Difference between revisions of "Korax of Balic"

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Korax of Balic, 3rd level lawful evil male human myrmidon

Vital Statistics and Basic Information

Str 19 Dex 16 Con 20 Int 15 Wis 18 Cha 17

Non-Weapon Proficiencies

armorer (secondary proficiency + 2 slots), ancient Balican military history (2 slots), contact (1 slot), endurance (2 slots), armor optimization (1 slot), heat protection (1 slot)

loyal to the house

age 23

Birthmark: geometric sleeves from hand to shoulder and down his back and across his chest and down to the ass

Family

Birth Mother: Korana

Father: unknown

'Wet Nurse/"Life Mother": Maenda the Dwarf

Background/History

Early Childhood

Korax was born within the farmlands of the patrician House Euraxis within the territories of the city-state of Balic. Korax would later learn that his mother is Korana, a slave-servant within the palace of House Euraxis. Korax does not know who his father was. Korana did not raise or nurture the infant Korax, as he was taken from her shortly after birth and raised in the farms. It was only later that Korax would learn about his real mother.

Korax was raised a farmer in harsh and brutal conditions. He was treated as a communal boy in the all-slave community, and only had direct support from his slave wet-nurse, a middle-aged dwarfess named Maenda, who was more of a mother to Korax than any other individual. Maenda saw that Korax and the other bastard boys she raised were well-fed, and that they became strong so that they would be selected for soldier training when the officers came to make their picks.

Korax would have very dim memories of the Peninsula Rampage in Free Year 1, in which many of the slave farmers were killed by giants of the Silt Sea.

Selected Soldier-Slave

When he was six years old, Korax made the first pick by the officers, as he was already very strong and had what the slaves called "dwarf's blood", for any scratches or bruises he would suffer would disappear remarkably fast, and because he had never been sick. He was placed at first in 2nd Banda (company), and was educated by their sub-altern officer named Rykurgus, a Balican citizen and poor member of the patrician class. Rykurgas was strict and organized, but never punished the boys himself. When a boy troubled him, he would simply continue on with his lesson. It was only later that a lochias or leader (sergeant) would appear and severely punish the boys that might have acted poorly. Korax would have learned to fear and respect the lochias class of soldiers at this time. Rykurgas taught the boys many things, but most importantly of all was a slavish devotion to House Euraxis, and that the boys were destined to either die or earn glory under Lord Euraxis' commands.

When Korax was twelve, he graduated from the schooling of Rykurgas to that of the lochias in his banda and the banda commander himself, Tisernes. Training became much harsher, but Korax excelled, being named the student-lochias of his class.

Towards the end of this training, Korax, as a leading member of his class, was very irregularly taken from his banda, and moved to the battle-damaged 5th Banda, under the elderly mul lochagos (captain) Brasthes. Brasthes was exceptionally harsh and cruel, and even killed several of the valuable slave-soldiers in training as an example, having them crucified for the boys to see the price of disobedience. Brasthes for a time even targeted Korax, one time subjecting the teenager to a gauntlet of blows from his fellow apprentice soldiers, many of whom were jealous of Korax's gifts. Korax survived however, and eventually the lawful evil mul Brasthes left the 5th Banda, having been promoted to the rank of spatharios or "sword-bearer" (major).

Korax's First War, Dynastic Dispute and the First Promotion of Korax

At fifteen years old, in Free Year 13, a petty war developed between two of the three great merchant dynasties which ruled Balic, House Rees and House Tomblador. These two great merchant dynasties rallied the noble families who were noble to them. The heir apparent to House Euraxis, Lord Ekirax, sided House Euraxis with House Tomblador, against the advice of his younger sister, Lady Everane. Needing soldiers, Lord Ekirax graduated Korax and many of his companions early, so that they might participate in the war. Korax served well in this campaign, and despite his youth killed several enemy soldiers and an infamous epi-lochias (over-sergeant) of a rival patrician house. These actions made Korax the most popular and respected of the new slave-soldiers. Nonetheless, House Tomblador lost the war, and in suing for peace with House Rees, the noble houses allied to House Tomblador had to pay a large indemnity to House Rees.

