Ravenbrand

The Ravenbrand is a mercenary order operating throught most of the Midrealms, Aeboria and Eolainn. The Ravenbrand specialize in fighting against and slaying monstrosities, undead, dragons and other aberrations. The Ravenbrand is renowned through much of the world for being some of the most adept monster slayers.

## History

### Early years

The Ravenbrand was originally established in 905 as a mercenary gang in the Isuraea region of the Azurite Empire. The band quickly gained a reputation for their efficiency in monster hunting, but would be expelled by the empire in 928 when the empire sought to encourage discipline and get rid of mercenary bands within the empire. This caused the members of the Ravenbrand to scatter and leave for different parts of the world, making them operate throughout most of the Midrealms, Aeboria and Eolainn. Although separated the fractions of the order would eventually reorganize and become more globally oriented, fighting monsters around the world. The Ravenbrand would eventually return to operating within the Azurite empire in 1047 after laws banning their activity were abolished.

## Organisation

### Membership

The total number of Ravenbrand mercenaries is unknown but is estimated to be somewhere around a 1000 split across many lands and regions.

### Members of the Ravenbrand

Ravenbrand mercenaries are usually referred to simply as 'Ravens'. A Raven travels the lands either alone, in pairs or in small bands, seeking contracts for monster hunting and other opportunities. Members tends to specialize and possess a wide variety of abilities suitable for hunting different types of monsters. Arcane users also exists within the order, although their magical training tends to be more informal compared to the training recieved at magical academies.

### Joining the Ravenbrand

Although it is possible to join the Ravenbrand voluntarily, most members are orphans adopted by members from an early age. The most common way this happens is whenever Ravens enter a community, women who are interested in getting rid of an unwanted baby child will approach the mercenaries and ask them to take the child with them, hoping the Ravenbrand will be able to provide a future for their offspring. Orphans are vetted thoroughly before adoption, with physical well-being and health taken into account. Should a child be found unfit physically or mentally after adoption, the child will usually be neglected and left to fend for itself, often dying as a result. An adopted child within the Ravenbrand will be referred to as a 'chick'.

People who join the Ravenbrand in their adulthood are expected to undergo a rigorous process in which they have to display superior fighting prowess and other skills that could be used by the order. It is rare that people join in adulthood, as the order has a strong preference for training its members from birth and thus securing their loyalty and attachment.

### Regional organisation

The Ravenbrand is organized into different regional units, each referred to as a 'Conspiracy' (derived from how multiple ravens are referred to). Each conspiracy is lead by a headmaster who tends to be an experienced Raven who handles organization and administration of a given region. The conspiracies provide a safe haven for Ravens and collects contracts for members to sign up on. A single conspiracy varies in size but typically include anywhere between 50 to 150 members.

Chicks adopted by the Ravenbrand will usually be brought to the closest conspiracy. At the conspiracy, the chicks will receive lodging and undergo an intense training program and are expected to serve and do labor for the Ravenbrand, such as cleaning, cooking food and maintenance work. Chicks will also be disciplined to be loyal towards the order and adhere to its rules.

Several conspiracies exist throughout Cintias. Conspiracy locations include:

* Midrealms
	+ The Linden Conspiracy (Odavin, Damaria)
	+ Devan Conspiracy (Korvoe, Damaria)
	+ Crescent Conspiracy (Dakmanon, Akarros)
	+ Dawn's Shadow Conspiracy (Orbino, Kordobia)
	+ Twilight Conspiracy (Komina, Principality of Vloblin)
* Aeboria
	+ Greycrag Conspiracy (Vangore, Harkrast)
	+ Whitebark Conspiracy (Konigiv, Principality of Ryablinsk)
* Eolainn
	+ Drewdough Conspiracy (Fin Dorac, Rhionland)
	+ Sycamore Conspiracy (Perrygold)
	+ Kama's Conspiracy (Daumala, Currilia)
	+ Cin Conspiracy (Caer Dally, Cinhara)
	+ Gentle Top Conspiracy (Fin Ulaid, Dunglair)

## Rules within the Ravenbrand

### Enforced neutrality

A Ravenbrand member is required to be neutral in any struggle between different countries, houses, guilds, factions etc. Thus cannot be hired to fight in armies or serve a specific lord's interests. If a Raven is caught intervening in conflicts that they should not participate in, it is possible that the Raven would be expelled from the order.

It is not uncommon for Ravenbrand members who feel an urge to help a specific side in a conflict to use aliases or go into anonymity.

### Raven's Toll

Upon completing a contract, a Raven is required to set 10% of it's earnings aside which will be paid as 'Raven's Toll'. The toll is used to pay for the upkeep of the regional units of the order.

### Bans on Ravenbrand

The Ravenbrand are prohibited from working in certain parts of the world. Vindalaeris and Kelestia have a strong stance against Ravenbrand activity, citing that they prefer to handle their troubles with monsters domestically rather than letting mostly foreign mercenaries do the work. The Sultanate of Izhmat is known for its stance against the Ravenbrand, viewing them as a potential threat which could be manipulated by outside forces to do espionage.

## Members

Twilight Conspiracy

* Bereslav
* Boric
* Chops
* Sophinia Greyfeather