The Rhakrii Raiders

[Eddrick Brodon]

I genuinely believe I have covered everything touched on in the new wiki "Factions" page.
As I gain approved PB NPCs, faction renown/rep will increase to relevant levels.

The Rhakrii Raiders

OOC INFO & NPC APPROVAL LINKS

This is a somewhat unique situation in that The Rhakrii Raiders appear to be the only faction that was originally a lore entry turned PC-run faction. This is allowed by the original Faction Guide rules under the Q & A.
As you can see in the old entry, Eddrick Brodon was named as one of the "team of leaders."
Warchief Talon was then killed in a skirmish with a squad of Imperial scouts and troops, and Eddrick became the new warchief.
How it exactly came about is stated in this thread, particularly in the last post.

At the time, PC-run factions required 3 player/members to make it official.
This has since changed, but is the main reason why I never bothered trying to make them an official "PC" faction before.
The fresh, "ground floor" feel of the new Wealth system has prompted me to do it now.
As for the required HQ/stronghold, the 2 locations ('Rah Cliffs' and 'Krii Caves') mentioned in the original write-up were deemed sufficient, and Eddrick has provided more than the initial 800gn start-up cost. The Ongoing Loot Ledger documents the contributions given by Eddrick. Mod approval is clearly shown in both this and the IC links below.

I have at times had other PC members who either chose to go their Separate Ways, or became inactive without ever officially joining. As for NPCs, I have made none official, though I have definitely made mention of a number of nameless members. They have provided no loot, and have, in fact, been the reason for Eddrick to take little beyond his wages under the old system. Nor have these NPCs had any updates to their skills, which were never listed anyway. This was primarily due to my previously stated fact that I had not originally expected to make this an official PC-run faction. I believe there are only 2 NPCs I have made mention by name; Barrek, an Empath, and Jeth, a healer. There was also Coren, in the 'Separate Ways' thread, but he is deceased.

I have recently updated my Point Bank total under the new system, which combines all the points for all my accounts into one pool, which is now at 1817. I expect to use this to "buy" NPCs to write-in as those occasional named NPCs I have used in threads. They will also add enough renown to eventually move the Rhakriis up the chart to some considerable reputation.

Jeth has now been added.
Current PB total is 1417.
Then, Feb. pbp added 54 for a total of 1471
Barrek has now been added as well.
The 400 PB cost brings the balance down to 1071 pbp.
March and April PB rewards of 343 bring this total to 1414 pbp.
Plus 81 more for May brings it to 1495 pbp.
Daireen has now been added as well.
The 400 PB cost brings the balance down to 1095.
This will always be in flux.
Quick access to PB developments.

Name: The Rhakrii Raiders
Location: The Hotlands
Affiliations: The Eternal Empire of Raskalarn

PC member(s): Eddrick Brodon, Leader (pictured )
Qualifications: Leadership 40 / Tactics 40 / Ball & Chain 35 / UC (Brawling) 35
Fieldcraft 31 / Falconry 29 / Shortbow 27
Personal Renown: 198

NPC Renown: Jeth Mo-la Dabril - 350
Barrek Camarel - 350
Daireen Togrith - 350
Total Faction Renown: 1248 (Locally Renowned - 20% cost reduction on items related to your faction's function (including buildings & future land purchases. 4 NPC limit.)
Leadership Wealth Level: Competent (40) 4wp
Faction Wealth Tier: Tier 6

NPC members: See below.

Faction Back Story

At the beginning, the Rhakriis were nothing more than a gang of bandits. As a young man, Eddrick was a loyal member of the Athartian Slave Raiders. Framed and betrayed for the murder of a Nashaki diplomat, he fled into the jungle, eventually making his way to the desert. He hoped to find a place in the city of Nashaki, but it became clear that he would find the same plot waiting to incarcerate him there as in Athart.

He became a bandit, joining the Rhakriis fairly quickly and rising in their ranks due to his disciplined Slave Raider training and tactics. When the warchief was killed in a skirmish with Imperial forces, Eddrick replaced him as a result of an Empathic trick gone awry by the second-in-command, named Barrek. If anything, Eddrick's more careful and disciplined approach made ensuing Rhakrii raids more lucrative than under the previous warchief.

