D&D 5E To The Strongest: A Mercenary Story

River Song · Sep 29, 2016

Theo pondered the situation from the command tent. "Hermias!" he calls out to the leader of his skirmishers. "Take your men out and do a sweep of the area, I want to make sure we have no enemy troops nearby and send in Nicco."

Shortly the armoured commander of the phalanx arrived at the tent. "Nicco, let the men to stand easy, but no over doing it. I don't trust the General and wouldn't put it past him to attack if we do not chose his contract."

Jago · Sep 29, 2016

Delphina pondered this for a moment, truly regarding the situation. It was not often that one of the Captains would ask for the honest assessment of such a neophyte Wolf, but she was aware that this Company truly did depend on every member to see them through. Perhaps they were a bit different than her last command after all.

" Were it my choice, I would honestly rather leave," she stated after a full minute of thought.

" We may have to search to find work elsewhere, but the Avernix job was easy pay for just protecting a few Dwarven borders. Now, with full-scale war brewing here, I am not sure we would make out the better no matter whom we joined. Serving Patroklos would hurt our reputation, the Avernix would leave us broke and broken, and even Pantea may have some design for us we cannot see yet."

She was wary, cautious in her reply, but Delphina spoke openly and honestly. She regarded her Captain with a soft look; trusting in his judgment but ultimately still concerned for the well-being of her fellows.

" The offer of Land is a mighty one for one of the Haere to make, and not done frequently. I'll take the silver of these humans in battle after battle: I'll slay their enemies, I'll guard their borders, but I do not relish the idea of one of them possibly holding us to some oath we don't quite remember swearing."

She wrinkled her blue nose, but ultimately shrugged.

" This is why you are a Captain, and I am merely one of your scouts: I'll let you and the other Alphas decide where to hunt, sir. Just point these fangs where you need."

Jago · Sep 29, 2016

River Song said:
Theo pondered the situation from the command tent. "Hermias!" he calls out to the leader of his skirmishers. "Take your men out and do a sweep of the area, I want to make sure we have no enemy troops nearby and send in Nicco."

Shortly the armoured commander of the phalanx arrived at the tent. "Nicco, let the men to stand easy, but no over doing it. I don't trust the General and wouldn't put it past him to attack if we do not chose his contract."

Hermias had saluted with his fist to his chest in short order, departing with haste and Nicco replacing him even faster than that. The human returned the same gesture, brimming with pride.

" Were he to do so, Captain, he'd be sorely disappointed: My men have bested his vaunted 'shieldwall' before, and I look forward to cracking this General myself."

Nicco was a tall man, a soldier that very few had ever seen without his thorax armor on. Some of the other troops wondered if he even had skin under the layers of thick linen and mail. For his part, Nicco was content to keep this air of martial mysticism about him. He had followed Theo for years now, and was not about to stop anytime soon. Though he turned to leave the tent and follow orders, he paused for a moment, turning back.

" I remember him, Sir," Nicco admitted, " Patroklos. On the blasted fields fifteen years ago. I had served under his command when Kadmos fell."

A flash of a scowl crossed his rugged features, quickly replaced by the same, iron discipline he was known for.

" We fled that day. He called us back when we could have saved him. Saved everything. He's a coward, sir, always was. Always will be. Only a coward is so cruel, for only a coward fears he'll be viewed as being so weak. I'll break his neck for that if ever I lay eyes upon him again."

A breath.

" But your soldiers shall be ready for your command, Captain. Ready and eager."

With nothing more, Nicco moved out of the tent, and those outside could already hear him barking orders to begin formation drills. Hermias for his part had already taken a group of nine others to do a circular sweep of their encampment's lands, acting under orders to merely scout, and not engage. It would take them at least a few hours to complete such a thorough sweep.

Thateous · Sep 29, 2016

"Ah yes" he said, "but one day you might find yourself in my boots. I wish leaving were an option but the wolves are no good to anyone with empty stomachs. There's no telling when the next job might come if we left." He looked up to skies for a moment and smiled. "Maybe it's the elf in me but I really don't like a man who would burn down a forest because he doesn't get his way."
Mercutio let's out a laugh. "Saying it out loud makes his actions sound like that of a child."

