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Terra the almighty
Lord Tim said:
To be honest I couldn't be arsed! I don't use it that much so I don't really mind
hera62inthebog
Preamble
This story is almost entirely based on my character's exploits in Calradia thus far. Her name started off as simply "Ireina", but became "Ireina Kipyari" - "Ireina of the Kipyar" - later on when I started reflecting on her background. She is a daughter of a nomadic steppe tribe that has been wiped off the Calradian map, their final extermination marking the start of her exploits as an adventurer.
Ireina Kipyari is a mercenary captain in service of the Khergit Khanate, leading a warband of mainly Khergits. For a short while she was a vassal of Sanjar Khan, holding the originally Swadian village of Nomar as her fief. But for reasons she never revealed she renounced her oath. Later on, Ireina returned to her earlier state as mercenary in Khergit service. Her former fief still enjoys her special attention and over time has grown fiercely devoted to her.
"Kipyar" is a contraction of "Kipczak" and "Magyar". The first part refers to a Turkic steppe people - known in later periods as the Tatars - whose vast territory on the Eurasian steppe ranged from west of the Black Sea to east of the Caspian Sea. The Kipczak were conquered by the Mongols in the 13th century and became the most important group in the khanate known as the Golden Horde. The second part refers to another semi-nomadic steppe-dwelling people. The Magyars originally lived in what is now Russia east of the Volga but later on came to populate what is now the Republic of Hungary. Present-day Hungarians still call themselves "Magyar".
I apologise to those who find my tale "sluggish" or even boring. It's definitely no action-packed story since its intention is to detail a character's history and background. And I've tried to make that background as satisfactory for myself as possible; including some sidetracks that (at least for me) solved some questions I ran into while exploring Ireina's situation.
Now, on to Ireina's tale…
This story is almost entirely based on my character's exploits in Calradia thus far. Her name started off as simply "Ireina", but became "Ireina Kipyari" - "Ireina of the Kipyar" - later on when I started reflecting on her background. She is a daughter of a nomadic steppe tribe that has been wiped off the Calradian map, their final extermination marking the start of her exploits as an adventurer.
Ireina Kipyari is a mercenary captain in service of the Khergit Khanate, leading a warband of mainly Khergits. For a short while she was a vassal of Sanjar Khan, holding the originally Swadian village of Nomar as her fief. But for reasons she never revealed she renounced her oath. Later on, Ireina returned to her earlier state as mercenary in Khergit service. Her former fief still enjoys her special attention and over time has grown fiercely devoted to her.
"Kipyar" is a contraction of "Kipczak" and "Magyar". The first part refers to a Turkic steppe people - known in later periods as the Tatars - whose vast territory on the Eurasian steppe ranged from west of the Black Sea to east of the Caspian Sea. The Kipczak were conquered by the Mongols in the 13th century and became the most important group in the khanate known as the Golden Horde. The second part refers to another semi-nomadic steppe-dwelling people. The Magyars originally lived in what is now Russia east of the Volga but later on came to populate what is now the Republic of Hungary. Present-day Hungarians still call themselves "Magyar".
I apologise to those who find my tale "sluggish" or even boring. It's definitely no action-packed story since its intention is to detail a character's history and background. And I've tried to make that background as satisfactory for myself as possible; including some sidetracks that (at least for me) solved some questions I ran into while exploring Ireina's situation.
Now, on to Ireina's tale…
Hera in the bog
Recruit
1. The Lady of Nomar
Night had fallen over the village of Nomar after the bloody battle with the forest bandits who had harrassed the villagers for so many months. The worst of blood and gore had been cleaned from the clothing and skin of the tired but very satisfied villagers, and a bonfire had been lit in the centre of the village. Both men and women had gathered round it, the ale and wine flowed freely, and members of the newly-formed militia were boasting about their feats against the bandits whom they had fought off.
The Khergit soldiers of the warband who had been so instrumental in this success had eaten their fill in the feast that had followed their victory. Now they had withdrawn to their camp fires at the edge of the village, preferring their own company to the Swadian villagers. The three sword sisters Wudan, Bethir and Nakei had readily followed their example, along with Nizar and Deshavi, who were feeling a similar reluctance to mingle too much with the light-skinned and fair-haired peasants. The villagers themselves were probably secretly relieved about the Khergits' reticence. Even when they were overflowing with gratitude towards the steppe-born cavalrymen, it would be hard to forget that they would normally view their present benefactors with distrust or even fear.
Of the whole company only Ireina, Katrin and Jeremus had remained by the bonfire. Especially Katrin seemed to enjoy the revelry of her former compatriots, and Jeremus was as easy-going as always, at home in any company. Ireina was actually aching to withdraw into her Khergits' camp, but Meschin the village elder didn't give her the chance. Over and over her name was toasted. The mercenary captain felt more embarrassed with each toast. Had these people forgotten how she had abandoned them when she was still Sanjar Khan's vassal and their Lady, and how King Yaroglek had burnt the village to ashes while she was away fighting the Khan's war?
Finally, she got up. Her cuir bouilli armour, which she would only shed during the night - and then only when they were not on campaign - creaked as she walked towards the village elder.
"Meschin, it's enough. You do me too much honour."
Meschin looked up at her in astonishment. "My Lady…?"
"No, Meschin, not your Lady. I renounced my oath, remember? Besides, the Vaegirs took Kelradim Castle. Lord Vlan is your Lord now." Even when he doesn't really seem to care, the arrogant Vaegir bastard, she thought without voicing this.
"My Lady", Meschin said with deliberation, "we know that we're supposed to be King Yaroglek's subjects now. As once we were supposed to be Sanjar Khan's subjects. For us, peasants, it makes precious little difference." The village elder spoke now with a natural dignity. "In the short while when our lands were your fief, you have shown kindness to us and taken pains to improve our conditions. When your company was called to war, we knew you had to leave us unprotected. That's how it always goes." There was no resignation in his voice, as Ireina would have expected. Meschin simply stated the facts. "We weren't disappointed when you left us to go to war, but we were when we heard you had renounced your oath. If I may be so bold, my Lady, we never quite understood why you left the Khan. But the biggest surprise was that you came back, found cattle for us, found wheat for us, taught us to defend ourselves. We knew this wasn't your fief anymore, but you still cared for us as if it was. Even after the Vaegirs had taken the castle. If anyone is our Lady, you are."
