Post by wolfbran on Jul 21, 2012 21:24:06 GMT -5
Just some out of character knowledge, starting with a description of Leonidas, I'll do another 'After Arriving' soon, just like everyone else, of stuff of note that has happened in Cormyr.
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Hair: Black
Facial Hair: A black, short full beard.
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 7'5
Father: Anaxandridas II
Mother: The first wife of Anaxandridas
Wife: Gorgo
Deity: He reveres most Gods
Age: 43
Hailing from Thesbane
Although a major Citadel from a distant island across the seas, Spariades, Thesbane is better described as a very large military
encampment. The current king of Thesbane, the nearly senile Anaxandridas, is obsessed with the defeats Thesbane
suffered in the First and Second Great Conquer—attempts by Thesbane to conquer Persapilias in a return to the glory of the
hidden island. His obsession is such that he ignores the proper governance of his lands in favor of fortifying his frontier
and paying vast sums to mercenaries of questionable worth. Thesbane, with its forts and barracks, is of course the jewel of
his island's military empire.
When the king first attempted to invade Persapilias, the only city in the hidden land besides Thesbane, he choose Harios,
a fortified encampment near Persapilias as his staging point. The wooden stockade was replaced by proper stone and iron
fortifications. New barracks were built for the army. Camp followers first built a shanty town and then expanded into a
proper settlement. Now, Harios is a major military base of the Thesbanian army.
Unfortunately for Persapilias, the Thesbaneian army (mostly very skilled soldiers and mercenaries) is very motivated and
well-disciplined (Except for the mercenaries, who are out of line and bloodthirsty).
Anaxandridas is much more adept at spending his kingdom’s treasury than at using it wisely. As a result, Thesbane is a
rough and brawling citadel, just the type of place one would expect with 5,000 well-paid and idle mercenaries cooling their
heels. Although Thesbane has a Celtic majority the mercenaries openly flout Druidic laws. Drinking, gambling, and wenching
are common activities. There is little the citizens can hope to do against the mercenaries. Although the regular army
enforces the peace, the mercenaries enjoy the special protection of the king.
The citizens hate the mercenaries. They dislike the army, which they think is protecting the hired soldiers. The army
views the mercenaries with contempt, as hired swords only good as cannon fodder. The mercenaries dislike both groups— the
citizens are bleating sheep and leeches; the Skatara army, a lot of pompous and unprofessional fools (Which is what they
like to think, but untrue). The mercenaries are a cynical bunch, who have few illusions about their own honor but who take
great pride in their professionalism.
The Citadel is more or less divided into three districts. The mercenaries live in often squalid barracks outside the main
walls. Their barracks are scattered far apart, a lesson learned after a sell-sword rebellion years ago.
Dividing the barracks are fortified watchtowers of the regular army. Near the city walls are the businesses that cater to
the tastes of the hired swords, the taverns, gambling dens, and brothels. The regular army has its barracks in the main
keep of the Citadel, and in the fortified outposts along the wails. These are built to protect against rebellion as much as
outside attack. The armories are extremely well-guarded.
The citizens live both inside and outside the walls. The wealthiest live inside, isolated from the rough-and-tumble world
beyond the walls. The poor and everyday workers live on the fringes of town, beyond even the mercenary barracks.
Because it has such a high concentration of rough and tumble fighting men (4,000 to 5,000 mercenaries, depending on the
season; 8,000 regular army), there is always plenty of action and work in Skatara. The city guard (a thankless job) always
needs more soldiers. Many temples have been built to accommodate the wide variety of faiths among the men.
There are thieves and bards aplenty, even though justice is normally dispensed with a sword. It’s a risky life for any
person, but one that many would never do without.
The current commander of the regular garrison and military governor of the Citadel is Ambrose the Patrician. He is an
intelligent man and good commander. He knows perfectly well that Anaxandridas is a fool, wasting money on worthless,
dishonorable mercenaries. Still, he struggles to do his best. He has been approached several times by disaffected noblemen,
but for now has not considered their treasonous words.
But, he has not reported them, either.
The island Spariades is a tropical place. Known to freeze water that isn't salt to ice, and in morning to blaze up to
over one hundred degrees. The effect that this causes is in the early morning, it will have a heavy fog in which
you cannot see three feet infront of yourself, until the sun burns the fog away. It will usually suddenly start pouring
down heavy rain, which, again, makes it so you cannot see three feet infront of yourself. But, on the otherhand, when
sunny, it is a beautiful place. It has rocky hills and a mountain in the middle of the island, and thick forests
with all kinds of dangers lurking within. It is home to Hobgoblins, Goblins, Wargs, Bears, Deer, all wildlife.
