» Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:08 am The Gray Blood Company
Mission Four: New Blood
Sign Up Thread
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We are still accepting new players; post in this thread if you are interested with a character sheet for approval.
"The Emperor's decision to fight his way out of the city rather than make a last stand was a bold one. No general dared advise him to abandon the capital, but Titus II was proven right in the end."
The Great War
By Justianus Quintius
The Story So Far:
The year is 174, of the Fourth Era. The Aldmeri Dominion, comprised of the former provinces of Valenwood, Elsweyr, and the Summerset Isles, has been at war with the fractured remnants of the Empire for three long years. The Thalmor, leaders of the Dominion, seem set on nothing less than the conquest of all of Tamriel. The main elven army, led by Lord Naarifen, has struck north from Elsweyr, and is now advancing on the Imperial City itself. The embodiment of ruthless ambition itself, Naarifen has ordered anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in the army's path to be taken captive, to prevent advance warning from reaching the emperor. Focused on his goal, so close at hand, the Thalmor general has left the prisoners lightly guarded. A fact he will come to deeply regret.
Two nights before the siege is fated to begin, the alarm goes up in one of Lord Naarifen's camps. The soldiers had set up for the night outside the remains of Fort Homestead, on the southern shore of the Rumare. The prisoners they had gathered along the way were forced into the crumbling ruins of the fort's yard, and at the blackest hour of the night they began their desperate plans for escape. The small but hardy crew managed to break free of their shackles and fight their way through the interior of the fort, killing almost two dozen Aldmeri soldiers in the process. After a bloody battle in the depths of the fort, the prisoners, led by a disgraced Bosmer commander, found a secret exit that led right onto the Rumare.
From there the prisoners made a reckless dash for freedom, skirmishing with several Thalmor patrols during their flight, and taking a few of their enemies captive. Many of their number were killed or wounded in the effort, but the prisoners had no time to grieve. After what felt like days running under the fading moonlight, the group stumbled across an Imperial patrol, just south of Weye. The captain of the patrol at first thought them Aldmeri spies, and was ready to give the order to attack when the prisoners managed to convince him of the truth. After that they were led, carefully watched but unharmed, to the first steps of the Imperial Bridge. Finally, bloodied and exhausted but alive, the prisoners had found their freedom.
The refugee's victory was short lived, however. As several of their number spread throughout the city, quietly recruiting more citizens to their numbers, the core of the group was confronted by an high ranking member of the Legion, the Tribune Vaultren. The legionnaire overheard the exhausted company's discussion about their Aldmeri prisoner, and before long they were taken to an Imperial interrogation chamber. In short order Faendal, self proclaimed leader of the refugees, was at Vaultren's throat, and as the guards swooped down on the prisoners it seemed they would be captured again. Just as the Legion was ready to put the whole group to the sword, however, a messenger came from the emperor himself, summoning the company to the White Gold palace.
After the still haggard group had assembled in the imperial antechamber they were shown into the throne room, where a dour emperor arbitrated between the Tribune Vaultren and Faendal. Just as the stoic Imperial seemed ready to pass the death sentence, however, he surprised all of them by agreeing to let the company enter into his service as mercenaries. Once the ex-prisoners had sworn their loyalty to the Empire they were dismissed, to be outfitted and rested for the upcoming battle. For every minute they waited, however, the Aldmeri armies marched closer, encircling the city, bringing doom on the tips of their swords.
Just as the company, and the empire itself, looked doomed, the legion marched. Emperor Titus II broke the siege before it had even begun, outflanking the Thalmor army and retreating to the north. Despite heavy losses- and the sacrifice of the city itself- the emperor would not be beaten. For their role in the battle, the emperor granted the survivors of the mercenary company their freedom, a deal the weary soldiers gladly accepted. All Titus asked was that the company obey Imperial law and help preserve order in Skyrim, as well as giving them a message to deliver to every loyal citizen they met: hope. Hope, and wait for news of victory. With that, the emperor rode off, taking what was left of his army to meet up with reinforcements from Skyrim.
Now the company finds itself suddenly alone, with only itself for protection. On the long trek north the surviving members have little to do but talk, and before long they are a company in truth, with nothing but opportunities for them in the vast wintry lands of Skyrim. With their new found freedom, however, comes many great dangers; they have already made enemies of the Thalmor, and rumors have already spread of Reachmen to the north. For now, however, they have only one goal in mind: warm beds in Falkreath.
"While the Eighth Legion fought a desperate (and doomed) rearguard action on the walls of the city, Titus II broke out of the city to the north with his main army, smashing through the surrounding the Aldmeri forces and linking up with reinforcements marching south from Skyrim under General Jonna."
The Great War
By Justianus Quintius
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The Scenario:
It is the sixteenth of Second Seed. After four long days of travel, the company has finally reached the walls of Falkreath. The sun has set, however, and the company has little left on their minds but a hot meal and real beds at the town's only inn. Peace, however, is hard to come by in Skyrim, as the motley band of soldiers is soon to find out.
Note from the Host:
The sign up for the fourth official section of the Gray Bloods series is now open! For those of you that have been with us from the beginning, you may choose to stick with your old character or make somebody new. Everyone looking to join for the first time, you have complete freedom in your character creation: the Company accepts anyone that will be useful in the coming struggle. If you have any doubts about a character idea, just ask me, and I'll let you know if it's okay. You can either send them to me or post them here when you're done, and I'll approve them as quickly as I can, so we can start the RP.
The RP itself will be the first of our mini-series adventures, decided entirely by you, the players, and acted out however we see fit. This thread will be used to discuss plot ideas, and while our general goal will be to establish ourselves as a company (and eventually conflict with the Reachmen) we can do whatever we'd like in the meantime. The plots should be character driven, which means active conversation and participation from everyone. If you have an idea, whether it's a barfight or going to clear out a local bandit nest, post it here! We can take the entire company, or just have two or three players go out and have their own adventure. Our current base is the Falkreath inn, so that's where we'll be meeting, but apart from that it's largely free form. Please though, run any ideas by me before you start off; most everything is game, but I'd like to at least know what it is you are doing.
A final note from the host: these RPs are going to be driven almost solely by you, the players. I have an overall plot in mind, and will be moving us along steadily, but for the most part the day to day action will be up to you. If you want to do something, do it! Unless it directly contradicts another player (or myself), you have near complete freedom. I do reserve the right as the host to stop or alter anything in the RP, however, so don't get too crazy, obey the RPing rules, and check with me before you do anything totally out there. Thank you, and happy RPing!
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