The men and women round him murmured their assent. Ireina felt humbled - a rare experience for a hardened mercenary captain. Somehow she felt she owed them an explanation. With a resigned sigh she sat down next to the village elder.
"I won't make it look prettier than it is, Meschin. I started off as a lawless adventurer. I burnt and looted villages in my time." She made a slight bow towards her faithful leech, who was comfortably seated among her listeners, a large tankard of ale within reach. "Jeremus was the first one to protest this. And I decided he had a point, so I stopped doing that." Ireina accepted the tin goblet of local wine one of the women handed her. "But when I offered my vassal oath to the Khan, things changed. Sanjar gave this village to me as my fief. Probably because his other vassals would not be amused if he'd given me a richer fief in the Khergit lands instead of a nearly starving hamlet in conquered territory. No offence meant, Meschin. But that's how it must have looked in the Khan's eyes." She drank deeply from the tart wine, suddenly feeling thirsty. "So all of a sudden the care of your village fell upon me, and I wasn't prepared at all for how deeply it touched me. I was born in the country myself, Meschin. Not even in a village, but in a nomad camp. In a way, you and your people are my peers. So I felt I had an obligation towards you, and started fulfilling it the best I could. But then the Khan's next campaign came, and he called me, and as his sworn woman I was obliged to go." Her face darkened at the memory. "And then the message came that King Yaroglek had raided and looted your village. Ironically, I was fighting in Vaegir territory when it happened. Anyway - when I heard it, I was devastated. I felt I had failed you miserably. But the Khan had also failed you by calling me to service and thus leaving you defenceless. I was confused, and the best thing I could think of was to renounce my oath. But I felt that didn't release me from my responsibility. So when the Khan had relieved me from my vassal obligations, and I really had no clear picture where I would go now, the best thing I could think of was to return here and at least repay some of the debt I owe you. I will never be able to repay it in full, but I can do it at least partly."
The villagers had fallen silent as Ireina told them her story. Ireina, feeling even more embarrassed by their respectful attention, shrugged.
"That's the story, Meschin. No reasons for gratitude - I'm just repaying my debt."
"But you did swear allegiance to the Khan again", the village elder said thoughtfully. It was again a simple statement of facts, but Ireina felt it as a question.
"Later on, yes. He had asked me to become his vassal again a short while after I left him, but I had refused. It didn't exactly make things easier between us. But when I finally felt ready to face Sanjar Khan again - it took a few months - I went to Tulga. The Khan was rather harsh to me. He made it very clear that at that point my chance of regaining vassalship had expired en he wouldn't ask me back into his service. But I guess he was mainly saving face, for there was a new campaign planned and he was in desperate need of good soldiers. Now Lord Tonju had just become marshall by then, and he was there, and he asked me to become a hired soldier again in the Khan's service. He did it in Sanjar's presence, and obviously Sanjar approved for he said nothing. Anyway, I consented. So I'm not the Khan's vassal anymore, but I did swear allegiance again."
She passed a hand through her always unruly black hair. "But Meschin, I hope you'll excuse me now. We're riding tomorrow, and I've some preparations to discuss with my officers."
Ireina greeted Meschin and his fellow villagers courteously and withdrew to the Khergits' camp fires.
Night had fallen over the village of Nomar after the bloody battle with the forest bandits who had harrassed the villagers for so many months. The worst of blood and gore had been cleaned from the clothing and skin of the tired but very satisfied villagers, and a bonfire had been lit in the centre of the village. Both men and women had gathered round it, the ale and wine flowed freely, and members of the newly-formed militia were boasting about their feats against the bandits whom they had fought off.
The Khergit soldiers of the warband who had been so instrumental in this success had eaten their fill in the feast that had followed their victory. Now they had withdrawn to their camp fires at the edge of the village, preferring their own company to the Swadian villagers. The three sword sisters Wudan, Bethir and Nakei had readily followed their example, along with Nizar and Deshavi, who were feeling a similar reluctance to mingle too much with the light-skinned and fair-haired peasants. The villagers themselves were probably secretly relieved about the Khergits' reticence. Even when they were overflowing with gratitude towards the steppe-born cavalrymen, it would be hard to forget that they would normally view their present benefactors with distrust or even fear.
Of the whole company only Ireina, Katrin and Jeremus had remained by the bonfire. Especially Katrin seemed to enjoy the revelry of her former compatriots, and Jeremus was as easy-going as always, at home in any company. Ireina was actually aching to withdraw into her Khergits' camp, but Meschin the village elder didn't give her the chance. Over and over her name was toasted. The mercenary captain felt more embarrassed with each toast. Had these people forgotten how she had abandoned them when she was still Sanjar Khan's vassal and their Lady, and how King Yaroglek had burnt the village to ashes while she was away fighting the Khan's war?
Finally, she got up. Her cuir bouilli armour, which she would only shed during the night - and then only when they were not on campaign - creaked as she walked towards the village elder.
"Meschin, it's enough. You do me too much honour."
Meschin looked up at her in astonishment. "My Lady…?"
"No, Meschin, not your Lady. I renounced my oath, remember? Besides, the Vaegirs took Kelradim Castle. Lord Vlan is your Lord now." Even when he doesn't really seem to care, the arrogant Vaegir bastard, she thought without voicing this.
"My Lady", Meschin said with deliberation, "we know that we're supposed to be King Yaroglek's subjects now. As once we were supposed to be Sanjar Khan's subjects. For us, peasants, it makes precious little difference." The village elder spoke now with a natural dignity. "In the short while when our lands were your fief, you have shown kindness to us and taken pains to improve our conditions. When your company was called to war, we knew you had to leave us unprotected. That's how it always goes." There was no resignation in his voice, as Ireina would have expected. Meschin simply stated the facts. "We weren't disappointed when you left us to go to war, but we were when we heard you had renounced your oath. If I may be so bold, my Lady, we never quite understood why you left the Khan. But the biggest surprise was that you came back, found cattle for us, found wheat for us, taught us to defend ourselves. We knew this wasn't your fief anymore, but you still cared for us as if it was. Even after the Vaegirs had taken the castle. If anyone is our Lady, you are."