Just prior to this, the Imperials invaded the Hotlands, and the leader, Talon, had informed his men that Nashaki had promised loot and amnesty if they fought on the side of the desert city. Shortly after that, the Rhakriis took Nshaki up on their offer by bringing a host of horsemen to The Battle of the Claypans, a losing effort resulting in a number of Rhakrii dead and Eddrick's capture.

After enduring an horrific supernatural ordeal, Eddrick was embraced as full leader upon his return. Apparently Talon had died in the battle, and Eddrick's bounty of eerily acquired loot made his ascension unanimous. This same unanimity was embraced by the Rhakriis when it was discovered that Nashaki had reneged on their offer of amnesty. Apparently they had hoped to see the Rhakriis eradicated in the battle and had only made the offer to lure them to their doom.

This prompted Eddrick to seek out a representative of the encroaching empire, and offer their services in hopes of gaining mere neutrality in their eyes. This resulted in their taking part in the Battle of the Northern Reaches Fortress. Here, Eddrick's tactics, knowledge of Avriel tactics, and inventive use of landscape and wreckage brought him to the attention of Raskalarn herself. After the battle, where Eddrick hoped only to make a sacrifice of himself on behalf of his men's freedom, he found Raskalarn to be scrupulously honorable and appreciative of his abilities.

She not only bestowed her mark upon him, she granted the Rhakriis full amnesty and autonomy, saying that she did not require them to fight on her side so long as they inflicted no trouble upon her troops or her efforts of conquest. She did however, go onto spell out a number of considerable perks if the Rhakriis DID join her cause. And to Eddrick, and those that had fought with him, she gave rewards as well as a promise of full backing and support. OOC, this accounts for the source of future faction purchases.

Eddrick was enthralled and swore loyalty, asking only that any of his troops that did not wish to join would not be punished. Raskalarn assured him that there would be no retribution, so long as they observed her initial requirement. Part of her blessing gave Eddrick to immediately realize that a challenge would be awaiting him from a highly placed lieutenant, Coren, who would not agree to this, upon his return to the Stronghold from the east.

The challenge was made, dealt with and resolved when Eddrick got back. He followed through with his promise and allowed any to leave that did not wish to remain with the understanding that they would be on-call to serve the Eternal Empire for much greater future freedoms than they could have ever hoped for under Nashaki rule. This significantly lowered his numbers, but purified the loyalty and cooperative structure of all that stayed with him.

They still raid caravans of anything not bearing an Imperial banner, as well as staking out the secret ways of the Hotlands to thwart strategic scouting and ambush efforts of Nashaki forces. In addition, they help out the nomadic tribes of the Hotlands, making gifts of food, water, weapons and armor looted from the enemy, both to help them survive, and to build diplomatic good will with them. When the Hotlands fall, as Eddrick believes it will. It will be to the great benefit of any that sided with the Eternal Empire, or even just stayed out of their way.


Eddrick generally has 4 lieutenant/advisors in the ranks, so that group decisions will not end in ties. With the death of Coren in the Falling Out, an opening has been created. Jeth, the Healer, Barrek, the Empath, and Daireen the Smith remained loyal and still hold their positions as Sub-chiefs of Body, Mind and Supply, respectively. This gives Eddrick needed input from those with more expertise in medical, magic and camp logistics than he personally possesses, to make better-informed decisions (those NPCs will be Point Bank purchases, and written up at that time).

Coren was the chief of those manning the outlying camps and recon squads. Fortunately, it is the one capacity that Eddrick is most able to cover while a new Sub-chief of Warning is chosen. All these Sub-chiefs have the authority to choose their own men and command order from among those Rhakrii available for any given task. The command order in any such endeavor is designated by the color of the scarves worn by those involved.

The color pattern changes from task to task to confuse any foes who may be watching. The one exception to this is that yellow always designates the lowest rank, and Eddrick himself always wears gold, which is easily mistaken for yellow at most enemies' surveillance distance. Other than those two colors, blue, black, green and red are common choices to display command level.

