This is a Fall From Heaven AAR. Bannors are crusaders of FfH, their backstroy can be found in spoiler tag.
I took Sabathiel as a leader, he is Charismatic and Organized.
Chapter I
-„Here?“
Bannor people looked confused. Their journey was finally over. They were no longer in hell. But this was no Erebus as they remembered it. Everything was gone. Every trace of civilization, magnificent cities, prosperous farms and villages, roads, all gone. Gone and replaced with huge sheets of ice and tundra. Nicholas, the eldest of the elders answered the peoples cries:
-„Sabathiel said it would be like this. When Bhall fell, Age of Ice came. Apparently we haven't fared worst, we could as well remain in frozen hell. “
-„Yeah, but of all places on Erebus, we had to come HERE. I mean look at this. Huge mountains, forests, tundra...“ -Someone from the mob shouted.
-„Well, Sabathiel wouldn't lead us here if he didn't think that this place is good. Besides, Age of Ice just ended, it should get warmer here soon enough, and our scouts already found sheep and corn on the east. We will just have to start it all over again. A new beginning, to build a new world, but this time it will be a better world, with no evil, with no fear. A world of justice and order, where strong will not harm the weak, a world of law and righteousness, a world of BANNOR!“
So the Torrolerial was build, and inside a great palace which will serve as a center of new Bannor government and administration, but also a place from where Sabathiel will contact and lead Bannor, being unable to directly enter Erebus, or anything in The Creation.
As we found soon enough, we are not alone. A scout reported a settlement of wild, green-skinned, feral people nearby, so strange they couldn't be humans. No one knew who or what they are but Sabathiel once again had the answer: Orcs, a twisted people of Bhall have built their settlement just south of us. They are our fierce and sworn enemies, standing against all our ideals, and they think just the same about us, they will attack us in the future without warning.
Soon enough we find more of their kind, often avoiding fight with them. But some of them organized into a 'Clan of Embers' , and think that they are not as primitive. They offered us a peace, which we accepted, but it is not a real peace: They are living in a city previously known as Braduk, where we came from, shamelessly tainting it. All Orcs are the same, and we will not sleep calmly until all of them are gone from the Creation.
*New Goal: Eliminate all Orcs, barbs or Clan.
Our first encounter with The Clan. Due to signed truce, it went on without fight, but we don't trust them at all
Our warriors dispatched to explore the world around us have found a small settlement. This one was not populated by the wild orcs, but with genuine humans, struggling to survive the Age of Ice, apparently at this point sucessfully. They taught us how to fish, that is how they survived the Age of Ice.
They are not the only one who fish. A descendants of the pirates from the Age of Magic have also organized into nation, and are now standing ready to enter a new age. They called themselves the 'Lanun', a word unknown to us previously. But Erebus was changed greatly, and once great oceans are now a little more than a large lakes. We will be interested to see how will they fare in the future, but also remain cautious: They are not a good nation we can rely upon.
We also meet similar wild people called Doviello. They are indeed human, but so savage we wish they weren't humans, that we could simply call them Beasts.
We also heard that the Red Dragon appeared somewhere, but it is too far away to give us any concerns.
We met Hippus, horse lords and mercenaries. There is hope for them, if we can bring them on our side, but if not, it is the war pending. We will see.
It's a bit dull to report through early phase but we will now learn how Bannor deal with insanity and first Bannor victory.
Today something strange happened on the Royal Court.
When heard about this, Sabathiel was enraged. He demanded a to see this woman. She was a former artist, a creative and innovative person, as she described herself. But Sabathiel had no ear for her. This wasting of money is offense on very roots of Bannor society. He exiled her out of Torrolerial, and also few of her superiors , as they were responsible she got in charge in the first place.
This was an great example to everyone of how a Bannor society shall be lead.
One of our warriors dispatched to explore found a Bear Den. Bears are strong so we should stay clear from them.
Later on the same Warriors get attacked by pack of wolves and survive the attack.
