Post by warwick on Jun 10, 2023 23:21:51 GMT
Dev-blog 8 - The Band of the Broken Sword
Hello everyone, this dev-blog is the faction spot-light for Helena, a small mining settlement with a long history on the western side of Elain Valley. A hamlet once lorded over by the minor nobility of the dey Thurmonts, recent developments before and during the Vaegir Invasion had weakened this old landowning family and made them easy prey for the Band of the Broken Sword, a mercenary company which now rules over the settlement and has reopened its mines after a long hiatus.
History
The band’s tale begins with Manfred de Courtenay, the third son of inconsequential nobles from Dhirim. As a third son, Manfred stood to inherit nothing and was neglected to the benefit of his brothers. The young aristocrat made a name for himself far from the noble quarters of Dhirim, amongst unorganized rabble and brutish brigands, where he had a mind and tongue sharp enough to make something of himself. His gang of pickpockets and robbers soon grew to extortion and racketeering, gaining notoriety in the process. The former urchins and common pickpockets did well under Manfred. After an argument with his father, however, Manfred found himself exiled from Dhirim - never to return again.
After many years traversing the lands of Calradia, and with a small but loyal band of followers, Manfred ultimately formed the Band of the Broken Sword. This new war-band travelled north along Swadia, recruiting several vagabonds and ne’er-do-wells, their number now two dozen strong. Eventually, King Yaroglek invaded Swadia, making it all the way to Dhirim.
Sensing a great opportunity to the war, the company was employed by one Count Monroe. Throughout the war the Band committed terrible acts of villainy, some of which weren’t sanctioned by the Count. The band lost many of its members during the conflict, about half of them. At the war’s end, and after their contract to Monroe ended, Manfred and his followers camped down in the Elain Valley, near the village of Helena, it was there that Manfred got into a dispute with the local lord, Rodrik Thurmont, and killed him after a short duel in plain view of the commonfolk. Given that the late lord Thurmont had not been kind to his subjects, many were not bothered by his death and accepted Manfred’s rule over the village, where the Band of the Broken Sword has been ever since.
Faction Relics & Economy
• The Great Axe of Sheikh Bilal Al-Rabah - A legendary figure in Sarranid Folklore, Sheik Bilal was said to have saved the Sultanate’s founder from certain death in the desert. Years later, the Sultan brought this religious mystic into his court and gifted the iron axe to him for saving his life all the years ago when he was a fugitive. Passed down generations of the Al-Rabah clan, it was passed to the young Ummar Al-Rabah, a Captain of the Sarranid Immortals unit. Manfred, the leader of the Band of the Broken Sword dueled the Captain on the dunes of Weyyah and after a long and exhausting fight, Manfred threw sand into the visor of Ummar, temporarily blinding him, he then plunged a dagger to the neck of his opponent, below his helmet, ending his life. Thus, Manfred claimed the axe as his by right of their duel. The Band which famously does not use swords, has great use to the axe in their disputes and missions, it is usually wielded by the Band Sergeant.
• Ring of St. Orlan - Saint Orlan was the infamous patriarch of an ancient Swadian house, known for his resilience in dealing with invading Jumnish raiders. Along with being a warrior, Orlan was known for his lavish lifestyle and love for gems. He had the ring crafted after a large Nordic warband was defeated by him and his men, made with Saragotan Sapphire, perhaps as an insult to his pagan enemies. The ring was looted off the body of one of St. Orlan's descendants, whom Manfred had killed, and ever since then he has been holding onto said ring for luck, especially when dealing with heathens.
Helena’s economic future is inextricably bound up in its relationship with the ore-rich caverns it has been set up to exploit. They therefore represent the other half of Elain’s iron supply, as well as enjoying easy access to the crystallised salt pools underneath the Manud River, a position they share with their rivals across the river - the Black Mining Company, based out of Fort Blackstone. As might therefore be expected, Helena hosts Elain Valley’s other two smithies, ensuring its participation in the iron trade’s as-yet undisrupted duopoly… something which its neighbours have every incentive to muscle into as best as they can. Helena’s access to food is primarily through the limited fish near the former bridge crossing, and they will have to make arrangements with their neighbours in Radim in order to obtain more consistent provisions. Helena also enjoys a relatively peaceful location within Elain; protected from Blackstone and Radim by rivers, and otherwise bordering only the pacifistic Nereans of Wayfarer’s Ford.
