There have been a number of
famous adventuring parties over the course of Porth’s history and as the next
part of these articles it would seem appropriate to list some of them and
remember some of their exploits. At
various points they these groups have been both hated and loved, seeing as the
old adage of “everyone loves a winner” could not be truer than when it is
applied to the ramifications of so called “heroes”.
The Spear Lords
A mostly fighter based group,
although their one wizard Tallagel is recognised as the finest battle caster
that there has ever been, who are remembered as the first party to return from
Von Island and bring the news that as well as an abundance of dinosaurs living
in the Jungles of the island beneath is home to thousands of dark elf Drow.
Their name derives from the
original leader of the band using an enchanted spear in battle with great skill. The spear was known as heart seeker as it
could be thrown very easily and caused devastating damage at times. The entire party were believed lost during
the Dark Cleric’s Reign of Terror.
Don't throw those bloody spears at me!
Company of the Mist Walkers
This group were just an
ordinary collection of mercenaries hired by the cleric Alannah Sapharis until
their adventures brought them into contact with the Demi plane of Dread –
Ravenloft. The group became unwitting
pawns of the Azalin as he tried to escape the plane. The group emerged from the mists which had
become permanently attached to Porth at the time although they discovered they
were centuries out of time and all they knew had gone.
Shortly after their emergence
from the mists they became known as the Company of the Mist Walkers. Bregg Malen, a tactical genius and the leader
of the group, got the party embroiled with Ramalin Delgarto’s Abjuration Agenda
and they disappeared into the jungles of Untin.
Only Ramalin has been seen since so the Company’s whereabouts remain unknown.
So there I was high born lady with prospects, get mixed up with an
adventurer - lost everything!
Warriors of the Vale
An ancient organisation which
are rumoured to still exist in the form of a secret society of some kind
dedicated to the protection of the Southern lands of Thane. Their most famous deed was the apparent
destruction of the Dark Cleric after his first rampage at the hands of the
group’s leader Erinmore.
If the Warriors of the Vale
still exist they did not feature in the final battle with the Dark Cleric that
would bring about the current Age of Despair.
However, if they are indeed working as a secret organisation they may
well have had a part in Ratrimack’s downfall that no one is aware of.
Nock, draw, fire. Shit forgot AIM!
Knights of Justicia
Not really an adventuring
company as such, the Knights of Justica were renowned as the protectors and
peacekeepers throughout Porth for centuries until their fall from grace
following the conviction and execution of their leader Saint Lendorian Cord for
treason and heresy.
There are many historians
who believe that Lendorian was used as a scape goat at the time to cover up a
greater crime by others but there is a lack of evidence for this theory due to
the destruction of documentation from that time.
The Knights of Justicia were
divided up into chapters although the full details of who this worked are
lost. Occasionally you may well come
across a modern day Justician Knight.
This is a warrior who can trace their ancestry back to the high days of
Justicia and can continue to wear the Sigel’s and armour of the knights.
Is anyone else finding this chafes?
Heroes of Maldar Forest
In the same way as the Mist
Walkers this band of adventurers had come together before they became the
Heroes of Maldar Forest. Basically, a bunch
of neophyte adventurers found themselves in the middle of an undead invasion of
the Oron Islands by the Lich-Lord Fearson.
Against all odds they managed to hold the line against a massive army of
undead until support arrived and managed to turn the tide against the invasion.
All of the Heroes of Maldar
Forest who lived long enough to retire did so to the Oron Islands which are
populated by their distant relatives today.
Their number included Xorin the Wizard, Jenna Elvesbane, Kalis, Hannah
and Malakesh.
Maldar Forest - undead free since 1847p.w.
Champions of Porth
No adventuring company can
boast quite so many legendary members to its ranks or to have such a marred
reputation. Notable members include
Cortan (Master-mage of Porth), Ratrimack (before he became the Dark Cleric),
Marlowe Barrak (King of the Dwarves), Arturio Deg (Prince of the Elves),
Draegan (Lady of Shadows - Goddess of destruction), Alasander Cortalis (General
of the Gods), Saint Lendorian Cord (ruler of Justicia) and Bruce the Troglodyte.
The fact that the Champions did
an immense amount of good can never be argued; they stopped Elcore from
destroying everything, helped fight the forces of evil across the entire world
and stood as an inspiration to a generation.
However, Ratrimack proved to be a master of manipulation and as the Dark
Cleric slaughtered millions of innocents to feed his army of death. Cortan continues to be the most powerful mage
in existence and has lived way beyond his years. Lendorian’s disgrace is mentioned above and the
Bruce/Thor feud is still the key element in the events of the holocaust where
the very existence of Porth was changed forever.
Nothing like the Champions of Porth...
I hope that you have enjoyed
this little guide to the various major adventuring bands that have and in some
cases still do populate the World of Porth.
