54
edits
Singleton Stratford: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
no edit summary
Hotep Gith (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Hotep Gith (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Singleton Stratford, Rank Ventenar, born Ongaah the Small, was among the 21 rescued humans | Singleton Stratford, Rank Ventenar, born Ongaah the Small, was among the 21 rescued humans liberated from Orcish bondage, taken over the years from the nearby Alexian Fort and town of [[Covington]] in the foothills of the mountains to the east of [[Nia-Agliare]]. | ||
Among these freed prisoners were 8 human women all from town but as some had been held captive for multiple winters. The Covington militia also discovered 11 Half orc children all very young. The Ventenar in command of the posse decided to heed the pleading of the rescued prisoners and took their children back with them as well. | Among these freed prisoners were 8 human women all from town but as some had been held captive for multiple winters. The Covington militia also discovered 11 Half orc children all very young. The Ventenar in command of the posse decided to heed the pleading of the rescued prisoners and took their children back with them as well. | ||
The Fort and Town were filled with celebration on hearing the news of the return of some of their lost daughters and wives and friends but once reunited, many claimed that the Half Orc children were not theirs at all. Many of their families would refuse to take in a Half Orc child, some might even go a step further, abandoning the child to the wilds | The Fort and Town were filled with celebration on hearing the news of the return of some of their lost daughters and wives and friends but once reunited, many claimed that the Half Orc children were not theirs at all. Many of their families would refuse to take in a Half Orc child, some might even go a step further, abandoning the child to the wilds or worse. | ||
The people of Covington have been in a nigh state of war with the area Orc and Bugbear tribes and | The people of Covington have been in a nigh state of war with the area Orc and Bugbear tribes and Wild men that plague these hills for generations and while a pious folk, the hatred and feuds which now take on a family matter caused stark divisions in the community. | ||
This created a conundrum as to what to do with these children. Eventually, it was so ordered by the Commandant that | This created a conundrum as to what to do with these children. Eventually, it was so ordered by the Commandant that | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
B. That these children, despite their inherit wickedness and eventual bloodlust are still children of the Goddess, innocent of any crime or sin of their own doing and still of Alexian blood. And thus must be provided for under the [[oath]] | B. That these children, despite their inherit wickedness and eventual bloodlust are still children of the Goddess, innocent of any crime or sin of their own doing and still of Alexian blood. And thus must be provided for under the [[oath]] | ||
C. It is so ordered and ruled that the Orc-blood foundlings are wards of the Fort and are to be remanded to the custody of FT Covington. | C. It is so ordered and ruled that the [[Orc-blood]] foundlings are wards of the Fort and are to be remanded to the custody of FT Covington. | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
Most of Stratford and the other foundlings early childhood consisted mainly of being servants for the militiamen and officers of the Fort itself. In time becoming soldiers themselves. As Half Orc's mature faster that human children in a mere 10 years these children went from servants and maids and cooks to manning the watch, joining patrols and leading counterstrikes and rescue missions. | Most of Stratford and the other foundlings early childhood consisted mainly of being servants for the militiamen and officers of the Fort itself. In time becoming soldiers themselves. As Half Orc's mature faster that human children in a mere 10 years these children went from servants and maids and cooks to manning the watch, joining patrols and leading counterstrikes and rescue missions. | ||
At age 14 Stratford, now in the militia was inducted as a member of the elite Covington Pikemen and served dutifully and faithfully for 5 years during that time he and his fellows saw engagement with A variety of foes and threats frequently Orcs and goblins with sporadic Bugbear attacks, with the curious phenomenon of [[Bugbear Summer]] being a significant anomaly. | At age 14 Stratford, now in the militia was inducted as a member of the elite Covington Pikemen and served dutifully and faithfully for 5 years during that time he and his fellows saw engagement with A variety of foes and threats frequently Orcs and goblins with sporadic Bugbear attacks, with the curious phenomenon of [[Bugbear Summer]] being a significant anomaly. | ||
| Line 27: | Line 28: | ||
It was during the Bugbear Summer of 1509 that his life took a turn. As has been the case of all documented Bugbear Summers, the area of the foothills becomes virtually infested with bands of late adolescent and young adult male Bugbears. Who pour out of the of the mountain passes and begin a chaotic and disjointed but tactically sound siege of the FT and town. | It was during the Bugbear Summer of 1509 that his life took a turn. As has been the case of all documented Bugbear Summers, the area of the foothills becomes virtually infested with bands of late adolescent and young adult male Bugbears. Who pour out of the of the mountain passes and begin a chaotic and disjointed but tactically sound siege of the FT and town. | ||
