GUIDE THE HORDE — knights and mercenaries under vampiric rule

[teef]

THE HORDE.

INTRODUCTION:

The Horde is a group of Knights that have their roots as banished knights turned into mercenaries over the years. The group aligns itself as Chaotic-Neutral and is currently Peaceful, but is known for it's past of being War-bound and ranging from Lawful-Neutral to Chaotic-Evil. The Horde is currently led by the vampiric family of Rosencrantz, with a recently bloodstained event weighing heavily over the group. (You can find a more extensive history in the second post below!)

TERRITORY:

FORT CROM — A city situated at the foot of an ancient mountain range. The city sits below a gated estate, where the Knights of The Horde reside. The main populace of the city is held by non-knight or non-mercenary folks that rely on The Horde for local protection, given that they provide food for them. The housing situation of those who live here is done in a state of hierarchy, with the noble families closest to the Estate where The Horde live, spreading down to the merchant quarters and further out to the slums where the poorest live.

THE DESERTED CITY — When winter comes knocking, the denizens of Fort Crom move below ground to an old cavern system under the city that is warmed by volcanic vents and hosts mineral springs. The cavern city is usually built from tents and canvas, items that have been sourced over the years from other civilizations and from raids. The air is warm enough that true housing is not needed, nor would it survive the high humidity, where the tents are generally enough to protect the denizens' privacy and items. The heat from the vents does not penetrate through the top layers of the cavern nor through the aboveground city’s streets, leaving the aboveground city looking very abandoned when snow falls, hence the given name of ‘The Deserted City’. The Black Market is also found in this cavern and is accessible year-round to the locals, and to those who come to trade in risky deals.

THE ESTATE — A large swath of grounds, located on a large hill overlooking Form Crom. A sturdy stone wall of medieval make and design surrounds The Estate, accessible by three defensible gates to the South, East and West of the main buildings on the grounds. The Western and Eastern entryways are often closed off by portcullises and are patrolled by Knights during times of conflict, while the Southern entryway is used as the main thoroughfare into The Estate. The Southern entryway boasts 3 doorways, 1 large enough to move carriages or a riding force through, with two other smaller doors to the left and right for foot traffic after the gate has been closed at night. The Estate itself boasts living quarters for the Knights, those in training to become Knights, and the leading family of The Horde. The leading family lives in a large mansion, where the Knights of The Horde may also reside. The Apothecary is expected to reside within the mansion as well, given their own wing for the sick bay and for the injured. The Knights may live elsewhere on The Estate, or they may live within Fort Crom if they so choose.

THE MARKETPLACE — A place of trade found in the center of Fort Crom, where merchants and many who wish to sell or trade their wares and services gather together. Street ways lined with shops on either side lead up to a large square where stalls can be found in open air; where butchers and merchants hawk their wares, where you're likely to find pickpockets and skirmishes between all sorts of folk. The Marketplace is the center-most portion of the Fort, and holds inns and guild halls around its perimeter. This is where the Adventurer’s Guild holds its own hall and does its business. Jobs may be submitted to the Adventurer’s Guild, and those who accept these jobs will also receive a reward from The Horde or Guild.

THE GATED GARDENS — To the West of Fort Crom lies a garden surrounded by brick and iron. The grounds are kept relatively organized and clean, free from overgrowth. Within the Gardens there lies a dilapidated and crumbling church. Behind the church’s main building lies a pool of spring water contaminated by iron minerals, causing the water to appear red. The water is safe enough to drink in small amounts, if one is careless and drinks too much they are likely to experience iron poisoning. The church itself is site to the ascension of the Lord or Lady, where the celebration regarding their rise to rule is held. There the Lord or Lady is ‘crowned’ in a fur cloak with antlers around the neck of the cloak, and a small silver pin closing the cloak at the front of the neck. The church itself is decorated with antlers and the skulls of big cats, some of the decorations depicting epic battle scenes between elk and several big cats. The fallen church is seen as a sacred ceremonial place to the vampires of The Rosencrantz Family, the founding family and longstanding leading family of The Horde.