The men and women round him murmured their assent. Ireina felt humbled - a rare experience for a hardened mercenary captain. Somehow she felt she owed them an explanation. With a resigned sigh she sat down next to the village elder.
"I won't make it look prettier than it is, Meschin. I started off as a lawless adventurer. I burnt and looted villages in my time." She made a slight bow towards her faithful leech, who was comfortably seated among her listeners, a large tankard of ale within reach. "Jeremus was the first one to protest this. And I decided he had a point, so I stopped doing that." Ireina accepted the tin goblet of local wine one of the women handed her. "But when I offered my vassal oath to the Khan, things changed. Sanjar gave this village to me as my fief. Probably because his other vassals would not be amused if he'd given me a richer fief in the Khergit lands instead of a nearly starving hamlet in conquered territory. No offence meant, Meschin. But that's how it must have looked in the Khan's eyes." She drank deeply from the tart wine, suddenly feeling thirsty. "So all of a sudden the care of your village fell upon me, and I wasn't prepared at all for how deeply it touched me. I was born in the country myself, Meschin. Not even in a village, but in a nomad camp. In a way, you and your people are my peers. So I felt I had an obligation towards you, and started fulfilling it the best I could. But then the Khan's next campaign came, and he called me, and as his sworn woman I was obliged to go." Her face darkened at the memory. "And then the message came that King Yaroglek had raided and looted your village. Ironically, I was fighting in Vaegir territory when it happened. Anyway - when I heard it, I was devastated. I felt I had failed you miserably. But the Khan had also failed you by calling me to service and thus leaving you defenceless. I was confused, and the best thing I could think of was to renounce my oath. But I felt that didn't release me from my responsibility. So when the Khan had relieved me from my vassal obligations, and I really had no clear picture where I would go now, the best thing I could think of was to return here and at least repay some of the debt I owe you. I will never be able to repay it in full, but I can do it at least partly."
The villagers had fallen silent as Ireina told them her story. Ireina, feeling even more embarrassed by their respectful attention, shrugged.
"That's the story, Meschin. No reasons for gratitude - I'm just repaying my debt."
"But you did swear allegiance to the Khan again", the village elder said thoughtfully. It was again a simple statement of facts, but Ireina felt it as a question.
"Later on, yes. He had asked me to become his vassal again a short while after I left him, but I had refused. It didn't exactly make things easier between us. But when I finally felt ready to face Sanjar Khan again - it took a few months - I went to Tulga. The Khan was rather harsh to me. He made it very clear that at that point my chance of regaining vassalship had expired en he wouldn't ask me back into his service. But I guess he was mainly saving face, for there was a new campaign planned and he was in desperate need of good soldiers. Now Lord Tonju had just become marshall by then, and he was there, and he asked me to become a hired soldier again in the Khan's service. He did it in Sanjar's presence, and obviously Sanjar approved for he said nothing. Anyway, I consented. So I'm not the Khan's vassal anymore, but I did swear allegiance again."
She passed a hand through her always unruly black hair. "But Meschin, I hope you'll excuse me now. We're riding tomorrow, and I've some preparations to discuss with my officers."
Ireina greeted Meschin and his fellow villagers courteously and withdrew to the Khergits' camp fires.
Hera in the bog
Recruit
2. The forgotten people
On her way to the Khergit camp Ireina stopped by their horses and whistled for her own mount. The reddish dun champion hunter horse came readily and Ireina caressed him, glad with these rare few moments of peace. She exchanged a few kind words with the lancer who guarded the horses, and who had just been promoted from ordinary horseman after the battle with the bandits. The lad was proud of his new position and Ireina made a mental note of the speed with which he had attained it - only four months after she had recruited him in Ada Kulun, the Khergit village that was home to most of her soldiers.
She approached the fire where Argei, the chief of her lancers, was sitting with several other soldiers and the three sword sisters. Ireina greeted them and sat down by the fire. Argei gave her a lazy smile.
"They finally let you go, eh, noyan?"
"It took some doing." Ireina gestured to one of the lancers to give her another goblet of wine, and the man readily complied.
"Are we leaving tomorrow?" Argei asked. "I'd say our bit is done here. I'm itching to bash some Vaegir or Nordic heads."
"We're leaving tomorrow", Ireina confirmed. "I made a promise to Lord Alagur to bring him some prisoners he needs for an exchange. Five Nord warriors. So we'll do some tracking and fighting in Nordic lands in days to come."
"I'm in for anything", Argei said. "As long as we don't have to storm another castle. I can't understand why Sanjar is so eager to lead good soldiers to the slaughter for just another heap of stones."
"I'll try to stay away from that", Ireina said grimly. "We lost almost a dozen of good men in the last three sieges. I prefer the open field. Let those Vaegir and Nord bastards keep their castles, for all I care."
At this point Katrin and Jeremus appeared, apparently having had enough of the villagers' gratitude by now. Katrin took out her large two-handed sword and started sharpening it, while Jeremus fetched both of them another tankard of ale. He sat down next to Ireina, obviously with something on his mind.
"Captain", he started, "I never knew you were born in a nomad camp."
Ireina frowned. "I never told you?"
Jeremus shook his head. "I know you were born near Halmar, but I didn't know you were a nomad." He looked at her shrewdly. "You're not Khergit in any case."
"That's right", Ireina said somewhat curtly.
"So, no Khergit, but still a nomad?" Jeremus insisted.
"That's right", Ireina said again. But she already knew it wouldn't do. Jeremus was incurably curious, and he wouldn't settle for this meager answer. Again, she gave a resigned sigh. If this was the evening for the stories of her life, so be it.
"I'm Kipyar", she said.
Jeremus frowned. "Kipyar?"
"Aye."
"Forgive me captain, but I've never heard of the Kipyar."
"You wouldn't have. We're a forgotten people."
Ireina took a deep breath. "We lived on the steppe of Calradia when there was still an Emperor. Before the Khergits came." She exchanged a wry look with Argei. "It wasn't the Khergits who wiped us out. They came, but there was land enough on the steppe. We had never been many, our ways of life were practically the same as the Khergits'. We didn't welcome them but tolerated their presence. Not that we had much choice for their numbers were greater than ours, and they were much stronger. But they didn't threaten us. It was the Swadians and the Rhodoks who felt threatened. Now the Rhodoks knew us well and they left our camps alone. We had some claim of kinship with them, and our warriors sometimes served as mercenary cavalry in their armies." She took a long swallow from her wine. "But the Swadians were at war with the Rhodoks at the time, they saw that the Rhodoks left our camps alone, they saw the Khergits did the same, so they thought we were in league with both. They started hunting us down, for we were easier prey than the Khergits or the Rhodoks - we were fewer, our defences were weaker, we couldn't take refuge over the southern mountains as the Khergits could. This all happened in my grandparents' days."
Ireina hardly noticed it, but the other conversations round the fires had fallen silent. Ninety pairs of ears were listening intently to her story.
"By the time I was born only two of our clans were left. My clan's camp moved from Halmar to Narra and from there into Rhodoks territory. We made our living by hunting in the mountains. Poaching, really, for in the Rhodoks' laws the forests belong to the King. But then one day, when I was out hunting, two Swadian war parties fell upon our camp and razed it. They didn't leave a single soul alive. I came back later and all I could do was bury my clansfolk."
She stared into the flames, the horror of those memories in her eyes. "I rode east to find the camp of the other Kipyar clan, the last one. It would certainly have been wiser if we had joined the two camps, but our clans were always too fond of their independence - that was our great weakness. Now the other clan was encamped near Sungetche Castle, at the foot of the mountains. But it wasn't there anymore. The Swadians had made common cause with the Vaegirs, and the Vaegirs had raided the camp. I never knew what happened to the Kipyar of that camp until I ran into some old Kipyar women, all the way west in Veluca. It turned out the Vaegirs had allowed at least the children and the elderly to flee. They had even persuaded the Swadians to give them safe passage to Rhodoks territory. But the survivors were absorbed into the Kingdom of Rhodoks and they never returned to the steppe."
"So you're the last of your people, noyan?" Argei asked with something like awe in his voice.
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Ireina cast a sad look at her faithful lieutenant. "The Kipyar have disappeared from the face of the earth. I'm one of a people that doesn't exist."
On her way to the Khergit camp Ireina stopped by their horses and whistled for her own mount. The reddish dun champion hunter horse came readily and Ireina caressed him, glad with these rare few moments of peace. She exchanged a few kind words with the lancer who guarded the horses, and who had just been promoted from ordinary horseman after the battle with the bandits. The lad was proud of his new position and Ireina made a mental note of the speed with which he had attained it - only four months after she had recruited him in Ada Kulun, the Khergit village that was home to most of her soldiers.
She approached the fire where Argei, the chief of her lancers, was sitting with several other soldiers and the three sword sisters. Ireina greeted them and sat down by the fire. Argei gave her a lazy smile.
"They finally let you go, eh, noyan?"
"It took some doing." Ireina gestured to one of the lancers to give her another goblet of wine, and the man readily complied.
"Are we leaving tomorrow?" Argei asked. "I'd say our bit is done here. I'm itching to bash some Vaegir or Nordic heads."
"We're leaving tomorrow", Ireina confirmed. "I made a promise to Lord Alagur to bring him some prisoners he needs for an exchange. Five Nord warriors. So we'll do some tracking and fighting in Nordic lands in days to come."
"I'm in for anything", Argei said. "As long as we don't have to storm another castle. I can't understand why Sanjar is so eager to lead good soldiers to the slaughter for just another heap of stones."
"I'll try to stay away from that", Ireina said grimly. "We lost almost a dozen of good men in the last three sieges. I prefer the open field. Let those Vaegir and Nord bastards keep their castles, for all I care."
At this point Katrin and Jeremus appeared, apparently having had enough of the villagers' gratitude by now. Katrin took out her large two-handed sword and started sharpening it, while Jeremus fetched both of them another tankard of ale. He sat down next to Ireina, obviously with something on his mind.
"Captain", he started, "I never knew you were born in a nomad camp."
Ireina frowned. "I never told you?"
Jeremus shook his head. "I know you were born near Halmar, but I didn't know you were a nomad." He looked at her shrewdly. "You're not Khergit in any case."
"That's right", Ireina said somewhat curtly.
"So, no Khergit, but still a nomad?" Jeremus insisted.
"That's right", Ireina said again. But she already knew it wouldn't do. Jeremus was incurably curious, and he wouldn't settle for this meager answer. Again, she gave a resigned sigh. If this was the evening for the stories of her life, so be it.
"I'm Kipyar", she said.
Jeremus frowned. "Kipyar?"
"Aye."
"Forgive me captain, but I've never heard of the Kipyar."
"You wouldn't have. We're a forgotten people."
Ireina took a deep breath. "We lived on the steppe of Calradia when there was still an Emperor. Before the Khergits came." She exchanged a wry look with Argei. "It wasn't the Khergits who wiped us out. They came, but there was land enough on the steppe. We had never been many, our ways of life were practically the same as the Khergits'. We didn't welcome them but tolerated their presence. Not that we had much choice for their numbers were greater than ours, and they were much stronger. But they didn't threaten us. It was the Swadians and the Rhodoks who felt threatened. Now the Rhodoks knew us well and they left our camps alone. We had some claim of kinship with them, and our warriors sometimes served as mercenary cavalry in their armies." She took a long swallow from her wine. "But the Swadians were at war with the Rhodoks at the time, they saw that the Rhodoks left our camps alone, they saw the Khergits did the same, so they thought we were in league with both. They started hunting us down, for we were easier prey than the Khergits or the Rhodoks - we were fewer, our defences were weaker, we couldn't take refuge over the southern mountains as the Khergits could. This all happened in my grandparents' days."
Ireina hardly noticed it, but the other conversations round the fires had fallen silent. Ninety pairs of ears were listening intently to her story.
"By the time I was born only two of our clans were left. My clan's camp moved from Halmar to Narra and from there into Rhodoks territory. We made our living by hunting in the mountains. Poaching, really, for in the Rhodoks' laws the forests belong to the King. But then one day, when I was out hunting, two Swadian war parties fell upon our camp and razed it. They didn't leave a single soul alive. I came back later and all I could do was bury my clansfolk."
She stared into the flames, the horror of those memories in her eyes. "I rode east to find the camp of the other Kipyar clan, the last one. It would certainly have been wiser if we had joined the two camps, but our clans were always too fond of their independence - that was our great weakness. Now the other clan was encamped near Sungetche Castle, at the foot of the mountains. But it wasn't there anymore. The Swadians had made common cause with the Vaegirs, and the Vaegirs had raided the camp. I never knew what happened to the Kipyar of that camp until I ran into some old Kipyar women, all the way west in Veluca. It turned out the Vaegirs had allowed at least the children and the elderly to flee. They had even persuaded the Swadians to give them safe passage to Rhodoks territory. But the survivors were absorbed into the Kingdom of Rhodoks and they never returned to the steppe."
"So you're the last of your people, noyan?" Argei asked with something like awe in his voice.
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Ireina cast a sad look at her faithful lieutenant. "The Kipyar have disappeared from the face of the earth. I'm one of a people that doesn't exist."
SamuraiKid09
Recruit
well, im a fan of the nords, so i made your tipical viking lord 
you know, blond, a beard, strong, lots of axes, and lots 'o lady-friends
you know, blond, a beard, strong, lots of axes, and lots 'o lady-friends
Hera in the bog
Recruit
3. The making of a warrior
After Ireina's story there was silence. The merry-making in the village suddenly sounded overloud.
"That's a sad story, lass - captain, I mean", Katrin said at length. "But how on earth did you end up in Khergit service? I'd say it were more logical to enter Rhodoks service."
"Well, I considered it", Ireina said. "After all, that's what my people had done since generations. But somehow it didn't attract me. So at first I just wandered round, got captured by bandits a few times, and decided it was no good trying to survive on my own. I earnt some money by delivering letters for Rhodok and Khergit Lords, I delivered ale and wine for guild masters, I accosted caravans who were apparently impressed by my boldness, for they paid passage if I demanded it. I used the money to contract my first soldiers. Village lads from all over Calradia, just depending on where I happened to be. We fought with looters and bandits, and sometimes we even joined battles if the odds were heavily enough in our favour. But after a while, I started feeling homesick. I wanted to go back to the steppe. The steppe meant the Khergits, so I had to deal with them in some way or another. I already had some Khergits in my company, I stopped recruiting lads from other factions and I started trying to win the favour of the Khergit Lords. Most of them were inclined to be kind when they heard I was a steppe dweller like themselves - the fate of the Kipyar isn't forgotten among the Khergit nobility. I ran a number of errands for Ada Kulun, got to know its people better. It almost started to feel like home - such home as I had. So, at one point, I made a decision for myself that I would serve the Khergit Khanate and no other nation. I sent my soldiers from the other nations home, which was still about half of my company at the time, and I started recruiting exclusively Khergits. We did fairly well, most of my lads grew into lancers over time, or good horse archers. I started specialising as a lancer myself - that's really something that Argei taught me, for he was already with me when I sent the lads from the other factions home. I don't know, Katrin - was I already in the Khan's service when I met you?"
"Nope", Katrin said. "You did have only Khergits in your company by then, and you were very busy worming your way into the favour of the Khergit Lords -"
The soldiers round the campfire laughed at her teasing, and Ireina gave her veteran companion a fond smile.
"Well, then, at a certain moment the Khan offered me a mercenary contract", she resumed. "That was what I'd hoped for all the time, so I accepted."
Ireina drained her goblet and put it down with a thud.
"The rest", she said with some irony, "is history. And so is this day for me. I'm turning in, my friends. We're riding tomorrow."
"Valorous one", Nizar said, "I'm going to turn this story into a poem."
The Sarranid warrior-poet got up and raised his wine goblet to call for the whole company's attention.
"And I'll call it the ballad of Ireina of the Kipyar - Ireina Kipyari", he proclaimed. "It shall be sung at all the campfires of Calradia!."
"Do with it whatever you will, my friend", Ireina said with an indulgent smile. "But make sure you're armed and booted and on your horse tomorrow at dawn."
The next morning ninety soldiers were ready to ride, albeit somewhat pale and bleary-eyed from too much wine and too little sleep. Ireina was about to give the signal to start when a Khergit rider came to a halt in a flurry of dust. The device on his shield and armour identified him as a herald from Sanjar Khan.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, noyan", he said. "Sanjar Khan summons you to his new campaign."
"Where can I find the Khan, herald?" Ireina asked.
"He's about to retake Sungetche Castle from the Vaegir, so you'd best go there first. From there he plans to conquer Ismirala Castle and if possible Rindyar Castle as well."
The groan that went through the company was audible. Ireina, however, kept a straight face except for a quick, knowing glance towards Argei.
"You can tell the Khan", she said, "that Ireina Kipyari and her soldiers will be at his disposal within four days." She drew her sabre and thrust it into the air. "Long live Sanjar Khan."
After Ireina's story there was silence. The merry-making in the village suddenly sounded overloud.
"That's a sad story, lass - captain, I mean", Katrin said at length. "But how on earth did you end up in Khergit service? I'd say it were more logical to enter Rhodoks service."
"Well, I considered it", Ireina said. "After all, that's what my people had done since generations. But somehow it didn't attract me. So at first I just wandered round, got captured by bandits a few times, and decided it was no good trying to survive on my own. I earnt some money by delivering letters for Rhodok and Khergit Lords, I delivered ale and wine for guild masters, I accosted caravans who were apparently impressed by my boldness, for they paid passage if I demanded it. I used the money to contract my first soldiers. Village lads from all over Calradia, just depending on where I happened to be. We fought with looters and bandits, and sometimes we even joined battles if the odds were heavily enough in our favour. But after a while, I started feeling homesick. I wanted to go back to the steppe. The steppe meant the Khergits, so I had to deal with them in some way or another. I already had some Khergits in my company, I stopped recruiting lads from other factions and I started trying to win the favour of the Khergit Lords. Most of them were inclined to be kind when they heard I was a steppe dweller like themselves - the fate of the Kipyar isn't forgotten among the Khergit nobility. I ran a number of errands for Ada Kulun, got to know its people better. It almost started to feel like home - such home as I had. So, at one point, I made a decision for myself that I would serve the Khergit Khanate and no other nation. I sent my soldiers from the other nations home, which was still about half of my company at the time, and I started recruiting exclusively Khergits. We did fairly well, most of my lads grew into lancers over time, or good horse archers. I started specialising as a lancer myself - that's really something that Argei taught me, for he was already with me when I sent the lads from the other factions home. I don't know, Katrin - was I already in the Khan's service when I met you?"
"Nope", Katrin said. "You did have only Khergits in your company by then, and you were very busy worming your way into the favour of the Khergit Lords -"
The soldiers round the campfire laughed at her teasing, and Ireina gave her veteran companion a fond smile.
"Well, then, at a certain moment the Khan offered me a mercenary contract", she resumed. "That was what I'd hoped for all the time, so I accepted."
Ireina drained her goblet and put it down with a thud.
"The rest", she said with some irony, "is history. And so is this day for me. I'm turning in, my friends. We're riding tomorrow."
"Valorous one", Nizar said, "I'm going to turn this story into a poem."
The Sarranid warrior-poet got up and raised his wine goblet to call for the whole company's attention.
"And I'll call it the ballad of Ireina of the Kipyar - Ireina Kipyari", he proclaimed. "It shall be sung at all the campfires of Calradia!."
"Do with it whatever you will, my friend", Ireina said with an indulgent smile. "But make sure you're armed and booted and on your horse tomorrow at dawn."
The next morning ninety soldiers were ready to ride, albeit somewhat pale and bleary-eyed from too much wine and too little sleep. Ireina was about to give the signal to start when a Khergit rider came to a halt in a flurry of dust. The device on his shield and armour identified him as a herald from Sanjar Khan.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, noyan", he said. "Sanjar Khan summons you to his new campaign."
"Where can I find the Khan, herald?" Ireina asked.
"He's about to retake Sungetche Castle from the Vaegir, so you'd best go there first. From there he plans to conquer Ismirala Castle and if possible Rindyar Castle as well."
The groan that went through the company was audible. Ireina, however, kept a straight face except for a quick, knowing glance towards Argei.
"You can tell the Khan", she said, "that Ireina Kipyari and her soldiers will be at his disposal within four days." She drew her sabre and thrust it into the air. "Long live Sanjar Khan."
Hera in the bog
Recruit
I did consider it, since it's indeed long... 
But rest easy, my latest post was the final instalment.
Glad you liked it.
I might start a sequel at some point, for my character has since developed. She's been re-instated as Sanjar Khan's vassal, has three fiefs and is commanding 200 men now, was recently re-elected as marshal of the Khergit and just started a campaign to conquer the Kingdom of Rhodoks completely...
But rest easy, my latest post was the final instalment. Glad you liked it
.I might start a sequel at some point, for my character has since developed. She's been re-instated as Sanjar Khan's vassal, has three fiefs and is commanding 200 men now, was recently re-elected as marshal of the Khergit and just started a campaign to conquer the Kingdom of Rhodoks completely...
A Prince
As you can guess, my first and foremost character is based on Robin Hood- he's called William Marlow. He's the son of an impoverished noble who was a vassal of the King Graveth. He had a good education, and chose to become a page for the nobles. He learnt about the politics of the government, but was still very naive about it all- he believed the nobles should look after the people more then themselves- as his father did. Shortly after he finished his education in the government, he became an inherit to his father's land- Sarmish. After his father died beside him while fighting Khergit Khanare, Will suffers nightmares of the war and felt a sudden hatred for bloodshed. Will became obsessed with looking after the people of the village- building mills and schools and lowering taxes on the land. He found his father's bow and started to arch again (which he hadn't done since his father died- he had been given lessons from his father when he was a boy and his proficiency was about 80. When he tries again it goes up to 290- unrealistic but it's a game guys- calm down...). In a short time he becomes a dead-eye. When he is called to Jelka for a council with the King, he finds that Graveth intends to go to war with Swadia. Fearful of the fact this means the young boys of Sarmish will be put into the army, with the village on the front lines William objects.
Graveth knew that William was popular among many citizens and peasents, so decides to try to tame his views. He does this by trying to make Will read the proclomation of the hanging of a young boy Firentis-who lives in Sarmish and killed his own brother out of anger while he was drunk. Will had talked to Firentis before and had seen the redemption and good in the man and as Firentis is being hanged, Will attacks the guards beside him, and shoots the rope suspending Firentis. He shouted "This country is ill and dying- I am William Marlow-the son of Lord Marlow and Earl of Sarmish and I will heal this land from tyranny and injustice!" He made off with Firentis.
They arrive in the forests of the Rhodoks kingdom, where Will fashions the feathers on the arrows of his banner's colours-white and black. He rescued Lethwin Far-Seeker from a group of Forest Bandits led by Rolf, Baheshtur, Borcha with Ymira captured - a romance blosssoms... - and after knocking them unconscious and tying them up, William lectures and scolds them on how they are robbing innocents when there are people who have money that can be taken and should be given how they are to measily to their serfs, after which the forest bandits feel too ashamed, they join William to help redeem themselves. Will later finds Jeramus who joins up with the partty when he healing a injured Firentis after they raidied a caravan that was taking Jeramus to Veluca.
A few weeks later, Will finds some Forest Bandits trying to take over the village of Sarimish, where Will gains more followers and finds another boy, who's a skilled archer, called Marnid. After hearing how Marnid's family was killed by King Graveth's guards after they had witness him killing a deer in Gragveth's forests.
A month passes and Will finds three men on the run from Yalen-Artimenner, Lezalit and Alayen. William takes them into his camp and fends off the guards. HE finds outs that the three nobles were due to hanging- Artimenner was meant to build new equipment for the local lord, but it was faulty and killed a guard, as Artimenner was due to be taken to the dungeons, Alayen and Lezalit fought the guards after quarreling with them over how they should respect the nobles. While Will takes them in and promises not to harm them-as the rumours of him being a killer are wrong, they agree to stay with him for a short period of time. William decides to have Lethwin Far-Seeker leave for a while with Lezalit ,Artimenner and Alayen. He promises that will keep fighting for a free kingdom and will not rest until Graveth is in prison, or dead. Will makes a special tag that he gives to each of the members of his gang and wears one himself. They all make a p[ledge to free the kingdom of Rhodoks (and the rest of Calradia) from tyranny and oprression, and promise to give back to the poor from the rich and the selfish.
