Dizzy 26 Posted September 14, 2017 (edited) We were the sword that once guarded you, wasn't that enough? Through the years since their inception, the Scarlet Crusade has suffered catastrophic defeat after another, but in the face of adversity they have always managed to weather the storm. It was when the Ebon Blade put an end to High Commander Goodchilde and put the rest of the Crusade underneath him to the blade that it seemed like the legacy of Alexandros Mograine had finally been broken. The torches that once ignited the shadow seemed to be ultimately been snuffed out and the Monastery ran redder than the Holy Flame. However this would be not be the end for the men and women who had mercifully been spared the fate shared by most of their comrades. Be it surviving through flight or simply by being posted elsewhere, some were not content to wear the robes of the Crimson Pilgrims, or admit their zealously in the eyes of the Conclave and the new Silver Hand. The Hand of Venstroyer was formed from the last survivors as a last ditch effort at securing a future, to make sure that the hundreds that had died during the Ebon Blade siege did not die in vain. They promised in that moment that they would never have their vengeance misdirected by demon, man or creature ever again. Thanks to the cover of the Legion assault on Azeroth, the Hand of Venstroyer was given the moment to seize their former foothold, and this time, they would not fail. In a time where Lordaeron was brought low by the undead. The Scarlet Crusade proved incapable of attenuating the undead and was quickly misdirected from the inside by Balnazzar, The Scarlet Crusade has become nothing more than a shattered insurgency, and some disappeared to evade justice at the hands of the Alliance. The surviving crusaders who were still sane either submitted to the rule of the Alliance and left behind their past or, some, like Venstroyer refused both the Forsaken rule over the ruins of Lordaeron and the tyrant hand of Varian Wrynn and went into hiding. Lordaeron is now controlled by the Forsaken, and the Scarlet Crusade has been forgotten, outcries silenced and records erased from the inside by Flameweaver Koegler. If this desperation is what you're looking to RP, you've come to the right place. The story of men and women with nowhere to go but forward and a zealous grass roots insurgency to lead. A resistance filled with compelling characters, a deep narrative and willing to move heaven and earth to put the fire back in the humans of Lordaeron and put the dead back into undead. I have some experience running campaigns of this calibre, and hopefully this will lack any ludo narrative dissonance that seems to be rife with the lore of the Scarlet Crusade, considering the reputation and nature of the Scarlet Crusade at an OOC level, this isn't an easy thing to do. My plan is to offer an evolving phase with a progressive story that covers all the angles, backed by fun mechanics and regular events. From insurgency to full-strength standing army over the course of a long-term campaign. Characters are expected to die, and a game over is totally plausible if a a few serious tactical errors are made IC. Hopefully if you're a sucker for that kind of punishment, we have what you got. If you're still looking to join after all of that, we just have a quick form process.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7PCtAuJH1cPsA6oKFFC2h_Zul-_WOJP2MTrJCf_M-PaE4SQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Baring in mind that almost 98% of the Scarlet Crusade are gone, the most accepted characters will be new blood either coming from conscription, returning home from being an Onslaught deserter, or simply wanting to throw down for the Holy Flame against some rotters. If you have any questions, either holler at me here or on discord, I'd love to answer them. @Meesh1548 Edited September 16, 2017 by Dizzy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dizzy 26 Posted September 14, 2017 (edited) This is perhaps the most important mechanic key to the more tactical layer of Hand of Venstroyer events. Every overt action, every idle hand, every quest decision changes the fate of the Scarlet Monastery. As each individual meter fills, more and more attention is directed towards the Scarlet Monastery by the corresponding faction. As this meter fills, activity against that faction only becomes more difficult. However, when it becomes fully maxed out; whatever most interested faction raids the Monastery in full force. This can only spell doom. It is up to the players to balance overt and subtle action and combat the Doomsday Meter in whatever way they can. The lowest a faction's attention can be is [Inattentive]. At this level, they are at their most vulnerable. After moving to [Suspicious] they can only be defaulted back to [Inattentive] via spycraft or other IC actions. At the second level [Suspicious] is when an enemy faction begins to move war assets into investigating the Hand of Lanstroud. Subtle actions are recommended at this point. The third level is [Alert] and perhaps is the final warning the Hand of Lanstroud will receive when moving in the field. During events, enemy soldiers will be more alert, perhaps even more skilled as units are pulled from the Broken Shore and moved to deploy on the Hand of Lanstroud. When the Hand of Lanstroud has reached maximum meter with a faction, they will begin [Moving Assets]. During this time, the current event is cancelled and the players are given time to plan out a defence of the Monastery, usually about an event's worth unless more than one faction has been moved to [Moving Assets]. [Assaulting the Monastery] is the final stage of the Doomsday Meter. A full-blown siege on the ruined monastery can only result in heavy losses unless a stellar defence is planned out and executed. This isn't your daddy's Summertide Assualts. Spoiler [The Forsaken:] The Forsaken have always been the antithesis of everything the Crusade has stood for. Despite this, Sylvanas has been lax in her vigil over