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Trogdor1992 · Sep 29, 2016

Artemis had remained quiet during the meeting, eerily so. Afterwards he retreated to his tent to ponder everything. He knew the Queen was the one they should fight for, but that extra money was indeed quite tempting. "Ahh, what to do?" he says to himself while he sits and thinks

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VLAD the Destroyer · Sep 30, 2016

"We should gather our things. Meet in the practice yard in the hour."

Feyson nods to his companions then turns and walks towards his tent. He walks into the ordered camp of his men. He nods to several of his men until he spots Silas his Lieutenant and commander of the Peltasts.

"Silas my friend, we have picked a new contract. We will be testing our might agains Patroklos." Feyson looks at the encampment. "Gather the men we have a scouting mission. There is a fort that we must take. We need to scout its defenses and surrounding lands. We are to meet in the practice hard in an hour."

He claps his friend on the shoulder and grins.

"Tell Marius to begin drilling the spearman. Not to hard but enough to keep them ready. If there is trouble have them look to Theo and support his Hoplites. If he has questions have him find me. Then locate Garret. He's probably gambling in he mess tent. Have him coordinate with the other captains to setup a patrol. Patroklos tried to hire us as well and he will not be happy when he finds we rejected him. He might take it personal and attempt to take vengeance. We don't want to be surprised."

He nods to his second.

"Now go I need to gather my things and you have orders to carry out. We head to the meeting in half hour."

Feyson walks into the shadows of his tent. He grabs his pack and weapons. He then draws on his powers granted by his patron Orcus. Shadows wrap up around him like armor. He then sits and begins to meditate.

Jago · Sep 30, 2016

Thateous said:
"Ah yes" he said, "but one day you might find yourself in my boots. I wish leaving were an option but the wolves are no good to anyone with empty stomachs. There's no telling when the next job might come if we left." He looked up to skies for a moment and smiled. "Maybe it's the elf in me but I really don't like a man who would burn down a forest because he doesn't get his way."
Mercutio let's out a laugh. "Saying it out loud makes his actions sound like that of a child."

" Many humans do sound like children to the Eternal," Delphina responded matter-of-factly, her snicker far more sharp and succinct.

" But come, we'd best ge-"

The horse suddenly stopped, and the Drow became rigid as well. Up ahead were two shapes riding up fast, a banner flying from a raised spear.

" Look; they carry the emblem of Pantea," Delphina pointed out, bringing her mount forward at a trot to reach what she assumed to be their escort.

" Hold!" the first rider called out, raising his fist so that the clenched fingers faced the Wolves. His horsehair helm was removed slowly, revealing a rather youthful-looking human beneath, barely having seen his twentieth winter. No facial hair took root upon his cheeks, though his features were as sharp as a fine, Dwarven blade. He regarded the celestial feline warily; for a moment, his hand rested on the hilt of his blade, but he thought better and removed it, gripping the reins of his horse instead. His knuckles turned white, though his voice did not waver.

" I am Captain Basileios. These are the lands of Pantea, rightful Queen of The East, Haere of Kadmos The Awesome. If you be friend, state why you ride here."

His voice betrayed some familiarity with the Elven tongue; his vowels were clipped, much as was spoken in the Republica. His companion did not speak, but continued to hold up the flag of Pantea's crest. Both were arrayed in the linen armor familiar to human warriors, though they carried no heavy shields as was typical. Instead, bows sat in large saddlebags just to their sides, a quiver of arrows behind them, and a sheathed blade for Basileios.

" I believe this is where you come in, Captain," Delphina whispered in Elvish to Mercutio, letting the Officer do the talking. ~

Jago · Sep 30, 2016

VLAD the Destroyer said:
"We should gather our things. Meet in the practice yard in the hour."

Feyson nods to his companions then turns and walks towards his tent. He walks into the ordered camp of his men. He nods to several of his men until he spots Silas his Lieutenant and commander of the Peltasts.

"Silas my friend, we have picked a new contract. We will be testing our might agains Patroklos." Feyson looks at the encampment. "Gather the men we have a scouting mission. There is a fort that we must take. We need to scout its defenses and surrounding lands. We are to meet in the practice hard in an hour."

