Hedonism

A Vallberg son sat atop his steed in a steady downpour. He lowered his head in a solemn silence upon receiving the news. It had seemed so recent that the two entreated. “Rest easy, good man.” With a spur of his heels the horse reared, the rider maneuvering through the elven ruins.

AN ANCIENT CONTRACT RENEWED The pair of hardy warriors had presented themselves at the gates of Helena, the signs of a long and arduous trek ingrained deep within their worn features. Leading a pair of horses in between them they were escorted through the city - wild, ragged features a foreign sight to the city-folk. One shouldered an enormous axe which looked more apt for hewing logs than men whilst the other eyed the surroundings warily. Finally reaching the palace and ushered in by handmaidens and butlers, they tied up the beasts by the nearby pond to allow them a drink. An hour had passed, along with the heat of the sun, and the voyeurs had long since moved on to other tasks, replaced with new passer-bys. The pair emerged, shielding their eyes, accompanied by a handful more of soldiers, with one clasping a coin purse and a small decree within his right hand. Bidding farewell to the Prince who had dealt with them, they took to the road. Notes are disseminated across the divided lands of Men. “Following the return of the House Vallberg and the resumption of their ancient oaths, we call upon all have-been members of the Black Reiter Company to make themselves known. The Company has reformed for a final contract, undertaken in Renatian employ, to aid them in this war as we once aided Aurelius in his campaign. Likewise, as we were once a home for Savoyards amongst the port-town of Calais we open our doors again to this aligned folk. We swear to aid them in their fight against the bastards of Baldwin. We shall, as always, provide succour for all mercenaries and sell-swords who desire an honest living. This Hydra shall earn its coin once more, and the hooves of the Reiters shall thunder across the Leuven plains.”

Mercer Vallberg af Calais scribes a signature on behalf of the Barony of Vrakai.

Hoping to play a rat chef someday. +1

An adolescent is nudged along, dressed in ragged clothing , dirt caked upon his features. He looks upon the construction of Peremont, grimacing as his shoulder is shoved once more in some form of impatient guidance. His next stop: the court of the Serene Prince.

The gates of the Azghari encampment slowly rise, welcoming in the new riders.

The gates of the Azghari encampment slowly rise, welcoming in the new riders. Having accepted one Subudai of yore into their ranks, the Azghari await other famed rides to emerge to accompany them on the steppes.

The gates of the Azghari encampment slowly rise, welcoming in the new rider.

The gates of the Azghari encampment slowly rise, welcoming in the new rider.

The gates of the Azghari encampment slowly rise, welcoming in the new riders.

The gates of the Azghari encampment slowly rise, welcoming in the new riders.

The Azghari Warband “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hell followed with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” A band of brothers and sisters equal beneath the Eternal blue sky, this band of nomadic peoples are renowned for their passion and fervour - the most proficient horse riders to ever grace Vailor’s many meadows and pastures. Formed by Darius and Cyrus, sons of the great Sasan, the pair of warriors were without parallel; renowned for their hundred-strong harems. Although there exists no ranking for the warband, the strongest leaders are chosen by the entire warband to guide them - holding no position except that as a trusted figure. In this way any man can make his fortune and become great, provided he be worthy. They made their foes flee in horror because their swarthy aspect was fearful, with an intriguing distinguishment in their eyes is seen through the colours of brown, green and blue. Their hardihood is evident in their wild appearance, and they are beings who are cruel to their children on the very day they are born. For they cut the cheeks of the males with a sword, so that before they receive the nourishment of milk they must learn to endure wounds. Hence they grow old beardless and their young men are without comeliness, because a face furrowed by the sword spoils by its scars the natural beauty of a beard. They are short in stature, quick in bodily movement, alert horsemen, broad shouldered, ready in the use of bow and arrow, and have firm-set necks which are ever erect in pride. Though they live in the form of men, they have the cruelty of wild beasts. A travelling band, these nomads are oft on the move and rarely stay in the same place- their swords are sold to the highest bidder. Many kingdoms have competed to hire them, brutal warriors who are known for both their skill in the field and their fortitude when faced with great sieges. Their ranks know no difference between man or woman, any creature except the accursed Kha can serve amidst their ranks provided they can ride. The Azghari do not settle and farm, they are hunters and gatherers - fast moving horsemen that stay for only short times in a single place. Every member is expected to sustain themselves by their own tools, hunting game and slaying prey to feed them. Slavery is accepted by the Azghari, and a man is judged on how many slaves he has taken. For those who are taken in bondage, freedom can only be earned by hard coin or valour shown in the Warband’s service - freeing them to fight as any other rider. For the wealth that is gathered in battle, every man receives an equal portion - the Warband knows no boundaries to brotherhood. The faith of the Azghari is revolved around the deity of ‘Od Tengri’, the unknowable one who knows everything. He is the judge of good and bad, Tengri can bless a person richly, but can also utterly destroy those whom he deems unfit. His actions cannot be predicted. His ways, difficult to know. There exist many other spirits or 'aenguls' besides Tengri. These spirits are diverse. They can be good or bad or of mixed temperament. They can be gods residing in the upper heavenly world, wandering evil spirits from the underworld, spirits of the land, water, stars and planets or spirits of the ancestors. They can be in charge of certain tribes or of certain nations. Under Tengri these spirits all have some limited influence, but it is nearly impossible for normal people to contact them. Only the High Priest of Od Tengri can contact them. Unless Od Tengri contacts them himself. There is no 'one true religion'. Humanity has not reached full enlightenment. Nonetheless Tengri will not leave the guilty unpunished and the virtuous unrewarded. Those upright in spirit and righteous in thought are acceptable to Tengri, even if they followed different religions. Tengri has given different paths for man. Anyone interested in service would do well to inquire with Cyrus (LemonDropzz) or respond here: OOC: Username: Skype: IC: Name: Race: Age: