The Settled Sword

The Settled Sword is the most prestigious and one of the last remaining adventuring guilds in Syv Nova. Located in Lymora, its guild house is near the center of the city, representing how closely tied to its survival it once was. The current guildmaster is Ser Theryl, a man now advancing in years though still known for his bravery and excellent swordsmanship.

Along with the Alchemist's Guild, Church of St. Chronika, Guardsman's Barracks, Observatorium, and Greyman's Emporium, the Settled Sword aids in decision making in Hightower, the seat of mayoral power in the region. Ser Theryl is known to pay little attention to politics, however.

### Foundation

Nearly two centuries ago, the Settled Sword was initially known as the Blooded Blades; a group of mercenaries under the command of Commander Jyle Larismar. During their tenure as mercenaries, the Blooded Blades were often deployed against incursions from the Bramble but paid little heed to why they were called into service. In fact, they were known to often steal from areas left destitute in their wake, or demand higher prices if it was apparent they would have to defend an area until Bastion could deploy more soldiers to the region. This avarice gained them no favors, though their efficiency was enough for many to overlook their brutish and almost usurious nature. In fact, because Bastion had suffered so many losses during the Dread Tumult, bands such as the Blooded Blades had become, in many ways, the defacto law in regions.

#### A Change in Leadership

Toward the end of Commander Larismar's tenure as the leader of the Blades, he began taking on contracts that dealt only with a single benefactor: the Dorumin family, wealthy merchants that had begun sending expeditions toward the north. Though initially these acts seemed to be surprisingly inoffensive for the increasingly aggressive Blooded Blades, it became apparent to one of the commander's young captains, Ercoit Levaux, that the Dorumin family and Commander Larismar were intending to severe a portion of Bastion and militarize it under their shared command. Vaikor Dorumin's daughter, Tiran, was to wed Commander Larismar and after they seized the mayor of Lymora, sue for their autonomous territory.

At the designated time, Vaikor Dorumin and Commander Larismar called upon Lymora's mayor, but before they could seize him, Ercoit rushed into the gathering and fought off those that might have followed through with their nefarious plot. He and the mayor fled to Lymora, where they were able to raise the guard and together battle back Larismar's forces.

For a week, mercenary bands from the region were sent to besiege Lymora, but Ercoit and the town guard, joined by those few in the Blooded Blades that had become wary of Larismar's avarice, held the town until Bastion was able to send soldiers in to aid them. Vaikor Dorumin and his daughter were captured in their attempted flight, while Larismar was killed refusing to surrender.

Those that stood together at this time were seen as heroes and as such, Grand Duke Jarmin Lionsford bestowed a knighthood upon the young Ercoit, naming him Ser Ercoit the Bold.

#### The Sworn Sword

Although Ser Ercoit had fought valiantly to defend Lymora, he and his band had little knowledge of what to do without Commander Larismar's leardership. As mercenary bands were now greatly mistrusted in the region, those that turned to them began petitioning Hightower for assistance, which the already stressed soldiery could hardly answer at once.

But Ser Ercoit, who saw the good in his men even though they had once done some bad deeds, wanted the world to see their good as well. Therefore, he chose to have them answer the needs of those that sought assistance from Hightower with the mayor's permission. Initially there were few willing to allow the band near them, but Ser Ercoit's title and his vow at the Church of St. Chronika to do only good, saw his name elevated among those in Lymora and its surrounding region. Soon, his band, known as the Sworn Sword, began addressing not merely tertiary concerns, but also threats from the Bramble.

During the group's first adventure into the Bramble they defeated an Or'Kati warband and rescued a Taivan elf, Taishala Goodspell, from their capture. From that point onward, Minder Goodspell became a constant fixture within the Sworn Sword and later, the Settled Sword.

#### The Settled Sword

Bastion's weakened position and the remnants of Or'Kati and Dread forces lurking in the Bramble revealed a danger to the region as a whole. As Hightower could not both protect Lymora and also seek out the danger, they turned to the Sworn Sword for assistance. Ser Ercoit and his band ventured forth into the Bramble and worked tirelessly to uproot many of the dangers within it: aberrations, dangerous beasts, and barbarous bands were scattered in their way. Slowly, Lymora began to fortify the regions they had cleared.

Eventually, however, the Sword Sword came upon a truly fearsome foe: a red dragon, awakened by the barbarous races intent on using its power to destroy Lymora and open the north to invasion. Ercoit sent his aspirants back to warn the garrison, while he, Minder Goodspell, Dysmar the Bladed Dread, and Moir Lightstep, remained behind and confronted the beast. As Lymora sent its available forces to aid the Sworn Sword, they were met by Minder Goodspell alone, who carried Ser Ercoit's sword and said that though the beast had been slain, their leader was lost as well.

Ser Ercoit's final sacrifice had prevented a devastating toll to be exacted from Lymora, which in turn made his final act a stroke of heroism alongside the likes of St. Chronika in the eyes of Lymora's people. Minder Goodspell conveyed that with the greatest of threats vanquished, the Sworn Sword might now be settled.

### Organization

The leader of the Settled Sword is known as the Swordmaster, so named in honor of Ser Ercoit's brilliance with the weapon.

The Settled Sword divides its adventurers into specific roles, intended to ensure that when a party is sent forth they have all the necessities for survival.

* Minders: Those that heal or support their allies with magic.
* Defenders: Those that primarily guard their allies.
* Strikers: Those that use melee combat to defeat their foes.
* Silencers: Those that use stealth to solve problems before them.
* Rangers: Those that use ranged weaponry to bring down an enemy.
* Banishers: Those that utilize magic to defeat their foes.

##### Current Leadership

* Swordmaster Theryl Branson
* First Minder Taishala Goodspell
* First Silencer Dirge