Evernight Guild Archive
REMNANTS OF THE HORDE (RoTH)
Created: 2006-02-21 00:10:43
Game: unity
Faith: Leto
Charter
REMNANTS OF THE HORDE (RoTH)
THE TRANSFORMATION
Once the time of troubles began, the nomadic tribes of the steppes were enslaved by the tyrants of Barnabas and treated like savages by the fanatics of Angelique. They fought valiantly, but they fought amongst each other as well. A young warrior named Radic rose quickly during this time to become the chieftain of the T’kchar tribe. During the Battle of the Ridge, Radic’s forces made a courageous stand against a horde of Angelique followers trying to get to the T’kchar’s main village. All hope was lost, but Radic tried to rally his brave warriors. A lance pierced his chest as the line broke under another Angelique charge. Leto had been watching Radic throughout his life and believed him to be everything that he wanted a mortal to be. Seeing Radic fall pained Leto and he sent some of his life force into Radic’s body. Feeling the sense of power flood into him, Radic stood back up.
The battle raged around him, but as if it were in slow motion. He became filled with anger as men lost their lives fighting for him. And with this rage also began the transformation. Bones broke and lengthened, tearing through his skin. His scream of pain turned into a roar of anger. Where once Radic stood, now roared a huge golden dragon. Larger then the ones that even the mighty dragon riders of Tertal flew. It began to cut through the heathens like a scythe through chaff. The few of his warriors left from that battle told of it to others. Soon other tribes began to flock to his banner, the banner of a gold dragon over a black background. With this uniting and his new powers The Golden Horde was formed. The bastions of debacle and deceit of Barnabas and Angelique were breached. The heathens were finally driven from the steppes.
THE BREAKING
After many successful campaigns into the lowlands, The Golden Horde was finally able to unite the forces of Leto. Then one day The Dragon disappeared. Neither through the means of sorcery, nor scouting could he be found. The results of this were dramatic. The nobles of the lowlands fled back to their castles, not wishing to follow the savages of the steppes. And without Radic the tribes had nothing to unite them either. They splintered into various opposing factions to fight for the crown. Killing each other and heathen alike. This lasted for many years.
THE RETURN
In the winter, of the year of Dragnak reports were told of villages being found mysteriously empty. Not a soul was found, nor any signs that fighting had occurred. The people were just….gone. Search parties were formed and sent out to find the missing villagers. After these parties did not return the reigning chiefs united their efforts to face this trickery. A force of arms was raised not seen since the days of The Golden Horde. They marched north to discover the reason of the disappearances. They too did not return. News of this reached the lowlands and the nobles began to get concerned. Whatever was affecting the steppes could just as well affect them.
The reports, which at first had flowed quickly to them, slowed to a trickle and soon ceased after four months. An army of nobles rode into the steppes to the nearest village. They found it and the next two completely deserted. This brought fear to their hearts. Would this mysterious plague reach them as well? Fleeing back into their strongholds they readied for a siege.
THE RISING
Then came the summer solstice and the time of change. Now the nobles found out where the tribes had gone. Those closest to the borderlands heard a sound like thunder with not a cloud in the sky. The guards, on the wall, warned of an approaching dust cloud. Alarms were raised and the preparations readied to meet this challenge, whatever it may be. The dust cloud stopped three hundred yards from the walls and began to settle. In awe, the defenders watched as it revealed a seemingly endless mass of blades, armor and horses. And at the front of it rode Radic and the banner of The Golden Horde. Lords and ladies along the entire boards pledged allegiance to him without a fight. Raising banners that had been kept hidden for years, whilst fighting for others. The Golden Horde now had a secure base to lash out from. Woe be unto the heathen that dares attract their attention now.
THE DISAPPEARANCE
As summer turned to fall The Golden Horde feasted on the spoils of war. Their lands had expanded further than ever before. However, as the wheel of time turned so did the fates of the Gods. They disappeared from the lands. No longer did Leto answer to the Horde’s calls. Soon the Horde began to feel the brunt of heathen forces. Without the divine guidance of Leto, Radic decided it was time to move East. This would take them away from the toils of war to await their lords return. In this decision Radic stayed behind to guide other followers of Leto to safety when he could. It was Dragonlord Zann who guided The Golden Horde to the lands of Tonan. There the followers of Leto were shunned for they did not follow the gods of that place. They met with much hardship trying to live off the land. In time they began to forget the ways of the steppes. They especially noticed the loss of their Leto given magical abilities. Without it they truly felt abandoned and were pen to attack. Zann led The Golden Horde valiantly against the waves of heathens. But as much as Zann tried and the Horde fought soon all was lost. Brute strength and tactics were not enough to make up for the magical superiority of their foes. Tribes split off from the Horde and went under the wing of Darden..or Isonia…or Foret. Each dragonlord finding his own personal savior. Soon Hordesman would fight Hordesman as in the time of The Breaking.
