Xarkly 12598 Popular Post Share Posted November 22, 2021 VE DRESIR BORSAZEN I VALTA KARL THE THIRD BROTHERHOOD OF SAINT KARL VA LENS EA DZIENMAR MEA BORSA, VA VE WICACZ EA DZIENMAR VE AKOV Spoiler From atop the Krepost Palace, the despair of Markev was laid bare before King Sigmar. Soldiers - survivors of the defeat at the Three Hills - lay sprawled on the streets leading to the Hospital, which for days had had no beds to spare, and from those wounded survivors came constant coughing. Peasants, expelled from their homes by the battle, harassed every passing burgher - most of whom had begun to employ armed guards - for alms and coin to feed themselves. Worst of all, the air in the city following the Battle of the Three Hills felt stale and wrong, like decay. “Not a pretty sight, ai?” came the drawl of the Lord Rhys var Ruthern, the King’s Marshal, as he joined Sigmar by the battlements, his grim face enwreathed in pipe smoke. “No,” Sigmar agreed gravely, “it is not. But we will endure, and next time we shall not lose.” “Maybe,” the Marshal answered idly as he exhaled a stream of smoke. The smell of it was a welcome break from the air of wrongness that otherwise hung over Markev. The King cocked his head towards Lord Rhys. “Maybe? Have you turned defeatist on me, Lord Marshal?” “Craven, you mean?” Rhys scoffed, smoke curling out of his breath as he shook his head, and took to surveying the Red City below. “No. Our defeat at the Three Hills has opened my eyes, though. We need change, lord King.” “On that we are agreed,” Sigmar rumbled. He watched in distaste as in the square below a passing squadron of Vanir levymen glared at his own Royal Guard as if they were enemies. Tensions ran high. “I will call the Royal Duma, and it is there that I will have the Lords expand their levies, and have them equipped with more than spears and leather. With that, a higher grain tax -” “No,” Rhys cut him off softly. “No, my lord King, I think not. The change we need is not of levies and armies.” “Not of armies?” Sigmar guffawed, and were it not for the gleam in Lord Rhys’ eyes, he would have thought him mad. “Then what, Ruthern? Then what?” “Perhaps,” Rhys went on calmly as he watched the soldiers shout below, “It is not an army we need, but a Brotherhood.” - Creation of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl THE BROTHERHOOD DLUM OHN IV VE MIRRINE, ASERE FITSK DLUM VE HAUZNA I ZWY LUND _____________ In a world whose history is marked with bloody wars and calamities, a proud army has always been the cornerstone of the Kongzem of Haense. Whether in the Kongzem’s fledgling years under King Petyr of Karlsburg or in its vengeful might of the Scyfling Invasion beneath King Sigismund the Soldier, warriors have always stood at the heart of Haense. It is natural throughout the steeped history of the Kongzem that its army has taken many forms -- in the days of yore, the Lords of Haense would raise their own levies to ride at the King’s command to war before King Marius the Good formed the first centralized Haeseni Royal Army. Throughout the decades and Kings that followed, the Haense Royal Army became the Brotherhood of Saint Karl at the outbreak of the Vaeyl Wars, until it was reformed into the 2nd Brotherhood after the War of the Two Emperors. King Sigismund II reverted the armed forces into the Haense Royal Army, and so it remained throughout the reign of Josef I, until, under the patronage of King Heinrik II, Lord Ailred Ruthern - the Lionheart - rechristened it as the 3rd Brotherhood of Saint Karl in recognition of the soldiery’s bond as brothers and family. So it stands today that the army of the Kongzem of Haense is the 3rd Brotherhood of Saint Karl, and this book shall detail its structure and workings. THE OATH OF SERVICE STATRY GODAN, ASERE OMARV STYUARD I ZWY BIRODAL _____________ All men must have a code, and the warriors of the Brotherhood are no exception. In contrast with the dedication of the Knight’s Table to the Code of Chivalry in which they assume the burden of living for others, the Oath of the Brotherhood is a more fundamental tenet in which a soldier accepts the call to defend their home, the one place in the harsh world carved out as their own, and the Brothers and Sisters they share this task with. It is one of resilience and persistence, sworn upon formal induction into the Brotherhood proper before the icon of Saint Karl himself. To my left I see my fellow Brothers; to my right I see the same | Va lens ea dzien mea Borsa; va ve wicacz ea