Klomster — Roleplayer Guild

Name:  Claus Rotstein

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Position: Lieutenant at arms, Captain of the "Steel fist" mercenary group.

Personality: Brash and a bit boastful, he drives his men hard but not too much. He is known as a tough leader but fair. When he can he tries to fix up some extra bonuses for his men, and at times even pay from his own pockets.

Appearance: Claus Rotstein is rather tall, with a rough slightly bearded face with several minor scars and a large scar running across his nose from his right side eyebrow to the left side of his jaw. Dark hair and dull blue eyes.
He wears a very nice tailored suit of plate armour made by an artisan serving house Blackwater with a lot of subtle, yet beautiful decor. The cuirass has his companies icon painted on it, the clenched white fist atop a black background.
He carries a flamberge greatsword and a mace, he has a decorated battle horn and a decorated misericord dagger.

Background: His family was burghers of minor renown whom tended a region of farms for the lord of Scassia. Claus was the second son of his father Adolf Rotstein and thus wouldn't inherit much.
The local lord though took him in as a man at arms for his personal army, and as such he was trained to become a potent fighter. He served the lord for many years and was rather successful.... apart from his darker side.
When he drank he became harsh and at times violent, and it showed that the monotone duties of his service in a low combat area made him take to the tankard more and more often.
He finally took a step to far and was dismissed from service after punching a nobles 3rd son and trying to approach his sister. He was demoted to lieutenant after his family helped him out.

His life now in ruins he took even more to the tankard and eventually got thrown out from his home. Eventually he joined the Steel fist mercenary company. He quickly got a recognition because of his great battle prowess and man at arms training.
The varied duties also kept him from drinking, which his fellows from now on made sure so he didn't drink to much.
After many years of service, the old company captain decided to retire, Claus Rotstein was selected for his outstanding service and promoted to captain.

The Steel fist now returns from a campaign in the east, having fought for the elven kingdom in several conflicts during seven years. (The Steel fist has returned home from time to time during this period.)
The steel fist consists of mainly battle hardened fighters, with some new trainees as with any army. The army has good knowledge in sieges as well.

Gear. Halberdiers, about this. But with halberds and some tassets. They carry maces as well.
youtu.be/FH9yjmmAE3k?t=1m49s (It's a music video, and i jump in midway)
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/d7/…

Pavise crossbowmen, about the same but with a pavise shield and a heavy windup crossbow and a mace.
The Steel fist numbers 2500 men, 750 of which are crossbowmen.

Skills and traits: Claus Rotstein is a skilled swordsman and has a strong voice, he is a potent commander.

I write the things i know he has training or exposure in.
Swordsman    	- Grand master
Other combat 	- Master
Strategy     	- Adept
Tactics      	- Master
Logistics    	- Adept
Economics    	- Adept
Negotiation  	- Adept
Politics     	- Mediocre
Motivator    	- Expert
Intimidate  	- Expert
Farming     	- Mediocre

Known languages.
Formarothian: Fluent.
Elven: Accented. Poor writing.
Caelic: Broken. Cannot write.
Vogani: Knows a few insults and swear words.

Flaws: Claus has a few, but notable character flaws.
Alcoholism: If he's not careful, and don't get the mental support from his friends he will quickly fall back to his alcoholic past.
While he has a much greater tolerance to alcohol because of this, if he does get drunk he will lose all his restraints and easily become violent, unpredictable and dangerous.
Unrefined: Claus is not someone who suckers up to people, even when they do earn proper respect, he is also a commoner at heart.
This can if he is not careful very easily anger people of higher status and/or nobility. Since he do treat basically everyone with the same respect as a commoner until they have fancied his liking, where he will treat them as a friend instead. Which isn't much better than being treated as a drinking buddy.
Impulsive: Claus usually goes with his gut feeling, not one to plan for ages and carefully devise a plan.
Nope, come up with a solution that seems fair enough, and then just go with it.
While he does try to plan and consider his options, he usually fall back to intuition after a while.

