Willowsguard

Willowsguard Country: Oren, Savoy Titles: None Founder: Rodric Crast Current Head: Wilmot Crast (Wilmot, Baron of Mor'ton) Ethnicity: Heartlanders

Purpose

The order of the Willowsguard dedicates themselves to the Lord Marshal of the order who ultimately owes allegiance to the Duke of Savoy and their vassals, more often than not the Lord Marshal is a full blooded member of house Crast or house de Savoie.

Conclusively, it is the order of the Willowsguards duty to defend the swamp lands of Savoy and rid it of all forms of evil be it a creature or man with all might and fervour while still holding true to the principles of justice and honour so that its people and its holdings may prosper in peace and tranquillity.

History

The order of the Willowsguard can trace their origins to the barony of Nessvelt (Formerly Krawyn) during the lordship of Rodric Crast shortly after John Horens ascension to the throne. When the Crasts were soon usurped by house Roke the Order soon fell into dormancy with very little numbers that remained to protect the remnants of house Crast.

Over the remaining years upon the isles of Vailor the Crasts were eventually able to recover from the loss of their homeland and fell into the vassals of the Duchy of Savoie where Wilmot Crast (Second born son to Rodric) quickly grew favor due to his charismatic and passionate nature.

As house Crast embarked towards the isle of Axios, house Crast was eventually granted lands and the Barony of Mor’ton amongst the Blackwald of Savoy

Ranks

Untrained

Recruit - A basic soldier, unspecialized and often young they make up a small section of the levy and often do not fight upon the field until adequately trained, Recruits are not bound by oath to the order and do not require permission to leave until they are properly enlisted.

Enlisted

Pikeman - The first of the two types of soldier, these fully oathed soldiers make up the bulk of the fighting force and are trained with long weapons as the name suggests, they may also carry a smaller sidearm for close combat situations. (See weapons)

Crossbowman - The second of the two soldiers, these soldiers specialise in the use of long-range archery weapons such as Crossbows and less commonly longbows, like Pikemen they can carry a small sidearm, they do not hold any authority over the Pikemen and vice versa. (Enlisted soldiers can also choose between which rank they would like to specialise in though in some situations this may be chosen by a higher authority)

Command

Sergeant - Once a Pikeman has strived through trials and tribulations they will become a Sergeant, this allows them to lead small campaigns among the swamplands and the Barony of Mor’ton with permission, they may also run training exercises. More often than not Sergeants are equipped and trained with a more prestigious sidearm.

Sharpshooter - Identical in concept to the Sergeant Pikeman though trained with the prior weapons mentioned the Sergeant Crossbowman again is equipped and trained with a more prestigious sidearm.

Knight Sergeant - The Knight Sergeant is the combatant figurehead of the Willowsguard, they are highly respected veterans that hold all of the perks of Sergeants and Sharpshooters alike. Men go through extensive training in order to achieve such prestige and consequently are trained with both ranged and melee weaponry. The melee weaponry that Knight Sergeants may choose to train with is much more prestigious than that of the regular Pikemen (see weaponry) and they are permitted to use both types of ranged weaponry mentioned.

Lord Marshal - Held always by a Lord or Knight the Lord Marshal is responsible for maintaining the Order of the Willowsguard. They do not lead as such despite their responsibility though they do have authority over the lower ranks, they owe utter allegiance to the current Duke of Savoy and have the power to disband the Order at any time with appropriate permission from said, Duke.

Present day location

Mor'ton in the Duchy of Savoy, located at the Blackwald Marshes