We discovered Animal Husbandry, allowing our scouts to learn how to subdue animals. Scouts were already prepared in Torrolerial and taught how to do so. After their education they were sent on east to explore and hopefully bring home some animals for our carnivals.
Near Torrolerial villagers built a new pasture, making a great example of Bannor virtue.
Sabathiel ordered that settlement Myrean must be taken from unholy horde of Orcs.Four warrior regiments were dispatched to take the settlement. Ors are strong and numerous, but unruly and disorganized. As Sabathiel told their men: A horde of unruly Orcs is no more an army than a heap of building material is a house. And Bannor strength is in organization.
This was indeed true as some of Orcs stormed on our sieging troops, foolishly attempting a counterattack instead of waiting inside a city.
Finally settlement is taken. 2 regiments were lost, but it is not too much of a loss. Dead were buried with greatest honors. Surviving two regiments were awarded with prestigious titles. There were still humans inside the town and they welcomed Bannor liberators, offering them sanctuary. With this valorous gesture, there is no doubt this is Bannor land now!
Spoiler :
The Bannor started with a handful of people, trapped in hell during the fall of Braduk but rescued by Sabathiel, an angel in Junil's service. In exchange for their salvation, the spirits bound themselves and their descendants to ceaselessly battle the forces of chaos and disorder. As Sabathiel led the honourable spirits forth into the light, they formed the vanguard in a devastating war against the Clan of Embers, even more powerful then than they are today. Throughout the entire Age of Magic, the Bannor waged brutal and merciless war not only on the Clan, but on all who would not submit to law and order.[PARAGRAPH:1]Throughout this war of liberation and extermination, these heroes of an ancient age forged conquered, allied, and submitting tribes, cities, and nations into a human empire which, with the aid and guidance of Sabathiel, has stood firm even against the ravages of the Age of Ice, when all other nations were scattered and confounded. Though a shadow of its former power, the Bannor have already begun the work of rebuilding their strength to continue the fight their mythical forefathers swore them to.[PARAGRAPH:1]This continuing Holy War permeates every part of their society, leaving it almost totally militarised. For the Bannor, there is no clear line between religion, family, and politics. They apply a frightening religious fervour to the art of war, and their obsession with order makes even the peasant regiments among the best drilled of all the empires. All men are trained from childhood in the arts of war – hand to hand combat, archery, self defence, strength, and agility. Unlike most other societies, there are plenty of possibilities for rising through the ranks through bravery and skill, a fact which inspires as much if not more fighting fervour than the religious element.[PARAGRAPH:1]Because they need to be defended and ready at all times, outlying villages are more like forts, every farm is a small castle, the cities are huge garrison towns but also centers of trade, religion, and diplomacy. Few men are without scars from battle and the women are strongwilled and hardened. They know that the children they raise may one day be lost in battle, and they also know that one day the war may come to them. It is a rare woman among the Bannor that cannot handle a sword. [PARAGRAPH:1]A central part of understanding the fabric of Bannor society is understanding the split between estates and "free land". The estates are enormous tracts of land, almost sub-kingdoms, under the rule of an Order, a Family or one of those peculiarities of the Bannor: a Hereditary Order – a religious order with members exclusively from one clan. Centered on a stronghold or small fortified city, the main function of the estates is to provide the necessary resources to field one Order or Family division, the powerful and highly dedicated fighting forces that make up the feared backbone of the Bannor armies.[PARAGRAPH:1]The lion's share of the land in the Bannor empire is the "free land". The villages and cities that occupy and make a living off this land must, in addition to paying taxes and organising their own defences, provide a number of soldiers, fully trained and equipped, according to the wealth of the settlement. Although the Orders and Families are the spearhead and armoured fist of Bannor armies, "free land" conscripts provide the bulk forces that are needed to carry a battle.