Story Credit:
Malcolm
Twelve generations ago, a fleet of foreign ships sailed up the river from the east. They docked in the depths of Lake Krome and attacked the small settlement nearby. A tribe of three hundred trained warriors, most of them young boys, pitted against Rynmere's farmers and fishermen, but they did not end a single life. Instead the foreigners turned the village upside down in search of Zor, a gifted peasant boy they claimed had the ability to see the future and had been taken from them by the knights of the dragon.
After three days of searching and with the foreigners finding no sign of the boy, they turned their eye on the noble family of Krome and stayed in the village for an arc. Tired of waiting and fighting for the boy, Zor, they moved on the capital and ten days later arrived on foot at the gates, demanding the safe return of the boy in exchange for a daughter of Krome, but not just anyone, no, this girl was said to harbour the blood of an immortal. Avari Krome.
The Knights of Rynmere were set upon the foreigners by order of the King. Almost nine hundred Knights died that day while the strangers from the sea suffered zero casualties. Displeased and fearing another wave of attacks, the following morning the King struck a peace deal with the sailors in which they agreed to return to their ships and sail around the coast to dock in Cyrene Bay where the boy Zor would await them. Before the Warriors could return to their ships, however, the men of Burhan and Warrick had taken a pass through the Burning Mountains and sailed down the river into the lake where they proceeded to torch the foreign ships.
When the warriors finally arrived, the lake looked as if it had erupted, black smoke billowing skyward, a wall of men lined the shores, ready to take the lives of the men who had attacked the City of Andaris. It was a bloodbath, and those who weren't cut down in battle were later hunted like dogs, marked with the King's brand and thrown into the pits to fight each other to the death for entertainment and sport. Avari was taken back by her people and sailed out around the coast to Cyrene Bay where they had strung young Zor up by his hands and left him to die. Greeted by such a sight, the daughter of Krome bit off her own tongue and refused to tell the King what she had learned from the foreigners about their homelands.
The people of Krome named the rivers either side of the lake after the two children and arcs later when the noble woman was grown, she paid for the freedom of the last remaining slaves of that raid.
Today the attack is not only remembered for Rynmere’s loss or victory, but for the acts that followed. King Dedrick Gawyne united the individual armies of sailors in Burhan and Skyriders in Warrick, along with his trusted knights, to form a collective force called The Iron Hand, which is yet to be defeated in battle, rulers of land, air, and sea.
Operation: The Iron Hand as an organization does not encompass the entirety of Rynmere's military. The far majority, in peace-time, of Rynmere's military units fall under the command of their Duke/Duchess. During this time, the Iron Hand acts largely as a strategic, highly-trained bureaucratic structure with outposts across the Kingdom. During times where the Kingdom is at war with a common enemy, the King may call for the Iron Hand to assemble, and the Lord Commander tasks the Dukes/Duchesses with incorporating their troops into the Iron Hand in solidarity. For this reason, the amount of troops within the Iron Hand can fluctuate between thousands to over a hundred thousand between a period of peace and a period of war.
Below are the lists of the separate factions that make up The Iron Hand and the armor they are issued.
Note: All armor sets include chest, gauntlets, greaves, fauld, padding or pauldron, and helmet (great helm or barbute in design).
Andaris: Dragon.
Warrick: Lion.
Venora: Rose.
Burhan: Compass.
Gawyne: Scales.
Endor: Bear.
Krome: Wolf.
Moseke Knight Ranks (Knights are usually from Krome, Andaris, and Venora. Knights are the only men and women who can work their way up to the rank of Knight Lord Commander).
Knight Lord Commander: The Lord Commander is the highest ranking knight in Rynmere, a position currently held by Thomas Endor. Thomas Endor is in charge of Rynmere’s army and naval fleet, answering directly to the king.
