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Bloodwolf's Host
Contents |
Introduction
Edit
A name often murmured in hushed tones in private locations in the dead of the night by the downtrodden and whispered of fearfully, it is rumoured, by Abraxas’ minions, Bloodwolf’s Host is an elusive rebellion force that calls Ireland its home.
Surrounded in mystery, to most denizens of the Emerald Isle they are but a rumour, a faint hope whispered upon the wind, a thought so fragile that if one were to reach out and grasp it, it would shatter into a million broken dreams. The truth of the matter, however, is that the enigmatic Bloodwolf and his Host are very much alive and real.
The Host has no official founding date, for it was not something that someone actively decided to create, so it did not spring forth fully formed and organised. It evolved organically, growing larger and more complex as time went on. Some of the veteran members who have been there since the beginning tell that the rebellion was born the moment Wesley Winters, or Bloodwolf as the man is more commonly known as, took it upon himself to free a group of captives he happened across. What is certain is that the Host has been a thorn in Abraxas’ side since almost the moment his forces took the rebellion’s homeland.
Secretive by nature, the Host has proved exceptionally hard to pin down, with the rebellion only once being successfully pinned down and attacked since its inception. The reason for this is the tactical genius of Bloodwolf and his elite commanders, the Fangs. Taking inspiration from Ireland’s earlier endeavours at throwing off the yoke of a tyrannical invader, Bloodwolf heavily favours guerrilla tactics, utilising the terrain to its utmost potential to strike at unsuspecting forces with lightning fast ambushes that are gone as soon as they appear.
Comprised almost entirely of men and women that possessed little to no experience in matters of war or combat, and vastly overwhelmed, it is perhaps surprising that the rebellion did so well in it’s earlier days, but this success could best be attributed to a laxity in the invading forces more than the rebellion possessing any exceptional skill or power. Indeed, when Abraxas’ forces finally took the rebellion seriously, they almost crushed it there and then, were it not for the timely intervention of the former IRA. Since that exceptionally close call, the Bloodwolf has begun to take his own forces much more seriously than before, introducing demanding training regimes and producing what weaponry they can make available.
PurposeEdit
The Host’s sole purpose is to free Ireland from Abraxas’ rule, and Winters fully intends to strike at the heart of the problem, and has set his sights on the eventual slaying of the dread dragon himself. If this seemingly impossible task should ever be accomplished, it is unknown what will become of the Host and it’s leader.
StructureEdit
The command structure within the Host is exceedingly simple. The common troops are split into regiments, the cavalry, infantry, ranged and sapper sections. Each troop is assigned to one of these regiments based on where their abilities and skills will be best put to use. Within the regiments themselves, there are the fresh recruits, and the veterans. Unofficially, the veterans possess a higher rank than the new blood and are able to give out orders and so forth, but this is by no means an absolute, and more than one veteran has had pushing the limits of his authority come back to bite him at a later date.
From here, there are the Officers, for the most part the personnel that instruct and train the new recruits and give reports to the Fangs, as well as the Quartermaster and Head Healer. Their duties are the logistics of supplies and general management of the Host, and the overseeing of the Medical Corps respectively. Above these are the Fangs, nigh legendary figures that take orders only from Bloodwolf himself, and he trusts each of them implicitly. Each one is a powerful force to be reckoned with, both on the battlefield and as a leader, and the regiments they command are unshakeably loyal to them.
Finally, at the very top of the chain of command is the enigmatic leader of the Host, from which the rebel force derives its name. Bloodwolf has reached an almost mythical status both within and without the Host and each troop obeys him without question. The Host possesses a deep-seated respect for the Knight of Blood, as he treats each of his men fairly and honourably, and permits his men to speak to him whenever they have the time about whatever may be concerning them. The Host’s numbers are a complete unknown, even to the majority of the Host itself. The reason for this is strategical, given that if a soldier is captured, they cannot give away important and vital information no matter how much they wish to. Bloodwolf is very much in favour of people earning their privelages, and as such only troops that have proven themselves in battle are permitted perks such as access to a personal firearm, better quarters, permission to keep the weapons and armour they strip from the enemy, and so on. Even the Fangs, second only to Bloodwolf himself in the chain of command, had to work their way up to attain this highest of honours.
The command structure is as follows.
Command StructureEdit
Founder, Leader and General Edit
- Wesley Winters
- Aliases: Bloodwolf, Bloodstorm, Knight of Blood, Abraxisbane and Dragonslayer.
Fangs Edit
- Ciara O'Connor
- Aliases: The Dullahan. Role: Commander of The Dullahan’s Whip, the Host’s cavalry.
- Jack O’Brian
- Aliases: The Green Eagle. Role: Commander of the Ranged and Scout regiments, deceased.
- Bianca Cross
- Aliases: Valkyrie, Den Mother, etc. Role: Commander of the Sapper regiments.