Covington being rather remote rarely receives visitors as most of the original surrounding villages either became abandoned or merged with Covington and most Alexian refugees sought shelter further south and out of the dangerous foothills. As the Militia and it's Pikemen prepared defenses for a long and brutal summer. Hope arrived, when a small battery of grenadiers known as the [[Bog Wraiths]] arrived at the edge of town. | Covington being rather remote, rarely receives visitors as most of the original surrounding villages either became abandoned or merged with Covington and most Alexian refugees sought shelter further south and out of the dangerous foothills. As the Militia and it's Pikemen prepared defenses for a long and brutal summer. Hope arrived, when a small battery of grenadiers known as the [[Bog Wraiths]] arrived at the edge of town. | ||
The current [[Commandant Maxil]] welcomed them and perplexed them as he presented his Fort for inspection and began giving reports as far as fighting strength, rations and other logistics. Maxil and the Covingtons had assumed them reinforcements sent out from Nia Aglaire to finally help them in their time of need and to reopen the nearby gem mines. They assumed that the Bog Wraith Captain named [[Corraco]] was their new Commandant and his troops, clearly reinforcements. A reward for them keeping the faith and defending the mine and road for over 158 years. | The current [[Commandant Maxil]] welcomed them and perplexed them as he presented his Fort for inspection and began giving reports as far as fighting strength, rations and other logistics. Maxil and the Covingtons had assumed them reinforcements sent out from Nia Aglaire to finally help them in their time of need and to reopen the nearby gem mines. They assumed that the Bog Wraith Captain named [[Corraco]] was their new Commandant and his troops, clearly reinforcements. A reward for them keeping the faith and defending the mine and road for over 158 years. | ||
| Line 43: | Line 44: | ||
So, he rushed to the Captain's side and used his pike to keep the multiple foes at bay so that the Captain could focus on them one by one. It worked and so he stayed with her using the reach of his pike to prevent him being attacked from behind and his own ability to endure the blows from the bugbears that he was able to protect so that the Captain could conquer. | So, he rushed to the Captain's side and used his pike to keep the multiple foes at bay so that the Captain could focus on them one by one. It worked and so he stayed with her using the reach of his pike to prevent him being attacked from behind and his own ability to endure the blows from the bugbears that he was able to protect so that the Captain could conquer. | ||
Other followed suit surrounding the best of the Bog Wraith warriors and "aiding" them in the battle. They clearly were on a whole other "level" than the Militia, several. Stratford the entire battle was in awe of the Captain's skill and maneuvers. It was like he had somehow mastered every aspect of battle. | Other followed suit surrounding the best of the Bog Wraith warriors and "aiding" them in the battle. They clearly were on a whole other "level" than the Militia, several. Stratford, the entire battle was in awe of the Captain's skill and maneuvers. It was like he had somehow mastered every aspect of battle. | ||
When the battle ended, Corraco had taken a shine to him for his "aid" and offered to allow Stratford to come back with him to Nia Agliare as a member of his retinue. | When the battle ended, Corraco had taken a shine to him for his "aid" and offered to allow Stratford to come back with him to Nia Agliare as a member of his retinue. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 50: | ||
At age 19, Stratford was a mercenary auxiliary of the Bog Wraith garrison stationed at Nia Agliare. He served under Corraco's command , mostly doing low level guarding duties or running errands or occasionally. As Captain Corraco is technically Commandant-elect in Covington, Stratford is not listed as a deserter but on "Special Assignment". | At age 19, Stratford was a mercenary auxiliary of the Bog Wraith garrison stationed at Nia Agliare. He served under Corraco's command , mostly doing low level guarding duties or running errands or occasionally joining missions. As Captain Corraco is technically Commandant-elect in Covington, Stratford is not listed as a deserter but on "Special Assignment". | ||
| Line 56: | Line 57: | ||
Rollio believed he could avoid competition for mates by simply pairing off those recruits he deemed had desirable traits for offspring. | Rollio believed he could avoid competition for mates by simply pairing off those recruits he deemed had desirable traits for offspring. | ||
He did not need to bother the two would have found each other eventually and are the only two surviving of the Covington "Orc | He did not need to bother the two would have found each other eventually and are the only two surviving of the Covington "Orc Bloods" | ||
The pair settle in dismal quarters. Later that year [[Violent Stratford]] is born. | The pair settle in dismal quarters. Later that year [[Violent Stratford]] is born. | ||
| Line 65: | Line 66: | ||
At age 22, picks up extra shifts in rotation at jail. Pay increases. [[Durbin Stratford]] is born. Becomes irritable aggressive. Has several violent outbursts. Injures several prisoners and has several bar fights. No one cares but Bolen demands he quits working at the jail and he does. | At age 22, picks up extra shifts in rotation at jail. Pay increases. [[Durbin Stratford]] is born. Becomes irritable, aggressive. Has several violent outbursts. Injures several prisoners and has several bar fights. No one cares but Bolen demands he quits working at the jail and he does. | ||
| Line 98: | Line 99: | ||
Of this period of his life an older Stratford would later write.. | Of this period of his life an older Stratford would later write.. | ||
" I was desperate to find a way to provide for my family and then I look up from my drink and there's this kid, this halfling and this crazy looking old lady with a skull on her head. Needless to say I had no idea how much bigger my world was about to get."- [[Both Sides of The River]] | " I was desperate to find a way to provide for my family and then I look up from my drink and there's this kid, this halfling and this crazy looking old lady with a skull on her head... Needless to say I had no idea how much bigger my world was about to get."- [[Both Sides of The River]] | ||