It's not very usual but I've seen some documented cases of child soldiers in WWI at the very least (as an example of child soldiers in legitimate armies, and not some African warlord's drag band). And 'camp people' were a thing, be they traders, washers, cooks or prostitutes.
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It wasn't unusual for young men to be considered adults by medieval standards. He was pressganged into service and was a bugle boy who also mended shirts and trousers. He was 14 when he crossed into Cyrodiil, if that's worth anything. Also, I'll just change it to a J soon. Changed.
I see, that makes sense.
And I assume you approve of your own char, Leiden?
-In Nordic orthography, the palatal approximant is represented by <j> rather than <y>. Which means your guy should be "Jorwen" instead of "Yorwen". With that said, it seems like the old Atmoran spelling used <y>, so if you want to keep his name, add an explanation for that old-fashioned spelling. -I doubt the Legion would conscript someone at the age of 13. Either he lied to join, pressured by peer, or taken by more unorthodox commanders.
@ClocktowerEchos Did you ninja in a skill? I swear there was one less...
@HHShetland Standing in this corner; hailing from Riften, Skyrim; the undercat champion; Tennant Ibnazh!
They used to be pretty commonplace in Morrowind. But I guess being chronologically 200 years in the past doesn't help.
Pardon me if I'm about to say anything wrong, it's been a while since I played Morrowind.
There were two types of crossbows in Morrowind, Steel and Dwarven. The Dwarven variant is not common at all, so it's out of the question. Steel Xbows, on the other hand, is only mass-produced by professional organizations like the Imperial Legion. Remember the Legion were much more powerful in the 3rd era than the 4th, which translates to less crossbows produced today. Although they take less training to shoot, they make for it with more training to maintain. A crossbow is mechanically complex relative to the standard bow. Not to mention, building bolts require a different and less known process than arrows.
I'm looking through the sheets right now, will get back to you guys ASAP.
@HHShetland The gist of your character is good, but it is over the top at certain parts.
-Master skills are no longer allowed, in addition, putting in weaknesses also does not automatically grant you skill points. Plus, lack of weapon and armor can be easily sidestepped by Tennant. You must reduce hand-to-hand to expert (at least), and choose one of the following. A; bust both athletics and unarmored to adept. B; lower one of them, but change woodworking and acrobatics to apprentice. -You said Do'Zaddha couldn't even remember Tennant's name but still saw him as more than a ticket to fame. What exactly do you mean here? How much did Do'Zaddha value Tennant? -Beating a troll with his bare hands in kind of a stretch, even for a expert. It's like killing a gorilla in a fist fight. I don't care if you're Hulk Hogan, Mike Tyson or Kim Jung-il, it's not gonna happen. He must need some kind of edge over the troll, whether that be the troll was injured, poisoned, or Tennant sneaked up on it.
@ClocktowerEchosThere are some issues, I can't accept it at this state.
-Half-Orc is not gonna cut it, especially when it's his father's half. If he doesn't know exactly, put the race he looks like the most, or the one people associate him with the most. -Crossbows are rare tech on Tamriel. A band of "merry hunters" are not likely to have one, and even if they do, ammo is gonna be another problem. I advise switching to bow, or downgrading it to a semi-functional piece with less than 10 bolts. -Personality seems to be very brief and lacking, please expand with more details. -Please mind you writing, words and phrases like "sniper", "CQC" and "mountain climbing pick" do not fit the setting. For the the pick in particular, ice picks aren't invented until the 18th century. Before that, people used Alpenstocks. -What is his hood really enchanted with? If you don't want to reveal to everyone else, at least PM Leiden and I.
@gcold I think it owuld be best if we went with the idea you mentioned of pairing the blade skills to 1H blade, 1H blunt, 2H blade, 2H blunt. It makes it simplier when it comes to make a bio or at least it does from my perspective, Not to mention it owuld be a bit awkward/wierd to have something, like this "1 Handed expert, Blade adept" in the skill section of a bio. But that's my take on the issue and I might nto be gettign the full pciture.
