The Dead Legion Mercenary Company
Grim-Faced, Glad-Hearted, Dead Men and Women marching to death and glory with wicked glee whilst carrying an ancient standard from the High Ages of The Ellician Empire. Such is the mystique of the Dead Legion Mercenary Company. One of the Fiercest and most Elite Mercenary Companies in all the Known World. With military exploits through out The Shattered Sea, The Heartland, and The Great Abkari Desert. With inherited military exploits from the companies time as one of The Ellician Legions. No matter the battle, no matter the foe, the Dead Legion hurl into battle shouting their milennia old motto and battle cry "Nostu Encaras!" or "The Dead March."
Structure
Retaining much of their structure from when they were an Ellician Legion. The Dead Legion prides itself on carrying on the Ellician Military Tradition and refining it for modern times.
The Dead Legions Commander still holds the Ellician Rank of Aemperotar. The Traditional Rank of Command of a Commanding Officer of an Ellician Legion.
Answering to the Aemperotar is the Captain. Who would command a large detatchment of Dead Legion Soldiers.
Beneath the Captain is the Specter. A kind of Lieutenant rank personal to the Dead Legion. Who would also double as a Special Operations Soldier.
Beneath the Captain and the Specter is the Dead Man. The common rank for a regular Soldier of the Dead Legion. Making no destinction for women who join the Company.
Beneath the Dead Man is the Graver. An Aspirant Rank for those that seek to join the Dead Legion and Qualify to undertake The Trial of the Grave. The Mock Funeral and Burial of a new recruit of the Dead Legion.
And at the very bottom of the Rank order, is the Worm. Intentionally insulting so as to curb any sort of inflated egos that happen to accompany any new Recruits.
The Dead Legions Commander still holds the Ellician Rank of Aemperotar. The Traditional Rank of Command of a Commanding Officer of an Ellician Legion.
Answering to the Aemperotar is the Captain. Who would command a large detatchment of Dead Legion Soldiers.
Beneath the Captain is the Specter. A kind of Lieutenant rank personal to the Dead Legion. Who would also double as a Special Operations Soldier.
Beneath the Captain and the Specter is the Dead Man. The common rank for a regular Soldier of the Dead Legion. Making no destinction for women who join the Company.
Beneath the Dead Man is the Graver. An Aspirant Rank for those that seek to join the Dead Legion and Qualify to undertake The Trial of the Grave. The Mock Funeral and Burial of a new recruit of the Dead Legion.
And at the very bottom of the Rank order, is the Worm. Intentionally insulting so as to curb any sort of inflated egos that happen to accompany any new Recruits.
Culture
Like its Ellician Forebear. The Dead Legion conducts itself as a highly professional fighting force. With organized mobilization practices similar to the traditional March of the Ellician Legion. Retaining the same Warrior Personality that characterized the Ellician Soldiers of Old. Though with a far more Grim theme than even its forebear dared to display.
Among themselves, Hierarchy defines the degree of respect. A Worm Recruit and a Graver is intentionally disrespected reasonably in order to build a hunger to climb the latter and prove themselves. Ensuring determination as an army for hire, and as an army on the battlefield. The higher the rank, the greater deal of respect one is given. Dead Men are given common respect without embelishment or exception. Specters are given a fearful respect due to the more deadly duties they perform. Captains and the Aemperotar are given the highest respect. But no more than is required.
Along with their grim personality. The Dead Legion believe in Clean Slates upon joining. Many among the Dead Legion were in fact, serious criminals from nearly all corners of the Known World. Guilty of crimes ranging from Theft, to Treason. But upon undertaking The Trial of the Grave, and recieving their Facial Scaring, Black Ink Skull Face Tattoo, and New Names, the criminals they were dies. And the Soldier of the Dead Legion is born in a womb of dirt and stone.
Among civilians, a Soldier of the Dead Legion will not speak or acknowledge a civilian unless struck by the civilian. Displaying a mystique of being Dead to the World. But if the altercation results in death. The Soldier will collect witnesses to confirm the circumstances that took place in order to better plead their innocence to the local law enforcement. If the Soldier is guilty without question. The Legion will allow the proceedings of local law to run their course. Following the wisdom imparted by more foolish Mercenary Companies. "A Mercenary is not above the law. No matter how sharp their steel."
In combat. The Dead Legion make no taunts, no laughter, and no roaring. They will merely wear a grim smile and embrace the clash of steel with the silence of the dead. Yet they will not strike down civilians. The Dead Legion learned long ago that
Among themselves, Hierarchy defines the degree of respect. A Worm Recruit and a Graver is intentionally disrespected reasonably in order to build a hunger to climb the latter and prove themselves. Ensuring determination as an army for hire, and as an army on the battlefield. The higher the rank, the greater deal of respect one is given. Dead Men are given common respect without embelishment or exception. Specters are given a fearful respect due to the more deadly duties they perform. Captains and the Aemperotar are given the highest respect. But no more than is required.
