White Raven Brotherhood

The **White Raven Brotherhood**, also called the **White Ravens**, or simply the **Brotherhood** is a mercenary company headquartered in Raven's Reach, located in northern Areth. The group is led by Grand Highblade Athelas.

## History

### Founding

The White Raven Brotherhood is one of the oldest factions that was first established on Areth, expanding across its northern region. From their capital at Raven's Reach, the Brotherhood became one of the most powerful nations on the continent, rivalled by the South West Trading Company and the Masked Pirates to the north-west. Due to their close proximity to each other and need to control the local resources, the Brotherhood formed a particular rivalry with the Masked Pirates, one which would soon develop further.

### Bamboo War

*Main article: Bamboo War*

The Brotherhood's existing tension with the Masked Pirates flared to the brink of war, as the Pirates made plans to take control of the western bamboo forest in order to fuel the construction of their new fleet. The Pirates soon claimed the disputed territory between the two, also encroaching on some of the Brotherhood's existing territory. Grand Highblade Athelas immediately denounced the actions of the Pirates and sent soldiers to fortify the disputed zone, constructing a wooden fort they nicknamed 'the Nest'.

The Pirates soon escalated and declared war against the Brotherhood, launching a multi-pronged attack from the land and sea. After a brutal fight, the Nest was breached by the cannons of a warship anchored off-shore, and the Pirates' army flooded in, forcing the White Ravens to retreat.

After fleeing, the Pirates marched on Raven's Reach, besieging it with the same tactic of naval and land assault. Fortunately for the Brotherhood, the Reach's walls held and the Pirates' warship eventually ran out of ammunition, forcing a retreat back to the Nest. After this victory, the Brotherhood reorganised its army and set out to retake the bamboo forest. Athelas led three separate assaults on the Pirate garrison holding the Nest, eventually breaking through and killing or routing the survivors, subsequently winning the war.

The Brotherhood and the Pirates met on neutral ground and signed a peace treaty, which saw the bamboo forest officially recognised as White Raven territory, as well as war reparations in the form of money, materials and their own warship, the *Heron*.

### The Rise of Shadowgate

*Main article: Shadowgate Crisis*

The main combat engagement between the Brotherhood and Shadowgate, after the Brotherhood were hired by the New World Company, involved the new recruit of the Brotherhood Enzo being caught on the seas outside the keep after a chase where he was followed by four Shadowgate members. The result ended in Brother Enzo being wounded, and three Shadowgate members being wounded in response by Edmond Turner, the only other Brotherhood Soldier present nearby, the fourth Shadowgate member retreating through the central world harbour.

### The White Raven - Shadowgate War

*Main article: White Raven-Shadowgate War*

After Shadowgate released a large amount of strange propoganda which painted events that most the world witnessed into a totally different light. Grand Highblade Athelas was worried that the slander might make his mercenary group look less desirable for hire by those who were newer arrivals to the nearby lands, so in response, he declared an all-out war on terms of honour.

The first engagement involved a planned attack by Grand Highblade Athelas, Highblade Sigmund, and Edmond Turner at the Shadowgate logging camp, where one Shadowgate member was caught and defeated, another, "Alexander" head over to assist, but was defeated in single combat by Edmond Turner.

The second engagement before the final battle involved Highblade Sigmund being ambushed while relaxing outside the Ravens Reach harbour, allowing shadowgate to enter to outer grounds of the castle, only after shooting a passer-by Atilla, with arrows. They were unable to reach the vault or inner grounds.

The final battle took place on open ground south of Shadowgate, a battle of Six members of the Brotherhood, alongside two mercenaries from SWTC (South Western Trading Company), against eight Shadowgate members. After a slow approach, and one of the SWTC Mercenaries being heavily wounded, a smart usage of grenades, made Shadowgate break and flee, Seven of them were slain, and one fled out of the battlegrounds. An 8-1 Victory for the White Raven Brotherhood sealed them once again as the Military Superpower of the world.

Mid-July of 2023 saw a rapid incoming change of the political climate, one which would define the White Raven Brotherhood's place in history.