dzien ve akov For all in the world, we fight for the peace of this land | Dlum ohn iv ve miirine, asere fitsk dlum ve hauzna i zwy lund Through Godan, we are stewards of this realm | Statry Godan, asere omarv styuard i zwy birodal Through stewardship, we gained diligence and prudence | Dzeb styuardin, asere bazoir kasokar ag previtz Through diligence, we may conquer all without fault | Dzeb kasokar, asere monn conquna ohn ticzik fazna And should I falter in my duty, send me never to the Skies | Ag zwyc ea mzider iv mea caezkas, vsric eam niedy va ve Skiz If I should succeed, bestow unto me His blessings forevermore | Iz ea zwyc bocsaz, veann eam lapaes lenddya aestrimir For now I march into a valley through which there is no path | Dlum ij ea gromon halvin dzeb tieg tamort oe nie sech And the stones cascade behind me to seal my retreat | Ag ve stonz trehmse zater eam va dresc mea ornk Though in this valley, I find my Brothers | Est iv zwy gromon, ea occna mea Borsa Now I am named Guardian of my Homeland | Ij ea omar nim lauzta i mea harste Should I falter, my shield shall turn to ash | Zwyc Should ea mzider, duyvi szal skrehedren va azsh But I shall not falter | Denn ea szalmar ter mzider RANKS AND DUTIES DZEB STUARDIN, ASERE BAZOIR KASOKAR AG PREVITZ _____________ RANKS OF COMMAND Those chosen for their merit, experience, and skill, encumbered with the lives of the soldiers beneath them. THE CROWN The Brotherhood serves the Kongzem, and it is the Crown - the reigning King or Queen - that leads the Kongzem. The legitimacy of the Brotherhood, as do all other institutions, as sole army of the realm derives from the Crown, and so they are the highest authority - they are the Grand Hetman. For time immemorial, however, the Crown has delegated direct command of its army to the Marshal. THE MARSHAL Of greatest appointed military rank in the Kongzem is the Marshal (Naumariv: ve Kengzhetmenn), who the Crown entrusts with the greatest of responsibility to lead the Brotherhood in defence of the Kongzem and its honour. The Marshal, therefore, oversees the entirety of the Brotherhood. It is they who select the Officers, it is they who dictate strategy, it is they who ensure the Brotherhood functions like oiled clockwork, and it is they who carry the Iron Bulava as they lead the Brotherhood in battle. THE CAPTAIN Second only to the Marshal in appointed command is the Captain. As they serve at the pleasure of the Marshal, the Captain is their right-hand-soldier entrusted to assist the Marshal with their great burden as leader of the Brotherhood. It falls to the Captain to undertake tasks which the Marshal cannot attend to personally, oversee and train the younger Officers, and train and lead the Brotherhood in combat. LIEUTENANTS The Lieutenants are ranks of command who lead their own regiment - Banner - beneath the Marshal, and therefore their duty is to keep their Banner well-drilled and fit for purpose. Though this is their foremost focus, the Lieutenants assist the Captain and Marshal in maintaining order in the Brotherhood, organizing training, and counselling on strategy. SERGEANTS The most junior of commanding ranks are the Sergeants who train soldiers and variously assist the Lieutenants, Captain, and Marshal in organizing the Brotherhood. Often a Banner will host one or two Sergeants in service of the commanding Lieutenant, equipped to assume command themselves should the Lieutenant fall in battle. Sergeants are typically entrusted with small commands, such as patrols, training, and investigations. RANKS OF FOOT The backbone of the Brotherhood; the defenders of Haeseni people; the backbone of the Kongzem. ARMIGERS As senior veterans, Armigers do not hold command but are instead ranked in recognition of service and dedication to the Brotherhood, and is most often awarded to soldiers who do not seek a promotion to command. Despite being a rank of foot, the Armigers are relied heavily upon by command for strength and stability across the Brotherhood. ARMSMEN The rank of Armsmen is that of the tried and tested soldiers of the Brotherhood who have served beyond the basic term of Oathed. Armsmen form the common standard of the Brotherhood as juniors to Armigers, and serve in the Banners at the command of the Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captain, and Marshal. Armsmen are regarded as fully-trained soldiers, capable of handling most situations. OATHED The junior rank of the Brotherhood, consisting of those who have sworn their Oath of Service to