I don't think so. Best check with Gcold next time you get a chance, though. I'm a bit rusty on that point too and we're still trying to hammer out the CS and the skills. I do want to see if we're on the same page about taking Shield off the list. I mean, there's not really much skill to using a shield. You just really put it on your arm and now its there.
Sure it doesn't take much skill to put it on your arm, using it effectively in combat does. Everyone can hold it in front of their face, but there's a lot of tricks with it. Angles in which you hold it can be important, for example, if you do not give enough coverage for your legs, you'll find arrows or spells kneecapping you. On the other hand, it also takes training and experience to pair the shield up with an one handed weapon. Knowing when to cover up, when to swing, how to optimize swinging that piece of metal and bashing with another piece of wood is no easy feat.
Shield formations back in the days are highly-trained, or least the winning ones. Hell, even modern day cops train with riot shields.
So my take is, shield stays.
Regarding 1H/2H and blunt/blade, I'm willing to change to; 1H blade, 1H blunt, 2H blade, 2H blunt. Let me know if that's what you want.
Caileach
It is a Celtic name. Celtic names are associated with Reachman, and occasionally, Bretons. I would suggest one of two changes. First, a Latinized variant, something like Caeloux. Alternatively, you could insert some Reachmen lineage in his history.
Jade-studded silver ring (owners: Sadri, given to Solveig) Compiled notes on Kamal forces (owner: Ariane) Morrowind ebony ceremonial sword (owner: Trius, given to Orakh, seized by Edith) Dawnguard crossbow, armor piercing bolts x5 (owner: Rhasha'dar, given to R'ihanna) Snake-whisperer's poisoned flute (owner: Farid, seized by Ashav) Snake-whisperer's journal (owner: Leif) Jarl Lodvemar's proposals of 204 (owner: Ashav) Saxhleel ring w/ minor magic boosting enchantment (owner: Tsleeixth) Sanitation Guide to Tamriel (owner: Madura, given to Hargjorn)
Keegan Vasque - Arson; wanted by the City of Daggerfall - Sentence: fine and imprisonment Sadri Beleth - Slavery; wanted by the An-Xileel - Sentence: imprisonment and hard labor Jonimir - Necromancy; wanted by Synod - Sentence: magical rehabilitation Felix aep Caileach - Sedition; wanted by the Elder Council (pardon underway) - Sentence: death Rozalia Éathliel - Treason and Theft; wanted by Haafingar Guards - Sentence: fine and imprisonment Vurwe Highorin - Hound and Slender; wanted by Evermore Inn - Sentence: fine Raelyn Giordano - Hate Speech; wanted by Elsweyr Bards Guild - Sentence: public apology Elmera Sarandas, Valen Alveul, Niernen Venim, Sadri Beleth - Treason; wanted by Morrowind Justice Ministry - Sentence: slavery or death
A short but tough as nail Redguard, at the last month his 48th year, with countless scars everywhere. His voice is jagged and guttural; according to himself, his vocal cords were ravaged by a disease he contracted from a rare mountain creature. If you were recruited out of Markarth, this was the man you met. He is bald, partially shaven and known for his dirty bandana. In combat, Ashav wears a steel chest plate, steel helmet and leather for the rest. In his youth, the man would have been a fierce sight with his greatsword, but both his vigor and his trusty blade were lost in battle.
Ashav is a bold commander, doing things others consider reckless. He is controversial among peers, superiors and inferiors. There were those who question his decision of putting mission ahead of lives, but others say he has proven results and casualties are simply inevitable. Some would connect his disregard for life with his recruitment method, which is hiring only for the job. Ashav himself asserts otherwise; permanent units require high maintenance costs, and temporary groups are more adaptive. Whatever the case, no one could argue with his twenty-plus years of experience; from his home in Rihad to the streets of Bravil, from the pines of Northpoint to the wetlands of Stormhold. His last assignment was in early 205, when his company and the Nordic Army destroyed a band of swamp raiders (rumors say they were rival sellswords). Ashav might be a grim looking man, but spend a night around the campfire and you'll hear many adventures.
