The Lanterns

"We've survived fey, fiends and dragons. How much worse could the next job really be?" - Uruvian Xilokiir, Member of The Lanterns
The Lanterns are an adventuring party and mercenary group formed in AoR 608. They are currently active in central Astora, using Highpoint Estate in Beckton as their base of operations.
Formed by necessity during the Massacre at Kimberly, the former strangers found themselves fighting alongside each other against the threat to the small village. The group stuck together from then on, every member had their own reason to continue pursuing the perpetrators of the attack on Kimberly.
After a journey that took them through the heart of Astora, through the dark of the Ironwood Forest and into the fairytale realm of The Feywild, the Lanterns completed their intial task of bringing retribution to Glondahl Dorro and his hidden master, the Shade King Galvaden.
As the year passed into AoR 609, the Lanterns have continued to be active in the Astora. They frequent the towns and cities along the Astoran Road, often visiting places like Marklund and Vinguard. In addition to partaking in personal quests, they've also been known to accept coin for mercenary work.

Founding

The Massacre at Kimberly

The original six members of The Lanterns, Arrdaak Donaar, A.C.E, Sigfryd Handler, Uruvian Xilokiir, Emmeth Hastleaf and Yakoun first met each other at the Kimberly Harvest Festival, an annual Kimberly tradition at the end of Sun's Song. They were each selected for a destiny-driven pumpkin pie-eating contest. After the competition, the group decided to stick together while they explored the rest of the festival grounds, having become fast friends.
These former strangers stayed in Kimberly for the night, getting to know each other and solving a few odd problems around town. It was on the next morning that the unthinkable occurred. Dozens of bandits emerged from the forest on the morning of the 27th of Sun's Song, seemingly feral in both mental and physical capacity. They attacked two targets; the Kimberly Market and the Townmaster's Estate. Luckily, the group was already present at the Estate, meeting the Townmaster while looking into another matter. The group would bond together in combat, though their actions would not be enough to save the Townmaster, a man named Davis Welles. Hearing the cries of townsfolk coming from the main square, the group hurried to intercept the violence.
The group was met with a grave sight at the market. Several people lay dead, crazed bandits still hacking at the remains. Several more continued an attempt to set alight The Bad Apple Inn, of which many people had fled in a plea for safety. The six launched into combat, clearing out the remaining bandits and witnessing several flee back into the woods from where they came. Yet there was more ill business to attend to before victory could be declared. Yakoun would stumble across the corpse of a man named Ren, Yakoun's travelling companion and close friend. It was obvious Ren had been killed during the melee, likely standing alone against those who attacked the market. This drew Yakoun into a fit of rage, though before his anger could be acted upon, he'd bury Ren with Uruvian's help.

Following the Trail

The group, as that's what they now were by Arrdaak's decision, looked to follow up on the attack. They trailed the bandit's path through the shallow reaches of the Ironwood and found a small camp hidden away among the autumn trees. Here they'd find evidence that the bandits belonged to a group known in the area as "The Redbrands. Emmeth would also find evidence of a magical ritual at the camp, magic that Uruvian would suspect to be druidic in nature. After speaking with several townsfolk back in Kimberly, the group learned that the Redbrands were traditionally active in the areas around Marklund.
Based on this information, the group would solidify themselves as a party. Each member had their own reasons for tracking down the architect of the attack, though perhaps some were merely strongarmed into helping by Arrdaak. The Dragonborn Paladin of the Order of the High Blue seemed likely to become something akin to the group's leader. Regardless of the reasoning, the party set off towards the Crossroads, departing on a journey that would take them many months, would take them to strange lands and would have them face horrible dangers.

History

Tracking the Redbrands

Now a full-fledged adventuring party, the group of six members headed off towards The Crossroads where they hoped to uncover further information on the Redbrands and their whereabouts. Though they had agreed to travel together, the group was not without its own contentions, admittedly most of them stemming from Yakoun's impulsive and borderline violent behaviour. Additionally, Uruvian would admit to the group that he was formerly a member of The Remnants, a revelation that caused friction between himself and some of the other members, specifically Arrdaak and Sigfryd.
Upon arriving at The Crossroads, the party spoke with the Captain of the Astoran garrison in the small village, a Half-Elf named Bard Trugust. Bard would reveal much information, including giving a detailed idea of where to find the Redbrands. Impressed that the group had provided so much of their own intel and managed to turn away the initial attack on Kimberly, Bard would formerly charge Arrdaak and the rest of The Lanterns with tracking down and bringing the Redbrands to justice. So it was that the newly formed group had received an official charge from the Astoran Military.
Heading west from The Crossroads, the group made their way to an old Astoran watchtower, one that had been decommissioned after the end of The Ironwood War. The Ironpot was its name and according to Bard's scouts, served as the Redbrand's main hideaway in the area. The Lanterns arrived at The Ironpot after a few days and attempted to sneak inside the old watchtower under the cover of night and a heavy fog. Though the conditions were right for a successful infiltration, the actions were not. A.C.E found himself tumbling into a pit trap, revealing that the surrounding area was heavily defended from intruders. Alternatively, the group launched an attack on the tower and indeed found it full of Redbrands.
The party would force a surrender from the Redbrand leader, after killing several of his men. His name was Bariss and he confirmed that his crew was responsible for the attack on Kimberly, though they had been working with a third party. He never saw the faces of the accomplices, for the coin was too good for the Redbrands to turn down. He guessed at their origin being elvish, however, based purely on the "haughty" nature with which they carried themselves. This would lead the group to assume Remnant activity, much to Uruvian's frustration. In the basement of The Ironpot, the party would meet and free a prisoner, a Halfling by the name of Jumper". Jumper explained that he had been kidnapped by the Redbrands several days earlier and that the gang had been waiting on a ransom payment from the White Rock Mining Company, of which Jumper was employed. The party agreed to escort Jumper to Marklund for a tidy sum of promised coin.

Working for Jumper

Basic Information

Type: Adventuring Party, Mercenary Group
Base of Operations: Beckton, Astora
Feats:

• Hunted down Glondahl Dorro and brought him to justice for his crimes against Astora.
• Fought and drove The Shade King from the The Feywild, restoring relative peace to the realm.
• Cleared the Temple of the North Wind of Bekur's influence.

Other Names: The Crossguards, Arrdaakians

History

Formed: AoR 608

Membership

Current Members: 6

• Arrdaak Donaar
• Sigfryd Handler
• A.C.E
• Uruvian Xilokiir
• Marius Hjundencraft
• Emmeth Hastleaf

Former/Temporary Members: 4

• Yakoun of Cania
• Buffy of the Reaping Meadows
• Sky Karaz
• Korgav Thunderborn

Establishing Mark of "The Lanterns"