(Might as well hop on the format bandwagon!<img alt=":lol:" src="./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing"/>)<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Hyra's Bloody Band</span><br/><br/>Formed by<span style="font-weight: bold">Marrok</span>shortly after arrival in Saramati, Hyra's Bloody Blade is composed largely of former militia from Marrok's lost home town of Hyra's Landing. Hyra's Bloody Bland has a long-term goal of avenging Hyra's Landing, but until then has contented itself with running protection for caravans and merchants, as well as 'troubleshooting' missions to eliminate criminal threats both inside and outside of Saramati.<br/><br/>Keeping in with his training (and the very same training many of the band are accustomed to) Marrok runs the group with an almost military discipline and tactics, leading from the front and dispatching orders in Abyssal - a language shared by all the former inhabitants of Hyra's Landing and swiftly picked up by the mercenaries who joined the band. The band is largely composed of martial sorts, fighters, rangers, and the odd rogue. Though it does possess a few clerics of varying faiths here or there, both for reinforcing morale and cutting down on casualties. Theological debates are not uncommon between said clerics.<br/><br/>So long as one follows orders effectively and loyally, the group has little qualms with accepting virtually any skill set. Precisely why the Band had no qualms in working together with the Grey Hand and Enders of the Dream on the mission to acquire Delium.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Marrok Brandt, Tempest-Technique Fighter</span><br/><br/>Standing roughly six feet tall and covered in powerful muscle, Marrok is an impressive specimen of an anthro wolf. His powerful build, prominent and rather large fangs as well as the feral glint in his sky blue eyes serve as a clear indicator of how much more firmly the Feral Curse has maintained a hold in his family's bloodline. Still, the effect of Gift of Beauty is visible as well, his impressive build is sleek, athletic and well-trimmed. His claws are small, incapable of much damage on his own and he is covered primarily in thick, midnight black fur, with hints of brown, gray and silver here and there. Marrok wears light, unnaturally agile steel chainmail and carries a double-sword, one end of the blade heavier than the other. The flat of the heavier blade is decorated with Barazhad script and markings - including a running tally of worthy foes (and meals) - the other blade is lighter, likewise marked in various intricate and distinctive fashions.<br/><br/>Marrok is typically the reserved and quiet type, his nature and feral urges making him far from the most charismatic person. His former miltia training and combat experience however, makes him a formidable combatant and he leads from the front and through example, holding the line and tying up his foes whilst his allies flank them. Owing to his upbringing, he favors law and order, though he's less than strict about following<span style="font-weight: bold">all</span>the rules,<span style="font-style: italic">all</span>the time as sometimes one simply needs to bend or break a few laws for the greater good. Likewise, he is fiercely protective, particularly of innocents, and the idea of sentencing a foe to a painful end in his gut doesn't bother his conscious one bit. He revers no gods - viewing the ancient conflict that shaped Gespinium as it is today as rather pointless. Instead, Marrok turns the faith and fervor that might have been devoted to a god or goddess towards growing stronger, intent on pushing his body to it's limit and beyond.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Band Mates</span><br/><br/>Hyra's Landing was founded by a Gnoll Matriarch of the same name, a permanent settlement on an ancient site of battle in the war between Centrius and Pellonia. Originally composed of Gnolls, it diversified gradually over the decades to include various furries and other feral or monstrous humanoids, as well as a minority of humans and elves hardy enough to keep up or surpass them. After the decimation of Hyra's Landing and it's loss of viability as an actual town due to extensive damage to farms and other vital infrastructure (and the digestion of a not-insigificant portion of those who provided such vital services) due to a barbarian raid, the Band was formed largely from that same population. It is compared mainly of Hyra's former Militia, though a few individuals of more humble trades took the attack as a reason to pick up blade and join the band as well. With the passing of time, losses have inevitably occurred and mercenaries from Saramati represent a minority within the Band as well.<br/><br/>A female Gnoll known as Ryssa often acts as Marrok's second in command. More of a Warlord than a fighter, Ryssa advises Marrok when planning attacks and defenses, as well as delivering the morale-raising speeches Marrok is so poor at putting together him. A more paranoid sort might be wary of letting a Lieutenant (arguably) do more leading than the official leader, but Marrok isn't really the sort of distrust a friend he's known since childhood and who shed blood to save him during the assault on Hyra's Landing.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>((And since no one else replied to the first IC post, I figure I might as well start the ball rolling, PC-side))<br/><br/>Cross roads were always troublesome decisions when both routes led to the same place - for there was always a reason they split. Some part of Marrok wanted to take the southern route, itching for a fight, a chance to cut down some barbarians and feast on a few others. It also would be a handy preview of what to expect from Shining Gullet's actual force. Still, combat was always risky and he knew it would be selfish to endanger his people - and the other's - simply because he wanted his lunch to squirm and plead rather than deal with the lifeless and bland rations they'd brought along for the journey. The northern route was safer, comparatively, as the Silk crew was less aggressive. Unlike Gullet however, they were<span style="font-style: italic">much</span>more liable to run their mouths in town, not being entirely opposed to civilization as Gullet was. Not that Silk likely could divine their purposes in Delium, but surely they'd suspect a caravan composed of what were assuredly<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>merchants of being up to something.<br/><br/>"I say we go south," Marrok remarks to the other commanders after some deliberation and reluctance to speak first. "We risk a fight, surely, but no one save our attackers and whomever controls passage into Delium will know of our presence. We might get a fair bit of loot from it is as well. Going north and east there's a chance Silk may learn of us in advance, and if they do they'll certainly keep an eye on such heavily armed travelers for a number of reasons.."<br/><br/>He pauses, smiling faintly. "This<span style="font-weight: bold">is</span>joint mission, however, so naturally you two have a say in such decision. What's your take?"