On The Outskirts of Baldurs Gate (Training Camp RP Thread)

[MopKnight]

It had been as regular as a metronome. Every morning, a number of warehouses would empty at the crack of dawn, sometimes long before the first ray of sunshine crept over a pregnant, rain swollen horizon.

Over time, those who awoke early enough would have seen the untrained and the unhardened men and women forced from their bunks at this ungodly hour change shape. Muscles would have toned. Voices would have grown. Injuries would have spread. The numbers dropped, gradually. Some out of fear, others out of pain and endurance, but most remained. Some ninety or so, hauled from their beds and lead through the streets by harsh drill masters. They would then vanish into the tent city which had grown up around the original training camp, where their sounds of training and combat would resound through the farmlands day after day.

Every day, a battlescarred mop woman would watch them, test them, judge them, take them to one side and even do some shouting of her own to join in with her drill masters. For the most part, however, she left them to their work, spending much of her time writing something or another. No one who knew her really knew what she was doing, but those friends who she had within the Docks district said she had become withdrawn from her usual social group. Few could crack her more recent demeanour. All that they knew was that this camp and other matters took up all of her time.

In more recent tendays, there has been a shift in attitude around the camp. People would meet the 'recruits', leading patrols along the outskirts of the Farmlands. Supplies had begun to collect around the rim of the camp. Something major was clearly ongoing and the relatively self contained camp had begun to turn into a major centre of activity...

[Kinkurono]

A man dressed in common farmer clothes is seen arriving at the camp, and he talks a little with the commander of the training camp.
After that he can be seen training alongside the rest of the men and women of the camp, he seems to always be hooded and doesn't talk much with anyone else.

[MopKnight]

OOC: I am opening this out with a bit of explanation to the general roleplay populace, particularly lower level characters. This was a War Council initiative which never really got started, but I am aiming to jump start in the aftermath of the victory of the General.

This training camp involves a sizeable number of the former Kheldrivver refugees who have been settled in Baldurs Gate for some time. The reason I am posting this is to provide another nexus of forum roleplay which is NON-GUILD SPECIFIC and which might appeal to characters that want to build up a bit of a reputation for themselves. Bards, cooks, sailors, drunken fights, military trainees and so on could flock to this kind of roleplay.

DM Pun Pun generously put together a cast of characters who would be seen around the training camp, were a character there or watching. No one can roleplay these characters besides the DM, but there are a -lot- of points of entry here for potential roleplay and I am sure they would not ignore said roleplay.

Much of the camps running is in the hands of the various staff members and drill masters. While roleplay progress is slow with the camp, it would be nice to see it become an interesting situation for players that perhaps don't feel they've been involved with anything directly to have an effect on some NPCs in a way which suits their character.

Rules:

• Only a DM can roleplay NPCs. Don't metagame.
• This is a military camp. Feel free to lobby NPCs for whatever you want to do, troublemake if you like, but bear in mind it is not consequence free.
• Keep in mind that it has a command structure already.
• Have fun!

The Auxiliary of Baldur's Gate

Unit Size: About 100
Morale: Average

Facilities:

• Several large training rings featuring combat dummies of various shapes
• A large general mess tent
• Pull up bars and muddy training courses
• Odd looking structures around which several trainees spend much of their time
• Occasionally, a pop up bar

Notable personalities:

Commander

Reine Arlynson (player character - MopKnight)

Origin: Has a Sword Mountains country bumpkin accent
Age: Appears late 20s/early 30s
Appearance: Battle scarred female human with mucky brown hair

The brown cloaked mop woman's role in the camp is mostly a tactical and disciplinary one. She takes limited time away from it unless her duties take her elsewhere and is often seen ensuring the camp runs smoothly as well as organising more major training exercises as well as shifting its priorities on a day to day basis.

More often than not, she takes a disciplinary role, making a point of acting as the irritable higher up to her local camp bollockers.

Trainers and Officers

Lord Garic Bristhorn

Origin: Baldur's Gate (ex-Flaming Fist, nobility)
Age: Early 30s
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 183 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Short Brown with a tinge of grey on the sides. Brown full goatee.

Garic was a long-time member of the Flaming Fist and is highly decorated. His biggest exploit was during the Amn-Gate War, where he and his squad held the gate of the Amnian Fort while Corporal(later Captain) Mealir dueled the General. He also suffered permanent injury in this battle, now walking with a limp, and thus ending his military career. He was granted nobility for his service and married Lady Tara Devere, which he now has a young boy and girl with.

After hearing about Reine's mission to train refugees to fight the undead that have come to plague the lands, the old soldier offered to help. He wanted to give something back to the Temple of Ilmater for being instrumental in combating the plague earlier in the year and this seemed like the opportunity. While he no longer has the ability to take to the field of battle, he offers advice on training and strategy, and he can still drill recruits.

