The Blackdog Company (Compangia Del Kynschwarz)

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The Blackdogs are a chaotic neutral mercenary group with a general focus of bringing a wide and storied range of characters together under a cause of survival. The group plays on bickering internal comedy in an almost brotherly/sisterly way with not all members seeing eye to eye but united by their trust in the “Kap, Company and Coin.”

Players Interested should bare In mind that any IC arguments are to be petty squabbling and not OOC maliciousness this goes for inside and outside the group. Think of it like the cast of Battlefield: Bad Company. A group of unhinged/drunk/comedic/crazy characters from all walks of life from nobles to farmers, sane to insane that at a moments notice can quickly turn into a professional and trained band of soldiers.

You are not a hero nor the villain. Sometimes you rescue the village and other times you’ll burn it.

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The Kapitan

“My people, the stories of my land, and even the name Karinthia are lost to time—scrubbed from their maps and left like a ruin to grow moss. I am what remains”

Karinthia was a sprawling kingdom characterized by rigid bureaucratic courts and pragmatic kings who carried eons of tradition atop purple cloth and gilded crowns; a land Claire herself was born into. Born Cassandria Izmari Nikolaou tis Myrakos, she was the daughter and scion of the noble House of Myrakos, which stood as the ever watchful provincial guardians of the eastern borders. A land of granite peaks and feral beauty mirrored no less by strength, having been in command of Karinthian mountain troops of the Tagma Akrites, bearing the sigil of a black hound rampant.

The conquest of Karinthia and likewise the Plateau city of Myrakos was not just yet another provincial war but a ruthless and calculated act of annihilation from rivals and regional powers that united sought not just to remove the archaic kingdom from the region but to erase it, slaughtering the final dynasty that ruled it and enslaving its people; a culture utterly and ruthlessly removed. With her parents executed and the young Cassandria barely an adult, she was smuggled away by loyal naval elements and retainers. However, she soon found herself in foreign lands with no allies, no wealth, and no understanding of the cultures she was now surrounded by.

Claire had to adapt quickly or die. Abandoning her noble name of Cassandria to better blend in, she embraced what Myrakosians had always done best: fight. Adopting the persona of a hardened sellsword, pragmatic, fiercely resourceful, and quick to learn and adapt, her noble upbringing gave her an edge in tactics, diplomacy, and navigating the complex webs of foreign courts. At the same time, her status as an outcast and lost soul attracted others like her: disgraced nobles, freed slaves, hardened veterans, and peasants with nothing left to lose and in time this grew from a ragtag band of mercenaries from all walks of life, bound together by necessity and the promise of pay to a cracked and disciplined company of halberdier, musketeer and magic wielders tested time and time again.

Yet beneath her focus on survival and profit lies a vendetta: to find those who wronged her people court advisors, foreign mercenaries, and, if able, the kings and princes who plotted Karinthia’s downfall.

And kill them.

The Company

Founding

“Come to me.. you dishonoured, you outcast, criminal, deserter and refugee. It matters not of your past.. I care that you fight and fight like dogs”

Exile.

Cassandra for all her history and her wealth and status as Scion of house Myrakos meant very little when the very kingdom she served was now long adrift in the annuls of history and forgotten the only real remnants being the refugees that found themselves in foreign lands and Daniel a foreign born inquisitor whom had at last moment been tasked with escorting her from the lands. Early days were existing on the fringes of society and surviving day by day using what talents she could muster for the lowest of wages to scrape by.. Peasant soldier, Militaman.. Barely a gambeson to own as she clawed herself up the ladder of society once more.

Still though charisma and wit can but still make for good opportunity and soon a gathered handful of outcasts and survivors with nothing but upwards to look led to the founding of the ‘Vexillio Ferrata’ the first gathering of her project. With leadership and a few well placed bets in individuals soon the small unit was instilled with the discipline expected of the Tagma Akrites of Karinthia the elite mountain units that House Myrakos offered to the kingdom they served.

It was a peasant uprising though that turned a plucky band to an opportunity and a name recognized by many a kingdom the quelling of an insurrection for a local duke almost turned sour when a hired band of cavalry brought an unexpected danger to the Dukes forces a charge by heavy cavalry that by divine luck met the left flank wherein Claire’s men held. Trained disciplined stance held firm and the black dog rampart that adorned their flag and the tattered tabards she wore earned the name.

