The Legend of Ali Blackhawk
Aalid MacGawne (a.k.a. Ali Blackhawk) was born in and grew up in the small country of Lales on the continent of Thaesia. Her early life was very unremarkable with her learning how to forge metal from her parents and working in their shop.
Her idyllic life came to an end when King Gautier Oweyn's sights landed upon Lales as his next conquest. The fight between Aryia and Lales was relatively short, with the latter surrendering to Gautier after a day of fighting. Aalid herself was not involved in the struggle but supplied the small Lales fighting force with weapons and armor. However, Aalid witnessed the aftermath, when the Aryite soldiers took every scrap of clothing, every morsel of food, every piece of armor, every tool, and seemingly everything else they could get their hands on, firsthand. Additionally, some villagers were ordered to leave for Llyne with their livestock while smiths were ordered to join up with the Aryite smiths traveling with the army.
Unfortunately, it was during this time that Aalid's father was killed in a scuffle with Aryite soldiers who claimed the murder was justified because the family attacked them in an act of rebellion. Although they survived the fight, Aalid and her mother were sentenced to be executed without trial because the soldiers had branded them as traitors and rebels. Thanks to her mother sacrificing herself, Ali was able to escape from the prison and flee into the woods.
Roaming the countryside, Aalid met others who had their homes taken by Aryite forces and banded with them. Together, they traveled from town to town decrying King Gauthier and his expansion, gaining members until their small band numbered thirty members. Although they did not number enough to face the Aryite forces head-on, they could ambush scouts who didn't know the land as well as them and small groups of soldiers who had wandered from the main body. As they succeeded in stealing supplies and injuring or killing soldier, word of Aalid's small group spread until they numbered in the thousands and were calling themselves the Iron Company with Aalid adopting the name Ali Blackhawk. Ali, because it was the nickname her parents gave her. Blackhawk, because of how quickly she struck her prey.
Unfortunately, their continued success drew the attention of King Gauthier who unleashed his full might upon the small band of 3000 men and women that barely equaled a tenth of his forces. In the slaughter that followed, most of the Iron Company were killed, including Ali Blackhawk herself, with the few survivors fleeing to the Misty Wetlands to the south.
Summary
Ali Blackhawk was the leader and founder of the Iron Company whose homeland was one of the many tiny nations conquered by King Gautier Oweyn in his quest to expand his fledgling kingdom of Aryia. Aalid and her company of mercenaries successfully harried the Aryite army for nearly a year before perishing at the hands of Gauthier's Rune Casters.
Historical Basis
Aalid MacGawne was a real person who led a group of men and women opposed to Aryia's forceful expansion across Thaesia. Her legend had simultaneously dwindled and been blown out of proportion in the years following her death.
Spread
Gautier Oweyn, his descendants and those loyal to them have done their best to make the Aryite people believe Ali Blackhawk was nothing more than a bloodthirsty bandit who harassed the poor defenseless country folk before being crushed by Gauthier's army. Despite this effort, there are still some who, at least in the privacy of their own homes, recall the tale of Ali Blackhawk and her Iron Company in a positive light. Within recent years, there have even been whispers that a company like the Iron Company should be formed in opposition to the Golden Circle who are so tightly connected to the House of Oweyn they are considered to be more loyal to the throne than the people.
Outside of Aryia, specifically, the areas where the descendants of the surviving members of the Iron Company, Ali Blackhawk is viewed as a hero who despite facing off against a massive army with a small band of marauders fought against tyranny and villainy.
Variations & Mutation
In Aryia, the legend of Aalid MacGawne or Ali Blackhawk is both used as a cautionary tale told to children as an example of what happens to those who are bad (namely the Aryite army will put an end to their evil) and is commonly given as an example of why The Golden Circle is needed to protect the common folk from bandits.
Outside of Aryia, the legend ranges from being a footnote in the story of King Gautier Oweyn to a record of the atrocities the Aryite army and their Rune Casters committed during the time of Aryia's conquest with the details of the final battle becoming exaggerated macabre tales of carnage.
In Literature
In Aryia there are children's stories about a group called the Iron Bandits who robbed and harassed the country folk of Aryia that were defeated by the valiant and noble king Gaither Oweyn who vowed to keep everyone under his rule safe.
In Art
There are a few paintings depicting Aalid MacGawne's death from two points of view. Either the painting is of Gautier Oweyn and his rune casters fighting a gang of bandits or Aalid valiantly fighting by herself against a massive wave of Aryite solders.
Aalid surrounded by Aryite soldiers painted by a Kimirian painter
King Gautier Charging the Iron Bandits painted by and Aryite painter
Date of First Recording
22ARC
Date of Setting
21 ARC - 22 ARC
Related Ethnicities
Related People
Related Organizations
The art in breathtaking. Congratulations to the artist!