It didn't take more than a week for this thirty-five year old Nord man to be universally hated. With left side of face charred from glancing lightning bolt and left eye covered with a patch, this axe fighter is still a respectable force in battle. But off battle, he has an incredibly unwelcoming personality. Most people would probably start with his name. According to himself, he once killed a Khajiit bandit by punting its guts out. The more observant would then ask, "what type of Khajiit?" Ashav always shook his head, his reply was not much, "doesn't matter, none of them are any good". The Khajiits themselves claimed he killed an Alfiq.
According to Ashav, Dumhuvud started in the Imperial Legion. Halfway through the civil war, when the fourth legion gradually fell to the Stormcloaks, Dumhuvud and a band of fellow Nordic legionaries switched sides. His Stormcloak service records were unremarkable, an average soldier with scant understanding in tactics. What Ashav saw in Dumhuvud, nobody was certain. His official role as battlemaster consisted of organizing formations and ensure morale stays up. Much of his duties overlap and was overtaken by Ashav. Though there was one thing he did very well; keeping everyone's opinions united against him. It didn't really come as much surprise, seeing that he is basically omniphobic towards everyone.
A Nord hailing from Falkreath, Edith is rather young, at the age of twenty-eight. She is a smith, but also dabbles in provisioning and alchemy. Between the grim faced Ashav and the disagreeable Dumhuvud, Edith is well-liked. Slightly taller than an average Nordic woman, and blessed with long blonde hair that was often tied in knotted braids. Even though she stays behind and tinker with equipment most of the time, she is also skilled with the shield and fights on the frontline when needed.
Edith is cousin to Svari Ice-Heart, a woman rumored to be the leader of a growing rebellion. In her youth, they would play with wooden swords and dream about joining the legendary Companions. Svari, who was older by two years, grew up first and grew out of her fantasy. Edith, on the other hand, never stopped pursuing her dreams. But when she finally trained well enough, the Companions rejected her. She forged and fought well with a shield, but blades and mead were not as favorable. In the same week, she met another former Companion, who was expelled due to orthodox actions. That man was Ashav.
A Bosmer, but native to Skyrim. Before signing up with Ashav, Daelin was part of the Forenya Bosmeri for more than forty years, a Wood Elf clan settled in southern Rift several decades ago. This clan of Bosmers initially fled north from Thalmor, who were exercising eminent domain on their Valenwood homes. That's what Daelin says anyways, and he's got a unique bone-crafted bow to back it up. From Ashav's words, he met Daelin a bit after encountering Dumhuvud and Edith. It was a moment in Riften's marketplace, where Daelin pick-pocketed Ashav but immediately knocked himself out against a light pole.
As the lead scout, Dealin often operates with four other runners. But since Windhelm, all of his men (including his favorite; Utu-ja), fell to the Kamal. In his typical manner, Daelin distracted himself from grief by working until his limbs collapsed. Therefore, the Bosmer archer rarely had time to sleep, and compensated by chewing on traditional energy mixtures. He would keep his eyes open, jot down any rumors and painstakingly analyze them time after time. Fellow mercenaries rarely saw or heard from him. Those rare glances would be shown with short brown mohawk, and surprising muscular build for a sharpshooter.
Joining at Windhelm, Ariane is the latest member of Ashav's advisers. She was introduced by the company's then secret employer, Gustav, who promised Ashav a competent mage after learning about potent Forsworn magic. She is young, only in her mid twenties and skin still youthfully smooth. She stands just under 160cm(5'2) and has a petite frame. She wears a light but fine robes, combined with a warm shawl. Her face is ordinary for a Breton, her nose is slightly retreating and her ears minor alongside rest of her features. On top of her head are black and short curly hair. She carries no weapon.
