep within the forest southwest of the maw that splits the world. Noldor is one of the few Elven kingdoms that exist in the world and is arguably the most powerful one. They maintain a sort of isolation from the rest of the world. They do frequently deal with other nations via trade and diplomacy but it is all handled on the outskirts though outposts and emissaries with little-to-noone allowed into the mainland of this hidden empire.

Command:

300 Darkforest rangers - Medium armored infantry that serve dual-purpose, being skilled in both melee and ranged combat. Their ranged capability slightly outshines the melee as they wield very powerful warbows and are equipped with only longswords, they usually rely on skirmisher tactics but can provide a decent front against enemy infantry.

100 Twilight Knights - Heavy infantry. These troops are equipped with heavy plate, halberds, greatshields, and warswords. Between heavy armor and shields they can shrug off most ranged attacks, exceptions typically being heavy crossbows, they use this to attempted to force encounters into melee range where they most definitely excel.

[babbysama]

Florian Józef Czaja

Name: Florian Józef Czaja

Physical: Florian is average in height, and not particularly physically imposing; indeed, he is somewhat slender, with relatively narrow shoulders. However, his musculature is taut, and in his small build he secrets hidden strength. His lower body is especially powerful, and he is known to be an adept equestrian and able swordsman. His face is likewise relatively plain; in comparison to his father, known by the epithet “the Fair”, he is considered to be not particularly handsome, though not by any means unpleasant to look upon. He wears his chestnut hair long, after the fashion of the Galatian élite, along with a callow beard and mustache. Above his broad and flat nose preside a pair of deep hazel eyes, said to be the most fetching of his features.

Equipment: Florian is armed with the typical kit of the Galatian lancers: heavy plate armor, a plumed helm, cordovan riding boots, a long lance, short sword and dirk at the hip. Being the princely representative of the Kingdom of Galatia, however, his breastplate is decorated with the tooled fox sigil of House Czaja, and he wears a handsome white ermine mantled riding cloak given to him by his stepmother. He rides upon a brown destrier, named Arnoldt.

Background: Florian is the second son of the House Czaja, regnant family of the Kingdom of Galatia, the westernmost of the Western Kingdoms. His father, King Jan-Leopold the Fair, though once a renowned rider and administrator, has in his middle age taken to the three perennial vices of aging men: wine, women, and dice; the Kingdom, meanwhile, languishes in the absence of an able helmsman; Jan-Leopold’s counselors and advisers flagrantly line their own pockets; and the feudal lords grow bolder in their inroads against the royal house. Florian’s brother, Anatol, the heir to the throne, is in everything his father’s son: bold, fierce, handsome, licentious, vain, and, in short, ill-equipped to rule a kingdom. But Jan-Leopold dotes upon the boy, and thus Florian has lived the typical life of a second son, full of neglect, inordinate expectation, and the general feeling of being an afterthought; his general homeliness did nothing to assuage the issue. He was mostly raised by his stepmother, Anastasia, his birth mother having died whilst delivering his sister Hedwiga, and has an only cursory relationship with his father. Thus, he has made a career of striving to be noticed, though to little avail. He threw himself into his studies, and excelled in tactics, strategy, history, philosophy, and poetry; he threw himself into the martial arts of swordplay and horsemanship, and was recognized for his prowess. Yet no matter what he did, he garnered little notice or favor from most in the court save for his stepmother and tutors; he was once described by his brother Anatol as being, “One of those people that it’s hard to praise, no matter how good or talented they might be.” And Florian, despite his feigned nonchalance, finds such a thought infuriating. Although truly talented and possessed of real intelligence, he languishes in arrogance, pride, and superiority; he believes that destiny has both cursed him and given him an incredible boon, the insatiable drive towards perfection, even at the expense of his own happiness. And he rails against everything that his father stands for: he abstains from drink, flesh (even neglecting his wife, Eugenia, save for on their wedding night and a few occasions afterward), and dice, instead absorbing himself in books, maps, charts, and the simplicity of riding atop a horse’s back. He believes in honor, duty, self-abnegation, and the holiness of battle.

King Jan-Leopold, not taking seriously the threat of the Empire, granted Florian’s plea to lead a contingent of men to aid the Western Kingdoms against Alaric; Florian’s tutors agree that the boy, now a man of twenty-three, might be the youngest of those sent to defend the Maw, but insist that he has the capacity and the leadership ability to pull it off. Florian, consciously or unconsciously, regards the defense of the Maw as the ultimate opportunity to prove both himself right, and to show his worth both to his father and to the whole court of Galatia.

Faction: The Kingdom of Galatia is the westernmost of the Western Kingdoms. It mostly consists of broad, sweeping steppe and low-lying hills dotted with primeval forests, deep river gorges, and ancient holdfasts. The Galatians are renown for their horsemanship, and take great pride in the power of their heavily armored cavalry, known most commonly as the Galatian Lancers.

Command: Florian brings a contingent of 300 Galatian Lancers, along with 100 poorly equipped crossbowmen captained by Baron Ludwik-Balbo, Prince Florian’s lord-cousin. The Lancers are equipped with heavy steel plate, plumed helms, cordovan riding boots, long, heavy lances, short swords, and dirks, along with their packs and provisions; their horses likewise are outfitted with barding. They are well-known for their thunderous and devastating charges, and the swiftness of their Galatian destriers. Although their horses are swift, the men mounted atop them wear heavy armor, as do they, and thus the Lancers suffer from a lack of mobility compared to more lightly armored hussars and cuirassiers. The crossbowmen under the command of Ludwik-Balbo were brought in relatively late, and consist mostly of poorly trained peasant levies and some veteran sharpshooters who are expected to bring the less-experienced marksmen in the company up to speed. They are lightly armored, wearing chain hauberks and felt jacks, and some do not even have proper boots; many of their crossbows are antiques, and their short swords rusting. Still, with proper instruction, they could provide some use to the defense of the Maw.

Galatian Lancer Hetman

One of Ludwik-Balbo's armored crossbowmen

Ludwik-Balbo, conveniently hiding his balding with a hat

[TJByrum]

Torr 'the Wolf' Valgard

Name: Torr 'the Wolf' Valgard

Physical: Like many Varan hailing from the north, the young Torr stands high among men and his toned shoulders echo his ability as a warrior. His long, rugged, black hair hangs down to just below his shoulders, and his black beard hangs down to his chest. Cold, dark blue eyes are set upon his cold face, complete with a fierce demeanor and strong chin.

Equipment: Torr wears chainmail over his torso, covered by a padded tabard, while a black belt wraps around his waist. He wears black, iron-plated gauntlets complete with gloves, and iron greaves cover his black boots. A cloak of wolf fur hangs over his shoulders. In battle Torr wears an iron helmet modeled in the shape of a wolf's head. Most of his apparel is dyed black with dark blue accents, with the emblem of a white wolf's head.

Torr carries an iron-braced, wooden round shield, a longsword, a hand-axe, and his family's ancestral blade. He is a master swordsman and has been regarded as one of Asgeir's finest warriors. He prefers to use his longsword and shield together, resorting to his hand-axe when necessary. His family's ancestral blade is an ancient weapon, and never used; a dark-colored, rune-scribed blade comes forth from its wolf's head hilt. Some would say the runes hold magical power, although Torr does not believe so.

Background: Torr is the son of Tarro, the jarl of Valland. Like all Varan, Torr was brought up as a warrior and would one day take his father's place as jarl. Although he has battled bandits, raiders, and pirates, Torr longs for a real challenge. When news of the Sylver Empire's encroachments reached Asgeir, Torr took up his sword and marched south with ten of his best men.

Faction
Valland Hold, Asgeir
Far to the north lies the realm of Asgeir. It is a land of harsh winters, abundant forests, vast mountains, and chilled valleys. Rivers and tributaries run from the slopes of snow-covered peaks, winding through the dark forests and icy hills before emptying into the seas and lakes.

The High King of Asgeir rules from the capital of Stormhold, the oldest and largest city in the kingdom; Stormhold is also the extent of his power, as the realm is largely governed by independent lords called jarls. Each jarl rules a jarldom and is responsible for its maintenance and protection. Valland Hold is one such jarldom, long ruled by the Valgard clan. The Valgards are capable swordsmen, perhaps the finest in Asgeir. In times of war the Valgards can raise the Wolfguard, legendary horsemen who double as excellent infantry.