The forests are horrible for their quicksand, which you would sink and die in seconds.
The island forest is littered with bones, corpses of animals and other creatures. It is a neverending battlefield.
There are a lot of Druids in Spariades, due to the fact that all of the people there are, oddly, all very large humans, despite not being of Giant heritage. The Druids watch over each child born, and help with the growth of the child, if they get unhealthily large as they age, the Druids have found a way to halt the growing, and the child will continue to live a long and healthy life.
Thesbane has a huge Docks, almost circling the island completely. The Docks goes onto the water a good fifty feet out.
Large wooden supports keep the Docks above water. Ships come in and out all the time. Tropical birds and seaguls are
often seen perched on boats, the dock, everywhere. Such is a mess, considering stray feathers and bird poo.
Cormyr's dragon attacks caught island Spaiades' attention. Due to the flow of pirates and the lot through the docks,
word travels fairly quickly when the news arrives.. Thesbane, Leonidas' home, was first to hear, and sen't Leonidas at once, to Cormyr.
The travel took months, and he had to pack tons of food and water with him, for the journy. He was sen't
alone for quick travel. He has been expecting reinforcements, sending reports via messagebird back to the garrison,
requesting some of his men to be sen't to him to aid with the 'cleansing of the land'.
Leonidas was the Commander. Not in charge, persay, but leading his men to victory on the frontline, always.
One day, Harios was attacked by supprise. Leonidas rallied his men, and threw back
the attackers. After two long bloody hours, and heavy losses on both sides, Leonidas and his men won.
Afterwards, the largest tavern in Thesbane had a very busy night. When Leonidas was finished drinking to a victory with
his men, Leonidas walked home. When he opened the door, he was attacked by supprise. Leonidas drew one of his many daggers,
and slew three of the assassins, before being overpowered. He was bound, gaged, tied to a chair. Leonidas saw his wife in
another chair, bound and gaged, tied to a chair as well, ten feet in front of him. He watched as her throat was slit,
watched as the life drained from her eyes. The rage filled Leonidas, and no bounds could hold him. The binds snapped, and he throttled the last of the assassins with his bare hands, taking justice for his wife immediately.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This will be updated every now and then, when I get the time to continue it, if anyone is interested in sharing this background, they are welcome. I have had more or less DM approval, said to sprinkle in some FR stuff into it, so, going to toss in some FR stuff I find, that I like, into it, as to avoid any problems, and add more character to it. Just remember to PM me about it beforehand.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hair: Black
Facial Hair: A black, short full beard.
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 7'5
Father: Anaxandridas II
Mother: The first wife of Anaxandridas
Wife: Gorgo
Deity: He reveres most Gods
Age: 43
Hailing from Thesbane
Although a major Citadel from a distant island across the seas, Spariades, Thesbane is better described as a very large military
encampment. The current king of Thesbane, the nearly senile Anaxandridas, is obsessed with the defeats Thesbane
suffered in the First and Second Great Conquer—attempts by Thesbane to conquer Persapilias in a return to the glory of the
hidden island. His obsession is such that he ignores the proper governance of his lands in favor of fortifying his frontier
and paying vast sums to mercenaries of questionable worth. Thesbane, with its forts and barracks, is of course the jewel of
his island's military empire.
When the king first attempted to invade Persapilias, the only city in the hidden land besides Thesbane, he choose Harios,
a fortified encampment near Persapilias as his staging point. The wooden stockade was replaced by proper stone and iron
fortifications. New barracks were built for the army. Camp followers first built a shanty town and then expanded into a
proper settlement. Now, Harios is a major military base of the Thesbanian army.
Unfortunately for Persapilias, the Thesbaneian army (mostly very skilled soldiers and mercenaries) is very motivated and
well-disciplined (Except for the mercenaries, who are out of line and bloodthirsty).
Anaxandridas is much more adept at spending his kingdom’s treasury than at using it wisely. As a result, Thesbane is a
rough and brawling citadel, just the type of place one would expect with 5,000 well-paid and idle mercenaries cooling their
heels. Although Thesbane has a Celtic majority the mercenaries openly flout Druidic laws. Drinking, gambling, and wenching
are common activities. There is little the citizens can hope to do against the mercenaries. Although the regular army
enforces the peace, the mercenaries enjoy the special protection of the king.
The citizens hate the mercenaries. They dislike the army, which they think is protecting the hired soldiers. The army
views the mercenaries with contempt, as hired swords only good as cannon fodder. The mercenaries dislike both groups— the
citizens are bleating sheep and leeches; the Skatara army, a lot of pompous and unprofessional fools (Which is what they
like to think, but untrue). The mercenaries are a cynical bunch, who have few illusions about their own honor but who take
great pride in their professionalism.