TRADITIONS:

KNIGHTING — The ceremony when a Knight is given their peerage, or accepted into The Horde's ranks, is called a “Knighting”. The prospective member is usually knighted by the Lord or Lady of the group, and the ceremony is held whenever it is deemed necessary. The knight is usually presented with a sword by the Lord or Lady, or may use/find one of their own.

TOURNAMENTS — The Horde holds tournaments every six months to a year, or sooner if needed. These tournaments are a time of celebration and excitement for the common folk as well as prospective Knights. The purpose of the tournaments are to seek out potential new Knights and to accept them into the Horde’s order. Here the challengers will come bearing a crest to know them by, be it something that bolsters their family’s roots, or something they created themselves.

MASQUERADE BALL — The Horde holds a Masquerade Ball usually once a year. The event is famous through the territories that The Horde has passed through and hold under their control. The event itself is a large social networking site, and The Lord or Lady at the time may extend invitations to the leaders of other allied groups, or potential allies. Nobles are expected to attend, and the lesser fortunate folks of the lands may attend if they can reach the location, with special individuals being specifically invited.

All attendees of the event are expected to wear masks and capes to help hide their identities.

The Horde hosts the Ball in one of the Grand Halls held within the Estate’s lands.

CHALLENGING DUELS — Also known as ‘tossing the gauntlet down’, The Horde accepts and encourages its Knights and multitude of ranks to Challenge or Duel with each other. The only requirements of the Challenge is that the Challenger and Challenged belong to the same or similar group of hierarchy (i.e.: Head Knight Challenging the Grand Marshal), secondly that there must be no death committed in the act of Dueling and thirdly the Duel must be fought on equal footing (i.e.: using swords with swords or brute force with brute force). The Challenges can be initiated by anyone in The Horde, but Duels must be overseen by an individual with a higher rank. When done between high ranks, or those who are wanting a higher rank, the Duels are called Promotional Duels. The winner takes the rank of the defeated and the defeated takes the former rank of the winner.

TITHES — The Horde functions as both an order of Knights as well as a band of mercenaries. If The Horde has raided and successfully overtaken an opposing group, they demand tithes in the form of food and folk in repayment for protecting the land from other groups that might wish to sweep in and cause greater chaos. Fort Crom itself used to be land that belonged to a group, one that The Horde swallowed into it’s ranks upon their arrival at the mountain range’s foothills. The denizens of Fort Crom pay tithes in the form of labor and crops grown over the year.

BANNERS — The Knights of The Horde are separated visibly by the colors they wear on their bodies. Any individual from The Horde or working with The Horde is given a banner or color to ‘ride’ under, usually a symbol of which force they belong to within The Horde. Purple belongs to those directly under the Lord or Lady of the time, usually their closest advisors or family members. Purple is also given to those with a skill in negotiating, and acts in the place of a title, or alongside one. Blue belongs to the healers and those charged with retrieving the injured and dead from the battlefield. Those bearing blue are to be protected by The Horde, and are deeply cherished and celebrated for their ability to heal and for their skill in looking after all they come across. Red is the majority population of The Knights, and is worn by both the offensive and defensive forces. Individual titles may be given to any who wear the Banners (which may be dies, fabric, bones, etc all in the color of their force), and will be recorded in the history books of The Horde.