the Tirisfall Glades, content to let adventurers gut the crusade, but this has always been a mistake. Her underestimation has led to several high-ranking Deathguard deciding that enough is enough. The Scarlet Crusade must be stomped out a final time. They are currently [Alert]. Spoiler [Ebon Blade] The Ebon Blade; Raised corpses under the almost divine will of the Lich King. These unliving mockeries of all that is holy and just have always been at odds with the Scarlet Crusade and that has finally culminated in their recent siege where they attempted to burn the Monastery to the ground. When the Hand of Lanstroud delved into the Monastery after their siege and killed the skeleton crew operating inside the hallowed halls of the cathedral, it was safe to assume that the eye of the Ebon Blade was not upon them thanks to the action at the Broken Shore. Although these things rarely last. They are currently [Inattentive]. Spoiler [The Risen] When Balnazzar was exposed in Stratholme almost ten years ago, he shed his body and killed every Crusader that did not flee before him. Although most of the Arisen are unaware that they are dead, they still desire to uphold their original charge and cleanse Lordaeron of the undead. They are no ally to the Forsaken and certainly no ally to the Crusade, they are an unpredictable force albeit nobody has seen them in quite some time. Perhaps times will change. They are currently [Inattentive]. Spoiler [The Alliance] When Wrynn the Older, King of the South declared open war on the Scarlet Crusade it was a crushing moment for morale. Their once great allies, the men and women they had sacrificed so much for had turned on them. To this day, even with a much younger Wrynn, the pain of betrayal is still fresh. They are currently [Inattentive]. Spoiler [The Horde] When the Forsaken joined the Horde, it was unsurprising that they backed the Forsaken on their war against the Scarlet Crusade. It is only a matter of time until they are requested in battle against the remnants of the Scarlet Crusade. They are currently [Inattentive]. Every week, a random event is chosen and these Black Events can be used as an inspiration or a backdrop for current activities in the Tirisfall Glades. Depending on the chosen event, it may overstay it's welcome until it can be properly countered by an event or a deployed unit. Edited September 19, 2017 by Dizzy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dizzy 26 Posted September 14, 2017 Spoiler Peasants were once the backbone of the rural economy, and the soldiers of last resort when called to battle. This did not just happen once, but three times over the course of the Fall of Lordaeron. While not warlike by nature, they will stubbornly defend their homes. This is overtly evident in those who have refused to leave Lordaeron to the Forsaken, from hiding away in caves and ruined towers, to holding out to the last on their rightful homesteads, they have made it clear they will not leave Lordaeron without the threat of death, even when Calia Menethil let the world know of her decision that she had left the country behind. However, if you’re hurling peasants at your foes, you’re clearly out of superior forces. The peasants who find their employ in the ranks of the Scarlet Crusade usually find their work denting out armor and quickly building barricades and defences. They offer a multitude of services outside of combat, thankfully. Current Standing: 3 with [Unskilled: -3 to orders that would require some form of higher education.] but [Subtle: +2 to roles and orders that would otherwise require some form of stealth.] Versatile foot soldiers. Their reliability and mastery of close combat are their best assets, for which they are well-renowned across Azeroth, it is oft said that a child's dream most often revolves around the trusty sword and board of the standard infantryman. Once Lordaeron's first line of defence, many found their way serving the Scarlet Crusade and abandoning the Eagle on their stoic kite shields for the crimson sigil of Lordaeron or the Holy Flame. The armory is filled with such equipment, ready and waiting to be wielded into battle by the survivors and any who seek to join them. The footmen of the Scarlet Crusade are tenacious in the face of death. Though these fierce warriors lack the shining plate mail and specialized training of their noble predecessors, they still fight with bravery and honor on the field of battle, and bring into a battle their unnerving ability to [Defend: Upon the order of a nearby player, a footman is able to lift his shield and step into formation which gives the unit the ability to absorb one extra round of damage.] against any attack. Current Standing: 12 The weapons of the Scarlet Crusade are many, and new initiates must be indoctrinated in the use of blade, hammer, arrow, and shield--effective tools against the undead. Armsmaster Harlan has dedicated his life to the art of wielding these indelicate instruments, and the paragons of his training were once coined 'champions' for their intimidating prowess and overwhelming gait. Dedication and skill are matched with purity of form, and the result is a warrior to which few can compare. However brute force and unrelenting anger are not enough to create a Champion, a certain mind is required. Tactics and planning are driven into the mind with every passing day to give them an edge over the undead and any who stand in their way. Though they fight with unmatched power in melee combat, they have poor mobility and seldom choose to act as anything as heavy artillery. Champions are known for their [Unflinching Resolve: A round of damage that would otherwise kill a Champion is instead negated once per mission and they are immune to Fear, Sap and in-capitation effects.] The Scarlet Crusade's namesake, the Crusaders are perhaps the most important part of the standing army. First-class swordsmen and healers by trade. Additionally, their wisdom and piety grants these warrior monks certain curious abilities; a crusader is very powerful in