Hello everyone, this dev-blog is the faction spot-light for Helena, a small mining settlement with a long history on the western side of Elain Valley. A hamlet once lorded over by the minor nobility of the dey Thurmonts, recent developments before and during the Vaegir Invasion had weakened this old landowning family and made them easy prey for the Band of the Broken Sword, a mercenary company which now rules over the settlement and has reopened its mines after a long hiatus.
History
The band’s tale begins with Manfred de Courtenay, the third son of inconsequential nobles from Dhirim. As a third son, Manfred stood to inherit nothing and was neglected to the benefit of his brothers. The young aristocrat made a name for himself far from the noble quarters of Dhirim, amongst unorganized rabble and brutish brigands, where he had a mind and tongue sharp enough to make something of himself. His gang of pickpockets and robbers soon grew to extortion and racketeering, gaining notoriety in the process. The former urchins and common pickpockets did well under Manfred. After an argument with his father, however, Manfred found himself exiled from Dhirim - never to return again.
After many years traversing the lands of Calradia, and with a small but loyal band of followers, Manfred ultimately formed the Band of the Broken Sword. This new war-band travelled north along Swadia, recruiting several vagabonds and ne’er-do-wells, their number now two dozen strong. Eventually, King Yaroglek invaded Swadia, making it all the way to Dhirim.
Sensing a great opportunity to the war, the company was employed by one Count Monroe. Throughout the war the Band committed terrible acts of villainy, some of which weren’t sanctioned by the Count. The band lost many of its members during the conflict, about half of them. At the war’s end, and after their contract to Monroe ended, Manfred and his followers camped down in the Elain Valley, near the village of Helena, it was there that Manfred got into a dispute with the local lord, Rodrik Thurmont, and killed him after a short duel in plain view of the commonfolk. Given that the late lord Thurmont had not been kind to his subjects, many were not bothered by his death and accepted Manfred’s rule over the village, where the Band of the Broken Sword has been ever since.
Faction Relics & Economy
• The Great Axe of Sheikh Bilal Al-Rabah - A legendary figure in Sarranid Folklore, Sheik Bilal was said to have saved the Sultanate’s founder from certain death in the desert. Years later, the Sultan brought this religious mystic into his court and gifted the iron axe to him for saving his life all the years ago when he was a fugitive. Passed down generations of the Al-Rabah clan, it was passed to the young Ummar Al-Rabah, a Captain of the Sarranid Immortals unit. Manfred, the leader of the Band of the Broken Sword dueled the Captain on the dunes of Weyyah and after a long and exhausting fight, Manfred threw sand into the visor of Ummar, temporarily blinding him, he then plunged a dagger to the neck of his opponent, below his helmet, ending his life. Thus, Manfred claimed the axe as his by right of their duel. The Band which famously does not use swords, has great use to the axe in their disputes and missions, it is usually wielded by the Band Sergeant.
• Ring of St. Orlan - Saint Orlan was the infamous patriarch of an ancient Swadian house, known for his resilience in dealing with invading Jumnish raiders. Along with being a warrior, Orlan was known for his lavish lifestyle and love for gems. He had the ring crafted after a large Nordic warband was defeated by him and his men, made with Saragotan Sapphire, perhaps as an insult to his pagan enemies. The ring was looted off the body of one of St. Orlan's descendants, whom Manfred had killed, and ever since then he has been holding onto said ring for luck, especially when dealing with heathens.
Helena’s economic future is inextricably bound up in its relationship with the ore-rich caverns it has been set up to exploit. They therefore represent the other half of Elain’s iron supply, as well as enjoying easy access to the crystallised salt pools underneath the Manud River, a position they share with their rivals across the river - the Black Mining Company, based out of Fort Blackstone. As might therefore be expected, Helena hosts Elain Valley’s other two smithies, ensuring its participation in the iron trade’s as-yet undisrupted duopoly… something which its neighbours have every incentive to muscle into as best as they can. Helena’s access to food is primarily through the limited fish near the former bridge crossing, and they will have to make arrangements with their neighbours in Radim in order to obtain more consistent provisions. Helena also enjoys a relatively peaceful location within Elain; protected from Blackstone and Radim by rivers, and otherwise bordering only the pacifistic Nereans of Wayfarer’s Ford.