As a result of this loss, there was a dispute within the family of House Euraxis. Lady Everane called on Brasthes to call upon the soldiers loyal to him over the soldiers of the chiliarch (regimental commander). As there was much confusion on this day, Brasthes approached Korax along with Lady Everane, whom Korax had never before met in person. The beautiful young lady, who was hardly older than Korax himself, appealed to him, and said that he had many friends among the new soldiers, and that he had their admiration and respect, and would listen to him. She asked Korax to support her over her brother, Lord Ekirax, who had been foolish and had chosen the loosing side of a war, whereas she would have chose the winning side. Korax did as she asked.

Lord Ekirax lost his position bloodlessly, and Lady Everane instead gained the approval of her grandfather for becoming the new de facto leader of House Euraxis. Korax was made a dekarch (corporal) for his support, which was unheard of, given his age. Brasthes himself was made the de facto commander of the house army.

Assignments and Campaigns of Korax

Given nine young soldiers under him, Korax was made to patrol the slave farms lands for several years. He inflicted punishments upon the slaves, and performed as a field overseer. His parts of the fields had a better output, and he prevented theft, runaways and stopped the kidnapping of slaves by rival houses.

During this time, Korax went on his first rotation to patrol the perimeter of Balic's domain against the possible appearance of a giant raiding army.

In Free Year 17, Korax went with 4th and 5th Banda to board the Balican fleet as marines, where they served alongside the soldiers, some free and some not, of several other noble houses. They disembarked on strange islands, and demanded the obedience of men, and took much of their food and livestock. On one such island, they were attacked by a tribe of lightning fast lizard-like silt runners, but Korax and his squad prevailed.

Chronology

Born in Free Year -2, The Year of Ral's Contemplation, the 23rd Year of the 190th King's Age, on the 12th of Fortuary

Free Year (FY) 3: Korax begins soldier training at the age of five under the old mul officer Brasthes, commander of the 5th banda (company) of the army of House Euraxis.

FY 13: At 15 years old, Korax completes his training and becomes an elite slave-soldier.

House Euraxis

Patrician House, Ancient Polemarch Family

Official Patriarch: Lord Kythenes Euraxis

Acting Matriarch: Lady Everane Euraxis

Other Family Members: Lord Ekirax Euraxis

Colors: a downward facing silver sword with gold hilt, piercing a serpent's white skull; all on a black field

Army of House Euraxis

The Chiliarch, or Commander of the Army of House Euraxis: Eprox of House Euraxis

Description: Eprox is a member of an important cadet branch of House Euraxis. Although of patrician rank, his status is that of knight in the city. Eprox in fact was a knight or templar of the city in previous times, serving in the naucraries (district police) and then as one of the prytaneis or leaders of the Boule, or council body of the templars of Balic. In the last great election, Eprox ran for one of the seats of the 'Thesmothetai, or archons of Balic. He lost this election, and was instead given command of the family army. Eprox is an older man in his early 60s. He has a psionic wild talent which turns him into a serpent-man of considerable power. Eprox is not a skilled warrior.

The Pentakosiarch, or Vice-Commander of the Army of House Euraxis: Brasthes

Description: Brasthes is a cruel and evil mul, but he is fair. Brasthes finished house training and achieved soldier status at the age of 15. He served for forty years as a slave-soldier for House Euraxis, achieving the rank of archilochias (arch-sergeant). Brasthes was demoted several times during his long tenure as a soldier-slave, being accused of and punished for cruelty and recklessness on several occasions. He was nearly freed at 30 years of service without the opportunity for officer status by the house patriarch, but the Shield Bearer of the house vouched for Brasthes, and he was allowed to stay another ten years to prove himself. At 40 years, he was at last freed and given the position of a upo-lochagos (under-captain).

Four years later, Brasthes was given command of the new fifth banda (company). In the Year of Priest's Defiance (Free Year 1), a massive invasion by giants called the Peninsula Rampage, in which the whole of the peninsula was raided by a large force of giants, caused massive damage to the Balican military, including the army of House Euraxis. Many officers were killed, but Brasthes performed well, dealing the fatal blow to a giant who had dared invade House Euraxis lands.

After this, Brasthes had to rebuild his shattered company, and so recruited young boys from the noble estate's farms. Brasthes preferred mul and dwarven boys, and convinced the House army to pay for many new slaves, but reluctantly took in human boys, whom he considered less reliable. Korax was chosen during this time. Brasthes treated Korax poorly for many years.