- Devlin Graves
- Aliases: Metal Messiah, The Sentinel, Lord of Metal, Lord of Iron, The Hammer, Ironman. Role: Commander of the Iron Sentinels, the infantry regiments.
OfficersEdit
- Quartermaster
- Infantry Instructor
- Sapper Instructor
- Cavalry Instructor
- Ranged and Scout Instructor
- Healer Corps Officer
- Xiao Qilin
Cavalry Regiment – The Dullahan’s WhipEdit
Comprised of an assortment of races, this elite team of troops are under the direct command of Ciara O’Connor, the Dullahan Fang. Given the ragtag nature of the Host, the abilities of the troops vary enormously, though all are suited to combat on horseback. They are equipped with weapons of their choice, usually bladed whips in the style of their Fang's, as well as more conventional melee weaponry and ranged weapons. Most of the Whip’s mounts are equine beasts of an otherworldly nature, such as Kelpies, Nightmares and so on.
Ranged and Scout Regiments – The Eagle’s EyeEdit
Formerly under the command of Jack O’Brian, better known as the Green Eagle, this unit has only recently begun to recover from the devastating ambush set by Abraxas’ forces. As of yet, they are without a Fang to lead them, but the Bloodwolf has entrusted the command of the unit to the more senior surviving members of the Eye. Severely underpopulated compared to their previous fighting strength, the unit is comprised mostly of fresh recruits armed with bows and crossbows, with the senior veterans being granted the honour of carrying firearms. A large number of the troops possess abilities that grant them ranged offensive potential.
Infantry Regiment – The Iron SentinelsEdit
The backbone of the Host, the The Iron Sentinels is by far the most numerous of the four regiments and possesses the largest number of experienced troops with the best in terms of equipment. Lead into battle and commanded by Devlin Graves, the regiment contains a large number of troops that excel in the heat of close combat, possessing the Host’s largest, strongest and most fearsome members as well as those who possess powers suited to such a role. The larger, more brutal members are often placed in this regiment where they may utilise their inherent combat potential to their fullest.
The Sapper and Artillery Regiments Edit
Lead by the Fang Bianca Cross, the newest regiment to come into existence, the (Blank) came about after the former IRA came to the rescue of the fledgling rebellion when Abraxas’ forces had them pinned down. This feat has earned them much praise and gratitude, especially from those that survived the fateful battle, and they are the regiments that possesses the largest amount of explosives, firearms and modern equipment by far. Surprisingly, this regiment holds the greatest number of natural, unpowered humans out of the entire rebellion, yet they are perhaps one of the most feared when it comes to battle.
Each troop possesses a firearm of some sort and are in charge of maintaining and resupplying their weapons themselves. The attachment of these troops to their weapons is legendary within the Host, and it is extraordinarily rare to see one without his firearm by his side. A common saying in the Host is, “You’re as sure to die trying that as you are trying to part a (Blank) from his gun.”
TreacheryEdit
Recently it has become increasingly obvious that the Host possesses a number of treacherous members or possibly agents that have infiltrated the forces. The first signs of the rotten core making itself manifest was in the period between February and March of 2014, when the fledgling safe houses established in Cork and Armagh were wiped out with devastating force. The only manner in which Abraxas’ forces could have discovered the safe houses was if someone with knowledge of their location betrayed the Host by giving them the information.
The second and perhaps most disastrous display of treachery was on May 20th, 2014. Jack O’Brian, the Fang known as the Green Eagle and the bulk of his regiment were ambushed on a routine scouting mission by Axraxas’ forces and completely wiped out. Since then, the Host has been suffering from doubts as to the integrity of its own troops and each man casts a suspicious eye upon his comrade for fear of him being an enemy in disguise.
CultsEdit
In fairly recent times, several hero worshipping cults have sprung up both in the Host and in the homes of some of the more impressionable Irish people dwell. Due to the enigmatic nature of the Host and its leaders, a number of fanatical rebellion members have taken it upon themselves to deify both Bloodwolf and his Fangs, despite the fact that they are a far cry from deities. Little is known about these cults, yet Bloodwolf and the Fangs are very much aware of their existence, yet suffer them to exist as their strategic value outweighs their annoyance.
While each of the cults worships varying ideals, such as Bloodwolf being the father of a pantheon that includes the Fangs, much in the manner of the Greek gods for example, they are surprisingly supportive of one another, often cooperating and lending each other aid when necessary. Highly secretive in the way they conduct their endeavours, they have proven to be exceptionally useful in regards to the recent matter of treachery within the Host, hunting down traitors with the zeal that can only come from religious fanaticism.
TimelineEdit
The following is a timeline of the important events pertaining to the founding of the Ireland based guerrilla force known as Bloodwolf's Host, as well as major events in its history. The timeline will be updated as events of sufficient import occur.
- December 2012 – The Shift
- Wesley Winters’ powers manifest, accidentally killing his fiancée. He roams the countryside as a broken man.
- January 1st through February 1st
- Abraxas takes over. Pockets of resistance rise up and are summarily crushed.