HIERARCHY & TITLES:

The Lord/The Lady — The first in command and leader of The Horde, usually a descendant of the Rosencrantz bloodline. Most commonly a vampire. [1 - played by TEEF]
Grand Marshal — The second in command of The Horde and is responsible for most battle choices and declarations of conquest or war. A political figurehead who is trusted to deal with any problems that may arise. Generally arises from the Knight ranks. [1 - played by COSMIC]
Apothecary — Medically trained professional responsible for the health and wellbeing of the group, also seen as someone trained in magic. [1 - played by AXIOM]
Apothecary's Student — Herbalist novices training under the Apothecary in the field of medicine, surgery and magic. [2 - played by RPER & RPER]
Knight Captain (noble) — The individual responsible for the training and accommodation of the Knights under the Rosencrantz Family's name and those of The Horde. Known alternatively as the enforcers of justice in the group and take no shit from anyone. They are entrusted with The Horde's best interests. [1 - played by PROJECT K]
Master Adventurer (noble) — The individual responsible for ensuring those under The Horde's care are well-cared for and well-kept with supplies of food, arms and housing. They oversee the Marketplace and any merchants that enter or exit Fort Crom. [1 - played by RPER]
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Knights — The main fighting and subjugation force of The Horde. These are the folk most often called mercenaries as they are the more commonly seen facet of The Horde. [ infinite ]
Adventurers — Those responsible for hunting, gathering and protecting the homelands when the Knights are away on conquests. [ infinite ]
Students — Those taking lessons under Knights or Adventurers, including those students who are under the tutelage of the Master Adventurer and the Knight Captain. [ infinite ]
Common Folk — The usual peasants and working class of The Horde if they have not chosen a peerage as a Knight, were not chosen in the Tournaments, or are freed slaves and prisoners. Most jobs belonging to blacksmiths, farmers, and generic 'peasant' roles are given to these folk. [ infinite ]
Prisoners of War/Slaves — Prisoners of war and other criminals, often turned into slaves or used for feeding. They may attempt to earn their freedom by swearing their allegiance to The Horde and agreeing to be under supervised training for 6 months.[ infinite ]

THE RANKING MAKE-UP OF THE KNIGHTS

Grand Marshal - ( The Grand Marshal is the commander of the Knights and technically in rank above Knight Captain. The Grand Marshal of The Horde is regarded as the second in command under the Lord/Lady. )
Knight Captain - highest rank available under the Knight role.
Senior Knight - senior most Knights of The Horde.
Knight - the most common role for Knights.
Student/Apprentice Knight - the role for those studying to be Knights.
Squire - those who are too young to be properly considered apprentices but are interested in becoming a Knight.

THE TITLES + BANNER COLOURS:

Dragonslayer — for those who have shown the most valor and loyalty to the horde in battle or in conquest. given to knights and mercenaries who have achieved great feats in battle or partake in multiple battles and raids.
Pathfinder — this is to be given to members who have proven their skill in traversing unknown lands be it of their own or of an enemy group. given to spies and masters of the field. usually given to those of adventurer and merchant roles.
Shadowstalker — earned by those who go into enemy territory and take up roles within the enemy's group, secretly gathering information and worming their way into the good graces of the group they have joined.
Soothsayer — given to those who are skilled in medicine or in the gift of caring for life. any individual who has skill and has proven it will be rewarded this title.
Praetorian Guard — given to those who guard the Lord or Lady, the Grand Marshal, Apothecary, Knight Captain and the Master Adventurer. these individuals are tasked with guarding these figures of import with their lives
Knight Corps (fighting force, subjugation) — Red Banner
Adventurer's Guild (hunters, gatherers and assistants to the Apothecary or are the Apothecary and Student) — Blue Banner
Council of Whispers (those closest to the Lord or Lady of the time) — Purple Banner

ALLEGIANCES:

The Horde currently aligns with a Chaotic-Neutral mindset and is attempting to be Peaceful as control of the group changes paws.
ALLIES — N/A
NEUTRALS — Currently everyone
ENEMIES — N/A

A GROUP OF KNIGHTS, MERCENARIES AND VAMPIRES.

credit @/teef

[teef]

THE HORDE'S HISTORY.

