Redguard

The Red Guard were the last of the free people to still resist the corruption of the dark_age. Shielded by powerful magic and armed with legendary weapons they did battle with the blighted forces of Gelin to save the few remaining free cities.

Creation

The Red Guard were fashioned by Mavros, one of the most powerful Necromancers during the Age of Legends, as a weapon to help the Magi close the gates of power and overthrown the dark lords. Each member of the guard was chosen for the strength of their spiritual energy. To this strength was bonded something that only Mavros knows for sure. The result was the ability of the soldier to call upon the raw magic of the world and shape it with their own spiritual energy.

After he had fashioned one-thousand guardsmen, Mavros rode at their head and came upon a battle between the magi and Dark Lords in the Jinni river valley. The Dark Lords rejoiced when Mavros arrived, for he had aided their cause in the past — when he rode down and swept through their ranks the Lords instead cursed him as they were reaped by guard. For the next ten years the Red Guard, as they were called because of their red armour, battled the Dark Lords whenever they took to the battlefield. During each battle the Red Guard was weakened, but those who survived seem to take on an almost fanatical devotion to Mavros.

Final Assault

Finally Mavros faced Bloodlord Rathlok, who led the most powerful dark army left in the world. For two years the two groups fought, died, advanced, and retreated across the world. Mountains shook in their roots with the power of the magical energies the two armies threw at each other. Finally it was the Red Guard that was forced to retreat. With their numbers reduced to less that two hundred effective guardsmen Mavros pulled the guard back to his tower. He took half of his guards within the walls, while the rest defended the outer gate.

What happened next nobody really knows for sure, but the famous red_tower exploded in a fireball that was seen from hundreds of miles away. While the earth itself was not torn asunder all living beings touched by the power of the gates within a hundred miles was instantly destroyed. When the smoke finally cleared the tower was gone. With the largest dark army now destroyed the magi were able to close the last gate and return the world to its rightful place.

Age of Heroes

In the year 1441 the Red Tower mysteriously appeared in the same physical location it left those ages ago. While nobody even remembered the Red Tower — or even legends about it, a few of the oldest texts did mention it and its powerful owner. The noble lords of the land who border the tower (Phoenix Force) went to investigate. As they breached the tower's outer walls and found the vault in the lowest chamber they awoke Mavros and his remaining guard.

Currently the Red Guard number almost 100 soliders, with at least one quarter of their number guarding their fortress in Western Dakar. This has caused a considerable amount of trouble in the Dakarian court as Mavros refuses to recognize the claim of the Dakarian throne upon his land. He has a treaty from the Elven Queen predating the Dakarian treaty giving him full rights to his land for as long as he lives — the fact that he was thought dead for hundreds of years did not nulify the treaty. Because he serves as a constant thorn in the side of the Dakarian noblity the elven court as fully recognized his claim to the land.

Membership

Currently the Red Guard number almost 100 soliders, with at least one quarter of their number guarding their fortress in Western Dakar. The remainder operate in small companies of 8-10 soliders with a commander and sub-commander. The commander holds the ruby sun amulet that allows them to communicate with the fortress. Mavros (High Commander)

Once known as one of the most power Necromancers during the Dark Ages, Mavros had a epiphany and joined with the Magi to defeat his one-time allies and close the gates forever. To assist he formed the Red Guard, giving those who rode under his banner great magical powers. It was Mavros' greatest spell that enabled the Red Guard to survive to the Age of Heroes so that their heroism would again have a chance to blaze with glory. Markail (Battle Commander)

He serves as the overall battle commander for the guard, looking after even the smallest detail. Well liked by the common soldiers, he masterfully knows when to push them and when to back off. This comardie stems from several incidents when he was a company commander and charged into several impossible situations to save one of his men. Although he now realizes that his position makes these stunts impossible, he still might do it if the battle lust in within him. When he does engage in battle, Markail is considerable skilled in the use of two small swords — blocking and striking with either hand in turn. Mavros gifted Markail with the battle foresight and the ability to call upon the spirits of some of the best field commanders of all time. Tamrin (Second in Command)