By Free Year 11, Brasthes became the confident of young Lady Everane, a possible heir apparent to House Euraxis. She quickly compelled her father to appoint Brasthes a spatharios or "sword-bearer" (major) for the family, much to the anger of her elder brother Ekirax. In early Free Year 13, Brasthes favored Lady Everane over Lord Ekirax in a succession dispute. Brasthes was popular with the company commanders, and used them to stand down the chiliarch (regimental commander) when he backed Ekirax instead of Everane. Lady Everane was made the official heir-apparent by her weakening grandfather, Lord Kythenes.

In Free Year 14, Lord Kythenes appointed Eprox, a distant family member, as the chiliarch (regimental commander) of House Euraxis. Believing Eprox not capable of managing the house army, Lady Everane compelled her grandfather to retire the current deputy commander of the chiliarchy, and replace him with Brasthes.

House Guard

Commander of the House Guard: Lochagos of the House Guard Eubristus the Free

Ancient Legends and History of Balic

From his early youth, Korax displayed a fascination with the grand legends and stories of the ancient military history of Balic. Although the Dictator of Balic Androponis had forbidden the art of reading to all but patricians and knights since time immemorial, Balicans nevertheless keep a very strong tradition of oral histories and legends in their culture, and most every common citizen and even slave therefore knows many of the great and legendary (perhaps mythica) heroes of an ancient world long past. Korax himself however gloried in the strictly military histories, and especially those oral histories that told more reliable and believable accounts of generals, soldiers and mercenaries and avoided the fantastic and unbelievable stories of gods, enchanted heroes and krakens from the Silt Sea.

Korax learned most of his knowledge on these affairs from the wise human slave-soldier archlochias (arch-sergeant) named Chenophon the Old, who would tell war stories at night campfires to the boy slave-soldiers in training.

A few of the stories and selections of military lore Korax knows are recounted below.

=Klearchus, Ancient Mercenary Strategos from Balic

"He could have lived in peace without incurring any reproaches or any harm, but he chose to make war. He could have lived a life of ease, but he preferred a hard life with warfare. He could have had money and security, but he chose to make the money he had less, by engaging in war. Indeed, he liked spending money on war just as one might spend it on love affairs or any other pleasure.

"All this shows how devoted he was to war. As for his great qualities as a soldier, they appear in the facts that he was fond of adventure, ready to lead an attack on the enemy by day or night, and that, when he was in an awkward position, he kept his head, as everyone agrees who was with him anywhere. It was said that he had all the qualities of leadership which a man of his sort could have. He had an outstanding ability for planning means by which an army could get supplies, and seeing that they appeared; and he was also well able to impress on those who were with that Klearchus was a man to be obeyed. He achieved this result by his toughness. He had a forbidding appearance and a harsh voice. His punishments were severe ones and were sometimes inflicted in anger, so that there were times when he was sorry himself for what he had done. With him punishment was a matter of principle, for he thoughts that an army without discipline was good for nothing; indeed, it is reported that he said that a soldier ought to be more frightened of his own commander than of the enemy.

"It was for these traits that in difficult positions soldiers would give him complete confidence and wished for no one better. On these occasions, they said that his forbidding look seemed positively cheerful, and his toughness appeared as confidence in the face of the enemy, so that it was no longer toughness to them but something to make them feel safe. On the other hand, when the danger was over and there was a chance of going away to take service under someone else, many of them deserted him, since, so far from having anything attractive about him, he was invariably tough and savage, so that the relations between his soldiers and him were like those of boys to a schoolnmaster.

:Thus it came about that he never had followers who were there because of friendship or good feeling towards him. On the other hand, he exacted complete obedience from all who were put under his command by their cities or who served with him because of poverty or under some other compulsion. THen, once they began to win victories with him, one could see how important were the factors which made his men inot good soldiers. They had the advantage of being confident in the face of the enemy, and they were disciplined because they were afraid of his punishments. As a commander, then, this was what he was like; but he was said not to be very fond of serving under anybody else's command.

-the old Archilochias of 2nd Banda of House Euraxis, Chenophon the Old