Bloodsgrove

> "*Burning Cities, Bruised by War, Praise not the Three, We are the Fourth.*"
> ― Poem of Heomar, Founder of the Bloodsgrove
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>

Few mercenary companies have a reputation as vicious as the Bloodsgrove, let alone an utterly countless amount of victories.

The Bloodsgrove are an order called only as the last resort; their cruelty is known across the land as well as their unyielding nature. Their status is one born of a philosophy where their presence alone typically causes other combatants to surrender. The Bloodsgrove do not grant mercy and do not spare non-combatants.

When they are called to battle, victory is guaranteed no matter the cost.

## History

Founded by one of the leaders of the Hundred Families that first arrived to Aerrune alongside Oskar daer Gryn, this leader would come to be known as Heomar van Udorott and later regarded as a warrior-philosopher.

In the beginning of Aerrune's settling, Heomar would lead skirmishes against the inhabitants. When his victories mounted he would become respected as a general and a trusted agent of Oskar the Wolf-Grin. When rebellions began in Aerrune organised by dissidents from the Hundred Families, Heomar was summoned to quash them. His violence earnt him a reputation and he had the beginnings of what would become the Bloodsgrove with a new philosophy about the nature of war.

Heomar realized a military order would not last and that conflict was something that could only be won by people with nothing to lose. He himself witnessed how his soldiers were transformed by his methods. So he began the Bloodsgrove as a mercenary order in the ruins of Rakhan Korv, the site of one of his most brutal victories.

Their name comes from the trees of Rakhan Korv where the sap is a pungent, viscous red. Warriors of the Bloodsgrove will cover their blades in this bloody sap and light them aflame.

## Membership

The ranks of the Bloodsgrove consist of men and women dedicated to the cause of merciless warfare. The nature of the order would attract malcontents, sadists and those who have given up on proper society. Many of these people could not reintegrate into society, as they were deeply disturbed by the actions ordered of them.

Traumatized members of the Bloodsgrove would take their own lives when they had no conflicts to face. Their corpses would be interred into the trees of Rakhan Korv, so they may continue into the next battle through the bloody sap staining their comrades' blades.

### Chapters

* The Widows - Women to join the Bloodsgrove were often widows, but their value to the Bloodsgrove was through their unique approach to battles.
* The Scar Seekers - The vanguard of the Bloodsgrove, these warriors were lost in the bloodshed and became husks, fighting only for the sake of violence.
* The Penitents - Those cast out by orders of their god would find a home in the Bloodsgrove.
* The Grim Witnesses - The common shock-trooper of the Bloodsgrove.
* The Hellsent - The heavy cavalry of the Bloodsgrove, these were often dragonborn used to corral fleeing enemies.

### Notable Members

* Skömm Mantloc eir Rymrgand - Current Skömm of the Bloodsgrove in the Greylands.
* Rylanth Ulvesangg the Níðhǫggr - The Battle-Saint of the Bloodsgrove chapter in the Greylands.
* Astoro al-Melektaus - Leader of the Bloodsgrove chapterhouse in Naharis in Zul-Bhasir; a spellcaster with a fearsome reputation.
* Valai Darcozzi - Leader of the Bloodsgrove chapterhouse in Ostora within Cassardis.
* Hirakias vardr Kree - Leader of the Bloodsgrove chapterhouse in Daenibir, within the reaches of Udorott.

## Regions

Born in Rakhan Korv, a region in the Greylands of Aerrune, the Bloodsgrove keep their motherhouse here. Other chapterhouses could be found in Daenibir, Ostora and Naharis.

If the cause and money were there, the Bloodsgrove could be found in every corner of the world.

## Relationships

Due to the very nature of the Bloodsgrove they could only be a mercenary order, one heavily ostracized by society. They held no allegiances to any king, lord or lady. Every member of the Bloodsgrove must treat war above allegiances.

The only faction they are associated with is the Guild Eldritch, for they work together far too often.

## Ideals

> "*Pain is meaningless to me!*"
> ― Common War-Cry
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>

The basic cause of the creation of the Bloodsgrove was to wage war without consideration for moral or ethical concerns. To maximise the brutality of war was a strategic and tactical choice in order to abbreviate battles rather than prolong suffering. By creating a mercenary company so vicious and brutal the Bloodsgrove seek to end conflicts before they can begin and stop wars before they can claim more lives.

Heomar witnessed how this form of conflict transformed his soldiers and sought to create an order of those who shared in his philosophy.

While many drawn to the Bloodsgrove are sadists and blackguards, the core of the Bloodsgrove is to wage war in such a ceaseless and merciless manner to end it as quickly as possible and to prevent further insurrection. The Bloodsgrove see the rules of engagement as a philosophy rather than a code of conduct. The malcontents of civilisation are prone to join such an order.

Many of these members seek death on a battlefield; those that don't will travel from battle-to-battle. Some will travel across Starsong to other chapters for the sake of another war.

Today the Bloodsgrove serve as mercenaries, assassins and bodyguards.