The Horde found its' origins in a time long in the past, a time when nobility and knights were still common sights, back when royalty ruled over the masses. The kingdom of Erelath had been the original home of The Horde generations ago, back when the royal family of the Rosencrantz bloodline had been in power. It had been no secret at the time that the royal family had been vampiric and had once upon a time possessed a wealth of servants for sustenance and the usual needs of nobility. The citizens of Erelath had grown tired of the tyranny of the ruling King at the time, and many of the knights that served under the banner of the Rosencrantz family had been brought into collusion with the disillusioned citizens, nobles and descendants of the family.

Stormy was the night that the uprising began, with many whispered accounts speaking of an elk adorned in white fur spattered by blood leading the charge against the corrupt royal family. It was none other than the former Captain of the Knights, Sir Reynard who led the coup against the former vampiric overlords of the Rosencrantz family, though a turned vampire himself. That bloody night was forever written in the memories of the Knights of the Rosencrantz family as they were forced in the aftermath from their homeland. Their actions had been done to protect the innocent and the suffering from the cruelties imposed upon them by their former King and his brethren, but as vampires and servants of vampires themselves, the former band of Knights were treated with distrust and malicious actions. The citizens were not so quick to forget the weights placed upon them by their former vampiric overlords and had no love for the vampiric heroes of the coup, quick to drive them away where they could no longer be a threat to their lives.

Driven from their home and what they knew, the band of Knights grew tighter together under the pretense of fighting for justice, protecting the innocent and somehow making up for the sins of their past, for letting the King destroy his own kingdom, for tarnishing the trust of those who depended on the Knights to protect them. In the first few years of the band departing from their homeland, they had come across young survivors of the Rosencrantz lineage. Seeing a chance to correct the wrongs of their past at least in some part, Reynard took the young vampires under his wing and with the guidance of the Knights, they rose the young former royals under the temperance of lessons paid for in blood and through time, until they felt that they were fit to rule as their forefathers should have done. Continuing on through the ages, the band of Knights slowly lost the values they had began with, and had taken on the name of The Horde, led by the descendants of Reynard's line and that of the Rosencrantz family's descendants.

The Horde not only gained themselves the monikers of mercenaries and sell-swords, they had also earned the reputation of selling their morals for a bit of coin. This remained true of The Horde until times recent, where a young prince of the Rosencrantz lineage took power and decided that it was time for The Horde to set it's roots down once and for all after generations' worth of travel. He led The Horde north-west through the lands, subjugating and taking over settlements along their path. When the young prince, a chap named Lothen Rosencrantz finally stopped their advance, The Horde had come across the settlement of Fort Crom, the last in their journey to find a home. Many of the hopes and supplies of The Horde had finally begun to run out as they laid siege to the impenetrable Fort, spending years at war with the citizens within until finally, The Horde prevailed and assimilated the citizens within Fort Crom.

The strategic hold of Fort Crom quickly became the new home of The Horde, where the young Prince Lothen formed a court of nobles and took his first wife, Vayda Rosencrantz, the daughter of a noble from Fort Crom, to ascend to the rank of Lord, preferring to do away with the outdated and tarnished title of 'King'. Lord Lothen spent many of his younger years here, riding off into conquest when the time called, but never forgetting the mercenary roots of his people and often giving them free reign to take on jobs as they pleased. The Horde still swears to uphold a version of their original oath, swearing to uphold justice for the weak, to remove the corrupt, and most of all, to take payment for their sacrifices.

In his twilight years, Lord Lothen began to fall ill, succumbing to the illness of madness. It took him with the arrival of his youngest children, his dearly beloved Lady paying the ultimate price for the arrival of the young Ladies and Lords. The Horde has seen a bloody return to their former ways, many citizens expressing their displeasure with the way of their ruler and the Knights they should be proud to call their own. This leads us to the predicament of today, under the slowly growing reign of the former Lord's very own children, in a time of bloodlust, intrigue and charged political tensions.