- Winters frees a group of captives and leads them to turn on their captors, slaughtering them to a man. They accept his offer to band together for mutual support and protection, and to fight against Abraxas’ forces. Thus forms the beginning of what would become Bloodwolf’s Host, a guerrilla rebellion force dedicated to driving Abraxas’ forces from Ireland, and killing the great dragon himself.
- February 1st through March 1st
- Winters’ fledgling rebellion grows at a slow pace as they rescue who they can from Abraxas’ forces. Some accept his offer while others choose to trust to their own fortune.
- The Dullahan, Ciara O’Connor is rescued and accepts Winters’ offer to join his ragtag group.
- April 1st through May 1st
- The rebellion under Winters' reluctant command faces its first significant battle. Though suffering heavy losses, Winters' leadership allows them to break the back of the enemy force.
- From this battle, Winters' title of Bloodwolf arises, and the rebels begin to casually refer to themselves as Bloodwolf's Host
- May 1st through June 1st
- Abraxas closes the borders of both Britain and Ireland.
- As a result, and with whispers of Bloodwolf's Host growing more prevalent and no longer dismissed as rumour, people begin to see the rebel force as their last, desperate hope.
- Abraxas' first true attempt at crushing Bloodwolf's Host, who has become a noticeable thorn in his side. Dragon spawn and a large force attack the rebel stronghold. Despite a valiant defense, the Host sustains heavy losses and the situation looks hopeless until surprise reinforcements in the shape of the former IRA appear. Using their extensive supply of weaponry and explosives, combined with Winters' loss of temper and subsequent terrifying display of power, the spawn and their army are slain or driven back.
- The former IRA forces pledge allegiance to the Host and the Sapper regiment is formed. Whispers of Winters being the one to slay Abraxas begin after his show of power and slaying a dragon spawn in single combat, though Winters succumbs to madness and is bedridden for weeks. Some of the more fanatical and misguided rebels begin to form cults of hero worship dedicated to Winters and his Fangs.
- The Fangs, Winters' trusted lieutenants, take command of the forces until he recovers.
- July 1st through August 1st
- The Host takes Winters’ ancestral fortress stronghold of Winterkeep in Donegal, succeeding in driving out the monstrous creatures that reside within. Fortification and expansion of Winterkeep begins.
- The Host begins expanding it's area of operations, network of influence and safe houses throughout the island. Progress on all ventures is painfully slow.
- September 1st through October 1st
- Vast cave systems beneath Winterkeep are discovered as part of the fortress crumbles due to age. Dozens are killed. Winters personally delivers a eulogy as they are laid to rest.
- December 1st through January 1st
- Safe houses are tenuously established in Cork, Leitrim and Armagh.
- Winters orders his more experienced members to begin formulating a training regime for new recruits, with much input from the man himself.
- February 1st through March 1st
- The safe houses in Cork and Armagh are rooted out and destroyed. Treachery is suspected.
- May 1st through June 1st
- The Fang in control of the Ranged/Scout section and a large contingent of his patrol are ambushed and slaughtered almost to a man. The Fang's head is delivered to Winters by the sole survivor, whose tongue had been cut out. The man dies shortly afterwards.
- Treachery is widely suspected within the Host due to the Fang's ambush.
- Tensions rise as each man casts a suspicious eye on the other. Winters personally and publically executes one man discovered to be a traitor and promises the same for all who betray them to Abraxas. The leaks do not stop.
- The hero-worshipping cults begin to silently fight back against the treachery, rallying the troops’ morale and rooting out traitors. Winters and the Fangs are aware of this but believe the cults to be too strategically beneficial to stamp out, and so suffer their existence.
- July 1st through Present
- The Host moves to take Castle Eire, near Giant's Causeway in Antrim, located in the former North of Ireland, leaving a modest force and two of his Fangs in Winterkeep, taking the Dullahan Ciara O’Conner and her cavalry with him as well as elements of the ranged, infantry and sapper regiments.
Miscellaneous notes Edit
Note: The (Blank) and (Blankperson) spaces are left unknown intentionally, as I would much rather have players play the Fangs than to NPC them. If you wish to do so, I would strongly encourage it, and to please contact me so we can hammer something out. Same goes for anyone who wishes to make a character in the Host, be it a troop in one of the regiments, a Healer, one of the Cult members or even a traitor, just drop me a line!
Edit
| References | |
|---|---|
| Factions | Corporate Oligarchs • Criminal Syndicate • Factionless • Gnosis Hilary Institute • Humanity League of North America • Infected • Meta Human Alliance • Omega Directive • Order and Hierarchy of Angels and Demons • Order of Ulrich Otherworld • Public Service • Underground |
| Groups | Bloodwolf's Host • Club Republica • New Mayans • The Murphys • Vampire Kingdom |
| Races | Aliens • Dragonian • Humans with Abilities • Humans • Magus • Metahumans • Possessed • Vampires • Veil Crossers • Werecreatures • Zombies |
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