Along with their grim personality. The Dead Legion believe in Clean Slates upon joining. Many among the Dead Legion were in fact, serious criminals from nearly all corners of the Known World. Guilty of crimes ranging from Theft, to Treason. But upon undertaking The Trial of the Grave, and recieving their Facial Scaring, Black Ink Skull Face Tattoo, and New Names, the criminals they were dies. And the Soldier of the Dead Legion is born in a womb of dirt and stone.
Among civilians, a Soldier of the Dead Legion will not speak or acknowledge a civilian unless struck by the civilian. Displaying a mystique of being Dead to the World. But if the altercation results in death. The Soldier will collect witnesses to confirm the circumstances that took place in order to better plead their innocence to the local law enforcement. If the Soldier is guilty without question. The Legion will allow the proceedings of local law to run their course. Following the wisdom imparted by more foolish Mercenary Companies. "A Mercenary is not above the law. No matter how sharp their steel."
In combat. The Dead Legion make no taunts, no laughter, and no roaring. They will merely wear a grim smile and embrace the clash of steel with the silence of the dead. Yet they will not strike down civilians. The Dead Legion learned long ago that
Public Agenda
The Dead Legion is an Army for Hire. Coin is the Creed. Gold is the Goal. The Dead Legion will fight for any paying clients. Be they of a Government, or a Tribal Settlement. Though they have turned down contracts from clients of non-existent morals.
Assets
The Dead Legion holds a Headquarters in The Island and Free City of Craeda called The Crypt. A former mausoleum to a wealthy Merchant of The Merchant Cartel of Craeda before the signing of The Treaty of the Shattered Sea and the formation of The Shattered Sea Trade and Banking Company. The structure sat empty for nearly a century before the Dead Legion finally established themselves in Craeda.
The Dead Legion employs Armerors, Blacksmiths, Alchemysts, Merchants, Hunters, Butchers, Cooks, and several Attendant Staff on deployment. Making them capable of organizing their own supply lines, and repairing and purchasing their own war gear.
The Dead Legion employs Armerors, Blacksmiths, Alchemysts, Merchants, Hunters, Butchers, Cooks, and several Attendant Staff on deployment. Making them capable of organizing their own supply lines, and repairing and purchasing their own war gear.
History
The Dead Legion is actually one of the Oldest Armies in the world. Beginning originally in The Third Aeon, 3492 as one of the Ellician Legions under the name Legaeon Nostae, Literally "The Dead Legion." A name meant to be a kind of curse on its soldiers. Since its soldiers were criminals of every calibur. Murder, theft, treason, all were thrown into the Penal Colony Legion. One of the cruel practices of the Traitor-Emperor Boelthar Zinn.
Despite their inglorious origins. The Dead Legion destinguished itself on the field of battle in 3rd Aeon, 17th of Eunuas, 3494 during the Battle of Tarri Aldhabar where the Dead Legion successfully smashed the Abkari Rebels and restored Ellician Control of the Island with minimal casulties and baffling Ellician Generals by doing so. As it was previously understood that the Penal Colony Legion was given a mere rudimentary training regiment to allow them to put up an initial fight. Not realizing that formidable fighters were among the Legions number.
The Dead Legions next destinguishing episode would come in 3rd Aeon, 23rd of Draeduas, 3495 during the Battle of the Sothagat Pass where the Dead Legion fought against two Skaari Warbands and 3,000 Arteas Rebels. The Dead Legion suffered heaftier losses but held the line. Though the Arteas Rebels would attack the capital of Ellicia and end the Reign of Boelthar Zinn. However. The New Empress Urialda Thea, noted the Legions destinction twice over. Despite its previous allegiance. Deciding to maintain the Legaeon Nostae as a True Ellician Legion.
For thousands of years after, the Dead Legion would serve the slowly declining Ellician Empire in numerous defensive deployments on the Empires newborn fringes and several Reclaimation Campaigns in the East. While unsuccessful the later may have been. The Legion maintained its loyalty to the Emperors and Empresses that have come and gone across the milennia that led up to the Ellician Empires innevitable collapse in 6799. Surviving as an Army without a country in the period known to modern scholarship as The Seven-Hundred Year Darkness.
While there are no dates to accompany their exploits during this tumultuous time. The Dead Legions stories handed down by Spoken Word are some of the few accounts that come from that period. But one date that is written into record. Is when Legaeon Nostae, reformed itself as the Dead Legion Mercenary Company. The Fourth Aeon, 28th of Aeduas, 23 A.E. The Dead Legion retained the rank of Aemperotar as its highest rank. But changed the ranks beneath it to follow a fabled mystique of its forebears. The mystique of a Legion of Warriors that considered themselves Dead. Their successors would carry this mantle into this new age.