Name: Roogel Therp
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Position: Proffessional mercenary lieautenant
Personality: He goes from being chummy, loud and kind to a cold heartless killer faster than people ever feel comfortable with.
Appearance: A giant of a man, a bushy black beard and clad in the classic armour of the Steel fist, albeit with a nice silver decor. With brass rivets.
He uses a pollaxe instead of a halberd.
Background: Having joined the Steel fist when he was 20, he did so after the famine in Akki his family was suffering from. Or more like himself, seeing he tended his miniscule farm alone.
He always felt he wasn't good at farming, he had a crappy house, weedy and root and stone filled fields and on top of that the moose seemed to be after him.
When he joined the fist he felt all the more at home. He is a personal friend of Claus being one who helped him keep away from drinking.

Skills and abilities.
Master polearm fighter
Master brawler
Decent fighter otherwise
Makes friends easily when in a good mood
Expert command
Decent tactics
If possible, worse than Claus at farming

Name: Ashala Harr  {Deceased}
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Position: Proffessional mercenary lieautenant, crossbows
Personality: Short tempered, serious, protective
Appearance: Medium long auburn hair, curvy build, looks stern but pretty... apart from the scars. Wears a filled out cuirass to give her chest more room, she wields a Corseque instead of an arbalest.
Background: A born fighter, she was an orphan, a slum child and a thief, she was currently hunted and wanted for execution when the Steel fist showed up and gave her a way out. She was 17 then.

Skills and abilities.
Expert polearm fighter
Good brawler
Decent fighter otherwise
Expert sneaking
Good thief
Expert command
Good tactics

Name: Katrina Nikos
Age: 14
Gender: Female
Position: Blacksmith apprentice
Personality: Head strong, Stubborn, honorable, idealistic, ambitious
Appearance: Short Black hair, taller than most of her age,
Background: Katrina has spent her entire life helping her uncle at his forge. She knows nothing of her mother and father and only knows that her mother served up in the castle but was killed during the civil war. Once she reached 14 she decided that she wanted to leave Nyhem and see the world (much to the disagreement of her uncle). Once the Steel Fist mercenary troupe arrived in Nyhem she saw it as the best opportunity to leave.

Skills and traits: 
Apprentice swordswoman
Expert Blacksmith
Master knowledge on weapons
Expert inventory taker
Expert logistician.

She is secretly the bastard child of Heylot and Anna; a handmaiden to Queen Ruth and Duncan's former (secret) lover.


DISCLAIMER! This is a very rough draft of the history of the steel fist. Some dates and a few other things are still susceptible to change. Any of this can be changed.

The official mentions and dealing with the company of the Steel Fist are scattered within the archives of Nyhem, while the mentions are often correct, it is hard to get all the data, especially with a self governed force like a mercenary group.
So considering this, the archives are well stocked in the matters of the mercenary company.
This data can be collected by anyone who has access to the archive of Nyhem. And some is well known facts by people in or outside the company itself.

The Steel Fist was formed by Captain James Formery in 412, a man who worked for the Tulza family and was rewarded for his service with funds in exchange for creating a mercenary force loyal to the Tulza family alone.
The company helped fight their dirty fights of the Tulza and did so as long as they paid. Which the Tulza's stopped. So the Steel fist abandoned them. The Tulza’s hoped for a loyal puppet, but they got Mr. Formery, who was only loyal to his purse.

The Tulza’s waned into nothingness over a span of roughly 15 years after the Steel fist refused to work for them. At least once did the Tulza's suffer from a manhunt, but records are hard to come by.
The Tulza family was recorded as extinct by the year 437.

The following 45 years are shrouded in myth, lost records and simple bad memory. A few mentions of the company exist but few have exact dates.