Lord Commander: Dressed in black and silver, the Knight Lord Commander’s armor is made from a lightweight but durable metal formed when a Jacadon turns to stone (the heart forms this metal), and can only be collected by monks with the blessing of the King. The plate, arms, shoulders, and legs are intricately decorated with markings of symbolic and historical design. The chest piece tells the story of the first seven, sailing their ship and following
the Scar in the Sky to the home of the Jacadon, Rynmere. On the breast the clouds are circling and below the waves are churning while from the depths the mighty dragon Rynmere lifts his head. The Lord Commander is the only man in Rynmere who is able to keep his armor after he retires, worth one hundred onyx nel (50,000 gold nel)
Squire or Equivalent: Provided to all new recruits is a simple, padded tunic and leather belt. The belt buckle is round, silver, and has the member's regional emblem printed on the face of it, a dragon for Andaris, a lion for Warrick, etc. The symbols are also stitched into the top of the tunic, mirrored on either side. A first arc (year) squire is issued with a white tunic matched with their regional colours and any who stay on after their first arc are given a black tunic with the same. All armor issued to combative forces is black and free to use until they leave The Iron Hand, or are promoted. If a tunic if destroyed, the individual is responsible for replacing it (10gn paid to the city).
Lord: Golden Shield. An honoured title for a knight who has seen war and defended the realm. Knights honoured with this award are gifted land in the region of their choice (fifty acres) and offered the title of Suzerain. These men and women oversee larger armies anywhere from 500 strong.
Warden: Four Swords. Charged with overseeing smaller armies of at least one hundred men. A warden answers to the Duke that oversees their region, or any higher ranking officers.
Captain: Three swords. Oversees a group of ten knight stewards, usually tasked with watch duties or small missions. (Players can make up to ten NPC knights).
Steward: Two swords. Tasked with taking care of new knights, teaching them the ropes and leading small patrols, usually in the city or any one of the outposts. (players make five NPC knights for their group)
Knight: One sword. Any man or woman who has earned a knighthood.
Squire: A person training to one day become a knight, usually ages between 15 and 22 years old. These young men and women are trained by knights and stewards.
Leather: Knights and Stewards are kitted out with black leather chest, gauntlets, greaves, fauld, pauldron, and a cloak in their region's colours. Replacement of cloak is fifty gold nel so individuals are encouraged to take care of their gear. Helmets are not provided to either of these ranks but knights and skyriders are expected to acquire a helmet for themselves in the Kingdom’s preferred styles of the great helm or barbute. There is no replacement of armor for damaged or stolen pieces; a second set must be paid for out of the knight’s own pocket. Knights are expected to wear full armor whenever they go on patrol and straying away from the appropriate dress code can land them in hot water with their superiors.
Chain: Black chainmail is provided to knights who meet the requirements for the rank of Captain and Warden (captain and colonel within the Xiur Skyriders). They are also given a great helm, though individuals have the option of purchasing themselves a barbute if they prefer in an open or closed style. Leather armor can be worn over chain mail or Knights can purchase their own plate armor. They are awarded a new cloak for each rank, even if their old cloaks are in good shape. Padded tunics are also available to Captains and Wardens to wear under their chainmail, and for those who have served at this rank for at least an arc (year), they are awarded a black chest plate for their dedication to The Iron Hand.
Plate: Black plate armor is bestowed to any who make the rank of Lord, considered to be one of the most renowned positions to be in within the Moseke Knights, and in turn, The Iron Hand. The knight will have his regional emblem tooled into the chest piece, and is kitted out with chest, gauntlets, greaves, fauld, pauldron, and a great helm. This plate armor is designed for maximum comfortable and flexibility, freeing the knight’s movements up a lot more than a traditional, full suit of armor. The armor is lightweight, but strong, and is comfortable to wear while riding or sitting for long periods of time. For those who serve at least an arc at this level, full plate is offered for their mount of choice as well.
Xiur Skyrider Ranks (Skyriders are usually from Endor and Warrick)
General: Golden Wings. Awarded the title of ‘Blazer’ and permission to visit Sunset Isle in the attempt of forming a bond with one of the Jacadon, Generals command a wing of 100 to 1000 Volareon fighters. Generals answer directly to the Knight Lord Commander if present, but otherwise answer to the Duke of their region.
Colonel: Four wings. Answers to the Duke that oversees their region, or any higher ranking officers. They oversee a wing of 50 to 100 men.
