06-20-2024, 01:37 AM
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. [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 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.
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.