THE PRIDE OF NERGAL
The Pride of Nergal is a martial society founded by Lomari nobles, merchants, and priests devoted to the god of battle and dedicated to expanding Lomar’s military presence throughout Thule. Clad in bronze armor engraved with the lion of Nergal, and armed with spears, shields, and Lomar’s fearsome reputation for conquest, the warriors of the Pride seek to subjugate Thule by conquest, trade, or plunder.
Structure
Bronze Lion: (CR 5) Lomari citizens form the rank and file of the Pride. Each Bronze Lion buys his own armor, which he pays to have decorated with the lion of Nergal. The snarling lions depicted on the Pride’s helms and shields, paired with the Lomari reputation for ferocious conquest, make them the most intimidating—and therefore the most respected— professional soldiers in Thule. Though the Bronze Lions don’t operate under direct command of Lomar’s Imperator, they exemplify the Lomari philosophy of battle and martial conquest through their devotion to Nergal.
Lioness of Nergal: (CR 6) The Bronze Lions of the Pride of Nergal trust their arms and armor over sorcery. However, when a unit encounters a situation that cannot be mastered by martial strength alone, a Lioness of Nergal travels from the temples in Lomar to turn the tide of battle and abjure fell sorcery used against the Pride.
Scorpion Helot: (CR 3) One in every five Bronze Lions brings a capable slave into the Pride’s service when that slave shows promise of excellence in archery. Called Scorpion helots for the venomous sting of their arrows, they reinforce the Bronze Lions and hunt beside their masters, serving as messengers, scouts, spies, administrators, and assassins. Scorpion helots are not trained in the “honorable” arms and armor of Lomari warriors, but with short, light bows capable of loosing arrows in a continuous stream when necessary. Scorpions are instructed with special care on the hunting of sorcerers and other magicians, and trained in the use of poison as a means to silence them effectively. Though highly valued by their masters, Scorpion helots know their lives are expendable and sacrifice themselves for their masters when commanded.
Red Chimera: (CR 7) To bolster their units, the Pride purchases the biggest and best gladiators and pit fighters they can find. Clad in the hide of a lion and equipped with a greatsword, stone maul or pike, a Red Chimera leads the charge into battle, clearing a path for the phalanx. As they lay waste to their foes in the first moments of battle, the Red Chimeras use their gladiatorial showmanship to demoralize their enemy, making a bloody pulp of any that defy them. Like the double-headed beasts they take their name from, they are dangerous from any angle, leaving broad red swaths of blood through crowds of foes. Veterans of a hundred battles, they shrug off blows that would slay lesser warriors.
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