Tamrin's fighting skills would not hold their own against a very skilled warrior, but she is more than willing to fight on the defensive until her opponent makes a mistake and then strike. Although she has ridden under Mavros' banner longer than Markail she does not regret his decision to make Markail the Battle Commander. Like her fighting she feels that when Mavros finally decides to step down she will be named as the High Commander. Her patience and mastery of magic make her the perfect choice. This is further reinforced by Mavros teaching her many of the speciality spells to maintain the Red Guard's abilities. Jorg (Commander)

Even though the Red Guard counts many unusual members, Jorg makes many of them seem normal to many people. The product of a union between a ice giant and an ogre shamaness, Jorg stands over 18 feet tall. His great strength is unmatched by anyone beside a true giant. In fact, not even Mavros knows the true extent of his strength as the harder something resists him the stronger he becomes. Silver (Commander)

Silver is the smallest commander standing only 6 inches tall. Her bright silver hair and colorful butterfly wings mark her as a fae by most people, but they would be wrong. Only Silver knows where she was born, but Mavros knows that she is not a native of the Shadowrealms. Mavros was impressed by her charm and nature, so after she helped him escape from a very deadly trap he named her a full commander of the guard. She never actually leads any group of soldiers and has shown very little interest in learning about any form of combat, but her ability to do the seemingly impossible as made her a very popular commander. Prominent Guardsmen Daniel of Littlehaf (human male)

Daniel's family were herders with no history of great warriors or chief to draw upon. Instead, like many of the people they followed whichever current leader claimed their land and simply waited for them to die or be replaced. Given this it is nearly impossible to believe Daniel was anything less that a miracle for the Red Guard and a disappointment to his family. This is because Daniel happens to be an extremely skilled swordsman who has defeat ten men in a single combat without recieving a scratch in return.

Daniel serves Commander Tamrin, who has tried to give him command of any number of squads in vain. Each time he seems give the effort everything he has, but his lack of leadership and natural charisma doom it to failure. Likewise he doesn't make an exceptionally good soldier because he cares little for the life he has choosen to lead. Instead, Tamrin keeps him as her personal bodyguard rather than risk such a natural talent leaving the Guard. In this job, Daniel seems to have finally found some purpose for his gift. Peter Randelson (human male)

One of the few people to serve under Silver, Peter was happy as a wandering minstrel until he was waylaid by some rather heavy-handed bandits. They were just about to slice him open when one of the Red Guard swooped in and killed the lot. So impressed, and with little other options (since he wasn't a very skilled minstrel), Peter decided he was going to join this band of heroes. Now instead of singing about heroics he would be living them.

The major roadblock to this was that Peter knew only the basics of defending himself and was more than a bit unhinged about the idea of slicing someone open. Still, there is room in the Guard for one of skill and courage and under the leadership of Silver he found that niche. His skills he learned while performing on the road make him the perfect person to gather information ahead of the Guard. Working together with Silver the Guard has access to a great deal of information and rumors about their target. Ana Lightshield (elven female)

A skilled magician who studied not only under the Master Brandon the Bray, but has recently been pouring over the books provided by Mavros for her further understanding. While she has become a specialist in defensive wards and circles — she has begun learning the difficult skill of overcoming outer-realm creatures and banishing them to their own home realm. Because of the difficult nature of this study, Ana is only in the field when teh entire Guard is called out or any specific commander requests a skilled magician. Samual (orc male)

The fact that Samual is still alive is a testement to both his skill and the blessing of the gods that lay upon his head. A fierce beserker from the frozen wastes, Samual has caused entire commands to flee the field of battle rather than face his dance of death. Instead of a shield, Samual prefers mace and sword so that he may strike with both hands. Even with that and a kick or two from spiked kneecops the death of his enemies still cannot come fast enough. Before his last victim falls he is already moving on to the next.