THE GATHERING
Time passed and the years rolled by. In this time Radic was not docile. He had been gathering the followers of Leto for another passage to the East. The wars and grudges had not died down with the gods. In fact they grew, without the fear of repercussions the land fell to decadence. Son murdered father for the throne and neighbor robbed neighbor. There was no cohesiveness to be found. It was at this juncture that Radic decided it was time to make the pilgrimage. Another year would go by before they reached the lands of Tonan. Upon their arrival they were besieged by small bands whom followed all three of the gods. Each thinking the pilgrims were a secret army of another. Every time the assaults were turned aside, but not without cost. Slowly the followers of Leto were whittled away. It was here where they found the ancient stronghold of Cragor’s Reach. Built directly into a mountain it overlooked the surrounding land. Only a narrow path, a scant two wagons wide led up to it. Within the stronghold was a network of caves that led to clear springs. Also, strange nourishing mushrooms. These were soon grown on small farm patches in the caves. Radic sent out riders to search for the missing Hordesman. What had happened to them in this time? Were they dead? Did they follow a heathen god now?
THE GAMBLE
Radic knew that his small force could not withstand the might and forces of three angry gods. The playing field would have to be leveled some how. It was here that he decided a ruse would work best. They would pretend to follow one of the gods. Even sing praises and fight for it, but never worship it in their hearts. The Golden Horde would always be ready for their lord Leto’s return. Which god would they add their swords to? Which one would serve them best? It would be a dangerous game they played and one they would have to play extremely well to survive.
Which heathens could they fool into thinking they were allies? And not just the heathens needed to be fooled but their very god as well. The Golden Horde needed to regain their god given magicks to wage wars and at the same time reduce their number of enemies. Radic looked at the choices and weighed them carefully. Darden was the most similar to their missing lord. But he was too suspicious. He did not take things at face value and would surely see their ploy. Isonia appeared to be much like Darden in that aspect. None knew what was brewing behind that still countenance before it was too late. It was with this that his thoughts turned to Foret. A brash, proud god. One with whom you knew where you stood with regards to him. Yes. He would be the one. Word spread through his kingdom of the game that was to be played.
Temples were built in honor of Foret. False prayers were sent up to the heavens. Soon priests began to feel themselves filled with energy. It was small at first but as more temples were built their power began to grow. Foret’s pride appeared to have shadowed his wisdom. He could not fathom that The Golden Horde could possibly choose to worship another before him. Had the greatest ruse in the history of Tonan had just been completed? Foret demanded they charge from their fortresses and wreak havoc upon his enemies. As The Golden Horde marched in force Radic took pause. He sent a silent prayer to Leto before rushing off to ensure the flank riders were doing their job carefully. Were they using Foret or was Foret playing them instead?
THE BETRAYAL
The Golden Horde was a mainstay for Foret. Fearlessly driving into the hearts of Darden and Isonian realms. Where the toughest foe lay that is where Foret sent the Horde. Over time Radic began to believe that his ruse had worked. Only the waiting game for Leto’s glorious return remained. It was into this folly that the Golden Horde met the Citadel of Blight. The Citadel was a staunch supporter of Darden and was home to an army of goblin kin. The fight would take the Horde uphill and into a well fortified mountain.
Radic led a sortie into the tunnels with some of his best warriors. They assaulted the chief and his royal troll guards within the very center of the Citadels defenses. As they did battle the armies of the Horde began their assault. Radic was severely wounded by the chief and as he lay gasping for air he beseeched Foret for aid. In his delusional state he thought he saw a large man standing against the wall of the cavern. The man was laughing and then he was gone. Radic at first thought it was just the fatigue and torch light playing tricks on his senses. It did not take long to realize that it was Foret himself who had been the one laughing.