become a true soldier of the Brotherhood. Despite having completed training, Oathed are soldiers who are largely untested in true battle and combat and thus continue to learn the way of a true soldier as they progress towards the rank of Armsman. INITIATE Those who come seeking to join the ranks of the Brotherhood are enlisted as Initiates, who are yet untrained and untested. Initiates are given no formal responsibilities, and instead are tasked with training until they triumph in their Oath Hunt to become an Oathed. CADET The corps of Cadets are for those too young to fight in true battle, but one day aspire to do so for the honour of Haense. Until that day comes when they are a man or woman grown, they may train in the Cadets beneath the tutelage of a Sergeant, or in some cases a higher rank, to begin to learn warfare and soldiery from a young age. SPECIAL RANKS Extra ranks that work in tandem with the existing rank for those with a particular skillset. QUARTERMASTER The soldier - usually of at least Armiger rank - responsible for maintaining sufficient stockpiles of food, weaponry, armour, and arrows to equip the Brotherhood whenever necessary. The Quartermaster also manages specialist equipment, such as siege engines. CHAPLAIN The warrior-priest of the Brotherhood and an ordained clergyman of the Church of the Canon who blesses the soldiers before battle and performs funeral rites, both for the vanquished foes of Haense and the fallen of the Brotherhood. BATTLE-BARD The Battle-Bard is a soldier who is also a musician or poet who is charged with commemorating the deeds and the fallen of the Brotherhood in song, verse, and art, so that they might never be forgotten. The Battle-Bard is usually the soldier to maintain the Black Banner. STANDARD-BEARER A rank of sacred honour usually given as a reward to a soldier for distinguished service. The Standard-Bearer, who can be of any main rank, carries the flag of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl into battle. QUACKS Quacks are medics trained specifically to carry out emergency surgery during combat, unlike their non-combative counterparts in the Hospital of Saint Amyas. While Quacks fight in battle alongside their Brothers, their duty becomes to tend to wounded soldiers in the backlines if casualties begin to mount. BANNERS OF THE BROTHERHOOD DZEB KASOKAR, ASERE MONN CONQUNA OHN TICZIK FAZNA _____________ Within an army as large as the Brotherhood, there naturally exists regiments and units. These regiments, which have changed over time with different iterations of the army, are today known as Banners, each of which is commanded by a Lieutenant. While all soldiers of the Brotherhood are unified as a single army whose driving purpose is the defense and growth of the Kongzem, soldiers will often join a Banner to develop their skills and knowledge of warfare. Each Banner of the Brotherhood exists with a specific purpose, and they are as follows. THE EBON BANNER Swift like the wind, and strong like the gale. _____ Beneath the black-wing standard of the Ebon Crow, the horsemen of the Ebon Banner ride. These riders are lightly-armoured lancers, and are by far the swiftest of any force within the Kongzem. In times of peace, the Ebon Banner patrols the roads and are the first responders to any threats reported on it, while in times of war they make an ideal scouting force that can quickly map enemy movements while using their speed to evade confrontation. In battle itself, the Ebon Banner works in tandem with the Ghost Banner to harass enemy forces, and in particular, break formations. THE STORM BANNER Lightning need never strike twice. _____ The Flame of Sigismund flies above the deadly shock-troopers of the Storm Banner. Heavily armoured and drilled to never flinch, the ruthless brothers-in-arms of the Storm Banner are the Kongzem’s foremost tactical unit deployed for offensive raiding. They act as the Brotherhood’s vanguard in battle, forming the unbending backbone of the Haeseni formation, while they otherwise operate as a small army to raid the enemy’s of the Kongzem. Typically, the Storm Banner hosts only the hardest of soldiers, for they strike first, and hardest. THE GHOST BANNER The dead fall where the dead walk. _____Acting as the scouts and rangers of the Brotherhood, the Ghost Banner confuses and harasses the enemy force by striking from behind or the side and creating openings for the rest of the Brotherhood to strike. Befitting their name, the Ghost Banner takes no heraldry in