The History of The Order of The Crows

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The History of the Order of The Crows

The history of the Crows dates back farther then the order its self. For in its fetal stages, it was but a hope and a dream of its found, and first Knights Command, Jerick Snow. Jerick Snow was a bastard born son of a lord in the north, in the land of "Westeros" or so it is told. It is there, in what he called home that the values and traditions where instilled upon him from the generations before him and the way he lived. It is there, where he served in another order, sworn to the similar values of the Crows where he learned to fight, lead men and organize a company.

He was taken by the mists and dropped out of the void into Barovia, specifically near the city of Vallaki. After many months of getting on his feet, learning the local ways and the lay of the land, he yearned to do something for the people of the realm, against the beasts and undead that seemed to crawl out of every cave and hole in the land. It was on the night of August 22, 773 that he had requested to meet with the local garda about his wishes to form an order, with the intent of protecting the realm from true evil. And it was on August 23, 773 that the Order of The Crow became an official free company within the lands. And now Knights Commander Snow had the difficult task of filling the ranks with qualified, law abiding men and women who would serve their lives to protect the realm.

Snow had met a lot of people sense coming into Barovia. He knew the names of many skilled warriors who he hoped to ask to join his cause. One of them was a Barovian women names Elene. Some others name Klause, a fellow Westerosi from the Riverlands and a dwarf named Roland who he had befriended. Theses made up the first round of recruits for the order. Many more would soon follow like Patter, Kyros and other Rangers of the Crows. The knight’s commanders recruiting dest became noticed in the outskirts more often and many showed interests in the orders goals and mission. Before there first year had completed, they had a roster of more than 20 sworn men and women in their order. Many where Rangers, the fighting arm of the Crows. Some where Maesters and stewers who helped in other capacities.

Knights Commander Snow began the task of structuring the men and women, and making connections to help the order grow. Gaining the support of skilled crafts men, respected merchants and the representatives of law and land was important. For he wanted the order to be law abiding, well equipment and well organized in order to operate effectively and continuously. The Knights Commander has gone to great lengths to maintain the reputation and organization of the men and women who join him in his quest to protect the realm. That is why he always instills the criteria of remaining law abiding, and such.

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Before we continue with the history of the Order of The Crows, let us take a moment to go further indept in structure of the order. The order is organized into three guilds. The first it the Rangers who are the fighters of the order. The warriors and soldier and trained men at arms. The second is the Maesters, the learned men of the Crow. First lead by First officer Measter Alren. These are the lore masters, the historian and record keepers as well as other less combative but crucial to the operation of the order. The last guild is the Stewerds. First lead by First Stewart Roland. These men of the order are healers and medics. They over see the equipment and health of the order as well as small clerical duties.

Knights Commander: Overall leader. Commander rank equivalent.

Jerick Snow

Senior Officer: Second in command. Major rank equivalent.

Elene

Field Officer: Experienced officers in the field. Captain rank equivalent.

Rahimus Patter

First Officer: First class officer level. 2nd Lieutenant rank equivalent.

Alessandro von Lockheart, Alren

First Maester: Regimental head over the Maesters guild. 1rst lieutenant rank equivalent.

Zathir

Senior Maester: Senior master member, experienced level master. Warent officer rank equivalent.
Weston, Laine Patton

Maester: Backbone of the maesters guild. Regular spellcaster. Corporal rank equivalent.

First Builder/Steward: Department heads over their respective guilds. Each report directly to knight´s commander or respective officers. 1rst lieutenant rank equivalent.
Sarge Roland

First Rangers: Work directly for the Knight´s Commander for special operations.
Kyros Rasta

First Man at Arms: A senior man at arms. Master sergeant rank equivalent.
Bram Walters, Alsace Arcanum.

Man at arms: First NCO level rank. First sergeant equivalent.
Alestra Dragonsbane (Ambassador of Port Lucine), Vermin Gerd, Lance Marino, Klause

Ranger First Class / Scout First Class: A senior ranger. Corporal rank equivalent.
Abra, Girmark, Gunhilde, Golin, Revka, Shonmann, Agaran

Rangers: The over all back bone of the ranger guild. Regular soldier.
Gian Steel, Efren, Lucius, Mordan, Somaris, Leo Lionheart

This roster was made at the time of writing, and  is no longer accurate, please contact Knights Commander Snow for the most recent changes.

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As the order grew, more and more were having to be focused on training new recruits, and equipping them with the means to fight the threat to the realm. People of all walks of life joined the order. Many had some form of fighting experience or training, others have none at all, but no expense was spared in equipment. "These men and women, who have sworn their lives to the protection of the realm, they have entrusted their lives to our cause. And so, they deserve the very best we can supply for them. " - Knights commander Snow.

Snow looked very fondly upon those who took the oath to join him in defense of the realm. It is not an easy life to live, often the moral grey of the realm would make caution and foresight the focus of any  small council meeting among the officer and leaders of the order. In order to equip and pay for all the supplies this lastly growing order needed, almost every they would go out and hunt the wild dire wolves, or worgs that threatened the local roads, their pelts turning a tidy sum to be quickly added to the order account. Often the supplies taken from the slayed undead or were-creatures where pressed into service as well. Around this time, some members of the order beguine to learn smithing skills as well, and before long the order had its own fetching and sword making processes. Much to the credit of then, Man At Arms Klause who dedicated the majority of his time to this cause.

