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Days Gone By Just
before the Gathering of 1094, Anree’s Slayers were joined by The House of York
and given possession of York and the Norhault Library. Unfortunately the demon
Golgomoth led his army of demons to York and destroyed the city. The Baron (or
Duke) of York, Richard, bravely led his knights to defend the city. He
challenged Golgomoth to single combat and the two fought. The battle was long
and arduous, but brave as he was Richard could not defeat the evil thing and was
struck down. The Baron’s
cousin, Yuri, valiantly saved Richard from under the nose of the demon and took
him to a tavern, where the rest of the knights were managing to hold the demons
at bay. Yuri healed his cousin, but his mind had been irretrievably damaged.
This madness infected all the knights who shared his royal blood, explaining
their strange mode of speech to this day. However, the knights were slowly
losing the battle and would have fallen if not for the aid of the demon Errtu. Errtu,
princeling of darkness and right hand spawn of Golgomoth, was leading the attack
on the tavern, when the court jester, Jaleric, a quite mad creature, forced his
way through the line of knights to confront the demon. Errtu was astounded by the
scampering fool’s audacity, that he momentarily let down his guard. Jaleric
was not just any jester, but a powerful ritualist and priest of Thrudd. Seeing
the demon’s weakness, Jaleric bound him to the white rose of York. Errtu
switched allegiance and turned back the demons from the tavern, saving the
surviving knights. At the
following Gathering, the woes of York were temporarily forgotten, as the tragic
events of Prince Anree’s assassination unfolded. Thus began the souring
relationship between the Knights of York and the Queen of Albion. When Anree was
struck down, Yuri ran through hostiles and countless dangers to bring news to
the Queen, that her most powerful subject was gravely injured. Instead
of sending help and aiding the Slayers, she delayed and dismissed Yuri and Anree
was lost. This was never forgotten and showed the Knights the lack of honour
within the Harts. Without Anree
the Slayers fragmented and went their separate ways. The Knights of York stayed
with the Hearts. Much to their dismay all former honours were forgotten and
gradually they were stripped of their lands and constantly ignored by the court,
yet still remained a force on the battlefield, the most valiant and loyal of
warriors. It was during this time they formed the York Rangers, joined by family
from outside York, fierce fighters including the champion of York Sir Sigmar
Hammerhelm. Tragically
Richard of York was lost at this time. Whilst traveling to aid the Queen in her
fight against the undead, Richard and Yuri did not step out from the ritual
circle with the other travelers and thought lost. Weeks later Yuri stumbled
from the original circle wounded and alone. He could remember only one thing
about the event, that in his madness Richard had gone to seek something and had
sent Yuri from him, as it was a quest for him alone. Yuri took onto himself the
mantle of Steward of York until his cousin returns. At the
following gathering the house of York followed the leadership of the York
Rangers under Logain. Unknown to everyone, however, the Rangers and the Knights
were being duped. Logain was never interested in the fate of York, he sought
only to further his position within the faction and used the Rangers for his own
gain. Logain deserted the Rangers, when he felt their usefulness was at an end,
leaving them without leadership for the first time. Unsure as what to do, the
separate parties within the Rangers sat and discussed the fate of them all.
Debate and argument went on long into the night (even when the beer ran out) and
into the next morning. Eventually an answer came. Growing disillusionment with
the Hearts and their aloof nature, coupled with the despicable actions of Logain,
left many feeling that their services could be better served elsewhere. Later
that day, whilst traveling to market, they witnessed a vicious attack on, who
they thought to be, one of the Sake Bastards. Sigmar appalled by what he saw,
voiced his opinion on the fact and the Rangers attacked, rescuing the
unfortunate and healed him, whilst his attackers fled. It was then revealed that
he was not a Sake Bastard, but a member of the Aka Taka, called Lo Wang (a force within the
Viper faction). It was decided that Drakaris should escort the fellow back to his
camp and wait for Yuri who would explain the events of the encounter. Never
before had they witnessed the level of hospitality they experienced whilst in
the Vipers camp, they were rewarded handsomely and invited to the Black Tower
Tavern later that evening. Meanwhile at market Sir Sigmar, Cinzano and Urgix
encountered Grimnir (SOBER!?) and went on a bender. He told them of the Vipers,
where he now made his home, having long ago left the Knights to find his
fortune. The Dwarf was now working for Krimha Tora, a leader within the Vipers and
owner of the Black Tower Inn. After several drinks they bade farewell and
returned to camp. That evening
the Rangers went to the Black Tower Inn and drank with Krimha Tora. He had an
offer of employment for them, which they took up. It was during this time
Calamity struck. Whilst answering a call of nature, Cinzano and Drakaris were
attacked by an unknown assassin, roaming the Viper camp and would have died, if
not for a strange Viper healer (who screamed and shouted a lot). Enraged
Drakaris and Cinzano offered to search the camp for the assassin. Alas they did
not find him. They were attacked again, this time by one of the assassin’s
minions who they captured and handed over to King Gustav for questioning. They
all then proceeded back to camp and discussion was again made. The next day
they made way to the battlefield to honour the agreements they had made with
Krimha Tora and battled alongside him under the banner of the Vipers. After the
battle Krimha Tora thanked them for their assistance and invited them to join the
vipers. Smiling they informed him they agreed and joined. Once again Honour was restored to the spirit of the
Slayers, York Rangers. A new
unit bound together the surviving members under a new name,
The BloodLetters.
1st Moot, 1100 |