[Eddrick Brodon]

Rhakrii NPCs w/renown

Jeth Mo-la Dabril

Name: Jeth Mo-la Dabril
Rank: Healer, Sub-chief of Body
Age / Race: 24-arc-old human

Renown: 350

Skills:
Medicine - 50 / Surgery - 50
Chemistry - 45 / Brewing - 40
Leadership - 30 / Psychology - 30
Poisons - 29 / Gardening - 26
Resistance - 26 / Mount (Horse) - 24

Back Story

Having received a reasonably in-depth education in both the surgical and chemical aspects of medicine in Nashaki, Jeth was unaware that it was all to allow his parents to escape a debt to the Tower of Flesh. Such beneficial types of education were not normally attributed to this harsh Tower, so his two-fold medical training did not give warning of this hidden agenda. He'd have been ready to simply accept that he could do some good with what he would learn, regardless of which city faction was behind it.

Being unaware of the family debt was another matter though. His training complete, he had not taken a dozen steps out the entrance to the tower before a squad of tower security personnel seized him and dragged him back to the facility. Here, he was informed that he was to serve primarily as a healer of brothel diseases.

Disgusted by his fate, and sporting a new loathing for his parents, he engineered a series of escapes into the Tower of Arms, and out into the field, where his medical knowledge was put to what he considered a far more honorable use. These remote troops were glad to have him, but it was inevitable that he was captured among the few survivors of an ambush by desert nomads.

He was not too dissatisfied with life among the nomads, but it was not to last. Nashaki slavers raided the nomad camp and he was recognized. Chained with dozens of other unfortunates, he was being hauled back to Nashaki, when, on the 87th trial of Vhalar, arc 713, the caravan was ambushed by the Rhakrii Raiders and he was set free.

No longer sure of where he could go without ending up in chains, or worse, he decided to join the bandit force, as the leader informed him of their need for healers back in their stronghold, where numerous others had landed after suffering misfortunes similar to his own, children and elderly among them. There was a rudimentary group of men and women with the bare basics of medical understanding, but none that could compare to his own.

The leader of the Rhakriis has since placed him in charge of all of the bandits' health concerns and given him a place on the five-member council that makes all Rhakrii decisions.

barrek camarel

Name: Barrek Camarel
Rank: Empath, Sub-chief of Mind, Rhakrii diplomat
Age / Race: 33-arc-old human

Renown: 350

Skills:
Empathy - 50 / Persuasion - 50
Meditation - 45 / Linguistics - 45
Leadership - 35 / Politics - 35
Storytelling - 35 / Endurance - 30
Mount (Horse) - 25

Back Story

Barrek was a rising star in the Tower of Chamadarst. But upon achieving an awakening of new mental growth, this promising empath was stricken by an unusual mutation. His spark grew an affinity for challenge and began to seek out other empaths upon activation of its influence. This did not mean that Barrek went rogue into the desert or city looking for mental battles. But whenever he sought to use his power, if there was another empath nearby, his attempt at the target's tangle would also automatically seek to affect the other empath as well.

Though he had promise of grand abilities to come, his current capability was none too impressive yet, and he was always found out and defeated by the other mage. This usually brought failure to whatever diplomatic effort was being attempted, if not threats of retaliation for having made such an attempt. Fortunately, this only took place in exercises within the Tower's halls; but it still spelled an end to any further Tower expenditure toward his growth as an Empath.

This problem was compounded by the development of an additional difficulty. If there was no other mage present, he often found himself victimized by a backlash of his own ether, which made himself susceptible to falling prey to his own suggestions. If he tried to impose an apprehension into a target's mind, he began to find himself growing apprehensive as well. It may not be an apprehension based on the same fear that the target held, but it made it difficult to continue focusing on his efforts.

As expected, he was cast out of the Tower's programs. But he was given an endorsement of great potential if a way could be found to circumvent these obstacles. None was forthcoming however, and his future soon found its way into taverns where he could drink away his frustration.

It happened one trial that a member of the Rhakrii raiders was biding his time in one such tavern and was present to witness an odd exchange between Barrek and the barkeep. As most people know, a skilled barkeep can get most people talking out their troubles. As Barrek was coaxed into spilling his emotional guts, the barkeep suffered a pronounced episode of the near full gamut of emotional extremes. Barrek was too drunk to notice, but the bandit was not.

The burst of emotions from such a central figure as the barkeep himself soon escalated into serious contention, which was then easily nudged into a full-on brawl. Several underlings of important officials were injured and Barrek would not have escaped without the aid of the bandit. A call for this "rogue Empath"s head was shouted on street corners almost immediately, and a running escape was engineered by this Rhakrii member, and only with the help of several fellow Rhakriis that had infiltrated the town for some mischief.