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[The thick leather bound volume, The History of The Order of The Crows is opened once more, turned to the next blank page, and an inked quill begins writing]

   Much time has passed since the last addition to the historical account, but in a way much remains the same. The order continues to grow, and change in various ways, still its core foundation remains. Many moons ago, Ranger Allessandro Lockheart was promoted to senior officer of the order, and had lead the way in many battles against the true evil. Himself, Snow and others of the officer class roughed evils throughout the core, and he took a personal interest in the  training and discipline of the newer members. Knights Commander Snow once said, "He is a stern and disciplined officer, that much is sure. And though some of the men may not like his way of training, it is by all means effective ... and in time, those same recruits grew to respect and admire him as a leader, an officer, and as a brother of the order".
 

   Sadly, the light that shins the brightest tends to go out the fastest. Alessandro was taken by the mists after a prolongs battle. He was held there for many months before reaching the exit only to collapse into Snows arms. The mists had sucked out his very life force leaving a hollow shell of the man who once was. He soon passed in the arms of the Knights Commander, in a small company of others. His sacrifices, like all those who have made the greatest sacrifice for the realm shall never be forgotten. Many of the older members of the order have had to retire due to age, or have gone missing in action, but their post  and sword is picked up by the next generation of Crows, eager to do their part in protection of life, and peace for the realm. Below is a list of Honorable mentions.

Field Officer Patter [ret]
Senior Officer Elene [ret]
First Measter Paten [ret]
Man at Arms John [KIA]
Senior Officer Alessandro [MIA]

    Once notable battle, was the prolonged siege of an eleven town from an Evil undead lord seeking powerful artifacts from those taking shelter there. The long engagement known as the Siege of Degannwy became a gleaming light to those who took shelter in the town. Under the threat of being over ran by an army undead, the realm came together in the protection of innocence. There, Crows and many others of different backgrounds, faiths and calling stood shoulder to shoulder to face the true threat to the realm. It signified all that the Crows believe in. The victory there shall not soon forgotten, for those who where there, and all who have come to hear about it.

   Like a new dawn, the next full generation of Crows has come, training and fighting the evils where ever they are found. Since Alessandro's passing, the order has grown. The Rangers guild has expanded well under the watchful eyes of their new Officers. Namely Field Officer Lance, who himself trained under Alessandro, and First Officer Edwin, And First officer Kaldor The measters expand as well, under First Officer Zathir. And it is with good wishes I add the reopening of the Stewards guild under the care of young Steward Warrant Officer Kleo. Many of the older members have spread across the core in seek of stronger evils to destroy. Often convening in the Mist camp or Barovia for meetings, hunts under the leadership of Knights Commander Snow.

 A short addition to the medals awarded at the following years yearly gathering of he order.

First Man at Arms Frederick awarded the Medal of Courage for bravery displayed protecting the lives of his comrades in the face of overwhelming odds.
Senior Measter Enryn awarded the Medal of Courage for heroically returning to save fallen comrades.
Man at Arms Daagy awarded the Medal of Courage for not putting one step back against a horde of undead, despite the likelihood of death.
First Officer Kaldor awarded the metal of Service For the many numerous and courageous actions done in the protection of innocence.
Steward Warrant Officer Kleo awarded the metal of Courage for venturing into combat against numerically and powerfully superior forces, to rescue and aid fallen comrades.




 

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An old leather bond book is carefully removed from a dusty shelf, and layed on a hard wood table. As the book is cracked open, its thick pages slowly turn to the last page ink was written. The ink its self now long dried. A quill is dipped in a near by ink reservoir as writing resumes.

It seems lot has carried on since my last installment to the history of the Crows, for that I deeply apologize. The Order its self face a series of struggles and hardships that took their toll in the long run. Field Officer Alessandro was mortally wounded during a patrol of Rangers deep into the mists. Though his heroic efforts allowed the rest of the patrol to escape with their lives. He sadly passed a few days later in the mist camp, in the arms of Knights Commander and best friend, Jerick Snow and surrounded by friends and brothers of the Order. His lost took a large toll on Commander Snows heart, and many of the men.

What followed then was nearly a year of inactivity. As Jerick Snow was lost in the mists, and the order its self seems to slowly come to a halt in his apsense. Few remaining Crows where scattered through out the core.   

Some time later, Jerick Snow found his way out of the mists, and seeked out any of the order that was still active. He spend his time then gathering the lost flock and reforging the order. Through out the "Long darkness" of the Orders decline and inactivity, the True Evils that pluage the land grew in number and to a unprecedented amount.  Due to this, it has steeled Jerick Snows resolve to strengthen the Order once more. After a unanimous vote to reinstate Snow as the Knights Commander, he quickly went about gathing the lost Crows, and resuming their duty to the realm.