The Valgards rule from their walled town of Valland. Their land consists of rolling hills, perfect for grazing and farming, and thick forests which allow forestry and hunting. Winding rivers provide fresh water and fish. The Valgard clan symbol, and thus the symbol of their soldiers, is a dark blue field with a white wolfs head.

Asgeir Military
A jarl may levy the men and women of his province to form a warband, personally led by the jarl himself. All able-bodied men and women are expected to heed the call, although it is usually the head of household and his oldest sons who pick up arms to fight for the jarl. Shieldmaidens are common in Asgeir and can account for 45% of the nation's military. Because of this levy system it is law for all individuals living in Asgeir to own a weapon and shield. Fathers and mothers train their sons and daughters to fight from a young age, guaranteeing a capable military force in times of war.

Asgeir is a vast realm, and the towns and settlements can be spread across vast distances. Therefore horses are almost required to trek the long distances. Horses are also used to work the fields, herd the cattle, and transport necessary food and supplies to other locations. This has led to an equestrian-based society, and almost all families own horses. It is no surprise then that when levied many warriors ride into battle atop their beloved steeds.

Asgeir produces fine horsemen. They may not be as heavily armored as a knight, nor as fast as other riders, but they strike a middle ground and can fulfill a multitude of rolls. When dismounted they double as excellent infantry. The wealthiest warriors ride barded horses and wear chainmail or iron armor, wielding round shields and either axes or swords, along with a lance.

Those men who have lost their horses or otherwise do not own one act as infantry. They bring with them chainmail armor, iron helmets, a round shield, and a melee weapon of their choosing. Infantry are expected to form shieldwalls, which allow them to absorb enemy charges and deflect arrow volleys, so all warriors must bring a shield.

Varan tactics revolve around charging and breaking enemy formations with their cavalry, and then finishing them off with the support of their infantry. Otherwise they absorb the impact of the enemy charge with their infantry, and seek to flank with their cavalry. They lack in missile units, and only a few jarldoms supply dedicated archer units.

Varan Military
The Varan military can be divided into two portions: infantry and cavalry. The Varan are excellent riders, but double as excellent infantry, lacking in archery and artillery.

Command
10 Wolfguard - The Wolfguard are elite warriors from Valland Hold. These chosen champions are hand picked by the jarl himself, serving as his bodyguard in times of war. There are no finer warriors in Valland, and few others in Asgeir can match their prowess in battle. Generally, the Wolfguard are wealthy lords living in Valland who can afford warhorses and maintain a sufficient arsenal; they have thus sworn sacred oaths of loyalty to the jarl, and will fight and die in his name. Some Wolfguard begin as local strongmen who have proven their worth and are granted lands and titles.

The Wolfguard wear iron armor, wolf cloaks, and fearsome helmets meant to instill fear in their opponents. They carry iron-braced, wooden round shields, and an assortment of chosen weapons: greatswords, battleaxes, longswords, maces, etc. Each Wolfguard has a mighty warhorse, protected by barding. While they can act as sufficient cavalrymen, the Wolfguard prefer to fight on foot, utilizing age-old tactics like shieldwalls.

[Conscripts]

Alexander Myerscough

Name: Alexander Myerscough

Physical:

Alexander is not physically tall, but not particularly short in Acitian standards. A man at 167cm high, with a relatively plain facial expression, his most notable feature was probably his blonde hair, a rarity among Acitian. Alexander's body was fairly well-built, earned as a merit from his achievements in one of his most spectacular conquest of the Northern Kingdoms, but as a result, it was full of scars, cursed to burn in his back for the rest of his life.

Equipment:

In stark contrast to the normal expected appearance of a young king, Alexander appears in front of his men in a more militaristic look, with plated armor, worn over white clothings, dark blue cape, and leather boots. However, Alexander does not wear helmets, as he wants to give his men, and his allies the impression that he is unprotected yet still actively participate in the battle. For weaponry, he wields a short gladius sword and a bow for higher ground engagement. On his shoulder plates are two small sculptures of an eagle, a mascot of his Alexander's hierarchy. In battle, Alexander rides on a blackish three meters tall elephant, mounted on all sides with heavy plated armor, addressed as Senshan.

Background:

The youngest yet most feared warlord in the Northern Region of the West Maw, Alexander was born the only heir to the northern Acitian empire under the rule of Queen Gabriel II. The Queen was a noble yet fierce warrior, the widowed woman who was later famous for her significance in uniting all the northern Kingdoms together. Gabriel was a hugely ambitious woman, and told Alexander to keep his fighting serious, and his will ironed. She was Alexander's most influential figure, as Alexander's father, the king, died young in an assassination attempt. Despite being shocked by the lost of her husband, Gabriel decided to use all her courage and strength to unify her own empire, which was plunged into a civil war after the incident. She used all the tactical knowledge, combined with a few of the greatest generals in the Acitian, managed to round up the royal troops and began her epic campaign. After nearly two years, she had unified the country, and was already in preparation for another large conquest.

Alexander was only 12 when the civil war started. The young Acitian prince watched with great admiration as his mother campaigned her greatness, winning victories after victories while ignoring wounds. Gabriel inspired in Alexander curiosity, and a sense of competitiveness, to match against her, his only family member left; that he must be able to outshine his mother. When he was 14, late in the civil war, he was drafted in the Acitian army, and once fought against the rebelled bandits.

During the time, Alexander was obsessed with the thought of outdoing his mother, engulfed in studying swordmanship, horsemanship and most importantly, the art of war. He had gained himself a ginormous amount of understandings about tactics, and soon earned his first victory in a commanding position when he was 19 years old. At the time, the prevailing tactical orthodox was to place the cavalry onto the flanks and engage with other flanks, in hope that the cavalry will break through and envelope the opposing side, but caused the battle to be totally reliant on the skills, bravery, morales and most importantly, numbers of the two sides. Alexander soon realized this weakness, and instead used an inverse tactic, in which the heavy cavalries were massed at the center, while lighter cavalries were freelancers, moving around to harass enemy troops, allowing the heavy cavalry to break through, breaking their entire command structure. It proved extremely effective in his first battle and later on, earning him unparalleled success in his later conquests.

When he was 20, he joined his mother on the conquest to destroy the Arcolite Empire, one of the largest empire in the Northern Region, and its allied vassal states. But as the campaign was going on well, his mother fell dead due to a sudden stroke. With him being the only heir to the throne, while attending his mother's funeral, Alexander was proclaimed king of Acity right on spot, under the title, Alexander I.

He began his reign by solidifying his own rule by strengthening the empire's economy by acquiring many administrators and governors, deviding his empire into small pieces of lands for them to rule, and sparked competitiveness within the rulers, while continuing the campaign that his mother had left behind. An extraordinary campaign raged on, and in a matter of over three years, the new Acitian king had conquered the entire vast, Northern Region, as well as bringing down the huge Arcolite empire to his knees. Then, he began to settle down and deal with the small rebellious tribes while continuing to strengthen his own throne.

Alexander was a man who adored peace and tranquility, to the point that he even forced it upon his citizens. While he let up on small protests and parades, major ones that could potentially turn into a riot or an armed conflict would be subjugated very quickly. And the tribes and vassal states that dared to opposed his reign was forced to pay a special annual tax that could only be lifted after five years, and could only be lifted once. If a tribe continued to be rebellious, they would have to pay that tax forever. Despite this, Alexander was a decent ruler, and a great general who values honour and dignity.

When the news of the assembly of the Alliance, and the imminent invasion of the ever growing Sylver Empire over East Maw, Alexander knew that he would have to take action. He trusted the empire to a loyal and experienced military and political ruler, who was also his childhood friend, to strengthen his army in preparation for a huge-scale war while Alexander himself began assembling a small task force to join the call-to-arm of the Allied Kingdoms. Although his decision to personally go and fight the Sylver under heavy odds was strongly opposed, as he had yet to produce an heir to the throne just yet, the Acitian king replied: "Acity will need strong generals. If I die, I die. If you die, this empire dies." He was then joined by William, an old and seasoned general who once served under Gabriel, and his young daughter, Arturia, the leader of the royal knights.

Faction: Acity Empire

A vast northern empire that stretches over 10000 kilometers that was once divided among over twenty rulers, only to be unified by the efforts of Queen Gabriel II and her son, King Alexander I. The far northern part, where the original Acity Empire was a cold and dry land, with snow being a frequent sight, while the southern part, where the former Arcolite Empire once stood, the weather was more stabilized, a lot warmer, with forests and grass hills dominating the landscape.