He claps his friend on the shoulder and grins.

"Tell Marius to begin drilling the spearman. Not to hard but enough to keep them ready. If there is trouble have them look to Theo and support his Hoplites. If he has questions have him find me. Then locate Garret. He's probably gambling in he mess tent. Have him coordinate with the other captains to setup a patrol. Patroklos tried to hire us as well and he will not be happy when he finds we rejected him. He might take it personal and attempt to take vengeance. We don't want to be surprised."

He nods to his second.

"Now go I need to gather my things and you have orders to carry out. We head to the meeting in half hour."

Silas, for his part, was eager to hear the news. A new contract meant money, money meant food and more, and that kept the troops happy. Mercenaries were simple creatures, he had found in over five years of service: so long as they received their silver, they would march to the ends of the West and whatever lay beyond that.

" Marius'll be happy, sir. He's been mouthing off about besting Nicco for quite some time now," he chortled, " Having those two engage in their little, friendly rivalry oughta keep the troops sharp for when it comes time to taking this Fort."

For Feyson's part, Silas thought his instruction wise: Patroklos was not the type of General who took an insult laying down, and the Senior Skirmisher had no doubt in his mind that the man might have a bout of madness and send everything he had to crush the Wolves for such "insolence". In truth, Silas was rather nervous that they had turned down such an offer: Patroklos paid, and paid well. He was powerful in the East, and a right bastard on top of all of that. This wasn't the sort of enemy the Wolves needed, but Silas also knew that the Captains would lay down their lives for each and every one of them before they let a bad decision ruin the company.

" I'll make sure we're all sharp, Cap'n," Silas assured his long-time friend, the man who had sought him out to join The Iron Wolves in the first place.

" Even Garret, if such a thing were possible. It'd be like trying to make a mace that could chop a tree, but I'll find a way," he laughed, giving a salute and moving off to carry out his instructions.

Marius, for his part, had reacted exactly as Silas had predicted: ready and willing for battle to be joined, and the senior Lieutenant had to remind the man that Feyson's orders were strictly to be ready, not go rushing off to besiege this fort on their own. Garret took a little longer with convincing - He had been involved in trying to win back a small debt he had incurred with one of the Sagitarii, and, from the swearing Silas heard when he entered the tent, it seemed he had not been successful in outwitting the Elven maiden yet again. Bitter over the setback, Garret was all too happy to drop his dice game and prepare a patrol around their camp to join Lieutenant Hermias and his men in doing the same.

All around, the camp was becoming more lively as the news spread to every unit: A fort to be taken. Gold and glory to be won. A new patron, and a new war.

The Wolf began to growl, for it sensed the hunt was closing in.

Trogdor1992 · Sep 30, 2016

After 20 minutes or more of pondering the situation at hand Artemis grabbed his Black Iron Greatsword, his gift from the Dark Lord himself, and exits his tent in search of a sparring partner, since he always did his best thinking with his beloved blade swinging at an enemy.

Shayuri · Sep 30, 2016

When it was clear what the plan was, Aridha went to the edge of camp while the others went to knock heads with their soldiers. She gave a piercing whistle, loud and long. Then she waited.

A minute or two later, a great shaggy wolf, grey-furred and yellow-eyed came bursting from the treeline and skidded to a halt on the packed earth beside the halfling. He loomed over her, as large compared to her as a horse would be to a human. It snarled at her menacingly...seemingly big enough and fierce enough to snap her head off with one bite.

She reached up to grab the wolf's cheeks on either side of its jaws and give it a shake.

"Nuffa that," Aridha reproved the wolf. "If you haven't eaten yet it's yer own fault fer bein' slow. I'll getcha something later tonight."

The wolf leaned down, pushing its head down against Aridha's scalp and shaking it.

She laughed and with a practiced movement grabbed the stiffer, bristly hair of the wolf's hackles and pulled herself up onto its back...quickly finding a comfortable spot just behind its shoulders where her legs could tuck behind the wolf's forelegs.

"C'mon, ya lug. We're gonna be draggin' some weight this time."