Outside the priests of the Horde suddenly lost their magical abilities. As fire reigned down on them from the goblin shaman they cursed Foret and shifted their cries to Leto. Men and horses were flung into the air and the slaughter was great. Leto did not heed their pleas. Inside was no better. The cavern where the fighting had occurred had seen massive magical energies cast about. Now though the elite hordeman were left powerless to protect themselves from the furious spell casting of the Citadel’s high priests. The cavern began to collapse and the hordesmen fled. Through the tunnels they ran, staying one step ahead of being crushed by rocks and pierced by heathen spears. Eventually they came upon another opening in the tunnels. They had entered the Citadel’s temple of Darden. A feeling of peace and serenity over came them as the tunnel sealed up behind. They could hear the network collapsing but there did not appear any traces of destruction in this hallowed place.
Radic knelt down at the altar and began to pray to Darden. Praying for mercy for his Hordesmen. Visions cascaded into his brain. Fear, power, distant lands, battle with old allies. Mercy would be granted, but with a price. As Radic exited to the freshness of the sun light he began to gather the armies together again. This time under a banner of orange.
EVAPORATION
Despite the best efforts of his followers, the days of Darden were not to last. Though the Horde fought valiantly and gloriously in Darden's name, these victories would fade into indistingushable history. Abandoned again by their patron, the Horde dispersed far and wide, many never to be seen again in Tonan. Even the Dragon himself seemed to evaporate into legend, like the dew beneath a rapidly rising sun. Save for a few fragments of tattered war banners, little evidence of the once great war machine that was The Golden Horde remained in the land. Still, a force of such magnitude and stature could never dissipate completely. At the fringes of the world, a few Remnants of the Horde continued to bide their time, eternally sharpening their blades and watching for the return of the one true faith.
A LUMINOUS SPRING
Finally, as the purest zealots knew would happen, word started to spread of the return of Lord Leto. By and by, the remaining Hordesmen began gathering first in tiny groups, growing steadily in numbers with each passing day. Though the realities of the past offered no true guarantee of the future, there was one certainty. Leto's faithful would serve Him to the end, whatever end that might be.
Ranks
GM: Victim
AGM: Ha Ha, Sucker
Squad Leader: Warmongers and Dung
Full Member: Freeloader
Member: Nonexistent
Newbie: Who are you, again?
History
This is the first age of this incarnation of The Horde.
Rules
OOC INFORMATION
RoTH is essentially a group of old warmongering friends carrying on the battle in the absence of our original team's founder.
As war is the fundamental element of a war game, RoTH members are expected to relish war and have great fun with it, even in the face of daunting odds.
Wars will be frequent here, and building time sparse - any potential member must fully understand this before applying.
All RoTH members are required to follow the rules of the game, the game forum (Temper's Ball), and the dictates of Administrators as they may appear.
Do not violate these rules, because our intraguild enforcement will likely be more swift and severe than Admin's will.
For the uninitiated, here are the rules of Temper's Ball:
1. Do not make an ass of yourself
2. Do not post bug reports on the boards, over ICQ, or in IRC, unless specifically asked to by staff.
3. Do not spam or post redundant messages.
4. Do not post kingdom numbers or kingdom names on the boards.
5. Pornography, piracy, or other illegal material is not allowed.
6. Do not post links or advertisements to hate or anti-Evernight sites. This includes racial, ethical, or sexually related sites.
7. Do not post accusations of cheating on the boards.
We have a couple of our own posting rules as well:
1. No personal attacks or derogatory ooc insults.
No matter how wronged you may feel ingame, there is no excuse for personally denigrating someone over a game.
This applies to Temper's Ball forum posts and scribes between kingdoms.
Without our opponents, there can be no game, remember this always in your dealings with heathen.
2. No whining.
Whining is something no one even wants to hear from a housepet, much less an allegedly noble warrior.
If you need to vent, do so privately, where only your guildmates will have to roll their eyes and make fun of you.
RoTH's ranking structure is as follows:
GM - RoTH's leader, the final authority.
AGM - Worthy advisors with authority to act on behalf of the guild as circumstances mandate.
Trusted member - self-explanatory.
Rookie - also self-explanatory.
In the event of the GM's disappearance or incapacity, one or more ranking AGM's will assume the role of GM, based upon guild consensus.
Rank promotion is based upon merit, performance, and loyalty.