The Blackhound Company.

The Blackhounds

“Karinthia be now my blood. Foreign land be now my fortune. And under the hound be now my grave.”

The spreading word through upper class nobility and parties of a Mercenary company that had stood firm against a charging company of heavy cavalry quickly found the rag tag company with contracts, wealth and reputation And it was not long before the Donkey and her small band quickly put all three to work; training, equipment and recruitment soon followed attracting many from all corners of society looking to seek purpose or chase fortune.

They may carry themselves now in plate and chain, with musket and pike and discipline and training but its made sure that their past; Claires past.. Is not forgotten, that they are not driven by ideology and patriotism to a king or god. They are bound together by survival and profit.. That each of them knows that they alone serve their brothers and sisters against a world that cast them aside and forced them to realize the price of survival.

Whilst many of the newer company may not understand such values, the harder veterans of the first Ferrata share many of the refugee and outcast values that carry on.

The Story so far..

“Once more we face adversity.. BUT this is ridiculous. Why cant things just be simple! I give the orders. Others do them..

And now our rigging?! FIX. IT.

Or.. I’ll glare at you.. Quite angerly so!”

The last few months prior to Norune has been a whirlwind of recruitment and events, Several sieges and a field battle has found a hefty toll of dead under them. The arrival of newer and more powerful siege guns and hand cannon leading to the company struggling under the beginnings of modern professional armies Still though tenacity, drill, discipline and a hefty amount of Insanity has always brought them through as their loyalty to their fellow company men keep them right.

The last month or so under contract for the Arrato household who has not only funded the company’s most recent few months but also provided one of his own…be it to give him experience or to simply be rid of him for some time one cannot say. With her newest patrons request to escort several galleys across the great see the group have found themselves beset by a storm realizing quickly that not only had the route taken been charted to track them close to a shoal of rocks but as the rigging and sails began to unravel and break apart its become more apparent as the group have began to recover parts of the ship.

somebody cut the rigging.

Be it during sailing or at port one cannot say but now for the first time in a long time the Company now find them bedraggled, beset not by armies or enemies fully but now hunger, despair and the idea of starting fresh on a foreign shore. But the company has faced annihilation several times before… And once more the group will face a new set of trials and tribulations…

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Organization

Structure

As a standard, Equipment should be standardized with a more or less organized but customized look, The company /WOULD/ issue some standard equipment that will be listed before before additional kit is listed for ideas. Were not a modern army in that every single person would look the same but there should be /some/ uniformity when possible to show somewhat unified look (colors, armor, sashes, weapons, ect)

Issues gear standard for the Company

1x Halberd 1x Dagger of mixed culture/type 1x Gambeson (PFC Merc with no plate armor) 1x basic helmet (Kettle helmet, Morion, Nasal. Something basic and open) Beyond that anything else you wish to add can be done. BEAR in mind, whilst this is fantasy; weapons and armor are STATUS symbols. A peasant would not own a full suit, naturally a veteran company member would be expected to have equipment of a standard high above a recruit but we should not have a new recruit wandering in in full suits of plate (unless they are nobles or their backstory allows it or they already had it) this is hard to moderate though so we refer to the ‘lets look somewhat similar’)

Other kinds of equipment

Entry level: Spears, modified farming utensils, Tunics, Padded gambesons, basic helmets, shields, bows, pikes, daggers, broad blades (think long knifes + falchions, non ornate decorative blades)

Standard kit: Polearms of all sorts, Basic infantry swords (not overly ornate weapons), partial plate, chainmail, padded gambesons, Enclosed helmets (Sallets, Viking helmets, Barbutes, burgonets, Sugarloaf and great helms) Crossbows and muskets. Clothing can be of a more fancier style, colors and jewelry.