battle. CULTURES AND CEREMONIES AG ZWYC EA MZIDER IV MEA CAEZKAS, VSRIC EAM NIEDY VA VE SKIZ It is fitting that an order as old and storied as the Brotherhood hosts many ceremonies and traditions, both old and new. THE OATH HUNT An ancient tradition, the Oath hunt has a great symbolic meaning for the Brotherhood. It is after this hunt, that the Initiates who’ve completed their vigorous Initiation training can become fully oathed brothers and sisters. The point of the Oath hunt is not usually to kill a large beast or a monster, but to symbolize a bond of brotherhood between the initiates. THE BLACK BANNER The Black Banner of the Brotherhood is an enormous banner embroiled in a golden stitchwork. It is this Banner that holds the entirety of the Brotherhood’s history since its earliest encounters. Each time the men of St. Karl marches into battle, a mark is made to the banner, detailing the battle and its conclusion. The banner is usually seen over by the Brotherhood’s battle-bard, though be the position of Battle-bard ever vacant, this responsibility falls over to the Lord Marshal. RELEASING OF AN OATH After serving their time in the Brotherhood, one holds the right to come before the Lord Marshal and ask to be released from their Oath to retirement. Just as the brother or sister was oathed in front of the Statue of St. Karl, so are they released from their oath in front of the patron saint of the Brotherhood. IV JOVEO MAAN His Grace Ser Ailred var Ruthern the 'Prevailer', Duke of Vidaus, Margrave of Greyspine, Count of Metterden, Baron of Rostig, Lord of Druzstra, former Lord Marshal of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, Fifth Knight of the Table The Right Honourable Lord Johann Barclay, Count of Reinmar and Kretzen, Baron of Freising and Sigradz, Lord of Wilheburg and Freisburg, Lord Marshal of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl His Royal Majesty SIGISMUND III by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, and Toruv, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, Thurant, Venzia and Astfield, Lord of the Westfolk, Protector of the Highlanders, etcetera. 41 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmazingAzura 212 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Lord Sigmar Mondblume rested his right arm at ease whilst reading the missive, his face lightened at the new styles and formations of the Brotherhood. "Once ea put on zhat sexy uniform, ea vill be a lady magnet! Ea love Haense." His smile remained painted across his pale skin, and his barbonov eyes swayed across to the door of the room as he called, "Mamej! Ea vill look even MORE dobry now. And uh, zhe brotherhood is gonna be cooler ea guess. ((Very exited about these changes!)) 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdmiralLB 166 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Somewhere in Norland, an elf very familiar to certain members of the brotherhood (the cool ones), nods. "Well, good on you, kids." 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1_Language_1 1671 Share Posted November 22, 2021 "I'm going to miss the old uniforms." Abraham simply remarked, rubbing his head. "All that metal doesn't look very warm for a winter climate." 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandhi 2673 Share Posted November 22, 2021 August Barclay bobbed his head whilst reading through the missive. "Krusae Zwy Kongzem," He murmured proudly, stowing it away and seeking out his crossbow. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperium 3299 Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) Rhys var Ruthern smiles from the seven skies as the brotherhood he founded endures. Edited November 22, 2021 by Imperium 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostSHTR 1002 Share Posted November 22, 2021 58 minutes ago, Imperium said: Rhys var Ruthern smiles from the seven skies as the brotherhood he founded endures. Ser Bjolfr Nord pats his Mentor on the back in the seven skies and smile with him. For the Brotherhood has returned once more 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGuyMatt 7062 Share Posted November 22, 2021 Ernst Barclay smiles the Sun's Smile as he reads through his cousin's reforms, nodding his head in approval a few times "From Wilheim to Erwin to Manfred to Friedrich, and now to Johann Barclay! What a Barclay Bargain, he makes his ancestors proud" he remarks. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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