She is niece to Horace Fontaine, a famous patron of the arts in Daggerfall. Ariane's younger days proved her prodigal acquisition of the magical arts. As her family were wealthy, she was afforded a personal tutor before enrolling in the College of Whispers. Specializing in the partially phased out school of mysticism, Ariane apprenticed to a number of venerable masters and scoured every dusty tome in the library. Soon enough, she was frustrated to hit one too many dead ends, as mysticism was no longer regarded valid by modern scholars. Instead, she left the college and went to study on her own. Some say she spent time with the Wyrd Sisters of Daenia.
Young and full of energy, Cilo Livius is frankly not much different than any of the hired muscle of his age – but, somehow, either through sheer optimism, or stupidity, or both, Cilo has managed to keep his childlike wonder alive. Or maybe it’s just that the blow that made the mark on his forehead has done more damage than just scarring his looks. A proud Imperial, despite Nordic features, and a veteran of the Imperial Legion, Cilo is actually quite capable, despite his gullible exterior, and does not like to disappoint.
The recent events have probably been the most exciting happenings in Cilo’s life as of yet. Hailing from Bruma to a family of glassmakers, Cilo hadn’t really done much but be one of those kids from the neighborhood up until joining the Imperial Legion to impress a girl. Of course, Cilo did not know that you were put under contract and couldn’t quit until serving a certain amount of time, and found himself as a legionary in the 9th Nibenese Legion, where he served for about three years. Cilo was able to leave the Imperial Legion after he got scarred in the forehead by a swordsman who cleaved straight through his helmet with a large sword. Not wishing to go back to Bruma a failure, Cilo signed up with the East Empire Company to make lots of riches. He failed, and now that every other East Empire Company member has died, it appears he’s free, and once more, in need of a vessel to carry him to glory and riches.
Karena and Hargjorn: Captain and first mate of the Kyne's Tear, respectively
Gustav; an extremely wealthy Nord business man, apparently the benefactor of Ashav's company. He, in turn, acts under the guidance of a wise prophet
Dough-Boy; Nord errand boy and Ashav's personal messenger
Halla; Jorwen's wife and Solveig's mother
Cleftjaw; Jorwen's friend, last survivor of his posse
Mire and Brittle; Jorwen's old acquaintances; his frienemies
Absent NPCs
Kattun: male Dunmer, novice Azura priest - Returned to Morrowind to seek truth behind Dunmer-Kamal alliance.
R'ihanna: female Khajiit, wandering bard - Accompanied Kattun to Morrowind; they have apparently fallen in love with each other.
S'riracha; male Khajiit, hot sauce merchant - Disappeared after a ship wreck.
Frold, Alarik and Vori; a trio of Windhelm guards befriended by Sagax - Last seen moving to Solitude.
Ander; male Nord, thief - Missing after escaping Windhelm
Hroman; male Nord, Dawnguard - Missing after escaping Windhelm
Munoel; male Dunmer, Dawnguard - Missing after escaping Windhelm
Anika; female Nord, Dawnguard/vampire - Last seen imprisoned in Windhelm
Lord Borni; male Nord, merchant - Last seen traveling to Falkreath
Pakseech Tzinasha: male Argonian, leader of the Dawnstar Argonian refugees - Dead: Unknown cause - Location: Dawnstar refugee camp, the Pale
Gordo; male Dunmer, brute and Vurwe's henchman - Dead: Gang beaten by Argonians - Location: Dawnstar, the Pale
Aenar; male Nord, White River Braves fighter - Dead: Skewered by spear - Location: Nightgate Inn, the Pale
Pakseech of Windhelm; male Argonian, community elder - Dead: Explosion - Location: Kamal frigate, Sea of Ghosts
Skitprat the Salty; Dumhuvud's follower - Dead: Torn larynx from ice projectile - Location: Windhelm, Eastmarch
Bjorn the Bald; Felix's friend - Dead: Crushed by atronach - Location: Windhelm, Eastmarch
Helmi the Hammer; Felix's friend - Dead: Cleaved by axe - Location: Windhelm, Eastmarch
Madura is a curious one, a Dunmer trading not in steel and blood, but in ink and papers. He did not come to the Reach to fight, and probably never had the intention to. Maduras works for the Tamrielic Gazette as an embedded reporter. His career started as a delivery boy in Cheydinhal, handing out papers for the first thirty years of his life. Then, he finally became recognized enough to be a full-on writer. He spent the next twenty years critiquing art, food and literature, which included a controversial re-examination of The Lusty Argonian Maid. Since the dragons' return in 201, Maduras moved to Skyrim and had been documenting various conflicts ever since.