The original Acity Empire was a lot smaller than the current one, only one-eighth of its present size. Several of its manifesting industries at the time was fishing and trading, thanks to its dominance in the taming and use of wild animals. Horses were one of the primary means of transport, which did not come as a surprise when Acitian cavalries struck fear within their enemies. But perhaps the greatest power of the Acity empire came from their military. Being an empire constantly harassed by the Northern barbaric tribes by not just means of looters, but also armed militants, so they had had decades developing their military in preparation for any incoming attacks.

After the great conquest of Queen Gabriel II and later King Alexander I, the power of Acity reached its peak, with wealths pouring in from the taxes that Alexander had imposed on the rebellious tribes. Under the few years rule of Alexander, the people were rather 'forced' to enjoy peace, as Alexander had absolute no tolerance to armed hostility. Any tribes that rebelled against the Acitian King would then be subjugated, crushed and was then imposed an heavier tax. Cultural exchanges between the Arcolites and the Acitian were also made possible under Alexander, and several of their Eastern-like cultures and traditions were migrated into Acity. It was also thanks to the conquering of the Arcolite did Alexander decide to implement war elephants into his military, as he was impressed by his sheer size and effectiveness.

Command:

King Alexander I deploys a total number of 20 formidable war elephants, in which he was granted command after conquering the Arcolite Empire. They tower three meters in height and have wooden castle like structures being placed on their backs where four warriors and a guider would be housed. The elephants themselves have huge spiked gauntlet attached to their tusks and trunks so that they can inflict more damage on the enemy. The four warriors are armed with bows or javelins as their main weapons, and use a variety of long pole weapons as secondaries so that they can stab stragglers that somehow managed to survive the elephant onslaught. The front of the elephant is covered with spiked armor in order to protect the animals while dishing out more damage as they attack. The four feets of the elephants are covered with cloths to avoid accidents while fighting on slippery cliff of the Maw. The elephants are rather slow, but they are tough, and a coordinated elephant charge can prove very devastating to the enemy, even if they are well-trained. The Acitian troops have molded these elephants so that they are no longer afraid of fire or sudden sound, but if they get severely wounded, they can panick and try to escape to a safe place, trampling their own allies in the process. Despite this, war elephants' advantage have outweigh the disadvantages, and Alexander find their roles too significant to leave them out. Joining the elephants are 50 heavy cavalries, armored and equipped with lances.

Accompanying these animals are a force of 150 light cavalry and horse archers, consisting of less experienced soldiers or mercenaries of ethnic groups in the Northern regions. They are not heavily armored, and not very well-trained, but can have some use in the battlefield, especially in assisting the main body of Alexander's troops, which is the elephant. The light cavalry are armed with sabers and light spears while the horse archers are equipped with regular bows. There are some special cases of horse archers using crossbows, but their roles are not very significant.

Last but not least, is a force of 100 royal knights. They are the experienced one, battle-hardened after years of conquest under Alexander's rule. They fight on foot and are equipped with teardrop shaped shield, along with a long one-handed sword, protected by silver armored platemails and helmets. Their role in the army is also significant, as they are capable of gaining the upper-hand by using different kinds of formations and by their rigorous training. They are also rumored to once stop a well-coordinated cavalry charge with only their swords only. However, this is myth only.

Command is split between Alexander and his two generals, William and Arturia. Alexander takes command of his powerful heavy cavalry and war elephants, William controls the light cavalries and horse archers, and Arturia takes the knights.

[seriousarmour]

Bane Skilgannon the Stern

Name: Bane Skilgannon the Stern

Physical: Bane is an imposing man and not just because of his stature. He stands at nearly seven feet tall and weighs roughly 110kg with not an ounce of fat on his body. He is clearly a man trained and bred for war. His body is criss crossed with both major and minor scars telling the story of a life filled with conflict, conflict that he managed to survive. He has dark hair that is kept short and cut close to his head, easy to hide under his helmet. His beard is kept well trimmed ensuring it is not long enough to use as a handhold while still suiting his face. But by far the most striking feature on the man are his steel coloured eyes, they show no give nor remorse only cold unyielding resolve.

Equipment: A cuirass of heavy steel armour over a padded leather tunic. His arms are largely covered by banded mail fitted to leather straps that encircle the arms. His legs are covered by a pteruges of heavy studded leather while his shins are covered by steel greaves that reach the knee. Atop his head is a helmet a solitary red plume the only thing separating him from his men.

A long spear.

A kukri.

A large circular shield.

Background: Bane was nor always the hardened leader he is today, everyone has an origin story and he is no different. He started off as a minor noble in the Rigante Kingdom. His childhood years were nothing special going through what most nobles do, he learnt how to read and write, how to ride a horse as well as learning basic martial craft.

It was in his teenage years started off more or less the same. More advanced lessons on administration and statecraft, etiquette lessons and finally advanced arms lessons. Like many young men he shrugged off many of his lessons particularly his martial ones far preferring to spend his time indulging in leisure activities than getting sweaty and bothered with other men. He became a well known skirt chaser and drunkard whenever he was not performing his duties.

Ultimately it was both that led to his downfall. A feast to celebrate the prince and his newlywed wife. It was a feast befitting of a future king, a table groaning under the weight of the piled on meats and sweets. And unfortunately for Bane far too much wine. The future queen was found later in her chambers groaning much the same as the table did earlier only this time it was under Bane's weight rather than that of a feast.

The future king did not want to deal with the scandal that a public trial or execution would bring. So his advisers suggested something that would solve the problem at the same time as silencing all potential rumors. Bane and all those who may have had an inkling of what transpired that night were sentenced to serve in the Legion of the Dead.

The Legion proved to be the furnace that forged Bane into the man he is today. The training was brutal, harsh beyond what most could wish upon even their enemies. In the end however it produces warriors almost without peer and with almost unwavering resolve.

It has been many years since Bane left the Legion bootcamp, many years of campaigns battles and fallen comrades. Years of stitched wounds of brutal victories and heroic achievements. Now he leads the Legion in its entirety, and he has chosen The Maw to be the place where they truly live up to their name.

Faction: The Rigante Kingdom(The Legion of the Dead)
The Rigante Kingdom is a smaller kingdom in the center of the Western Kingdoms. They are a disciplined people for the large part with a large emphasis on family and familial honor. The lands they hold are heavily forested and so Timber makes up a large source of their income as well as trade. In the last few years large deposits of iron ore and gold have been discovered bringing a large degree of wealth into the kingdom.

With such an emphasis on familial honor there must be disgraced families. And there are among both commoners and nobles. There is a simple answer to this however. The Legion of the Dead. For the low cost of the offenders life honor can be restored to your family and your past sins shall be forgotten. Entrance into the legion is far more common for nobles than it is for the peasantry as most peasants are simply imprisoned or executed.

The Legion is a small elite force that is sent only into the heaviest fighting, holding the center line against all odds or until they all perish. They are always few in number as recruits are often hard to come by. But those that are there are honor bound to fight to their last breath for their families, if that is not enough motivation there are dark rumors about brutal methods used to instill in them the unbreaking desire to die in combat while they are being trained for service in the legion.

If any of the Legion do desert their post the sentence is clear. Their families name shall be scrubbed from the history books, their lands and titles are forfeit and they will be immediately pressed into service for the Legion.

Command: 300 Hoplite warriors equipped with heavy armor (Similiar to my own), spear, shield and a Kukri.
90 Crossbow men equipped with Brigandine armor, crossbow and a Kukri.
10 Scorpion operators equipped with Brigandine armor and utilising 10 scorpion style Ballista.

(Its a bit rough I know. Work on it more when I haven't worked the last 12.)

[Bright_Ops]

Pizurk, the foot

Name: Pizurk, the foot

Physical: Pizurk is slightly smaller then the average Uruk, his frame much more slender and dexterous then those of some of his larger brethren. His skin is a pale, almost sickly looking green with an almost leather like texture to it, his eyes an unnerving blue with black irises without any of the more human whites that other humanoid species (and other uruk) are known to have. Like most uruk, his body is covered in various scars and marks that betray the savage, brutal lifestyle that all of them live. He has come to favor leather armor for its mixture of toughness while also being able to move in it, as well as its abundance making it easy to make repairs.