461: The Steel fist is mentioned in a report about Windermere. The mention is short and their captain is listed as Nathan Goyle. This makes sense since James Formery would have been 75 years old at this time and probably have not led the Steel fist for some time.

462: The Steel fist celebrates 50 years. Many reports of increased disruption can be found in the Windemere provinces for a time. A 3 month span according to reports.

467: The Steel fist is listed as participants in a troops record of the forces of Nash. Border skirmishes and waning diplomatic relations between Nash and Orog during the time does make the companies presence and employment does make sense. However no true battles are recorded between Nash and Orog during the time and their relations stabilized over the next five years.

470: The Steel fist makes an official plead for aid to several towns, and the city of Nyhem. Records state that the company suffered a tragic accident while they were travelling through the Irman strait by ship. Apparently two vessels ran aground and thus inflicted heavy losses in manpower, but primarily materiel.
The plead was written by Felicia Hartshyre. It is unknown if she was the captain of the force or if she was tasked with the plead. There is rumours that the previous captain was killed in the accident which complicates record keeping further. However a certain Doroka Hawk is seen within the list of survivors.

471: The Steel fist is restructured by their new captain, Dory Moor "The Dwarf." The records on this event is rather extensive and include an order for a new equipment standard. And that their equipment was now owned by the company and not individually paid for.
The company is designed with the armament types wielded to this day. Heavy cuirasses, polearms and crossbows. The company kept making minor changes in the equipment thereafter, mostly following technological advancements.
The nickname of captain Moor is often mentioned in records and rumors claim he was an actual dwarf. But evidence speaks directly against this, since the then most famous armour-smith in Nyhem was tasked with a suit of armour that he described as "Fit for a giant." Probably referring to captain Moor which means the nickname is probably a joke.

474: The battle of Alenius. Captain Dory Moor leads the Steel fist into the heartland of what today is known as Alenius. Reportedly the force was to seek out and destroy a dragon to quote "Prove that dwarves smote harder than beast." The whole ordeal ended in catastrophe as the expedition was ill prepared and suffered from food shortage. It is also told that the company resorted to heavy pillaging in the area. But little proof can be found.
The force achieved one of its main objectives though as it was attacked by a dragon. Reportedly the battle was a great confusion. The ranged forces were scattered and the beast also never landed.
A small poem of the event lives on in a very select few books and known by tongue within the Steel fist company itself.
					"Dory the Moor, most dwarven in lore."
				"The beast faced the fist, but the fist had no gist."
					"Dwarf ordered loose, that hail was death."
				"For not once it struck black scale, but many struck flesh."
					"By miracle or luck, large bolt was flung."
        			     "Pierced was black scale, beast wings now hung."
				  "From the sky beast fell, upon the banner of the fist."
 				    "A crash was its landing, our banner now in dung."
			 "And from under the beast, an arm of a dwarf, clenched with ringed mesh."
				     "And thus Dory the Moor, most dwarven in lore."
						   "Dwarven no more."

The poem describes the battle and the fate of the captain of the Steel fist. With massive losses and the loss of their captain the force left Alenius.

475: A large draft was made in Telmarion, the reason it is of note is that the whole ordeal really upset the local government. There is even reports of skirmishes. "The hunt for Hoyt." was a local phrase used by some in Telmarion during the time. Which could refer to the name of the Steel Fists captain.

475: Rumour has it there was an uprising within the Steel fist, if it was one or more people is hard to know. But several people were killed.

478: The first recorded instance of "Old" Doroka Hawk being the captain of the steel fist. Rumours claim he officially took over after cpt Moor, other rumours claim he was leading the force while Moor took the credit.
It is however important to not ask steel fist personnel of this, since it is practise within the company to blatantly lie about when mr Hawk took over the company. Since some claims even predates the end of the elven invasion and some claim how mr Hawk helped the Remonnets take over Formaroth. Which is simply falsehoods.
It is however evident through several reports that mr Hawk has been active within the steel fist for a long time.