fighting magical or unnatural things, and most have some skill at medicine and healing. Unluckily, most of have either perished in the Siege by the Ebon Blade or died by the blade of adventurers. In the years that followed Renault's death, most have faded to the wind or joined the Argent Dawn, which became the Argent Crusade and then finally became the new Silver Hand. There is little hope that the Crusaders of the Hand of Lanstroud will be the same as the men and women that once lined the halls of the Monastery during the Summertide Assaults. The secret to training more lies in the ancient books and librams that line the walls of the Athenaeum. Skilled healers and practiced at dispatching even the most stubborn of the undead, every crusader can summon forth a blast of [Holy Light: Summon forth a blast of Holy Light to either heal an ally for a round of damage, or deal damage to any undead foe at a player's choosing.] in desperate times. Priests of the Scarlet Crusade are almost always driven by a sense to urgent help to help stem the frothing tide of suffering and squalor known to flank the survivors of the Fall on all sides, be they baring the tabard of the Holy Flame or not. These men and women give up on their initial teachings driven into them by the Brotherhood of Light, and join the Scarlet Crusade, not just dedicating the skills they have been given to the good of all but to the reclamation of Lordaeron. After their ordination, they are often assigned to a select few duties that challenge their stomach for doing what is right. The ranks of the Confessors and Inquisitors are formed of priests that are battle-tested and prone to bouts of vicious zealous. Something that Balnazzar once counted on to misdirect their vengeance, now, there is hope that they will be used for good once again, or at least, to purge the Tirisfall Glades from the scum. By strict devotion to the path of the light, they can call upon its aid to chase away the shadows of the night, through either a healing hand or the hot brand of the inquisition. Stellar healers but not trained for combat, they are a potent ally against magical or unnatural things that prey upon the good people of Lordaeron. The priests of the Scarlet Crusade are known for their [Divine Hymns: Through whispered word and hushed incantation, a priest is able to heal all units in a small radius for one round of damage every turn, but are prone to being interrupted if not well protected.] Current Standing: 3 They are currently being led by Father Swaine. Once used as a silent blade to keep the peace and truth from reaching the ears of the devoted, the shrouded men and women of the Scarlet Crusade have found new purpose. The scouts of the Scarlet Crusade are known to be quick, lethal and subtle in their deadly dance with the undead of the Tirisfall Glades. Masters of knife-fighting and lighter than a feather on their feet, these men and women will employ any means to dispatch their victims, be it poisoned knives thrown from afar, or a dagger planted in the back. They carry a versatile set of weaponry to silence even the loudest of voices and their training is extensive enough to make sure that their job is finished before the enemy even knows they are there. The scouts of the Scarlet Crusade happily employ less-than-honourable tactics in combat, seeing little merit in a ‘fair fight’ when absolution is bought for them through the point of a knife and other [Evasive: Once per deployment, a Scout may ignore a failed roll to maintain stealth or ambush an enemy.] tactics. Current Standing: 3 Huntsmen are hunters, trappers and poachers who cut out a living in a land that has almost entirely yielded to the sick experiments of the Forsaken. Wits and woodcraft often support them where weapons will not. They are useful allies to any army, and indispensable for any sizeable group of people living in the hell that is Lordaeron. They can track both the undead and beast, notice things most others would overlook, and are often the only ones who can find food for the barracks, be it animal or vegetable. Huntsmen are excellent pathfinders and explorers, and can find food and shelter where other men would find only sticks and stones and ther arrows can stop any flanking charge in an impressive hail of arrows. Huntsmen of the Scarlet Crusade are known for being pulled from the most wild of men and women. They are an element that the most elite of Deathguard and landed armies cannot control and are a welcome gift amongst the soldiers of the Holy Flame, most notably for their [Hunter's Mark: Once during deployment, a Huntsman may mark a target for a player can confirm all hits for a round of combat.] Current Standing: 6 They are currently being led by Captain Volker. 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Witch 140 Posted September 15, 2017 What an incredible concept, Dizzy! I have never personally joined any Scarlet Crusade guilds before, but I'm very interested in the cause-and-effect system. It is realistic, which is something I don't see often enough of in Warcraft role-play. I'm looking forward to this guild and I may resurrect an old character for it! In the meantime if I can offer any feedback or suggestions about the concept or any events you want to plan out please let me know. I would love to see your guild flourish. (: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tarsis 4 Posted September 15, 2017 X-COM 2 in World of Warcraft, nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avalia 45 Posted September 19, 2017 this is an incredible concept with some absolutely amazing mechanics for guild events. love it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatchicken 22 Posted September 21, 2017 A very well thought out and interesting guild concept! I would love to see it flourish. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vraul 53 Posted September 24, 2017 Really nice concept you've got going there. Be a real shame good time if someone... joined it... Vraul Share this post Link to post Share on other sites