Shrikey
Sergeant
My first few weeks in Pendor- I play Shrike, the profiteering merchant-turned-outlaw, never deterred by those who believe women inferior, I am left beaten and broken by a lone bandit in Janos, I set myself a few challenges which I swiftly come to regret, and I make friends with the Noldor.
I arrive in Janos, and, leaving the sword I cannot lift in my saddlebag, venture into town. After hammering on the Tavern door only to find it locked, I spot a shady man hefting a club. I approach, arms raised, wondering if he'll be my friend. He breaks several ribs, fractures my jaw and empties my pockets. When I awake, I find I have been rescued by the Merchant of Janos. He quickly asks me, clearly the worst adventurer in Pendor, to rescue his (third?) wife. I see the dull glint of denars, consider the circumstances, and accept.
Having visited Pendor, as well as other, distant lands over the course of the past year, I decided to add some extra spice to my experience, to make it just that little bit more interesting, and, perhaps, to pioneer a new technique. I decided that firstly, I would not align myself with any of the major factions. I would be a lone wander, roaming the steppes and tundras, braving the perilous (and not so perilous) dangers that they had to offer. This would not be enough for me. I decided to not use a single soldier from any of the major factions. I reasoned that with the money I would have spent buying, and training pathetic peasants from villages, I could buy mercenaries from the taverns, or recruit rescued bandits and outlaws.
So I set out from Janos with six Maidens, like myself. I aimed to travel to Ethos, and try my luck at the market. I never got that far. I was distracted during the journey, and when I came to my senses I saw that my party of seven had been accosted by 12 bandits. We met them in battle. My Maiden's fought the enemy on the hill, while I rode in circles around them, cursing that I forgot to buy a sword that I could wield while I had been in Janos. Maidens fall less than heroically, three killed by bandits with bows before even reaching close quarters. The battle ended fairly soon after that, and I had to endure being dragged by those bandits for hours, before spotting my chance, and slipping away in the vicinity of Laria.
In the tavern there, I saw a group of bounty hunters, and strutted towards them. They held me in a stare full of contempt as I poured only fifty denars onto the table in front of them. I left soon after that. I waited in Laria for a time, weighing my options. considering every alternative. Whichever way I turned, I was always crippled by my lack of money. I fought in the arena for a time, but I was hardly a talented swordsman, and so was left with only enough denars to pay for bed and board in the Inn, and treat my fresh crop of bruises.
I set out from Laria a day after I had arrived, aiming for Avendor. I was barely out of the city gates, passing through the Empire siege lines that surrounded the city, when I spotted a second force. I always had good eyes, and at this distance I made out the distinct banners of the Noldor lord, Ithilrandir. The elves charged down into the encampment, scattering the lords and their armies this way and that, cornering Justus Dux between the city and the Noldor. As battle commenced, I joined the Noldor, curious as to whether the many rumours about them were true. It was said that their bows easily put a man in the dirt at 500 paces, and many believed that the Noldor Twilight Knight's could not bleed.
As the dust settled on the battlefield, I was certain of one thing. Those rumours were understatements, from what I had seen of the battle, and from the bodies that lay in the mud, in a field of Noldor shafts. It was as the Noldor picked through the fallen, that I spotted a particular Legionaire nearby, who was slowly dragging himself away from the battlefield. I approached, pushed him onto his back with my boot, and stared into the face of Justus Dux, my prisoner. I ransomed him swiftly, taking advantage of the war between the Empire and Sarleon to collect no less than five thousand denars from the emissary. I lacked for money no more, but having seen the might of the elves, I was hooked. I quickly reentered Laria, and made straight for the mercenaries. They recognised me, and mocked me, before I deposited 3000 denars in front of their leader. That was how seven Melitine Lancers joined my party.
I followed in the wake of the Noldor for many miles over the course of several days, joining their battles but keeping in reserve, sweeping down upon the unwary with my lancers. I bolstered my ranks with rescued outlaws, and bandits, became well known, and accepted amongst the Noldor, and collected a fortune in ransoms, both from common soldiers, and from illustrious lords. Now leading a party of 30 eager, if inexperienced outlaws, combined with the remnants of my lancers, bolstered with a troupe of foreign nobles who I met in Sarleon, I am optimistic for the battles- and profits- to come.
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There's my first AAR- hope it's okay. I might have made it slightly too ambiguous as to when I was speaking as myself, and when I was speaking as my character, but hopefully it makes some sense, and is an enjoyable read. If you have any questions, or suggestion, or wish to know the full set of rules that I have set myself, feel free to ask in the comments.