488: House De Reimer intercepts a courier with a letter to the Steel fist from house Hieze. The letter was an invitation for employment and would probably have swung the events in the following year in another way should the fist have fought for house Hieze.

489: De Reimer employs the Steel fist, but the fist suffers from problems with transportation and arrives too late to make a significant impact. The Steel fist is therefore only mentioned in a single battle.

491: The steel fist is hired by House Manshrew to defend house Willow. However the battles are not in the favor of the Steel Fist and while horrendous losses were inflicted on enemy forces, the Steel Fist is ultimately beaten and forced to retreat.

492: Early in the year Doroka Hawk gives a formal statement that the steel fist is far too beaten up to take any contracts of employment for the time being.
It is evident that this was probably an act of reason. The Steel fist is reported to have fought in multiple conflicts in the years leading up to this decision.
But it is also evident that mr Hawk could have done this to protect the Steel fist. Many rumors exist but few can be proven.

494: After an extended rest and an influx of new recruits Doroka Hawk leads the Steel fist to Beilokias to begin a contract for the elven kingdom. Rumour has it the Steel fist was pressured from multiple sides to change loyalties to several formaroth households. Especially during the civil war but also after the civil war.
There is also rumours of threats of assassinations and treachery. Barely any which can be proved.
Doroka Hawk is believed to have left Formaroth for the time being to properly safeguard the company for the future.

497: Command is let over to Claus Rotstein when Doroka Hawk retires. Different sources about mr Hawk are available, but it is generally agreed upon that he was either 63 or 85 years old. Interestingly enough it seems as if you look upon mr Hawk in person that the later age is the correct one.

498: The battle of Shrooms. A rather inglorious event with rather good reports refer to the battle of Shrooms. Apparently it was a lengthy siege against a city of elven revolters, but the Steel fist had received the wrong location or there was a misunderstanding.
The result was however that Claus had his men cleave their way through an extensive Beilokian fungi forest for 2 weeks trying to locate the fortress. When the correct location was finally received Claus was much angered since the 2 weeks of hard work was completely in vain.
When the defenders of the castle asked for a parley Claus was repeatedly insulted and quote "offered fungi stew" that he called off the negotiations as fraud. It's later been proven that the parley actually was delaying tactics.
A later report states "Rotstein fell down upon the fortress with unspeakable force, within a day the keep was razed and the Steel fist burned two fungi forests."
Soldiers whom remember the event claim it was pure slaughter, and that Claus acted more like a madman than a captain. Fighting with blade in hand instead of commanding.

500: The battle of hymns. The steel fist engages in a land battle against an army of Vogani in their homeland aiding the elves in their conquests. Curiously enough there was massive casualties on all sides except for the Steel fist whom lost no lives and had few wounded.
While facts of the battle are hard to come by, the Steel fist claims they were superior at arms. While the numbers suggest they did not enter the battle itself until the very end.
Accurate records are hard to obtain of this incident.

501: The siege of Krypola. The steel fist enters a siege against the fortress city of Krypola which is fought against revolting elven slaves.

502: The siege of Krypola ends with a large scale battle inside its walls. The Steel fist however does not participate. Why this is does not come up in records.
The Steel Fist then returns to Beilokias to root out rebels once more.

503: With the contract with the elves complete the Steel fist returns to Formaroth in Scassia. It then marches to the capitol of Nyhem. Disrupting the grieving populace after the death of King John Remonnet. Claus Rotstein is imprisoned and tried at court but found innocent.

503: The Steel fist was employed by the imperial concord, Claus Rotstein leading the defense force of Telmarion on order by the De'Reimer family.
The army of the concord clashed with the combined army of Andrew Manshrew and many of his allies. The battle was a massive slaughter, thousands perished on both sides as the Steel fist engaged with unbridled fury after the local commander Orland Tuania sent in his forces without consulting Claus.
Claus Rotstein performed an impressive tactical feat and managed to save his outnumbered army from annihilation.
However, the cost was high.

