Sword Maiden
Overview
Sword Maiden (sgl.) or Sword Maidens (pl.), sometimes Sisters of Steel or Steel Sister, are an organisation dating back to Ganguk and the two neighbouring kingdoms. They originated from a freelance underground organisation with the same name until Ganguk was sucked into the hellish abyss which ultimately ended up in the Spiral.
With this they lost their main base of operation and moved into the northern kingdom of Vraitha, after their first queen. They had a small forwarded operation base there, but now they needed another headquarter.
The Sisters of Steel, Sword Maidens consists only of females. That includes alle three elvish ethnicities and excludes Garladans and Goblins. Especially Garladans. For the Elves they have a different way. And they do have two female Orcs in their ranks.
The Sword Maidens are - clue is in the name - an organisation consisting only of female individuals.
Structure
The structure of the Sword Maidens is relatively simple: there is the Queen of Blades, the Familiar Daggers as the helpers and trusted Council of the Queen and there are the Whetstones, basically instructors. Beyond that there are only the Sword Maidens, the working force of the organisation. And they are the ones who are both worker and recruiter.
Recruits & Recruiting
The only recruiters the Sword Maidens have are the Sword Maidens themselves. During their assignments they keep an eye open for opportunities such as thieves, hurt or desperate female individuals or females with skills. Sometimes even princesses are recruited and hardended into sharp weapons by the Whetstones.
Most of the recruiting has to happen in the shadows. In the dark of night, dark alleyways or during loud conversations in taverns or halls, during festivities or after an assignment.
Those recruits are sent to the headquarter in Vraitha or guided to it in the presence of the Sword Maiden. The Maiden has to vouch for the recruit in front of the Queen of Swords and at least one of the Whetstones. She has to list all of the talents of the new recruit and to point out the actual and eventual worth for the organisation.
If the recruit is accepted, training starts the same day. If not, there are two options: a spell or potion of Loss (which deletes memories of a certain timespan) or the recruit gets killed. Most of the time the spell or the potion are the prefered methods.
Since there aren't many Sword Maidens or even members of the entire organisation (twenty Sword Maidens, three Whetstones, two Familiars during the time of the Spiral) they have to rely on their recruiting skills and the desperation of the recruits. Or bloodlust. Or empty pockets. Or all together.
Training
If the recruit is accepted, she gets two sets of clothes and starts training right away. First the Whetstone assesses the skills which were praised by the recruiting Sword Maiden and after that the evaluation and the training starts with endurance & strength training. Depending on the teacher there are some weapon trainings infused, but the first months are reserved to get the body in the needed shape.
After six to nine months the training is getting harder with weapon-training and sense-sharpening. Dark rooms filled with obstacles and the trainee blindfolded. Swinging obstacles, some wooden beams and things that can throw you off-balance. Rooms and surroundings which produces sounds and the trainee needs to avoid bolts or daggers and other nasty things.
When the Whetstone deems the trainee ready, she gives her field equipment and both go on a mission outside the normal assignments. The goal: to harden the recruit against the heat of real combat, sweat and blood. At the end of the training assignment they need to bring back a bit of money to cover the expenses for the organisation.
"A nice and sweet ensemble of actors you have here." grinned Alfara at her training Whetstone.
"What do you mean?" asked the Whetstone behind her black mask, only the eyes were visible.
"Well, they act as they were waiting for us and try not to at the same way. The guards pay not really attention to the stairways or the roofs."
"They are not payed actors. This is real."
"Really?" Her grin vanished. She drew the dagger and nodded. "Good, then lets begin."
"As you wish."
Elven Exception
The Sword Maiden consists only of females. They do not let in Goblins and Garladans because of obvious reasons. The only exception are the elves of all ethnicities because they can change and stay in their female form. But they only recruit elves when they prefer their female form 70-90% of their time (100% would be better).
If they can't stay in their female form all the time, they can negotiate up to a week for being in the male form to vent. This is timed for between assignments or breaks, which are more seldom then one might think. This has to be accepted either by the Queen of Blades or by the contractor. If the Queen of Blades accepts it the contractor has to accept it. If the Queen doesn't accept it or points at the contractor to decide it, the contractor has the last word.
In the case that both deny the request, the elf
can have Sex in various forms
or use a specialised form of meditation in combination with an also special potion. The expenses for the ingredients are partially covered by the organisation (by the price of the assignment, the contractor does not know this)."Potion Seller...!"