[PARAGRAPH:1]By far the most numerous of the estate-holders, the non-hereditary Orders will take fighters from all across the world, all nations and races. Those deemed worthy in prowess and intelligence are taught in the ways and language of the Bannor and then join the fighting forces on the same footing as native Bannor.[PARAGRAPH:1]The hereditary Orders are in reality families that have founded or taken over control of an Order. All the major positions are held by and passed down from father to son, uncle to nephew, like any usual aristocratic title. It is one of the few options a rich non-noble family has of gaining an estate and the power and responsibility that comes with it.[PARAGRAPH:1]The noble Families all trace their lineage back to one of the spirits that Sabathiel set free. They use this holy heritage to legitimize their enormous power, and it is the reason the priesthood tolerates their existence and their meddling in the running of things. There are very few Families, but every one of them wields as much power and wealth as an Order. However, the priesthood keeps these secular powerhouses under careful and strict control, lest they attempt to change the fabric of Bannor society.[PARAGRAPH:1]The highly-trained and well-equipped men who fight in the professional divisions of the Orders and Families come from a variety of backgrounds and fight for any number of reasons: Some do it for money or status, some few do it for glory or personal revenge, but most do it because they truly believe they are are on the front line of the war against Evil.[PARAGRAPH:1]As any Bannor priest could tell you, the war fought by the Bannor is far more complicated than than a simple Good-Evil battle. The priesthood, under the guidance of Sabathiel (or so they claim) decide who is an enemy. Although they have yet to fight a civilization that conforms to some kind of law and sense of justice and compassion, few who can avoid it dare cross the Bannor, lest they be "damned" and added to the list of civilizations that must be taught to repent.[PARAGRAPH:1]The focal point of the entire Bannor Empire is their capital, centered around the Bannor Palace, The Halls of Sabathiel. Although still recognizably a garrison city, it is also a sprawling, international metropolis matched by few other cities in Erebus. This is where the Orders have their headquarters, this is where the Families meet to discuss affairs of state, and this is where people come to consult with the priesthood. People of all races flock to the city to swell the ranks of the Orders, the Halls of Sabathiel have a constant stream of visitors coming to pay tribute or ask favours of his priests, and the bazaars and markets attract traders from far and wide, catering to the needs of a multiracial, multinational and multicultural army and administration.Sabathiel, the mythical ruler of the Bannor, exhausted by his tireless fight against the influence and attacks of Mulcarn during the Ice Age, is said to reside deep within the recesses of his Halls, watching, guiding, teaching, and warding over the Bannor, conserving his temporal strength for some dire future conflict where he will once again be needed. He is a shadow king, never seen by his subjects but always a haunting figure, ever present in their consciousness.[PARAGRAPH:1]In this day, there are those even among the Bannor, and even more so among their enemies, who whisper that both Sabathiel and his original spirits are naught but legends invented by a militant priesthood looking for ways to legitimize their rule. Whatever the truth of the matter, the fact is that in the Age of Rebirth, the Bannor must rely on human flesh and cold steel, not angels and spirits, to bring Law to the dark corners of the world.
I took Sabathiel as a leader, he is Charismatic and Organized.
Chapter I
Spoiler :
-„Here?“
Bannor people looked confused. Their journey was finally over. They were no longer in hell. But this was no Erebus as they remembered it. Everything was gone. Every trace of civilization, magnificent cities, prosperous farms and villages, roads, all gone. Gone and replaced with huge sheets of ice and tundra. Nicholas, the eldest of the elders answered the peoples cries:
-„Sabathiel said it would be like this. When Bhall fell, Age of Ice came. Apparently we haven't fared worst, we could as well remain in frozen hell. “
-„Yeah, but of all places on Erebus, we had to come HERE. I mean look at this. Huge mountains, forests, tundra...“ -Someone from the mob shouted.