While technically Samual falls under the command of Captain Willhouse's Night Axe squad — in reality it would take a stronger man that Willhouse to control him. Instead, once the Night Axes have engaged the enemy in combat Samual is given free reign over his nature. Captain Willhouse then uses Samual as a lead point in his drive to thrust a wedge between the enemy line. Once breached the rest of the company can move in and exploit the new weakness. Maria de Klerk (human female)

The daughter of the Daconian clan chief and the granddaughter of its greatest hero and shaman — many people in her clan had high hopes for Maria. Unfortunately Maria had her own dreams, which were driven by Vaynan, the god of battle. She knew from an early age that she was to die in a some great battle where the balance between good and evil would be decided. With this knowledge she was driven like a moth to Mavros' flame. She still awaits that final battle, but that is the nature of the gods.

Maria is the captain of the Leopards under the leadership of Jorg. The Leopards have a reputation, even within the Guard, for never giving ground once they have engaged in melee. Like Maria, most of the other Leopards have adopted the heavy spear or axe and shield in battle. The Leopards would give their lives to protect Maria and she would no nothing less to save them. Modus Operandi

The Red Guard now operates in small companies numbering between 8 and 10 soliders led by a commander and sub-commander. Not since the Dark Ages has the entire Guard marched as one led by Mavros. Before leaving the Red Tower each group is given their orders and will not return until those orders are fulfilled or it is impossible for them to be carried out. Abilities

To aid them in their fight against darkness Mavros spent considerable amount of time and mystical effort to give each guardsman the power they would need. While most of these spells have weakened over the years, they are still powerful enough to make each Red Guard more than a match for just about any skilled warrior of this new age. In addition to the common abilities below, each commander was given their own special magicks. Armor

This spell creates deep-red armor in the style in use during the Age of Legends, which mean that it appears far more cumbersome and useless than it actually is in reality. With multiply flutes, shart angles, spikes, and short heavy plates the wearer appears more like a demon from the fiery depths than any knight. Mavros has worked to change the design of the spell while maintaining the armour's heavy protections, but because the spell draws upon the wearer's own spiritual energies changing the shape may change the wearer's perception. Weapons

The exact nature of the weapon is left up to the individual wielder. Because it is made with spiritual energy they have to ability to focus it into any shape they desire, even if that shape make no sense. Mount

When called, the mount will appear to rise from the ground inside of a giant glowling red triangle within a few seconds. The mounts fur is black with red boots on all four feet. They wear a deep red and gold cloth that functions like heavy plate armor. Notes

Dark Ages

  • Mavros forms the Red Guard and rides to the aid of the magi trying to close the gates.
  • The long sleep begins

1441

  • Discovered by Phoenix Force after the reappearance of the Red Tower on their western border, thus the long slumber is ended.

During the darkest times of the Dark Age one army refused to surrender to Gelin, the Redguard. These warrior-magicians were gathered under the banner of Malachi, considered by many to be the greatest Enchanter to live during the Age of Legends. When he saw the storm of chaos approaching he traveled the world looking for those strong enough to stand with him against the madness.

He crafted for them powerful arms and armor, then taught them enough magic so they could withstand mystical assault. His army was called the Redguard because their armor and weapons fashioned from the pure power gave off a dull reddish-black light. This army traveled anywhere people needed assistance against the growing darkness.

However, as Gelin’s evil spread, more cities fell under his sway or were destroyed. The Redguard were shrinking, as more of their number was lost to the madness or upon the field of battle. Malachi knew that his was a lost cause, but he saw hope on the horizon — in the form of the return of the gods. As his army was battling Gelin’s troops, he was constructing a place were they could wait until needed again.

Malachi knew that he followers could not survive without access to the pure power. He constructed a large tower that would act as a leech upon their bodies. Over time it would leech out the power that ran through them, which would allow them to live in a world without the gates. This would happen slowly enough that their bodies’, mind, and spirit should survive intact.

After the last of the Redguard were inside the main chamber, Malachi sunk the whole tower beneath the earth — never to be seen again. However, he did leave behind his word that if the world were again under sorcerous assault the he would return at the head of the Redguard army and march to victory.

phoenix_force, a group of Dakarian mercenaries found the tower and uncovered its secret. Many of the statues were already broken, scattered across the floor; however, most of the 500 soldiers were still intact. Malachi rose his tower and once again sent his followers out into a strange New World to fight the forces of corruption and tyranny.