"Please don't say it..."
Appearence
Sword Maidens use a variety of clothes and armour, there is no real dresscode or uniform what they could be identified with. The only thing which is proof of their allegiance to the organisation, and they are indeed a Sword Maiden, is a small medaillon with the organisations crest.
The uniform and/or armour of a Sword Maiden normally follows one core-principle: agility over sturdiness. This means a Sword Maiden has to be agile, do not block or catch hits, be it bolts or swords. She has to be as agile as the wind and as deadly as a Sunfire Moth when angered.
This core-principle leads to... interesting combinations of armour and clothes. Some Sword Maiden prefer to be in the darkness, so their clothes are more black, grey and various shades of it. Others - especially the Bodyguards - tend to dress in more colourful clothes or armours.
"Why are you wearing this?"
"Otherwise I would go out undressed?"
"No, I mean in these screaming colours."
"Oh, the people should see me. Even the attackers, so they can see who they are dealing with."
"Has that worked before?"
"Sometimes, yes."
Their weaponry is also part of their choice. Most of them use agile swords and daggers so they can act fast, but others wear longswords, claymores, shields or spears. Sometimes even halberds if they can wield them.
Portrait of a Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Employments
The Sword Maidens are rental swords, they are contracted for one specific assignment with only one contractor. Even when it is a group, there has to be one responsible person. Assignments can be everything: assassinations, caravan protections, spying, getting stolen goods back, stealing goods, be a bodyguard or a companion during a festivity. With a sharp blade.
Employments are negotiated between the Queen of Blades or one of her Familiar Daggers, the contractor and the Sword Maiden. The organisation is contacted through a chain of freelance runners, so they are no part of the organisation. The contractor needs to know the runner in their or the nearest city/settlement. If it is urgent, they pay a bit just to get word out.
The Queen of Blades or the Familiar Dagger asks what the assignment is about. The contractor states the matter and what it is worth in their opinion and what kind of services they want. The Queen or the Familiar has brought a service list with them. Every service has a specific price range and covers everything, including bodily stuff, if the Sword Maiden in question is up to it. Mostly they aren't and when the contractor insists on them... well, they never see a Sword Maiden again. Exceptions not included.
Every assignment is normally covered by one single Sword Maiden. In normal cases, even with tricky assassinations, that is more than enough. But sometimes the assignment is so dangerous, tricky or otherwise different, that the Queen or the Familiar assigns two, three or even four Sword Maidens to the same contractor. In this rare case they communicate with a silent language with hands, threads and colours, the Colourblade code.
Tales of Steel & Blood
"She is beauty, she is grace, she will kick them in the face."
"Why are you rhyming?"
"Eh, it came over me... oh, see? Ten against her. Poor bastards."
"And if she is up to it..." The man wiggled with his eyebrows.
"If ya are up to it." Dervina shrugged with her shoulders. "But it will cost ya double the normal service price. Size difference, y'know?"
"And that is a problem for a dwarf?" he asked irritated.
"Sure thing." She patted her colourful iron armour. "I have to be gentle so I do not break ya spine."
Whoop... whoop... whoop...
"They will never know what hit them."
"You are beautiful." said Throlar surprised.
"I know." grinned Alfara and curtsied before him. She wore a colourful dress in blue, red, green and purple with bare shoulders and a small chain around her neck, which drew the eyes of the other person down to her chest.
"Not that I wouldn't like the view, but that is a bit distracting and... well, I have worries that you can't protect me during this meeting." said the Noble nauseated while holding out his arm. The perfect gentlemen nonetheless.
"Do not fret, Throlar." She poked him with his elbow. "Enjoy the view as long as you want, but I am more than capable of defending myself and your noble corporeal form. Two assassins withdrew already as they saw me."
"Wh... how... why do you know this?" asked the flabbergasted man.
"Because I drink, I know things and I have eyes." She poked him again and let him feel a bit of her strength. "Hey, eyes up. There are the other noble ladies, do not disappoint them."
Portrait of a dwarven Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a dwarven Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Portrait of a dwarven Sword Maiden by CrazyEddie via Midjourney
Type
Secret, Sisterhood
Are they anything to the Iron Sword Maidens?
Uhm I'm a bit lost here. That doesn't ring a bell, so probably not? Care to enlighten me?
Mixture of Iron Maiden & Sword Maiden
Damnit, I didn't see that coming ... xD No, not right now, maybe they start a band later on :P
After they retire & settle down.