The Crimson Blades

The Crimson Blades are recognised by this heraldry and Red livery.

The Crimson Blades are a Guild of mercenaries for hire that operate out of the West Ridings. They're a group who for the most part are seen in a good light by the people of the land but are well known for only taking Jobs if they pay. They have achieved some impressive feats in their short time being a guild and have grown rather quickly.

WIP feel free to drop message in Settings chat about fleshing them out

Use The Leodis Lion Guard for inspiration

## Organisation

The Guild is split into a clearly defined hierarchy, which governs the flow of power and influence within the organisation.

### The Guild Master - The Hilt

The head of the organisation, who is in charge of all the goings on in the organisation. The Guildmaster, also referred to as “the Hilt”, dictates how the organisation is run in accordance with its tenets and by-laws. They have the final say on any disagreement with in the organisation.

### Blades

Blades handle the day to day operations of the guild, and report directly to the Guildmaster. There are always multiple blades at any given time, each of which oversees a division under their command. Each division specialises in dealing and engaging with a particular type of threat or issue. Blades prefer to keep their divisions diverse and multi skilled but each may prefer.

### Pommels

Each Blade will have a Pommel or two working with them within their division to help give advise and act as leader of the division as and when needed. As with actual blades the Pommel acts as a counterweight to the blade so the sword doesn't feel as heavy to the user. Pommels focus on the details of a division and keep a close eye on the members working under the Scabbard & Sheath.

### The Scabbard & Sheath

The Scabbard & Sheath are the oversee the members who haven't been selected to join a division yet. They are there to guide and protect them as they refine their skills to get ready to be taken into the folds of the divisions. All members start out here and some choose not to leave preferring the option to pick and choose which jobs they take, rather than only taking those they have specialised to fulfill.

### The Tang

Every member of the guild that doesn't have one of the above roles is referred to as a Tang. They are what helps keep the the Crimson Blades together and wouldn't work as intended if they weren't there.

## Symbols & Signs

The Symbol of the Crimson Blades is made up of a collection of five red swords pointing downward, with a pair crossing behind. This symbol is used heavily within the group to mark everything that they own and represent. Each blade represents a different aspect of the guild.

## Crimson Blades Livery & Equipment

Example text

Their armour usually consists golden fullplate on top of green tabards. If a Merchant King has taken a shine to a particular Emerald Enforcer they sometimes will buy them some more ostentatious set of armour and sometimes enchant them. Emerald Enforcers surrounding a Merchant King will always have highly decorative armour, sometimes reflecting the trade that Merchant King, Genie Hafftia, the Merchant King of gemstones will often have high value gems worked into their armour designs. Others will incorporate virtues they hold deals.

In terms of arms most used are spears, but short swords & long swords are common amongst their ranks. A few higher up have specialised into more unique weapons that blend with their preferred fighting styles.

## Base of Operations

XXXXX A manor house a x travel outside of Glimmergate (Need to talk to Jay on full details)

## Relationships

Good relationship with the Merchant Kings of Glimmergate

## Abilities

Given their typical trades, regular members of the guild were often skilled in intimidation and persuasion, and also in sensing deception. The spellcasters tended to be knowledgeable in arcane lore and spellcraft. Members would learn to speak a diverse selection of languages to deal with anything they may have come across.

Wizards in the Crimson Blades could learn additional evocation spells to scribe in their spellbooks and favoured weapon enhancing spells or ones that do massive damage.

## History

Format

* Founded in AOR 551 by former members of the Otha's Rest Adventurers Guild who did Beefingtons dirty work.
* Guild starts building up over a name for themselves after Grindstone uses mind control to control the other members of his mercenary band.
* Guild grows as more adventurers in the west ridings hear of the crimson blades and come to join them. These members are actually good natured individuals that come due to misinformation about the crimson blades.
* Guild becomes large and earns the rights to use XXXXX manor as their base of operations.
* All Grindstone's dirty work is done in the shadows by his controlled original warband
* Rain and Sharian become ininterested is the misdeeds of the former members of the guild in the Northvale Woods.
* Sharian Rain and Karn look into the the guild and discover the mind control
* Killing Grindstone and giving the Control of the guild over to a former member of the warband.
* Guild is left to form in new control.

References: https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Cult\_of\_the\_Dragon
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Criminal\_organizations

## Appendix

### Appearances

Adventures
Race to the Crimson Blades • Insert session name here •

### Mentions

Adventures
Logging Credentials • Insert session name here •