Captain: Three wings. Responsible for a wing ten men strong. (Players can make up to ten NPC officers and are awarded with a full set of armour). Must answer to Colonel.
Major: Two wings. In charge of five Sergeants. (Players make five NPC knights for their group and are awarded with their first Volareon)
Sergeant: One wing. A man or woman who has earned their first silver wing.
Airman: Squire equivalent, generally aged between 15 and 22 years old. Airmen are trained by Sergeants and Majors.
Leather: Just like the Moseke Knights and Stewards, Xiur Sergeants and Majors are also rewarded a set of black armor, with chest, gauntlets, greaves, fauld, pauldron, and a cloak in their region's colours. Their armor is a lot different than the type that is given to the knights, however, as it is designed for aerial combat, cut into special shapes that allows them to move with their Volareon training mounts until they have reached a high enough rank to train a Volareon of their own. Sergeants and Majors are expected to buy their own helmets in either the great helm, or barbute style, but are also given a third option of acquiring a leather helmet, making them lighter for flying.
Chain: Rewarded to Captains and Colonels for their service to the Xiur Skyriders, dragon-mail is the term for the black chainmail these fighters are given upon making rank. The metal, like the plate metal used for Lords, is lightweight but extremely strong, and can withstand cutting, and very rarely, stabbing motions from a sword or dagger. This black dragon-mail looks almost like fish scales and is worn over a padded, leather tunic or tabard with long or short sleeves depending on the region (long for northern regions where is can be very cold, and short in the southern regions where it is a lot warmer most of the arc). They are also given a new cap in their regional colours.
Plate: Lightweight, black plate armor decorated with rare dragon hide is offered only to Skyriders who make the rank of General. This is also the only title that allows individuals to choose a different type of helmet to the preferred great helm or barbute styles worn by everyone else within The Iron Hand. A General’s helmet can be and often is decorated with horns, spikes, or the baby teeth of his Jacadon, with a strap that fastens below the chin to keep the helmet in place while in the air or diving into the sea as their Jacadon mounts are known to do in order to activate their ability to fire hot steam at enemy targets. After at least an arc of service at this rank, Generals are awarded full plate armor for their mount.
U’frek Sailor Ranks (Sailors are usually from Burhan and Gawyne).
Admiral: Golden Cross. Awarded with a Tall Ship, admirals command a fleet of ten Galleons, each manned by their own lieutenant. Admirals answer directly to the Knight Lord Commander if present, but otherwise answer to the Duke of their region.
Lieutenant: Four gold stars. Answer to the Duke that oversees their region, or any higher ranking officers. Awarded with a Galleon ship, overseeing a crew of 50 to 100 men.
Captain: Three gold stars. Responsible for a crew ten men strong. (Players can make up to ten NPC officers and are awarded with a two mast Schooner). Must answer to Lieutenant.
Officer: Two silver stars. In charge of five seamen. (players make five NPC knights for their group). Must answer to Captain.
Seaman: A man or woman who had earned their first silver star.
Recruit: Squire equivalent, generally aged between 15 and 22 years old. These recruits are trained by Seamen and Officers.
Leather: U’frek Sailors don’t have much to choose from when it comes to uniform and they aren’t offered chainmail or plate (though at later levels they are given decorative plate for visits to other shores and work on land). On the sea, it makes more sense for them to wear clothes that keep them as light as possible in case they are forced overboard, but also hardly enough to protect them from any injuries they might sustain during sword fights or run-ins with other ships. The leather of their coats is flexible but robust, made from rare dragon hide, just like the armor offered to Generals in the Xiur Skyriders. As well as this, they are also gifted a cloak in their regions colours and a number of long-sleeved shirts.
Loyalties: Members of the military swear fealty to their Duke. All army personnel living in a particular Duchy are sworn to their Duchy and are typically expected to serve the will of their Duke. This applies to the Iron Hand as well, and while they may additionally swear fealty to the King, most members of the Iron Hand and the general military are taught ducal nationalism and loyalty to their ruling noble house. This often creates a great conflict of duty amidst civil wars, though most will often choose to fight for their liege, the Duke or Duchess.