For an idea of what Will looks like:
Costumes-
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3288541815_4e17707e99.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/tea_couture/3288541815/&usg=__Qojeizq6Dnscs7wVg0vc7H7TTCc=&h=375&w=300&sz=53&hl=en&start=60&zoom=1&tbnid=GI3Lm3szthAfNM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=110&ei=N8VNTc_3EYOL4AbZquSnCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBBC%2BRobin%2BHood%2Bcostume%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1341%26bih%3D622%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=563&oei=KMVNTbzeJIW5hAfA--2pDg&esq=4&page=4&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:60&tx=43&ty=66
http://scifiandtvtalk.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/jonas-armstrong-talks-about-robin-hood/
Bow and Arrows-
http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/robin-hood/gallery/gallery-one/002/
The closest thing may be the War Bow, but I wish they did it in a different colour...and smaller
Sword-
Anyway, the sword is basically a Sabre
Face-
Basically the same face, but with a different hair colour-
http://forums.gameaxis.com/showthread.php?t=1489633&page=4 fire image you seee when you scrolle down
Anyway, that's William Marlow, all proficiences are at 390 atm and his "rebellion" is going very well with 800 for Honour and 50000 for Renown I think-I beat an army of 1359 people (war party) and I'm actually on good terms with all villages-yup they're all very supportive. I can't believe that I've spent so much time doing that-just a couple of hours a day-and I'm a teen so, it's all in my right to do so
Atm the costume is just a hood and hunter's jackets-but in my overactive imagination-he's wearing Jonas Armstrong's stuff Nomad boots OH YEAH the hair's when it's tied back-kinda like a pony tail or whatever it's called.
Ta and I've only just joined I may post next time about my second character- Prince Gaveth Tara
Graveth knew that William was popular among many citizens and peasents, so decides to try to tame his views. He does this by trying to make Will read the proclomation of the hanging of a young boy Firentis-who lives in Sarmish and killed his own brother out of anger while he was drunk. Will had talked to Firentis before and had seen the redemption and good in the man and as Firentis is being hanged, Will attacks the guards beside him, and shoots the rope suspending Firentis. He shouted "This country is ill and dying- I am William Marlow-the son of Lord Marlow and Earl of Sarmish and I will heal this land from tyranny and injustice!" He made off with Firentis.
They arrive in the forests of the Rhodoks kingdom, where Will fashions the feathers on the arrows of his banner's colours-white and black. He rescued Lethwin Far-Seeker from a group of Forest Bandits led by Rolf, Baheshtur, Borcha with Ymira captured - a romance blosssoms...
- and after knocking them unconscious and tying them up, William lectures and scolds them on how they are robbing innocents when there are people who have money that can be taken and should be given how they are to measily to their serfs, after which the forest bandits feel too ashamed, they join William to help redeem themselves. Will later finds Jeramus who joins up with the partty when he healing a injured Firentis after they raidied a caravan that was taking Jeramus to Veluca.A few weeks later, Will finds some Forest Bandits trying to take over the village of Sarimish, where Will gains more followers and finds another boy, who's a skilled archer, called Marnid. After hearing how Marnid's family was killed by King Graveth's guards after they had witness him killing a deer in Gragveth's forests.
A month passes and Will finds three men on the run from Yalen-Artimenner, Lezalit and Alayen. William takes them into his camp and fends off the guards. HE finds outs that the three nobles were due to hanging- Artimenner was meant to build new equipment for the local lord, but it was faulty and killed a guard, as Artimenner was due to be taken to the dungeons, Alayen and Lezalit fought the guards after quarreling with them over how they should respect the nobles. While Will takes them in and promises not to harm them-as the rumours of him being a killer are wrong, they agree to stay with him for a short period of time. William decides to have Lethwin Far-Seeker leave for a while with Lezalit ,Artimenner and Alayen. He promises that will keep fighting for a free kingdom and will not rest until Graveth is in prison, or dead. Will makes a special tag that he gives to each of the members of his gang and wears one himself. They all make a p[ledge to free the kingdom of Rhodoks (and the rest of Calradia) from tyranny and oprression, and promise to give back to the poor from the rich and the selfish.
For an idea of what Will looks like:
Costumes-
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3288541815_4e17707e99.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/tea_couture/3288541815/&usg=__Qojeizq6Dnscs7wVg0vc7H7TTCc=&h=375&w=300&sz=53&hl=en&start=60&zoom=1&tbnid=GI3Lm3szthAfNM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=110&ei=N8VNTc_3EYOL4AbZquSnCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBBC%2BRobin%2BHood%2Bcostume%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1341%26bih%3D622%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=563&oei=KMVNTbzeJIW5hAfA--2pDg&esq=4&page=4&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:60&tx=43&ty=66
http://scifiandtvtalk.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/jonas-armstrong-talks-about-robin-hood/
Bow and Arrows-
http://www.radiotimes.com/shows/robin-hood/gallery/gallery-one/002/
The closest thing may be the War Bow, but I wish they did it in a different colour...and smaller
Sword-
Anyway, the sword is basically a Sabre
Face-
Basically the same face, but with a different hair colour-
http://forums.gameaxis.com/showthread.php?t=1489633&page=4 fire image you seee when you scrolle down
Anyway, that's William Marlow, all proficiences are at 390 atm and his "rebellion" is going very well with 800 for Honour and 50000 for Renown I think-I beat an army of 1359 people (war party) and I'm actually on good terms with all villages-yup they're all very supportive. I can't believe that I've spent so much time doing that-just a couple of hours a day-and I'm a teen so, it's all in my right to do so
Atm the costume is just a hood and hunter's jackets-but in my overactive imagination-he's wearing Jonas Armstrong's stuff
Nomad boots OH YEAH the hair's when it's tied back-kinda like a pony tail or whatever it's called.Ta and I've only just joined
I may post next time about my second character- Prince Gaveth Tara 
Sirdangolot5
Recruit
My character is a Nordic son of a noble. He is mostly impoverished at the moment, as I've only been playing for about two minutes. However, his background is very serious and well-developed. Unfortunately, he has retrograde amnesia and can't remember any of it. He likes wearing cheap armor and using a wooden shield and rusty sword. It is the way of his people, who come from the land of South Dakota, to use items that sell for less than a looter when riding into battle. I mean, seriously, does anybody read these long-ass descriptions of characters? The game is single-player. There's no way you'll interact with any of these people. This information is useless; swaybacked saddle horse that his father gave him when he was just a child and it was just a pony. However, they are now both old and pretty useless, and the horse remembers more of their history together than he does.