The Citadel is more or less divided into three districts. The mercenaries live in often squalid barracks outside the main
walls. Their barracks are scattered far apart, a lesson learned after a sell-sword rebellion years ago.
Dividing the barracks are fortified watchtowers of the regular army. Near the city walls are the businesses that cater to
the tastes of the hired swords, the taverns, gambling dens, and brothels. The regular army has its barracks in the main
keep of the Citadel, and in the fortified outposts along the wails. These are built to protect against rebellion as much as
outside attack. The armories are extremely well-guarded.
The citizens live both inside and outside the walls. The wealthiest live inside, isolated from the rough-and-tumble world
beyond the walls. The poor and everyday workers live on the fringes of town, beyond even the mercenary barracks.
Because it has such a high concentration of rough and tumble fighting men (4,000 to 5,000 mercenaries, depending on the
season; 8,000 regular army), there is always plenty of action and work in Skatara. The city guard (a thankless job) always
needs more soldiers. Many temples have been built to accommodate the wide variety of faiths among the men.
There are thieves and bards aplenty, even though justice is normally dispensed with a sword. It’s a risky life for any
person, but one that many would never do without.
The current commander of the regular garrison and military governor of the Citadel is Ambrose the Patrician. He is an
intelligent man and good commander. He knows perfectly well that Anaxandridas is a fool, wasting money on worthless,
dishonorable mercenaries. Still, he struggles to do his best. He has been approached several times by disaffected noblemen,
but for now has not considered their treasonous words.
But, he has not reported them, either.
The island Spariades is a tropical place. Known to freeze water that isn't salt to ice, and in morning to blaze up to
over one hundred degrees. The effect that this causes is in the early morning, it will have a heavy fog in which
you cannot see three feet infront of yourself, until the sun burns the fog away. It will usually suddenly start pouring
down heavy rain, which, again, makes it so you cannot see three feet infront of yourself. But, on the otherhand, when
sunny, it is a beautiful place. It has rocky hills and a mountain in the middle of the island, and thick forests
with all kinds of dangers lurking within. It is home to Hobgoblins, Goblins, Wargs, Bears, Deer, all wildlife.
The forests are horrible for their quicksand, which you would sink and die in seconds.
The island forest is littered with bones, corpses of animals and other creatures. It is a neverending battlefield.
There are a lot of Druids in Spariades, due to the fact that all of the people there are, oddly, all very large humans, despite not being of Giant heritage. The Druids watch over each child born, and help with the growth of the child, if they get unhealthily large as they age, the Druids have found a way to halt the growing, and the child will continue to live a long and healthy life.
Thesbane has a huge Docks, almost circling the island completely. The Docks goes onto the water a good fifty feet out.
Large wooden supports keep the Docks above water. Ships come in and out all the time. Tropical birds and seaguls are
often seen perched on boats, the dock, everywhere. Such is a mess, considering stray feathers and bird poo.
Cormyr's dragon attacks caught island Spaiades' attention. Due to the flow of pirates and the lot through the docks,
word travels fairly quickly when the news arrives.. Thesbane, Leonidas' home, was first to hear, and sen't Leonidas at once, to Cormyr.
The travel took months, and he had to pack tons of food and water with him, for the journy. He was sen't
alone for quick travel. He has been expecting reinforcements, sending reports via messagebird back to the garrison,
requesting some of his men to be sen't to him to aid with the 'cleansing of the land'.
Leonidas was the Commander. Not in charge, persay, but leading his men to victory on the frontline, always.
One day, Harios was attacked by supprise. Leonidas rallied his men, and threw back
the attackers. After two long bloody hours, and heavy losses on both sides, Leonidas and his men won.
Afterwards, the largest tavern in Thesbane had a very busy night. When Leonidas was finished drinking to a victory with
his men, Leonidas walked home. When he opened the door, he was attacked by supprise. Leonidas drew one of his many daggers,
and slew three of the assassins, before being overpowered. He was bound, gaged, tied to a chair. Leonidas saw his wife in
another chair, bound and gaged, tied to a chair as well, ten feet in front of him. He watched as her throat was slit,
watched as the life drained from her eyes. The rage filled Leonidas, and no bounds could hold him. The binds snapped, and he throttled the last of the assassins with his bare hands, taking justice for his wife immediately.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This will be updated every now and then, when I get the time to continue it, if anyone is interested in sharing this background, they are welcome. I have had more or less DM approval, said to sprinkle in some FR stuff into it, so, going to toss in some FR stuff I find, that I like, into it, as to avoid any problems, and add more character to it. Just remember to PM me about it beforehand.