-„Well, Sabathiel wouldn't lead us here if he didn't think that this place is good. Besides, Age of Ice just ended, it should get warmer here soon enough, and our scouts already found sheep and corn on the east. We will just have to start it all over again. A new beginning, to build a new world, but this time it will be a better world, with no evil, with no fear. A world of justice and order, where strong will not harm the weak, a world of law and righteousness, a world of BANNOR!“
So the Torrolerial was build, and inside a great palace which will serve as a center of new Bannor government and administration, but also a place from where Sabathiel will contact and lead Bannor, being unable to directly enter Erebus, or anything in The Creation.
As we found soon enough, we are not alone. A scout reported a settlement of wild, green-skinned, feral people nearby, so strange they couldn't be humans. No one knew who or what they are but Sabathiel once again had the answer: Orcs, a twisted people of Bhall have built their settlement just south of us. They are our fierce and sworn enemies, standing against all our ideals, and they think just the same about us, they will attack us in the future without warning.
Soon enough we find more of their kind, often avoiding fight with them. But some of them organized into a 'Clan of Embers' , and think that they are not as primitive. They offered us a peace, which we accepted, but it is not a real peace: They are living in a city previously known as Braduk, where we came from, shamelessly tainting it. All Orcs are the same, and we will not sleep calmly until all of them are gone from the Creation.
*New Goal: Eliminate all Orcs, barbs or Clan.
Our first encounter with The Clan. Due to signed truce, it went on without fight, but we don't trust them at all
Our warriors dispatched to explore the world around us have found a small settlement. This one was not populated by the wild orcs, but with genuine humans, struggling to survive the Age of Ice, apparently at this point sucessfully. They taught us how to fish, that is how they survived the Age of Ice.
They are not the only one who fish. A descendants of the pirates from the Age of Magic have also organized into nation, and are now standing ready to enter a new age. They called themselves the 'Lanun', a word unknown to us previously. But Erebus was changed greatly, and once great oceans are now a little more than a large lakes. We will be interested to see how will they fare in the future, but also remain cautious: They are not a good nation we can rely upon.
We also meet similar wild people called Doviello. They are indeed human, but so savage we wish they weren't humans, that we could simply call them Beasts.
We also heard that the Red Dragon appeared somewhere, but it is too far away to give us any concerns.
We met Hippus, horse lords and mercenaries. There is hope for them, if we can bring them on our side, but if not, it is the war pending. We will see.
It's a bit dull to report through early phase but we will now learn how Bannor deal with insanity and first Bannor victory.
Today something strange happened on the Royal Court.
When heard about this, Sabathiel was enraged. He demanded a to see this woman. She was a former artist, a creative and innovative person, as she described herself. But Sabathiel had no ear for her. This wasting of money is offense on very roots of Bannor society. He exiled her out of Torrolerial, and also few of her superiors , as they were responsible she got in charge in the first place.
This was an great example to everyone of how a Bannor society shall be lead.
One of our warriors dispatched to explore found a Bear Den. Bears are strong so we should stay clear from them.
Later on the same Warriors get attacked by pack of wolves and survive the attack.
We discovered Animal Husbandry, allowing our scouts to learn how to subdue animals. Scouts were already prepared in Torrolerial and taught how to do so. After their education they were sent on east to explore and hopefully bring home some animals for our carnivals.
Near Torrolerial villagers built a new pasture, making a great example of Bannor virtue.
Sabathiel ordered that settlement Myrean must be taken from unholy horde of Orcs.Four warrior regiments were dispatched to take the settlement. Ors are strong and numerous, but unruly and disorganized. As Sabathiel told their men: A horde of unruly Orcs is no more an army than a heap of building material is a house. And Bannor strength is in organization.
This was indeed true as some of Orcs stormed on our sieging troops, foolishly attempting a counterattack instead of waiting inside a city.
Finally settlement is taken. 2 regiments were lost, but it is not too much of a loss. Dead were buried with greatest honors. Surviving two regiments were awarded with prestigious titles. There were still humans inside the town and they welcomed Bannor liberators, offering them sanctuary. With this valorous gesture, there is no doubt this is Bannor land now!