The Dead Legion would wander the world seeking clients and warfare for coin. Then came The Treaty of the Shattered Sea and the formation of The Shattered Sea Trade and Banking Company. Who established a Mercenary Hub in The Island and Free City of Craeda in the year 55 of the Fourth Aeon. The Dead Legion would journey to Craeda to follow the Mercenary rush. Where they would use the fortune they earned on countless battlefields to purchase a sizeable mausoleum that belonged to the family of a wealthy merchant. It sat empty for a century reputedly. But the Dead Legion would make it their home and call it The Crypt.
From battlefield to battlefield. The Dead Legion would fight with Warriors marked by Black Ink Skull tattoos on their faces. Who uttered no battle cries, yet grinned wide at the promise of battle. As though to challenge Death itself to a battle of mind, body, and soul. Though Death would come in concept on the field of battle. The Dead Legion would make due with the enemies they are paid to fight.
Though the Old Empire has fallen, some still raise the old banners. Imperial or Legion, the Old Empires legacy lives on. And thanks to the Dead Legion. Ellicias Warrior Dead rise again.
Despite their inglorious origins. The Dead Legion destinguished itself on the field of battle in 3rd Aeon, 17th of Eunuas, 3494 during the Battle of Tarri Aldhabar where the Dead Legion successfully smashed the Abkari Rebels and restored Ellician Control of the Island with minimal casulties and baffling Ellician Generals by doing so. As it was previously understood that the Penal Colony Legion was given a mere rudimentary training regiment to allow them to put up an initial fight. Not realizing that formidable fighters were among the Legions number.
The Dead Legions next destinguishing episode would come in 3rd Aeon, 23rd of Draeduas, 3495 during the Battle of the Sothagat Pass where the Dead Legion fought against two Skaari Warbands and 3,000 Arteas Rebels. The Dead Legion suffered heaftier losses but held the line. Though the Arteas Rebels would attack the capital of Ellicia and end the Reign of Boelthar Zinn. However. The New Empress Urialda Thea, noted the Legions destinction twice over. Despite its previous allegiance. Deciding to maintain the Legaeon Nostae as a True Ellician Legion.
For thousands of years after, the Dead Legion would serve the slowly declining Ellician Empire in numerous defensive deployments on the Empires newborn fringes and several Reclaimation Campaigns in the East. While unsuccessful the later may have been. The Legion maintained its loyalty to the Emperors and Empresses that have come and gone across the milennia that led up to the Ellician Empires innevitable collapse in 6799. Surviving as an Army without a country in the period known to modern scholarship as The Seven-Hundred Year Darkness.
While there are no dates to accompany their exploits during this tumultuous time. The Dead Legions stories handed down by Spoken Word are some of the few accounts that come from that period. But one date that is written into record. Is when Legaeon Nostae, reformed itself as the Dead Legion Mercenary Company. The Fourth Aeon, 28th of Aeduas, 23 A.E. The Dead Legion retained the rank of Aemperotar as its highest rank. But changed the ranks beneath it to follow a fabled mystique of its forebears. The mystique of a Legion of Warriors that considered themselves Dead. Their successors would carry this mantle into this new age.
The Dead Legion would wander the world seeking clients and warfare for coin. Then came The Treaty of the Shattered Sea and the formation of The Shattered Sea Trade and Banking Company. Who established a Mercenary Hub in The Island and Free City of Craeda in the year 55 of the Fourth Aeon. The Dead Legion would journey to Craeda to follow the Mercenary rush. Where they would use the fortune they earned on countless battlefields to purchase a sizeable mausoleum that belonged to the family of a wealthy merchant. It sat empty for a century reputedly. But the Dead Legion would make it their home and call it The Crypt.
From battlefield to battlefield. The Dead Legion would fight with Warriors marked by Black Ink Skull tattoos on their faces. Who uttered no battle cries, yet grinned wide at the promise of battle. As though to challenge Death itself to a battle of mind, body, and soul. Though Death would come in concept on the field of battle. The Dead Legion would make due with the enemies they are paid to fight.
Though the Old Empire has fallen, some still raise the old banners. Imperial or Legion, the Old Empires legacy lives on. And thanks to the Dead Legion. Ellicias Warrior Dead rise again.
Nostu Encaras
Founding Date
Fourth Aeon, 23 A.E. 28th of Aeduas
Type
Military, Mercenary Group
Alternative Names
The Dead Company
Predecessor Organizations
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Dead Men/ Dead Woman
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Location
Official Languages
Related Ethnicities
Thank you for another interesting read! I particularly like your creativity concerning the structure of the group. I would most definitely be a 'Worm' :)