His parents are both dead; they died at the hands of a grizzly bear that lent their family a large sum of money which they could not repay. He vowed to repay the death of his father with cold steel someday, but the bear met its own demise at the hands of father time, as it was in its mid twenties and bears don't live much longer than that anyhow. The bear died in a peaceful forest surrounded by loved ones, and left behind a considerable inheritance for his posterity, which included a wife and three cubs whom he had repeatedly tried to eat.
Also, in case you were wondering what he looked like, he looks like this:
His parents are both dead; they died at the hands of a grizzly bear that lent their family a large sum of money which they could not repay. He vowed to repay the death of his father with cold steel someday, but the bear met its own demise at the hands of father time, as it was in its mid twenties and bears don't live much longer than that anyhow. The bear died in a peaceful forest surrounded by loved ones, and left behind a considerable inheritance for his posterity, which included a wife and three cubs whom he had repeatedly tried to eat.
Also, in case you were wondering what he looked like, he looks like this:
Amman d Stazia
Master Knight
Yes (some of them may be fun/interesting).Sirdangolot5 said:
The last 3 posts are the proof.
Blood Guts
Recruit
I'd been playing as an unstoppable death machine and felt like a bit of a change. Now I'm playing as a weasly shrimp who can barely swing a staff and has chosen the career of professional slave trader. I modded the resale value of prisoners as well as allowing tavern keepers to buy slaves to represent the booming slave industry in the region. At 300 denars a pop, slaving is a reasonably lucrative trade but not ridiculous. Despite his physical shortcomings, he is particularly charismatic and has surrounded himself with well armoured heroes whom he has trained to become fearsome manhunters.
All my heroes are built up to a minimum of 15 STR and 12 AGI, focussing on power strike, iron flesh, athletics and riding. They carry heavy/balanced warhammers, ride spirited chargers/hunters and are a force to be reckoned with. Their winged helmets and bright yellow heraldic armour make for a sharp uniform, highly visible in frantic situations, and the sight of which brings fear to all but the larger of armies.
I rarely take on additional troops but if I manage to free some captured manhunters I'll add them to the ranks for their blunt weapon capabilities. I'll have to bulk up the army later when I feel it's time to liberate cities and castles.
I decided to improve the agility of my character just so riding wasn't such a struggle. He's quite adept at knocking foes out with an iron staff which can be used for couched damage as well as delivering painful pokes to the noggin if aimed correctly. The main focus for this guy is on developing his charisma in the interests of maxing out prisoner management as well as improving his skills of persuasion (modded to use CHA as base) in order to convince his less dedicated heroes to stick around. Keeping the party small and the action constant, morale seems to be pretty good most of the time. I also refrain from raiding villages and caravans to avoid offense.
All my heroes are built up to a minimum of 15 STR and 12 AGI, focussing on power strike, iron flesh, athletics and riding. They carry heavy/balanced warhammers, ride spirited chargers/hunters and are a force to be reckoned with. Their winged helmets and bright yellow heraldic armour make for a sharp uniform, highly visible in frantic situations, and the sight of which brings fear to all but the larger of armies.
I rarely take on additional troops but if I manage to free some captured manhunters I'll add them to the ranks for their blunt weapon capabilities. I'll have to bulk up the army later when I feel it's time to liberate cities and castles.
I decided to improve the agility of my character just so riding wasn't such a struggle. He's quite adept at knocking foes out with an iron staff which can be used for couched damage as well as delivering painful pokes to the noggin if aimed correctly. The main focus for this guy is on developing his charisma in the interests of maxing out prisoner management as well as improving his skills of persuasion (modded to use CHA as base) in order to convince his less dedicated heroes to stick around. Keeping the party small and the action constant, morale seems to be pretty good most of the time. I also refrain from raiding villages and caravans to avoid offense.
Grayson
Dizzang. When I first started playing this game, there was one quest: capture four pirates in the forest. That was it. The rest was a sand-box without any real focus, and I'm pretty sure that there were only two towns that actually had any buildings. Even back then I absolutely loved it. I just wandered around, buying and selling fish, and building as big an army as possible, until I eventually did something dumb, died, and had to start over. Eventually, the tiny town you started in had an arena.
Bought the original pretty much as soon as it was available, many years ago. Bought the official release, then couldn't authenticate it, because I was offline, when it finally came out. Tonight, I purchased the full thing, with expansions and.... dizzang. Progress was made. It is a hell of a lot more confusing looking than I remember, from back when I could raise an army that would either kill everything, or cause my computer to lag into crash-dome. And I don't seem to start in the right town, any more. Also, didn't the map used to be facing the other direction?
Gonna learn this. Grats on taking this, as far as it has gone. Haven't played in years, and am excited as all hell, to get back to it.
Bought the original pretty much as soon as it was available, many years ago. Bought the official release, then couldn't authenticate it, because I was offline, when it finally came out. Tonight, I purchased the full thing, with expansions and.... dizzang. Progress was made. It is a hell of a lot more confusing looking than I remember, from back when I could raise an army that would either kill everything, or cause my computer to lag into crash-dome. And I don't seem to start in the right town, any more. Also, didn't the map used to be facing the other direction?
Gonna learn this. Grats on taking this, as far as it has gone. Haven't played in years, and am excited as all hell, to get back to it.
Dirty Bastard
Banned
BORING! Let's talk about SWORDS!
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