Drake, of the Westerling Company of Foresters
Dec 5, 2022 18:23:07 GMT -5
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Post by priestmarcus on Dec 5, 2022 18:23:07 GMT -5
In the Year 1356 King Azoun IV, in an attempt to resettle western lands, began offering farmholds at the foot of the Stormhorn Mountains. Settlers who successfully farmed
the land for ten years would be granted permanent ownership of the farm. Each family was given a handcart full of tools and supplies, a rooster, two hens, and a sow pig.
Experts in farming, animal husbandry (with his boar hog), and carpentry would travel a circuit, visiting the farms to help the families succeed. Members of the Westerling
Company would keep an eye on them and teach them to hunt, fish, trap and forage the woodlands. Some plants you can eat. Some you can't. Some heal. Some poison.
The Westerling Company is a group of light infantry, more or less. Rangers and druids mostly, they patrol the western borders of Cormyr, the Stormhorn mountains, and passes
traveled by merchants. They are not paid, but they have leave to hunt in Crown Lands as long as they don't over do it. They can keep any loot they take from Cormyr's enemies
and wandering beasties they come across. They get to keep half of any smuggled goods they confiscate, the other half being handed over to the Crown. In wartime they act
as scouts and messengers, avoiding pitched battles if at all possible. When the mountains are quiet and food is short, members of the Westerling Company are given leave to
seek employment and earn some coin. They bring back manufactured goods that are not readily available in the mountains.
Their motto is: "The secret to survival is knowing when to be a lion, when to be a fox, and when to be a rabbit".
On the tenth day of Hammer in the year 1358 a raiding party of Orcs, dismayed by the increase in human settlements, slipped through the Foresters and destroyed a number of
farmholds. Foresters pursued them and eventually slew most, returning to search for survivors in the devastation. Drake was about ten or twelve at the time and was
found in shock and half frozen in the woods between two burning farms. Some of the Foresters had met his family and knew he had no relatives to take him. That being the
case, it was decided the Westerling Company would adopt him.
Drake grew into manhood in the Stormhorns. Trained in the bow, sword and dagger fencing, woodland lore, tracking, survival, healing, and other arts most useful in the mountains,
Drake carries in his heart a deep hatred for Orcs and any other creatures that would prey on the peaceful and innocent.
in 1371 the Westerling Company fought in "The Goblin War", engaging in light skirmishing and scouting duties, though they were called upon to join the ranks of archers in the final
battle where King Azoun IV fell. Following war's end the company returned to the Stormhorns and their usual duties.
During Marpenoth, 1383, it was decided that hunting and trapping would not be sufficient to feed the entire company through the winter. Roughly half the company was given furlough
and told to return no sooner than the 20th day of Kythorn, unless summoned. While most turned east to seek employment, Drake traveled south and then west, arriving at Greatgaunt
with two coins in his pocket.
So you find him. Weathered, foot weary, and seeking employment.