Upper class: (nobles/lords/veterans) All manner of weapons, swords and weapons can be ornate and overly decorate, all of the stuff above. Full plate, Heraldry, expensive high period medieval helmets (Full sallets, Bascinets, Armets,)

Ranks

The Company takes influence from a mixture of European Mercenary and general terms as well as Latin/Byzantine. Currently ranks are as followed:

⚜️Company Ranks⚜️

Infantry ⚔️
Contractus	“Contracted” the concept being they are being contracted on for a term of service, an agreed service to see if they are suitable to be brought on or formally have their contract “extended”
Miles Novicius	Soldier New. Says in the name, with contract extended now they become considered a military
Miles Tagmata	Tagmata is Karinthian (cough cough Greek) for battalion. As a general statement this implies you are a battalion soldier. Basically you are standard now, you know the ropes the men trust you
Miles de Arma	Soldier at Arms. A trusted second, your the more experienced of the company expected to act in place of the Sergeant when not present and act on their own accord flexibility and initiative is the name of the game
Sergeant	Sergeant of Infantry acts under the command elements of the company and acts as the head of the infantry; responsible for equipment, training and the functioning of all those not ranged in the group
Officers 👑
Kapitan-General	Company Captain in charge of handing the day to day running of the camp, contracts, pay, punishments and all general requirements needed to run the group IC and OOC. This is currently Claire shouldShe be indisposed it falls onto the Seneschals
Seneschal	The second in command, handles logistics and company contracts, Is Claire in all by name and face when Claire is not around. Currently held by Daniel and Arrato (Rotato/Kpow and Goblin/Rana/Mokuno)
Quartermaster	In charge of organizing items, resources and supplies when the system for this is in place
Scriba	Record keeper IC and OOC helps organize documents and contracts for the Kapitan and her command
Support Roles 📜	(OOC: Support roles are less seen as ranks but more as additional titles given to players as reward or just further IC fluff. Extra work no pay! the army way!)
Primus pilus	The acting guard to Claire and the commanders when required, this is a revolving role normally picked ad-hoc on the day but is a hand picked role non the less
Explorator	Scouts tasked in spying or Reconnaissance as well as Enemy assessment
Padre	The company priest, Adept at flexibility and approaching all regardless of faith and creed. able to learn and log all the companys many gods
Surgeon	“Oh stop your moaning…its only your lower leg, you’ll live… mostly i think” the head doctor more of an RP role but i’d suspect a healer class i hope!
Banneret	Carries the banner of the company when the numbers are sufficient
Kampfmeister	Head Duelist: Normally carried by the player who’s found themselves walking out most fights alive and has a knack for the combat system, seconds as a trainer.

Recruitment

Recruitment is often an ad-hoc affair with a few days spent getting to Roleplay and interact with the character seeing how they act and speak. Personality is as important to the Company then skill and understanding a player and characters motives and thinking before being allowed is often the first step. Once sat down they’ll be ran through the expectations and rules of the company alongside what the company should be doing for them, about the basic contracts and ranks as well as any other information. Finally they will have a chance to admit to any wrongdoings or possible character flaws that may come back to haunt them or the company from then a inspection of the body to make sure no illness will be brought to camp and the player is then granted entry

Morals and Codes

OOC Information: More information here to cover the OOC aspects of how we play to let players make informed choices.

Condotta

Contracts are considered sacred and legally binding, if accepted the job cant be merely betrayed or abandoned. Unless however the employer violates the terms…this can be something players can use to their advantage if they play cards correctly

Laws of War

Laws in war are less so in medieval times and in the fantasy world of norune its more or less the same. The Company is made of butchers and soldiers that are professional killers to a man.. They have no issues burning a village down however there are some points to keep note off:

• Your actions are tied to the company and your own honor and reputation. We are not knights and nobility is not our game but your reputation and how your perceived is key
• Characters all come from different nobility, nations, cultures and some in the group may hold more honorable ideals, actions should at their core be guided by survival and profit…rarely idealism, some decisions will push moral boundaries.
• Whilst the company can and often are relaxed when needed the company must enforce a strict code of conduct in battle and when representing the company
• Not monsters: Whilst survival and profit are guiding that does not mean we are EVIL.. War makes men mad as Valiant Hearts says and women and children are often if always left untouched
• No rape, No unwanted murder.. Claire as the company leader is a female so for her such things are additionally important due to her venerable past.