Corporal Silene Casserlei

Origin: Baldur's Gate (Flaming Fist)
Age: 22
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 146 lbs
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Shoulder length Red-Auburn

Silene is a member of the Flaming Fist who was selected to train the refugees. She is strict and stern in her drilling, earning her the nickname The Dragoness. Despite this, she is well-mannered and does care for the troops she is training. She is skilled with many of the standard martial weapons such as the sword, spear, and short bow. She dedicates a lot of her free time to her training and is often seen sparring with Roderigo.

Sister-in-Arms Jesa Durem

Origin: Baldur's Gate(Church of Helm)
Age: 32
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 143 lbs
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Long Golden Brown, usually braided

Jesa is a long-time combat priest of the Church of Helm in Baldur's Gate. She was asked to keep watch over the recruits should they get injured in training. She is also training a few recruits in medicine and herbal preparation. Jesa also teaches practical uses for the Mace, which she has had to use in the field many-a-times, and secrets of thwarting that which is already dead. She carries a motherly demeanor about her.

(Sir) Roderigo Elgaras de Lucio

Origin: Amn (Athkatla)
Age: 27
Height: 5;10"
Weight: 159 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark Brown with a moustache

Roderigo is an exiled knight from Amn. Its said that during the Amn-Gate War, Roderigo disobeyed an order that would have involved the massacre of halflings in Gullykin and that he was branded and discharged. Roderigo is ever the ladies' man and is often seen lounging around one of the Gate's fine taverns in his spare time. He is also a remarkable swordsman and excels in the art of dueling. He has been seen sparring with Silene; contests which have been competative and awe-inspiring in the recruits. When asked why he is helping with the effort, Roderigo would say its his calling that put him on this path.

Master Lukas Eregos

Origin: Cormyr (Unknown)
Age: Mid-40s
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 168 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Receding darkbrown, tied in a knot at the back

Lukas is a master of the spear. There are only a few in the region that could call him their peer. A bit of an enigma, he helps teach the art of the spear to the recruits. Lukas may seem aged, but he is still as sharp and as quick as any in their prime. He's also known for his love of fine wine and social gatherings. Despite his intimidating skill, he is easy to speak to and always finds time for a good laugh when the moment is right.

Recruits:

Jonatan Hanswick

Origin: Elturel (Outskirts)
Age: 27
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 168 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Short light brown, clean shaven, sometimes stubble

Jonatan was a simple farmer on the outskirts of Elturel when the undead came. He was able to evacuate with his wife, Sira, and their three children, Jonah, Kelvin, and Miri. When the formation of the auxiliary was formed, Jonatan was one of the first to sign up, as anything he could do to protect his family had to be done. In preliminary training, Jonatan proved to be an exceptional leader. He is too modest to claim this, but he has earned the respect of his peers. Jonatan has the fatherly demeanor that his family knows him for.

Kara-Mae

Origin: Scornubel (Hamlet on outskirts)
Age: 17 (looks mid-late 20s)
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 128 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Short bob of strawberry blonde

Kara-Mae is the only survivor of a farm near the Reaching Woods. First the disease came and took her father, brother, and one of her sisters. Then the shambling horrors killed her mother and other two sisters as they lurked from out of the woods. She cried a long time, but there are no more tears. She is a shell of a girl she was and even looks much older than she is. Kara-Mae does not speak much, but when she does, it is a soft voice with not much emotion. She may not be the most physically-gifted among the refugee recruits, however she makes up for this in sheer determination. This is all she has left and she wants to make the opportunity matter.

Ralmedar of the Two Rivers

Origin: Gur (Nomad)
Age: 29
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 244 lbs
Eyes: Dark
Hair: Long Dark hair unkempt accompanied by hearty dark full beard

Ralmedar is of the gypsy Gurs that inhabit the the land. His name is derived from where his family often traveled, crossing many times where the River Reaching and River Chionthar meet. Unfortunately, these rivers meet within the Reaching Woods, which became infested with the undead threat. Ralmedar's family, those who survived that is, were forced further west. Ralmedar heard of the auxiliary and decided to enlist. He is a fair combatant that is in much need of polish in technique and discipline. He can come off as slightly xenophobic, and the reverse tends to happen to him as well, but such nuances can be put aside to deal with the situation at hand. He still remains jovial and oft sings the songs of his people in his spare time and keep the recruits spirits high. His wife Karina, and their son, stay with the Gur settlement not far from Baldur's Gate.