Across his face has been tattooed the brand of the oath that he made to the Warchiefs, Shamans and all of orc kind. It will remain blood red until his oath is fulfilled.


Equipment:
A suit of leather armor with a chain mail vest over the top.
A uruk made curved cleaver-sword made of steel, stained with dry blood.
A small series of well looked after knives of a variety of purposes.
A bone horn with which to communicate orders.

Background:
Pizurk was born in the cave system of the Ashen Wastes, one of the more top side bleak and barren lands that make up the territory held by the southern Uruks tribes. While the top side is a volcanic, barren wasteland due to nearby volcanic activity that happens rather frequently, the cave systems underneath the Wastes were rich with edible plants and animals due to the rich nature of the soil due to the same activity that made living top side so dangerous. Competition for said food was fierce through as with the abundance of food came a wide variety of dangerous predators and wildlife, as well as other Uruks fighting over those caves that processed natural water supplies or over the mines wealthy with workable ores.

Born into this world of constant warfare and struggle for survival, Pizurk learned quickly that in order to stay alive one had to be strong in both mind and body, adopting a pragmatic mindset that justified measures of survival that other races and cultures would have found monstrously barbaric and cruel. He made what alliances he needed to, treasured what few friendships he was able to foster learned to hate his rivals and enemies with a strong passion.

Surviving until he was old enough to start being trained in combat proper, Pizurk quickly found that while he wasn't the strongest uruk by a long shot that he had a talent for moving quickly on his feet while striking hard and fast. As the years passed this talent was refined to the satisfaction of both his trainers as well as the fact that it allowed him to actually survive the training process at all; Pizurk's first kill was when he was eight years old, stabbing a rival to death over the limited amount of food that the trainees were provided with... and providing himself and several of his mates with a windfall of fresh meat in the process.

When he finished his training, Pizurk elected to continue serving his tribe in a military fashion, quickly becoming a leading figure of a small mob made up of the mates that had survived training with him as well as a few hangers on. After leading a successful hunt to cull down the numbers of cave spiders that had recently started to become a problem, Pizurk was officially recognized by Warchief Kurk Blood-Axe for his service and officially promoted a captain position to replace a captain that had recently perished when he was ambushed by a rival and killed.

While Pizurk proved competent enough to hold his position, opportunities to stand out from the crowd and rise up the ranks were few and far between. When news of the Sylver Empire going on the march reached the Council of Warchiefs, it was quickly decided that any available troops were to be sent towards the Maw in an allied effort to stall for time while their proper armies were organized; Pizurk was not only one of the few officers available at the time, but he quickly saw and seized the opportunity to advance himself. Standing before the Warchiefs and the shamans of the tribes, he swore an oath that he and any uruk that followed him would hold the Maw for three days or die trying.

To enforce his oath, he willingly allowed the shamans to brand his face to seal his word and course. He also ensured that all those following him to the Maw underwent the same procedure and oath before marching to war and glory... or death.

Faction:
The Southern Uruk Tribes

The Southern Uruk Tribes is the collective name used to describe the series of lands in the south that are populated and held by the Uruk race. It is not a united kingdom or nation as other races are prone to having, instead being a rather loosely 'allied' number of tribes, clans and strongholds that while prone to infighting for dominance and resources will generally band together against outsiders at the beckoning of the ruling bodies of the Council of Warchiefs and the uruk shamans.

Uruk society is built on a pragmatic foundations of survival at all costs and survival of the fittest; A common Uruk saying is 'To become a captain, one has to be strong, smart, cunning or lucky. In order to remain one, they have to be at least two of those things. To rise higher requires three and to become a warchief requires all four.' Military and Political power are closely tied together, with those uruks who prove themselves great combatants or military leaders raising to positions of power. An Uruk remains in power only as long as they can keep a firm hold of it through; In theory, any Uruk can challenge another with the intent of either taking their position or raising their own standing, through in practice only those Uruks able to gather enough support to have a chance of challenging those above them would actually do so. Being strong enough to best a Warchief might mean they'll win a duel, but if they're alone they will quickly find themselves getting killed by those with friends...

As surprising as it sounds through, Uruks do understand the concepts of honor and duty while making an effort to apply it to everyday life. Their versions of them through tend to be dark and twisted things through, balanced by the pragmatic requirements of the daily struggle to survive in a cruel, unforgiving world. Uruk's can and will eat the dead of both their own race as well as other races that they encounter, alongside skinning them to tan their flesh to leather. To them, it is seen as a means of increasing their supplies that would simply go to waste if you buried them. However, it is considered the highest form of respect and friendship in Uruk society if one decides to cremate the deceased body of a fellow Uruk rather then breaking them down for supplies.

The Council of Warchiefs is the closest thing to a ruling body that the Uruk Tribes have. In essence, it is the gathering of every Uruk that is powerful enough to be in charge of a tribe sized number of their fellow Uruks; The exact number of Warchiefs is fluid due to the raise and fall of individual tribes, but it tends to stabilize around five members most of the time. The Council of Warchiefs is called together whenever the Uruks are required to deal with an outside threat, all current hostilities and conflicts between the tribes are ceased in order to unite against the outside foe. It is considered taboo for a Warchief to kill another Warchief, which allows some degree of trust to exist between the tribes during Council gatherings.

Uruk Shamans hold a unique position in society, being held as neutral advisors and healers as well as being fear as practitioners of magic. They are the closest thing to a priesthood that Uruks have, being seen a spiritual guides that make contact with the elements or spirits. Shamans oversee the applications of Oath brands.

While there are many different kinds of brand and oaths that can be given with different rewards and punishments associated with them, the brand given to the Uruks heading towards the Maw is called the Mark of Death or Glory. The Uruks that have received it made an oath that they would hold the Maw for three days or die trying; If they are successful in doing this, the Shamans with the force will perform a brief ritual that will change the color of the Mark to showcase that they have fulfilled their Oath, allowing them to return home with the prestige of serving Uruk kind and surviving a difficult battle. However, for ever day extra that the uruk stays in the fight beyond their original oath, the shaman will alter the Mark to showcase their greater prowess and prestige, raising their standing in Uruk society further and allowing them to reap more rewards. Any uruk that deserts the battle before their oath is fulfilled will be forever marked as a deserter and traitor to be killed on sight by all other uruk.

All uruk undergo a brutal training regime to learn how to fight from a young age until their teenage years, at which point they are free to decide what they desire to do with themselves now that they have been taught the basic tools of survival. While many continue to serve as raiders and warriors, some decide to pursue more civilian pursuits such as craftsmanship or farming. While they may never hold as much power or influence as a ranking warrior, 'civilian' uruks hold a strange position in uruk society by being highly respected and well looked after by their more militant brethren. Uruk warriors are worth a dime a dozen, but one who knows how to forge and maintain weapons or can grow food consistently is worth protecting and keeping happy.

Command:
The forces under Pizurk's command are not a uniformed army, nor do they all come from a single tribe. It is a gathering of what forces were free to be grouped together for the purposes of holding the Maw. Even among uruks of the same tribe there is a strong sense of individuality, with personalized armor made from whatever they had on hand combined with whatever weapons they personally prefer using. Each one of them however has managed to survive not just the day to day struggles of surviving in their respective homelands, but also uruk culture and the brutal combat training that all uruks undergo, making each and every one of them a proven warrior in their own right... but much like their commander, merely missing the opportunity to stand out among their peers.

192 mixed light infantry: Armored in a mixture of mail, leather and padded armor and armed with whatever the individual uruk decided to bring with them, the light infantry of Pizurk's command lack of uniformity provide it with a wide degree of versatility to deal with whatever they encounter. With relative ease, the troops can be broken down into smaller mobs being lead by an 'officer'.

103 Worg riders: Native to their homelands, the giant Worg wolves have been both friend and foe to the Uruk tribes for as long as can be remembered. Taming a worg is a difficult process due to its bloodthirsty, wild manner and many die trying but those uruk that successfully bond with their worg will find themselves with a loyal and protective battle beast that is as fast as any horse and much better in a close combat fight then one.

Support Personal
5 Uruk Shaman: Mystics and Healers, the Uruk Shaman have sent a detachment of their numbers in order to provide the Uruks on the battlefield with healing and spiritual guidance... as well as offer up concoctions, poisons and supportive magics to help enhance their forces further. They are also there to ensure that when the time comes, the Marks of Death or Glory are properly altered.