Have a good day everyone,
Shrikey
I arrive in Janos, and, leaving the sword I cannot lift in my saddlebag, venture into town. After hammering on the Tavern door only to find it locked, I spot a shady man hefting a club. I approach, arms raised, wondering if he'll be my friend. He breaks several ribs, fractures my jaw and empties my pockets. When I awake, I find I have been rescued by the Merchant of Janos. He quickly asks me, clearly the worst adventurer in Pendor, to rescue his (third?) wife. I see the dull glint of denars, consider the circumstances, and accept.
Having visited Pendor, as well as other, distant lands over the course of the past year, I decided to add some extra spice to my experience, to make it just that little bit more interesting, and, perhaps, to pioneer a new technique. I decided that firstly, I would not align myself with any of the major factions. I would be a lone wander, roaming the steppes and tundras, braving the perilous (and not so perilous) dangers that they had to offer. This would not be enough for me. I decided to not use a single soldier from any of the major factions. I reasoned that with the money I would have spent buying, and training pathetic peasants from villages, I could buy mercenaries from the taverns, or recruit rescued bandits and outlaws.
So I set out from Janos with six Maidens, like myself. I aimed to travel to Ethos, and try my luck at the market. I never got that far. I was distracted during the journey, and when I came to my senses I saw that my party of seven had been accosted by 12 bandits. We met them in battle. My Maiden's fought the enemy on the hill, while I rode in circles around them, cursing that I forgot to buy a sword that I could wield while I had been in Janos. Maidens fall less than heroically, three killed by bandits with bows before even reaching close quarters. The battle ended fairly soon after that, and I had to endure being dragged by those bandits for hours, before spotting my chance, and slipping away in the vicinity of Laria.
In the tavern there, I saw a group of bounty hunters, and strutted towards them. They held me in a stare full of contempt as I poured only fifty denars onto the table in front of them. I left soon after that. I waited in Laria for a time, weighing my options. considering every alternative. Whichever way I turned, I was always crippled by my lack of money. I fought in the arena for a time, but I was hardly a talented swordsman, and so was left with only enough denars to pay for bed and board in the Inn, and treat my fresh crop of bruises.
I set out from Laria a day after I had arrived, aiming for Avendor. I was barely out of the city gates, passing through the Empire siege lines that surrounded the city, when I spotted a second force. I always had good eyes, and at this distance I made out the distinct banners of the Noldor lord, Ithilrandir. The elves charged down into the encampment, scattering the lords and their armies this way and that, cornering Justus Dux between the city and the Noldor. As battle commenced, I joined the Noldor, curious as to whether the many rumours about them were true. It was said that their bows easily put a man in the dirt at 500 paces, and many believed that the Noldor Twilight Knight's could not bleed.
As the dust settled on the battlefield, I was certain of one thing. Those rumours were understatements, from what I had seen of the battle, and from the bodies that lay in the mud, in a field of Noldor shafts. It was as the Noldor picked through the fallen, that I spotted a particular Legionaire nearby, who was slowly dragging himself away from the battlefield. I approached, pushed him onto his back with my boot, and stared into the face of Justus Dux, my prisoner. I ransomed him swiftly, taking advantage of the war between the Empire and Sarleon to collect no less than five thousand denars from the emissary. I lacked for money no more, but having seen the might of the elves, I was hooked. I quickly reentered Laria, and made straight for the mercenaries. They recognised me, and mocked me, before I deposited 3000 denars in front of their leader. That was how seven Melitine Lancers joined my party.
I followed in the wake of the Noldor for many miles over the course of several days, joining their battles but keeping in reserve, sweeping down upon the unwary with my lancers. I bolstered my ranks with rescued outlaws, and bandits, became well known, and accepted amongst the Noldor, and collected a fortune in ransoms, both from common soldiers, and from illustrious lords. Now leading a party of 30 eager, if inexperienced outlaws, combined with the remnants of my lancers, bolstered with a troupe of foreign nobles who I met in Sarleon, I am optimistic for the battles- and profits- to come.
========================================================================================
There's my first AAR- hope it's okay. I might have made it slightly too ambiguous as to when I was speaking as myself, and when I was speaking as my character, but hopefully it makes some sense, and is an enjoyable read. If you have any questions, or suggestion, or wish to know the full set of rules that I have set myself, feel free to ask in the comments.
Have a good day everyone,
Shrikey