Hansel Jaspar

Origin: Elturel (City)
Age: 23
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 155 lbs
Eyes: Blueish-Green
Hair: Short dusty blonde

Hansel is a trader who has lost his business to the shambling hordes. Broke and down on his luck, he decided to join the auxiliary in hopes to earn favors and rebuild what he has lost. He is a man who looks at the big picture and is always thinking of the future. And in his mind, if the undead hordes are not stopped, there is no future left to work with. His big picture mentality does often conflict with the narrow needs that are present in military life.

Lisette Bisselbruck

Origin: Hill's Edge (Outskirts)
Age: 18
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 127 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Long golden blonde, usually tied back.

Lisette hails from near Hill's Edge, which is north of the Reaching Wood. She was a simple medicine woman. Then the plagues came, and Lisette was forced to flee, for her remedies could not handle the ailment. Now signed up with the auxiliary, usually working alongside Sister Jesa, she uses her craft to aid the recruits. She is also learning more than she knew in this role and is becoming an exceptional healer, perhaps even able to take up the role of a combat medic should the need arise. She is pleasant to be around and is eager to help those she is able to. She looks like she doesn't belong in a camp with a bunch of warriors.

Mark Candolin
Origin: Scornubel
Age: 23
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 153 lbs
Eyes: Dark brown
Hair: Short, Dark hair, clean-Shaven

Mark is from Scornubel and has seen the undead horde first hand. He was reluctant to offer help to the auxiliary at first, but the peer pressure got to him from the people he fled with. Mark is a good physical specimen, but he lacked military training. He is improving over the months and could make a fine addition to the force. He adopts a philosophy of realism however, and he is not afraid to quip at what he would believe is a bad idea. The sarcasm is strong with him.

Mesia Redgers

Origin: Baldur's Gate (Unknown Bandit Camp)
Age: 24
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 138 lbs
Eyes: Dark Brown
Hair: Long Dark Hair, usually kept in a ponytail

Mesia is a criminal, a highwayman that preyed on the people traveling around Baldur's Gate. She was captured and tried, planned to hang for her devious crimes. However, as Tymora woudl have it, the Gate is in need of soldiers to fend off the undead threat after the plague did so much damage to the city. She was given an option: join the auxiliary or hang. She took the lesser death sentence, for at least she was alive at the moment. However, the threat of the gallows hangs over her should her behavior deteriorate within the auxiliary. This has led to her being somewhat tame and receptive. She is a crass woman with a husky voice. Most notable of her is the tattoo of a talon on her left bicep and horrible smell of cheap ale she seems to exude.

Kenwick

Origin: Baldur's Gate (Pauper)
Age: 26
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 143 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: A mess of Brown, unkempt goatee of brown

Kenwick volunteered for the auxiliary out of need more than the cause. Tired of living off the streets of Baldur's Gate, he sees this as an opportunity to get himself on his feet. He is not the most physical and needs a lot of work in the field of martial training. But he listens well and does put in effort to the cause. The motivation of a free meal and a decent bed(for his standards) would do that. He gradually improves day by day. Despite the hard work, Kenwick still maintains his easy-going personality. He has never seen actual combat before or come face-to-face with the undead threat.

Calen Ren

Origin: Scornubel
Age: 17
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 163 lbs
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Auburn, clean shaven

An energetic young man from Scornubel, he almost jumped at the chance to fight for the cause. His family was killed in an undead raid and he would like nothing more than to get vengeancefor them. Despite this, he still maintains an optimistic view of things. While he has had his struggles in training, he believes the undead can be beaten. Perhaps he can come off as too naive at times.

Valkren GreyFox

Origin: Secomber (Trasker Selarn)
Age: 17
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 238 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Long Dark Brown, clean shaven

Swayed by Shaundakul, Valkren was journeying along the Chionthar, retracing the steps of Chief Cynric of a few years ago, when the undead arrived. Now, a massive undead army stands between him and his home, so for now he is trapped where he is until the threat subsides. But like the spirit amd the honor of the GreyFox, there are people in need and he has offered his aid. Valkren is a great hunter and has made the choice to stand with the auxiliary. He does not always follow martial command, but his spear bolsters is a welcome addition to the auxiliary. He gets along with Ralmedar the most, as they share similar lifestyles. Valkren awaits the day when he can assist in carving a path through the lines of the dead and make his way back to his settlement.

[TheLier]

A half-orc can be often seen traning with the others. He looks like a farmer, possibly one of the refugees, but his weaponry, and his skills look a bit too good for a poor man. He rarely talks, and never mentions his name. Sometimes he can be heard mumbling about how much he dislikes large cities like Baldur's Gate.

[MopKnight]

In the aftermath of the battle, workers are ordered to see about clearing up the messes, helping the Fist and local dock workers move the corpses piled in the streets. In the meantime, the militia element continues their readiness drills.