80 Hunters and Trappers: While they are just as good at fighting as any other uruk, the mixture of hunters and trappers that have come with the army to the Maw are not there to fight the battles themselves... they have been brought along because they process skills that will be useful in other ways off the fields of battle. The specialize in surviving in the wilderness, hunting wild game for glory, food and sport with their own preferred methods. Crossbows, javelins and traps are their primary tools of the trade.

20 Metalworkers and Leatherworkers: While just about every Uruk can tan leather and use anything on hand to kill someone, those who can make and repair equipment are highly respected and are well looked after in return for them looking after those in the field.

[Nariata]

Gyrid the Goddess reincarnate

Name: Gyrid Thometilldottir

Physical: Gyrid stands at a height of 1.81 meters tall. She has long, well-kept brown hair that she keeps in a ponytail behind. Her face is covered in various different scars, very symmetrical in nature. A large X crosses over the bridge of her nose, with two more that follow in a parallel fashion above them that rest just underneath her eyes. Two more parallel scars follow in the middle of her forehead, following the interior lines of the large scar resting just above the intersection point of the larger scar. Finally, she has one final scar that cuts deep into her chin.

She has eyes that radiate like the most intense sapphire crystals. Her body is kept hidden by her armor, but one can make out a faint but full female form.

Equipment:

Armor and weapons

• Leather armor with a chain mail coat underneath
• Long spear measuring 1.85 meters in length from the bottom of the shaft to the top of the spear point.
• Iron longsword measuring 1.3 meters from the bottom of the hilt to the tip of the blade.
• Raiders horn – Made out of a goat horn, this horn is used to transmit orders throughout her force.

Background:

Gyrid started off her life in the training fields surrounding the castle Estel deep in the frozen tundra of the North-Western corner of the continent. Taken from her family at a young age to serve her goddess as a warrior, Gyrid blossomed under the strict teachings provided by the Followers. She excelled in ways not many soldiers that proceeded her had; able to best not only her fellow Devotes but also some of the instructors themselves. Impressed, the Priestesses quickly took Gyrid under their wings and began to groom Gyrid to become a Guard of Roffella. She learned from the fabled Book of Roffella of all the prayers, hymns and in depth religious teachings that a Priestess would be required to know. In addition to this, she was also given advanced weapon and battle tactics training from the military commanders of her orders. By the time she was fifteen, the Priestesses once again changed their plans for her and instead proclaimed that Roffella had decided that Gyrid would become a Priestess of Roffella instead.

On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she was given the marks of Roffella. She was led to a special, secret chamber deep within the confines of the castle. She laid down on a large stone table and had sharp knives dragged through the skin on her face, creating a series of symmetrical and deep scars. The scars are significant religiously to her order, with the legends speaking on that mark being one in the same that Roffella herself bore. Once the scars healed, she was given command of a small detachment of Devotes and tasked with spreading the word of Roffella.

In the ten years since Gyrid has torn the lands surrounding the Followers domain asunder. The cities of Darium and Thrassbruud fell beneath the might of her armies, while countless villages and various northern tribes wiped off the map by fire and steel. Her devotion to Roffella is matched only by her desire to see every non-believer converted, or destroyed. When news broke that their lands were to be invaded by the East, Gyrid and a small force left the North and headed straight for the pass. She aims to prove to all the non-believers that there is only one God, and she is Roffella; no matter the cost.

Faction: The Followers of Roffella
The Followers of Roffella - Structure


The Followers of Roffella is a blanket term used by the barbarians in the north to describe a very specific, and very strict religious sect that occupies the territories northwest of the Maw itself in the Klamshire mountain ranges that borders the Frozen Seas. The Followers occupy the castle Estel high in the mountains which serve as the primary temple devoted to their goddess as well as the cities of Darium, Thrassbruud, and Deyong. Various other temples have sprouted up around these cities, and the temples serve as a place of worship and training. The land is perpetually cold, with near constant snowfall and temperatures that would make even the hardiest southern break. These harsh conditions have bred a tough and hardy people that have learned to survive in this tundra. Hunting the limited game found in the area is only the first way these people have come to survive; they are hardy fishermen who have specialized vessels used to dance through the ice clogged waters which are capable of bringing home large nets full of various seafood.

At the top of this religious group stands the Council of Roffella. Made up of aging Priest and Pristesses to old and frail to lead soldiers into combat anymore, the council makes all the decisions for the Followers as a whole; from food rations up to appointing young men and women to make the transition from Devotee to full Priest hood. The council is led by the Holy Mother, a name given to many women over the years but currently resting on the shoulders of Glastrude.

Underneath the Council stands the revered Order of the Priests and their sister group the Priestesses of Roffella. The members of these two groups are very well versed in both the Religious aspect as well as the military side of the Followers, with the members often acting as generals in times of war. In recent years, this order has become more militaristic in nature, with an influx of new followers serving as a more reliably sized fighting force as Gyrid's conquests have brought the Order much attention.

Beneath them are the soldiers that fall into two categories; the Guards of Roffella and the Devotes of Roffella. The Guards of Roffella are the seasoned backbone of the Followers army. Trained since birth in the arts of war, they are a very capable and downright deadly fighting force. The Devotes of Roffella on the other hand is the inexperienced core of the Followers army. Often the age in this group as a whole is on the younger side, with the average soldier being no more than twenty years old. While many have received the same training as the Guards, they still have much to prove in the heat of battle before they ascend to the Guards. Both groups are extremely devoted to their Goddess; waking up early in the morning to praise her name and fighting with incredible courage knowing they are awaiting in heaven.

The Followers of Roffella - Lore

The legends go that the Followers of Roffella were originally a peaceful, trading city located at the intersection of four major roads in the lush plains found in the middle of the western areas, content to farm and tend to the various travelers that happened to find their way through their city. Luck was not on their side, however, as barbarians from the northern mountain ranges, on their usual raids, descended upon the city with a ferocity matched by none.

The city burned.

As the refugees ran from the onslaught sought solitude in neighboring cities, a sense of dread began to set in. With each city visited, they soon learned that their neighbors had grown envious of the wealth they had attained in the past. Turned away at every turn, the people of that forgotten city began to lose hope. Out of this darkness, a figure emerged, a woman mercenary by the name of Roffella Hrossbjorn. She had happened to find the poor, desperate group of refugees with her small company of soldiers named the Roffella's Guard after their leader. She herself was a barbarian, alike those found both in the northern ranges and in the raiding parties that currently were pillaging the area. She had an unorthodox option for these simple traders. Learn to fight with her and her soldiers, and assault the fortress that the barbarians based themselves out of.

She spoke with a grace that most had felt impossible for a savage, she moved the people with her words about how the fortress was left defended by old men and young boys, as all the fit and able soldiers were out assaulting the area. If they charged straight up the mountain, assaulted the fortress, and took it from the Barbarian king himself, that they would be once again safe and in a position of power. Along the way to the fortress, Roffella and her forces trained the men, women, and children how to fight to their best ability. The assault on the fortress occurred in the twilight hours and Roffella was correct. They easily stormed the gates and captured the area, and began the process to start a new life.

All that is good can never last in the north. The barbarian horde, fresh off their recent raids, returned to the fortress in force. They laid sieges, trying to starve the people out. On the fifth day of the siege, Roffella railed her forces and sallied forth and faced the barbarian army in the frozen tundra. In the hectic fighting that ensued, as snow fell to the ground piles at a time, Roffella faced off against the King of the barbarian lands. In the fight, the King struck a mortal blow against her, a sword strike straight through her stomach. She in turn ran her spear straight through the heart of the King. In the end, as the snow fell amongst her dying body, the barbarians were routed. Her army, and the rabble they trained, gathered around her as she breathed her final breath. As she died, the clouds above parted and she was raised up to the heavens above.

Or so the story goes.

In the centuries since, scholars and historians have long debated the merits of the rise of the Followers of Roffella and the circumstances around it. The truth is often lost to the ages, and many now view the religion as a cult. In recent years, however, the Followers have grown in popularity due in no small part to the aggressive assaults on the north led by Gyrid.

Command: List the units you intend to bring to the Maw. I need to know their weaponry, armor, function, skills, abilities, etc.