It was spontaneously decided that the befriending of a powerful Empath was a better mission than the simple burglary they had been planning, and no effort was spared to get Barrek safely away from Nashaki. He made one incursion back to the city in hopes of getting enough time to explain that he had discovered that alcohol appeared to suppress the mutation he suffered from. But the obvious stall tactic by the official that met with him, and the warning of approaching guards from his Rhakrii escort made it obvious that he was not going to ever be welcome in Nashaki again.

With subsequent experimentation, he has since learned the degree of alcoholic consumption that is required to put him in control of this mutation without incurring a similarly negative effect from too much drink. He has remained with the Rhakriis ever since.

Daireen Togrith

Name: Daireen Togrith (Denome - "Eternal Jewel")
Rank: Sub-chief of Supply, Rhakrii Blacksmith
Age / Race: 26-arc-old Yludih

Renown: 350

Skills:
Mining - 50 / Smithing - 50 / Bludgeon (1-handed Maul) - 45
Woodworking - 45 / Strength - 35 / Unarmed Combat (Gauntlet) - 35
Engineering - 35 / Endurance - 30 / Mount (Horse) - 25

Back Story

Did ever a story of a Yludih wanderer not originate with persecution and oppression? To the east of Luesco's Wall, sits the comparatively placid lands of the Belmar nomadic tribe. A father and daughter wandered into their lands arcs ago, bringing with them the benefits of mining and smithing knowledge. The nearby mountains of the Wall provided ample opportunity to display their combined efficiency in both skills and they were both soon accepted. It could also be said that it marked their presence.

It did not take long for it to become known that the Belmars were outfitted with gear that was a cut above the usual nomadic fare. At that time, Nashaki still controlled the area, though the Eternal Empire had begun to encroach ever further down from the north. Believing that their wife and mother now rested in Uleuda, having long since "unlocked the gates" to the Yludih spiritual home, Denome and her father wanted only to live productive and appreciated lives until they joined her.

Little did they know that the woman they loved was not dead from the world, but a captive of Nashaki. She was not initially a cog in any major intelligence plans, but the realization that her loved ones were likely to have been absorbed into the Belmars changed all this. The Belmars came under attack and Denome's father was captured as well. The father was now told of his wife's captivity and the two were played off against each other; both being used as a hostage against the others' cooperation.

Their natural skills were exploited for spying and impersonation to gather military intelligence against the forces of the encroaching Imperials. Denome escaped from the area as it was changing hands into Imperial control and one particularly dark night she was seen traveling in the desert lands by a squad of Rhakrii Raiders, led by Eddrick himself. He often set out with his men on such nights to capitalize on the most effective use of his Night Glow spyglass. The odd property of the gem, which allowed everything seen through it as if it was broad daylight, did not change the reality of how darkness reveals a Yludih for the race they are.

Though it was not the sort of thing Eddrick was looking for at the time, he saw her stumbling and crawling through the dark and could see that she was a Yludih. He approached her the next dawn with a flag of truce and an offer of membership in his ranks. When she gave a false name, a human name, Eddrick did not challenge it and offered her food and water. Being on the verge of dehydration and starvation, Denome, now calling herself Daireen Togrith, was astounded to see such a need provided for with no reciprocal demand.

She asked tentatively if she could be granted sanctuary on a temporary basis. The bandit regretfully informed her that he could not give such freedom of movement within their stronghold to someone who might then take their leave with the information they could gather during their stay. She could not deny the logic of this and thanked him for the food. Eddrick compounded his generosity by offering her a ride to the lands of the Corvain tribe to the east of the Rhakrii holdings.

On the way there, several exchanges of small talk prompted her to confess her mining and smithing skills, as well as allowing him to reveal that he knew she was a Yludih. She was astounded a second time to have information that would normally put her at his mercy be left unexploited. It led to a discussion of the way her parents had been used by Nashaki, which naturally led to Eddrick's own litany of suffering at their hands. Common ground was found, and Daireen reconsidered the bandit's offer.

As long as they were mutually opposed to Nashaki, there was now no reason for her to go anywhere else. She had been hoping all along to find support for her hopes of finding and rescuing her parents. When Eddrick returned from the east cycles later, with Raskalarn's blessing and a whole new level of resolve on behalf of the empire, Daireen could not have been happier. She now occupies the lieutenant position of "Sub-chief of Supply" in the Rhakriis.