THE ACCOUNT OF LOTHEN ROSENCRANTZ
FIRST LORD - MURDERED BY POISONING.
(Read with a grain of salt -- mentions of mental illness, cannibalism, mistreatment of children, and murder)

Spoiler:

From his youngest years, Lothen Rosencrantz had always been painfully aware of the expectations and responsibilities he carried on his shoulders. He had been born to a litter of four lynx cubs and had been born with the darkest fur and reddest eyes of the four newborns. His parents could care less about their children, often pitting them against one another in their early years until a clear hierarchy had been established; Lothen had come out on top with his older brother and sister coming just behind him in the familial hierarchy. At this time, his parents began to educate him in the ways of leadership, giving the young boy many hardships to solve his way through. By the time Lothen had reached maturity, he had already taken control of The Horde from his parents, the former leaders of the group having mysteriously gone missing during a food shortage. Nobody asked questions about it, nor did he ever give space for any. As a young man, Lothen had dreams of greatness and after growing up constantly on the move, he desired to settle down. It just so happened that his betrothed, a young woman of the name Vayda Sylver, was the daughter of a noble family that resided over Fort Crom. Making the decision by himself, Lothen directed the weary Knights of The Horde in the North-West direction, straight for Fort Crom. He planned to marry her and settle in the city, but his plans were soon foiled. It had come to his attention that a young new recruit had been sneaking in and out of the encampment The Horde set up, and that young recruit just so happened to be Vayda Sylver, making undercover visits to his older brother. An evil plan was hatched in the young Lothen's mind, a plan to rid himself of the remaining threats to his reign over The Horde, and to secure his betrothed.

An invitation was delivered to his older brother and sister, inviting them both along on a hunting exercusion nights before they were set to reach Fort Crom. Only Lothen returned the following morning, covered in blood and leaves with the horrible news that his sister and brother had conspired to remove him from the throne and that he had been forced to defend himself and drive his sister off while their brother was not so lucky. A search was carried out for the older prince's body, but there were no successful traces found, leaving Lothen to be haunted by the worries of where his brother had gone. There had certainly been suspicions that the prince had gotten rid of his siblings himself, but those who suggested such things were soon silenced or otherwise disappeared. A week later The Horde arrived at Fort Crom where Lothen broke the news to a grieving Lady Sylver who declared that he could not enter the city and marry her daughter until he had proven himself to her. Lothen took this as a chance to lay siege upon Fort Crom, to test it's defenses and to prove himself to Vayda's mother. It took years before Lothen was able to wear the Fort's inhabitants down alongside his own forces, the two finally meeting to discuss a surrender and the marriage between Lothen and Vayda. Not a month later was Vayda married to Lothen, bearing the Rosencrantz name as he took his place as Lord of The Horde. As age wore on the man, he fell victim to his paranoia and anxieties, the ghosts of his brother, his parents and his multiple victims coming to haunt him nightly. When his first litter of children were born, he was tortured by the sight of his brother in his eldest son, constantly reminded of the crime he had committed to ensure that Vayda would be his wife and his throne would be secure. He all but turned his back on his son, trying to ignore the fact that his son looked so much like his older brother, often harsh and rough with him until Vayda fell pregnant once more with his children. This time, three young cubs were brought into the world but at the cost of their mother's life. Vayda Rosencrantz succumbed to death on the very evening she brough her youngest children into the world, and was buried a week later. By the time of Vayda's demise, Lothen had lost a lot of his sanity and control, leading to the children being raised by nannies and kept out of his view until it was necessary. The last nine months of Lothen's life passed in this manner, avoiding his children for the insanity that had taken him, often sending the Knights out on missions, his own personal Knight being sent on long conquests that had no end, and brought the aging insane man no peace. His finals days were spent in weakness, poison that he had been fed over the last six months finally taking effect and putting a miserable end to the cruel reign he ran. His murder left his children and The Horde in a state of political tension and strife, his councilors that had become used to having their own ways of corruption and freedom were being pressured under the refusal of his children to listen to their accusations of murdering him.

A GROUP OF KNIGHTS, MERCENARIES AND VAMPIRES.

credit @/teef