503: The siege of Clarm commences. The steel fist are in charge of the command and defence of the massive stronghold and its surrounding town.
The fighting is fierce and after a week of siege the Manshrew alliance attack the city. The town falls but the stronghold within still stands under the command of Claus Rotstein. He also orders hit and run strikes against the Manshrew forces trying to peacefully occupate the town.
After several days more, the Alliance are forced into action by the closing reinforcement armies of the Imperial Concord and thus assault Clarm.
The town is taken with force but the steel fist manages to halt the destruction of the gate. A massive war elephant was used to drag down the gate but with a daring raid performed by Claus Rotstein he managed to take it out. Prolonging the siege. Roogel Therp takes temporary command over the steel fist when Claus Rotstein goes missing after the raid.

Ey, don't apologize, i told you so you could improve the map.

I'll now make an initial draft of the character, it might even lack some stuff. But it will show what my character is roughly about.
I also need to come up with a cool name....
Oh, and fun fact, "Nyhem" means NewHome in Swedish :P

Name:  Claus Rotstein

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Position: Lieutenant at arms, Captain of the "Steel fist" mercenary group.

Personality: Brash and a bit boastful, he drives his men hard but not too much. He is known as a tough leader but fair. When he can he tries to fix up some extra bonuses for his men, and at times even pay from his own pockets.

Appearance: Claus Rotstein is rather tall, with a rough face with several minor scars and a large scar running across his nose from his right side eyebrow to the left side of his jaw. Dark hair and dull blue eyes.
He wears a very nice tailored suit of plate armour with a lot of subtle, yet beutiful decor. The cuirass has his companies icon painted on it, the clenched white fist atop a black background.
He carries a flamberge greatsword and a mace, he has a decorated battle horn and a decorated misericord dagger.

Background: His family was burghers of minor renown whom tended a region of farms for the lord of Scassia.  was the second son and thus wouldn't inherit much.
The local lord though took him in as a man at arms for his personal army, and as such he was trained to become a potent fighter. He served the lord for many years and was rather successful.... apart from his darker side.
When he drank he became harsh and at times violent, and it showed that the monotone duties of his service in a low combat area made him take to the tankard more and more often.
He finally took a step to far and was dismissed from service after punching a noble 3rd son and trying to approach his sister. He was demoted to lieutenant after his family helped him out.

His life now in ruins he took even more to the tankard and eventually got thrown out from his home. Eventually he joined the Steel fist mercenary company. He quickly got a recognition because of his great battle prowess and men at arms training.
The varied duties also kept him from drinking, which his fellows from now on made sure so he didn't drink to much.
After many years of service, the old company captain decided to retire, Claus Rotstein was selected for his outstanding service and promoted to captain.

The Steel fist now returns from a campaign in the north west, having fought for the elven kingdom in several conflicts during seven years. (The Steel fist has returned home from time to time during this period.)
The steel fist consists of mainly battle hardened fighters, with some new trainees as with any army. The army has good knowledge in sieges as well.

Gear. Halberdiers, about this. But with halberds and some tassets. They carry maces as well.
youtu.be/FH9yjmmAE3k?t=1m49s

Pavise crossbowmen, about the same but with a pavise shield and a heavy windup crossbow and a mace.
The Steel fist numbers 1500 men, 500 of which are crossbowmen.

Skills and traits: Claus Rotstein is a skilled swordsman and has a strong voice, he is a potent commander.

I write the things i know he has training or exposure in.
Swordsman    - Grand master
Other combat - Master
Strategy     - Adept
Tactics      - Master
Economics    - Adept
Negotiation  - Adept
Politics     - Mediocre
Motivator    - Expert
Intimidate   - Expert
Farming      - Mediocre

Klomster Member

The man, the myth, the legend.

Status

Recent Statuses

Bio

Most Recent Posts