Madura is often found in his personal tent, which is said to be enchanted against rainfall. He wears a woodsman's outfit and an awkward iron helmet sits atop of his unkempt black hair. Despite how out of place he seems, Madura never missed the opportunity of interviewing mercenaries. His questions everyone regarding their motives, their tactics and how they lived beforehand.
It was said his family descended from Ashlanders, but Maduras would not discuss this issue further. He said his elder brother, Narivar, embarked on a root-tracing journey after the Nerevarine's return, which Maduras himself lamented as a foolish waste of time. However, the journalist met his brother in an unexpected reunion, while following the mercenary company into a Dwemer ruin. In a brief but violent clash, Madura convinced Narivar to not fight to the death. Afterwards, the brothers departed to seek truth from Narivar's contractor; the Nerevarine.
Dead
Overconfident, perhaps rightfully so due to his expertise as a skirmisher, Farid wields a shortsword and dagger with deadly precision. He originates from large, poor Redguard family in Dragon Gate. Mercenary work is both for his own profit and sending gold back to his younger siblings.
Originally born as Farid af-Shadar, he chose to discard his matronymic due his mother's wasteful gambling addictions. To the best of his knowledge, Farid's father was also a Redguard.
On the 19th of Sun's Height, news of the massacre of Dragon Gate was publicized on the Tamrielic Gazette. The Orc responsible was the former protegee of Orakh. Farid was so angry to hear the loss of siblings that he murdered Orakh as revenge. Shortly after, it was discovered that he was partially manipulated by the head of a rival company. Farid challenged Ashav's authority and was killed by his representative; Daixanos.
Notable Foes
Sean: (Dead) A dim-witted mage reglected to latrine duty.
Smokey: (Dead) A magically mutated monster bear, said to be originally created against forest fires.
Mehm Zoar: A ruthless Redguard professional warrior, founded the Vanguards after splitting with Ashav a decade ago.
Morg Gra-Nattog: An Orc smith serving as Mehm's housecarl, after he saved her live from a group of assailants.
Wuleen-Ka: The Vanguards' lead scout and spymaster is this mysterious Argonian.
Moraya: After Ashav rejected her application, she was recruited by Mehm instead.
Hakkeam: The lord-marshal of all Kamal forces, killed the jarl of Windhelm in a duel.
Tliskev: Responsible for overseeing occupied territories and liaising with Dunmer allies.
Dzuungits: Formerly a mid-ranking officer, field promoted to replace an incompetement cavalry leader.
Eviake: A lieutenant leading the Kamals forward scouts.
Kghergitz: (Dead) Frigate captain, commands a ship full of Tamrielic slaves.
Captain Orio Diip: A Dunmer heading the Armiger garrison on Bleakrock Isle.
Lieutenant Raili: (Dead) An Ashlander heading an advanced landing party between Winterhold and Dawnstar.
"Snake Whisperer": (Dead) An Argonian woman living with her pet basilisk in Windhelm sewers, supposedly learned snake charming from a Maormer.
Gwiniir: (Dead) Jonimir's former apprentice, expelled due to his pyromaniac hobby of cleaning "impure" trees outside of Valenwood.