150- Guards of Roffella

Medium armored shock infantry – The Guards of Roffella are group of highly trained and very dangerous shock infantry, capable of breaking even the most seasoned of lines with their strong wings of their two handed axes, relentless drive for pleasing their Goddess, and their relentless training since birth. They are religious devout, and will always be awake at the crack of dawn to offer their prayers and praise to their warrior goddess.

Through tributes, local blacksmith work, and various other factors the Guards of Roffella are often equipped with plate mail chest and leg work with a tabard with a white base with a red X through the middle. This stands in stark contrast to the rest of the barbarian north who still prefer leather armor overtop chainmail. They are often equipped with heavy two handed axes, bastard swords and various other heavy handed weapons. While the heavy armor slows them down compared to the standard barbarian, the ferocity of their attacks and the pin point precision in which they deliver them, more than make up for the weight of the armor.

250 – Devotes of Roffella

The title of Devotes of Roffella is a new title given to the religious fanatics that have taken up arms under the Priestess of Roffella named Gyrid. While they may lack the formal training as most infantry, they are a hardy people. They survive in a land where life itself struggles to survive. They make up for their lack of training with sheer devotion and ruthless aggression. They are equipped with leather armor over top chainmail vests, large spears and large round shields.

[Thecrash20]

Erebus

Erebus Dragon-Keeper

Physical:

Erebus stands tall in his armor at 75 Inches. With his armor, his frame is quite huge. Almost as big as two men standing shoulder to shoulder. Only a few can say they have seen him without his armor on, but the ones who describe him as a skinnier man with long Blonde Hair and blue eyes. The complete opposite of his current look, so these tails are usually just scoffed at, but hard evidence has been found by few that describe his actual name, Ian Rosffer.

Equipment:

Dragon-Keeper Armor:

This armor was said to be forged from the Bones of the Mighty Dragon, Fafnir.This armor is one of the Court of Wizard's most ancient Relic, and more recently been granted to the newest War Master. While being incredibly durable in its own right, it has been further enchanted to be resistant to Magic attacks and Magic enchanted Weapons. Ancient legends say the Mortal that Don's this armor receives great strength of Fafnir and a similar lifespan. It is not known if either is true, but what is known is that this War Masters has lived half a century while not losing any strength even at his age. Additionally the one Donning the armor cannot be matched by any other Mage in the land. The armor is colored a Burnt Copper with a magical effect to hide the users face and just reveal two beady Red eyes. The stronger the Mage the darker red their eyes brightly burn.

Maces of Mercy and Judgment

These two weapons are Relics of a great Paladin that was famed for taking down a two headed Water Monster in the Western seas. Regardless of the tale, these two Maces have been personally picked by Erebus. Due to the weapons being legendarily crafted and providing him way to rapidly engage enemies through the ability of channeling his Magical abilities through the Maces similar to Staves.

Spells:

Defense ward: A very common spell used along all the Mages. This creates a weak protective spell that blocks incoming Range attacks in front and above the Mage.

Flame Thrower: A short range attack used to cast a shower of flame through the Mage's Hand.

Healing Touch: Short range healing spell that requires the Mage to touch the wound to allow the rapid healing to take effect.

Inner Rage: Short range area spell that unlocks a Rage that most thought wasn't possible around the Mage. The Rage increases the Savagery of those around the Holy Knight, allowing their bodies to push themselves further than ever before.

Lightning Bound: A long range spell. The War Mages can enhance any Weapon of metal with electricity. The Enchantment allows the User's Weapon to more easily cut and pierce through Steel. The Mage fires a bolt of electricity that bounces of several target weapons. The effect only last about 5 seconds, and used more defensively.

Echoing Soul: A commander spell, Erebus can communicate around the battlefield to groups of people with just a thought. The further the distance to the receiver the harder it is for the receiving end to understand the message.

Background:

Long ago, Ian Rosffer arrived at the gate of the Fortress Sleeping dawn at the age of 7. He was an orphan that was noticed to create spells at night alone in the woods when most were sleeping. While some wanted to hang him as a Warlock, a passerby quickly swooped the kid from his home before he could meet that fate and took him to the his original destination. Ian was easily accepted due to his young age and his natural born affinity to Magic. His aptitude was quite average, never really shining in anything in particular. Eventually he made it to the Rank of Lieutenant. Easily acquiring the Rank after only a few months of being a Master, due to the Feral Orc invasion in the South West. A dark time for the Counsel, entering a War with no War Master was said to be the end of them.

On one knight, Ian's Base camp was attacked by a a small army of Orcs. Some how getting the Jump on the Mages. They fought for almost a whole hour until he called for his squad to make a tactical retreat. His men wouldn't retreat due to this being the Last defense of a smaller village less than a Kilometer away. Ian still pulled back without them, leaving them and the village to their death. When he returned to the Fortress he was already expected and immediately given charges of Desertion, Cowardice, and Command Treachery. After several day his Trial was had. The Jury all had found him guilty and there sentence was Death.

Ian Rosffer was privately executed by beheading at the age of 32. Or that is what all but the highest of Counsel members thought. Ian was given an offer he could not refuse, a sentence that could be worse than Death. He was offered the Rank of War Master. The title of War Master was the highest possible honor bestowed upon a Mage by the Counsel during a time of great need. The War master is considered to have superior political and military status. The War Master is sent on the most perilous and daunting missions in desperate times of when he is needed which are often tantamount to suicide. In fact on those missions, the War Master is expected to die and be revered thereafter as another great martyr of the Counsel. Most live through these missions, which is exactly is why they are given these missions.

Ian accepted the offer and was renamed Erebus Dragon-Keeper, due to the Armor that was given to him. Erebus was trained by the Old War Masters spirits themselves. Teachings on Strategy, Tactics, Fighting styles, Ancient Magic, Physical and Mental toughing. After a year of intense training, Erebus finally equipped his armor and was forever sealed in his suit of armor. Until the day he fall in glorious battle like the War Masters that fell before him.

Faction:

Court of Wizards

The court of Wizards is ancient group of Wizards located in the South West. They usually provide any Magical need of the West that need to be fulfilled. The Court takes pride in their Integrity and Professional attitude during their inception. They Have three branches, their Logistical branch known by most as the 'Blue collars'. The Political branch, simply known as the 'Counsel', and their Military Branch known as the 'Coven'. They are quite secretive with their training and their rituals, but make sure their presence is known to the Public.

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Command:

The Coven

The Coven is the small Armed Branch formed by the Court of Wizard in the West, a Highly Honored group of Mages. They openly accept all Mages of any age who wish to use their powers for means of Justice and Right. Most candidates are orphans that are feared to be mages and are dropped off in their Main Fortress The 'Sleeping Dawn'. After they are confirmed to have the aptitude or the natural ability to preform Magic, they are sent to train. Each mage is receives a very prestigious education in Mathematics, Science, Philosophy, Language, Mannerisms, Swordsmanship, and of course the Magical Arts. For years they are educated and only thought the most basic parlor tricks of magic, until they earn the right to practice actual Magic.

Their training only truly starts there. Depending on their personality, their Mentors will assign them to different squads of Magic. The beginner two forms are Healing and Destruction magic. As they grow and gain experience, they are assigned mock and realistic missions. Whether to protect a convoy of importance or help clear out a rabid Orc invested cave. During these dark times with the Empire, more than a Few of the Mages have gained gained legitimate combat experience against other humans.

There is two main types of Battle Mages that makes up more than 75% of the Coven's forces. The force are the Healing Mages, coined the Holy Knights, that highly experienced in the Magic art of healing. Transforming their Mana into a healing property that can heal from gashes to reforming limbs from the most experienced. Then their are Destruction Mages, or usually refereed to as War Mages. They have been thought the Dangerous Magical arts of Destruction spells. From Fire balls to Lightning fired from their Palms, they are usually made of the Older Men and Woman and ones who were already gifted for with a Magical Affinity. Both of these types of Mages are quite experienced with Weaponry as most of them have had years of training in Swordsmanship and other weaponry. Each are rated to be able to take on Ten Empire soldiers. The rest is made out of Logistical support, the Elite unit known as the 'Chosen', highly experienced commanding Lieutenants, and Generals.

With the Empire moving through the the West to conquer the lands, the Court of Wizards have received several letters of interest from the Empire. Most of them pleading to join their forces. Promises of recruits, land, and treasures. While it has been considered, many ties of Respect and Honor have been created in the West and it would mean nothing more than their complete loss of Honor to betray their Homelands. Without this Honor the Court of Wizards may as well be dead.

