[Lamia] An Entrance to the Story

[JasterLaenwyn]

In a new era, one full of new political struggles, alliances, and rivalries, it seems the once iron grip the Empire had on the continent is starting to shake. On both the Eastern and Western fronts, small resistance movements aided by the Grand Companies of Eorzea have won decisive victories against Garlemalde, going as far as pushing them out of Othard and Ala Mhigo. This has also disrupted supplies lines and intelligence going into and out of the Empire.

This story follows a group of men and women named the Knights of Redwall, an Ala Mhigan Resistance faction that has established a cover as a Twin Adder Free Company to provide safety for both its members and those they work with. Using intelligence gathered by both the Twin Adder and the Resistance, they are beginning to uncover the network of spies and intelligence that is now embedded deep in Eorzean soil. Without the numbers to formally strike at them, the group instead fights against the empire in a war of subterfuge and guerilla warfare. Gathering resources, technology, and intelligence from the empire and striking them when they are most vulnerable.

The Order itself is named after the events leading to Baelsar's wall, a night when an unnamed order of knights were slaughtered defending the land that is now Castrum Oriens. Taking the sigil of a silver owl perched upon a wall painted crimson, they remind themselves of the failures of yesterday to grant them wisdom for tomorrow's success. The Banner reminding their foes that a silent, wise predator is lurking above, waiting for its moment to strike.

Ensuing the chaos in the Empire that followed after Doma and Ala Mhigo won their wars of independence, valuable intelligence has begun to come out revealing possible spies within the three city states of Eorzea. On top of that, the Lord Commander, Jaster Laenwyn, has issued orders for the training of all new knights forthwith. With a beginning list of squadron compositions posted, it is now up to the knights and their commanders to improve themselves and how to do so. Along with the assignments, multiple hunt bills and adventurer jobs were posted in the Monstery foyer, giving the members ample resources for training and work alike.

After much needed recruitment drives and mass training, the Knights of Redwall now have a starting fighting force to fill its three Free Company Divisions, while the numbers of the order continues to grow, both the soldiers itself and the majority of its leaders remain untested in grand warfare, sticking to major policing actions within The Black Shroud. While inexperienced, the Free Company still has fully operational groups of spies, researchers, and black ops units at its disposal.

In the past few months, the Knights of Redwall have forged new alliances with two of the older Free Companies in Eorzea, The Lore Seekers and Arche Koeln, to create the Eorzean Counter Intelligence Coalition. The newly found alliance working to advance the field of aetherchemistry in order to fight the primals and the Empire alike. On the homefront, the Knights of Redwall have completed the four command ships meant to lead their ambitious dreams of a full fledged fleet. This newly made fighting force yearning to test itself in battle, it will soon help the Lore Seekers find its way into Azys Lha. Simultaneously, the Talon Tradecrafts are beginning to research a generous amount of windstones that had been raided from the Ixali that continue to encroach on the northern borders of the Knights of Redwall jurisdiction.

The future of this fledgling power from the Black Shroud remains uncertain, but while within, they believe themselves to be the heroes necessary to do the acts others will not, their peers are beginning to look upon them with a certain measure of distrust and fear, being secretive and bureaucratic in their dealings. Is this a mere price to pay for their discretion? Only time will tell.