“Them and Us”

The group holds to itself a creed of “Company before all” the expectation being that survival and your companymen are a priority over anything else when and if possible anybody not outside the company should be met with cordial friendly banter but always caution many of the camp members have suffered under strangers, there has to be a cautious undertone even if your not showing it

Fraternity

The company is a mixed range of nobles to farmers, slaves to freemen. Dislike of one another as an example of conflict and tension between the group, its okay to not all agree but naturally balanced within the mercenary culture as a whole. Regardless where your from you are in a brutal mercenary company. Sharp tongues, dark humor, scars, muck abound regardless of social standing unites them at their core make sure folks are talking and friendly alongside these moments so its not heavy

Camp Rules

The company follows a few specific rules

1. We do not force ourselves on company or others.
2. We do not strike or try to cut down our company members (this is why the black duels exist)
3. We do not steal from fellow company members (from the camp? Sure but personal belongings no)
4. The Kapitans word before everything
5. The Company before all.

Punishments

Were a 1400’s mercenary group. Punishment will exist, whipping and a range of creative things, to wear full plate for x-amount of days. To stand watch with less clothes in winter. Half rations… have fun be creative BUT BE WILLING to take some punishment, scars are cool! but end of the day its all in character!

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Culture and Traditions

Symbols

This is things like the banner and the coat of arms

Traditions

The Company Oath

As with most foreign units an emphasis on oath and loyalty is paramount as such below is the oath all new recruits are given on their contract being approved by the Kapitanos:

“Mercenaii, you are a volunteer you have chosen to serve your fellow Companymen with honor and loyalty. Each of your comrades are brothers in arms regardless of their species, gender or religion. You show this with strict solidarity linking yourselves as members of the same family. You respect the traditions of the Company that the Kapitanos has salvaged from Karinthia, discipline and comradeship are your strength. Loyalty and courage virtues to live by, gold and glory your dreams to die for. Be proud of your status as a Bloodhound, display this with how you carry yourself how you behave and speak to those not of your creed when in uniform. Your weapons and armour are your prized processions for they are your lifeline to gold and glory. Keep these close at all times and in constant care. Your contract is sacred carry it out to the end even if life and limb is risked. Contract is honor, honor is blood, blood is sacred Act without hate or passion, professional at all times respect your fallen foe. Never abandon your dead. Your wounded Never surrender your arms. hē Mýrakos ou lanthánei: Myrakos does not forget”

The Black Dance

Dueling within the Kynschwaz is more then just resolving disputes. Its deeply engrained in Karinthian culture. Your household reputation was held on your ability to prove your worth; insult and disagreement if unable to be resolved with apology was dealt with blade a true encompassing of personal accountability and individual strength and honor. For the company its a unifying element that binds the members regardless of what cultures and backgrounds fostering the dueling culture as a way to prevent larger conflicts both internally in the group and outside in the world as a whole.. Not to mention maintaining discipline and personal growth

Conducted over three rounds d20s (with modifiers if wished for) lets players narrate how they wish. Duels are issued with formal challenges, Requires a witness (preferably an officer) Victory is informed to Kapitanos, record updated.

The Ceilidh

Brought from Jit the smiths culture, whilst Karinthia and likewise most of the mercenaries have brought themselves some sort of dancing, music and folk lore Claire seemed to fall more for the traditional Ceilidh’s of Jits homeland. A focus on folk dancing and music as well as lively social drinking its often done when arriving to a new land, working with the nobles and creating positive impressions whilst imprinting a sense of culture to the unit

The Hound Rampant

For those that go above and beyond will permission be granted to carry the Sigil of house Myrakos a dog rampant on a fort, be it by tabard emblem or shield. Further can this be added to any heraldry if wished for. For Claire this symbolizes a direct connection with her people and her land. Her way of saying your not just one of the companymen.

The Final Watch

A Viking style boat burning ceremony should company members die in the field. weapons and equipment are either burned with them or marked with symbolism of the character and re-issued to recruits to show continence

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Faction Relations

Sapphire Dawn:

The Sapphire dawn is currently spoken to but not fully in the Companies sights.. There is a mutual understanding that both will provide services that can probably help one another.

The Dawn providing supplies.. And the Company providing axes to stop others taking those supplies..

Shifting Sands:

Currently unknown.

Crimson Horde:

Like with the Holy Church, Hexenmoor has provided the company with some benefits and very little issue some friction exists but only on interpersonal levels and have not reached the company as a whole, The Kapitan is likewise cautious of the Red Lord and understands some jobs may put her men on a path of conflict with them but overall she holds no malice understanding that soldiers just have to do the job they were told to do.