The Rank structure is as follows for the Coven

• Generals
• *War Master
• Lieutenants
  -Usually comprising of Master Mages who are in command of a Squad of Mages.
• Chosen
  -The most Elite of Mages. While the Ranking is similar to that of a Lieutenant, they usual hold no command.
• Master
  -Highly experienced Mages. Second most Common in the ranks.
• Adept
  -Modestly Experienced Mages. The most Common rank among Mages.
• Pup
  -Lowest Rank and Least Experienced Mage. The true Rank is known as Student, but have been unofficial coined 'Pup' due to their inexperience.

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The Chosen

The Chosen is Erebus's personal pick of the most Talented, Strongest, Experienced, and Professional Mages in all the Land. Only 9 of these Men and Woman have been brought to this Decisive battle. While few in Numbers, their strength is only matched by the strongest warriors and mages. Each of these Knights is worth 35 men in blade on blade combat, not counting their magic ability. Moving swiftly, yet patiently through the Battle Field right beside their Warmaster Erebus. They can preform smaller scaled versions of Destruction and Holy magic, while also having a unique Epic Spell.

Equipment:

Most of the chosen bring their own Weapons to bear. Whether it is Sword, Shield, Mace, flail, Claymore or Lance. They each are plated in heavy armor that is infused with magical protective Runes. providing strong physical damage protection and light Magic protection.

Spells:

Defense ward: A very common spell used along all the Mages. This creates a weak protective spell that blocks incoming Range attacks in front and above the Mage.

Flame Thrower: A short range attack used to cast a shower of flame through the Mage's Hand.

Healing Touch: Short range healing spell that requires the Mage to touch the wound to allow the rapid healing to take effect.

Epic Spell - Brother in arms: Each one of the chosen can link together to share pain. A deadly wound that could drop one to his knees will be split among all that are linked, and feel more like a sharp pinch. If one of those linked is unconscious or dead , the pain will be more to bear for the remaining members of the Bond.

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Holy Knights

The Holy Knights are comprised of Healing Mages. They are mostly inexperienced in combat, are the younger and less educated of the Coven. They are heavily armored due to the presence in the Battlefield. Usually hidden behind allied infantry and casting their Healing effects from afar. 10 of these Holy Knights have been brought to the Battle. Even with their inexperience in actual combat, their training still has prepared them to be able to fight with the ferocity of Ten men.

Equipment:

All Holy knights are equipped with a Bastard Sword and Shield. Their covered head to toe in thick Plate armor to make up for their lack of combat experience. Maximized for Defense rather than attack.

Spells:

Healing Touch: Short range healing spell that requires the Mage to touch the wound to allow the rapid healing to take effect.

Aura of vitality: This spell is a long range spell that closes wounds, restore Stamina and Vitality. The. Sphere of light passes overhead in a straight line, anything under it will begin to be be healed quickly until it finally sits stationary at the intended location healing all nearby friendly forces. The spell continues to take effect until the Caster releases the spell.

Inner Rage: Short range area spell that unlocks a Rage that most thought wasn't possible around the Mage. The Rage increases the Savagery of those around the Holy Knight, allowing their bodies to push themselves further than ever before.

Holy Beam: A long ranged spell that is cased through the palms of the Holy knights. The targeted unit will begin to be healed rapidly, closing wounds and restoring blood, but does nothing more. The beam usually spread in a thin cone like pattern.

Epic Spell - God Beam: The whole squad can combine their Magic might to create a large Blue crystalline diamond that oversees the battlefield. The Diamond will begin to fire beams of light to heal several allied soldiers at once. Returning those healed to fighting conditions. The Diamond is not indestructible and is vulnerable to Siege equipment. The Spell is so costly that after several minutes of it being held, the Holy knights must uncast the spell and cannot use Magic for several hours.

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War Mage

Destruction mages, or known as War Mages, are brought as long range Siege units. They are comprised of the more experienced and naturally gifted Mages. They are quite mobile and strong in their own right, but are not armed to engage in the front lines. Rather staying far behind the front lines and engaging enemies from afar. Still they are quite skilled in close combat if needed. 10

of these War Mages have been deployed to the upcoming battle.

Equipment:

The War mages are each equipped with thin ceremonial Robes and Staves. The robes and staves are meant to enhance their Magical abilities and control their Destructive Magic more easily.

Spells:

Feather Weight A spell casted on themselves, the War Mages can move become as light as a feather, allowing to move quickly around the battlefield. Although the spell takes several minutes to end and the War mages cannot activate any other of their Magical Abilities. Their reaction time is also heavily hindered and can be extremely vulnerable to attacks. If the opponent can even keep up.

Meteorite: A long range attack that sends a cannon sized Ball of fire from the War Mages mouth to the enemy. Blowing up in a large explosion that causes terrible burn wounds to all that are inflicted by the mighty heat. The spell takes about a minute to prepare and continues to take long and longer to cast after each use.

Flame Thrower: A short range attack used to cast a shower of flame through the Mages Hand.

Defense ward: A very common spell used along all the Mages. This creates a weak protective spell that blocks incoming Range attacks in front and above the Mage. When this spell is used, the War Mages cannot activate another spell for several minutes.

Lightning Bound: A long range spell. The War Mages can enhance any Weapon of metal with electricity. The Enchantment allows the User's Weapon to more easily cut and pierce through Steel. The Mage fires a bolt of electricity that bounces of several target weapons. The effect only last about 5 seconds, and used more defensively.

Epic Spell - Corrosive Rain: The whole squad can combine their Magic might to create a rain cloud over the Battlefield. Most metal that is touched by the rain will begin to quickly rust and suffer sever corrosion. Making Blades break against armor and armor being as effective as paper. The Spell is so costly that after several minutes of it being held, the War Mages must uncast the spell and cannot use Magic for several hours.

[6slyboy6]

Gasto Canalis, Duke of Saqquar

Gastó Canalis, Grand Duke of Saqquar

Physical:
Gastó Canalis stands at 1.87 meters tall. He has a strong physique and body that conveys a lot of inner strenght. His muscles can be seen stretching the exquisite drapes of his dress, somewhat hiding his true strength: intelligence. He has a brownish skin like the other people from the deserts of Saqquar. He also has plain brown eyes like most other Southerners, and has a similarly dark hair color to match the whole picture. His facial features cannot betray his Saqquar blood, and he is the perfect image of a strong, healthy man from the south, curtesy of the Royal treatement.

Equipment:
A combination of lamellar and chainmail covers most of Canalis's body, with a large steel breastplate over his chest. Above these, he wars some garbs as per the traditions of Saqquar dictate. These offer little protection, and serve to differentiate the commander from the rest of the troops even in the middle of the battle. A damascus steel shortsword is the main close quarters armanent of the Duke, which has many ornamental gravings on it's blade. Along these offensive and defensive items, Calanis carries other utility items, including a compass, a high quality spy-glass and a Saqquar made Sextant to use for navigation.

Background:
Gastó Calanis was born and raised as the child of the Sultan of Saqquar to be his heir. From a young age he was interested in the Saqquar traditions and engineering, and he was able to learn a lot about these thanks to the many books avaible to him at the royal library. He was trained in the arts of sword combat and archery as per Saqquar traditions, but he was always more interested in the inventions. The Sultan would let him learn about these in his free time, if he continued his studies in the areas required of him. Calanis would go and learn from the best inventors of Saqquar and would go to visit the biggest foundries and workshops in the kingdom. He was also teached by great inventos and military philosophers from other nations, teaching him about the neighbouring cultures. By the time he was 23, he could set up an entire siege without the need of any engineers to give him plans.

He would defeat his father in mock battles using defensive tactics, and the smart use of ranged attacks from archers and catapults. The Sultan always cherished over this fact, and was happy tosee his son further the Saqquar inevntions, as well as live up to his expectations. But as the Slyver Empire approached the Maw, the need to mobilize a defensive force became more and more important in the kingdom, and the Sultan tasked his best generals to make battle plans for the defense of the Maw, and to recruit troops in case the Empire broke through. After weeks of planning, the grand battle plan was born, which drafted up a war of attrition with the forces of the Slyver Empire in the unforgiving desert of Saqquar that formed it's natural barrier. Calanis however, who was appointed as a Duke by this time, wanted to help the Allied forces prolong the invasion at the Maw. After consulting with the Sultan, he took a small portion of his Royal Guards and a few hundred of his special combat sappers to help the Allied forces by constructing and bringing Saqquar inventions to the Maw.

Faction: Saqquar Kingdom



The Southernmost kingdom to the west of the Maw, the people of Saqquar established a thriving economical and technological powerhouse, following a rapid shift of ideology in the last century. In a hundred years they have elevated from nomadic tribes roaming the desert to a massive kingdom with many riches. They control many ports on the southern coastline of the continent, and are protected by untreadable deserts on the fringes of the empire. During this last century, the once famous Saqquar cavalry was demoted to nothing more than parade sensations, and the rise if heavy infantry and archers supported by siege equipment became their main streght. There are many technological wonders in the kingdom that cannot be found elsewhere, and the pursue of knowledge is supported by both the rulers of the kingdom and the faith of the Saqquar people.

The people living here are hardy men and women used to living in the schorching desert heat. They treat outsiders like their own, and this is the philosophy that enabled them to become excellent traders and merchants. They are also vigilant, and most of their people value the Kingdom above their own lives, making them fierce warriors in battle. Faith is an important aspect in the life of those living in Saqquar, as their twin dragon gods watch their every action. The god of night, aggression and death, and his sister, the god of day, knowledge and life. They make up the turbulence of the real world, a grey mess of both of their aspects. Neither of them is considered stronger by the people of Saqquar.

Command:
300 Combat Pioneers


Recruited from the ranks of the common Saqquar men, those with talent for engineering and carpentry are recruited by Duke Gastó Calanis into his Combat Pioneers. Many ordinary soldiers from the ranks of the Grand Army who proved their skills were also recruited. Thought the primary purpose of this detachement is to construct defenses, traps and siege equipment, they are also trained with bows and arrows and shorswords so they can help out once there is nothing more to build. However, they are primarily craftsmen, so they would rather stay back and operate the machines than to fight anyone.

Their equipment consists of padded leather armor and small wodden bucklers they wear on their sleeves. They often have no helmets, and wear simple turbans. These offer minimal protection, but they don't hinder the mobility of the wearer. For weapons they have a shortbow and a shorsword for both long range a close quarters engagements. They all carry a simple wrench/hammer that they use for construction and repair.

Most of these 300 men operate the machines they they bring or build, whilst the rest are usually tasked with building fortifications and traps.

100 Royal Saqquar Scaleguards


The Scaleguards serve as the protectors of Royal family, and their ranks are filled only by women between the ages of 20 to 35. They are all bonded to the Sultan by an oath, and they are expected upkeep this oath under any circumstances. They are morally unshakable and fiercely protect the Duke and the Sultan in battle, never wandering from their sides. They are trained in close combat and marksmanship with the bow. Above this, they are known to serve as assassins and spies, and as such, they excell at stealth.

Their equipment is the finest Saqquar can offer. They wear a thick gambeson that provides excellent protection. They wear many garbs over it, but they also wear an extra layer of scales above this to offer further protection. Their main armanent is their recurved shortbow that shoots barbed arrows, which they can use with unparalelled accuracy at short to medium ranges. They also wield a one handed sword that they can use in close quarters to fend off attackers.

War Machnies:
The Pioneers are tasked with the construction and operation of many machines that can turn the tide of a battle. They are focused on maintaining these machines, and every single one of them have their blueprints stored in their memories. Most are built using some pre-assembled parts, but the Pioneers can often create shoddy versions without those parts that can still function to some degree.

5 Salamander Mangonel


These mangonels are compact in size, but have much larger weights on them than usual. They can be quickly packed up, and their range is similar to that of a conventional mangonel thanks to their increased counterweight. Reloading is done by using two large cranks on the side of the machine to quickly raise the weight back up, so another shot can be loaded. The machine usually fires rocks weighting about 70 kilos that are hollowed out, and filled with oil and other flammable materials that are set ablaze when the projectile bursts. The range of these machines is about 400 meters, and 10 of these machines used in a rotaion can fire a shot every 3 seconds. Their firing anlges are quite steep, and they are best suited for battles on plains or even ground.

0 Drake Slingshots


A more mobile artillery piece that throws rocks at much higher angles than the Mangonels. They are used to provide support for allied troops at shorter distances, but can deliver varying payloads with quicker intervals. The standard projectile is the same 70 kilo flaming rock that the Mangonels fire, but these are often replaced by lighter rocks for better range, or even pots of combustible oil to cover the enemy troops. The average range is around 150 meters, and 10 of these guns could fire a shot almost every second.

10 Wyvern and Dragon Ballistas


The standard missile artillery system used by the Saquuar.

The smaller version is the Wyvern ballista, a lighter version of the smale desing, which can be easely reassembled and carried by troops. It fires light bolts over 500 meters that can easely kill several unarmored men at once. The reload time is considerably faster than the Dragon Ballista, and one bolt can be reloaded in roughly 8 seconds, and ready to be fired in 2. These are usually wooden, or steel tipped bolts, and they rely on pure penetrating power. However, what they lack in pure power, they make up in utility. They bolts are hollowed out inside, and act as a whislte in the air. When ten or more of these ballistas fire in unison, or in a cycle, the battlefield is filled with a shrieking that resembles the sound of dragons from the legends.

The Dragon ballista is the big brother of the Wyvern that is capable of launching heavy bolts over 1000 meters (//Legit data//), that could kill an elephant in a single hit, or tear down loose stone walls. They bolts receive a heavy barbed steel tipping that is very effective at piercing, whilst the size and weight of the projectile conveys a great amount of force upon impact. Thought the construct is quite big and strong, it is not as bulky as it seems. It has a relatively fast reload rate of 15 seconds, whilst the bolt is ready to fire in 5 seconds. Upon transport, 4 wheels can eb attached to the base of the machine, and can be pushed by infantry, or be pulled by horses. The projectiles include the basic heavy bolts, but are not limited to this, and many other variants are made. There are bolts similar to that of the Wyvern's whistling bolts, but these emit a much more oinous sound, and are often tipped in oil and set afire when launced. There is also a varint that uses 4 ropes that are tightly secured around the shaft, and then erupt after launch thanks to the tension, spinning around eratically and hitting multiple targets on impact (//think hobbit battle of the 5 armies//).

5 Two Headed Dragon Ballista


This interesting piece of missile artillery is a trademark of the Saqquar battles. Instead of firing a single bolt, this ballista fires two bolts at once, which can be configured in a variety of way. The bolts themselves are even heavier than those used in the Dragon ballista, and can be fired up to 700 meters. By default these bolts are tied together using a strong piece of cloth, that can extend up to 10 meters in width and 10 meters in leght. The bolts are fired at a slight angle to assure that the cloth opens up mid flight to it's full extent. This cloth is covered in flammable oil, which can be set on fire by other ballista shots or by flaming arrows. They can also be used individually, acting simply as a ballista that can independently fire and reload 2 bolts.

1 Dragon Spine Tower


These large wooden towers are used as mobile archer bases in battle, or as reinforced entry points during a siege. They can be as tall as 40 meters, greately extending the range of the Saqquar archers. They house 8 different levels connected via ladders, and each of them have openable wooden slits from which archers can fire from. These levels also house ballistas that are operated by the crew inside. The front side is covered by leather and metal plates, so the enemy cannot set the structure on fire easely. The insides are reinforced with steel beams so that enemy catapults cannot demolish the superstructure. Archers can fire up to 500 meters from the top of this tower. Naturally, the size of this monstrocity requires a rack and pinion system to move around, and is crewed by around 150 Pioneers that operate the ballistas and the movement system.

1 Lizard Tounge Flamespitter


Saqquar is a country rich in many natural resources, with many equatorial rainforests giving the nation acces to all the wood it needs. However, these sites of ancient nature can be often found faraway from the lush forests in different, preserved forms. Crude oil has been used by the Saqquar for decades now, in lanterns, foundries and siege warfare. One of the most fearsoe and complex weapons of the Saqquar is the Lizard Tounge Flamespitter that fires a volatile mix of burning liquids at the enemy, which cannot be extinguished by water alone. This machine can spit oil and resin combination at temperatures near or above 1300 Kelvin, up to 20 meters. The launch of the burning liquid is accompanied by a savage roar, caused by the discharge of pressurized air that is used to propell the liquid. Traditinally these machines are put inside the top levels of the Dragonspine towers, as they can prove to be excellent offensive measures against stubborn defenders on the walls.