Tyrus Rechs

Captain Tyrus Rechs

Tyrus Rechs, Captain of the Mirabar defense force.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Tracks in the Mud Sulus bent low over the tracks in the mud trying to determine the size and speed of the creature his ranging party had been stalking for the past three days. Thunder rumbled threateningly over head as the damp smell of moss and lichen assaulted his nose. Sulus found his mind wondering, thinking of his warm bunk back at Castle Black. He was tired, cold, and very hungry. The creatures his party had been tracking were testing his skills, seeming to wonder aimlessly in circles. “How large is this one comrade”? Asked a rich baritone voice behind him. “Larger than the others”. Replied Sulus. “It looks as if this large one is accompanied by two others. Strange, just yesterday I would have wagered they were four in number. Not three”. “Let us continue to look. It is our duty to account for all the wretched creatures”. said the baritone. Sulus continued to look at the tracks and determined the creatures headed south. Standing he turned his hooded face towards his commander. “The creatures are headed deeper into the forbidden forest captain. Operating procedures tell us to double our number before heading beyond the red trees”. Said Sulus. The captain lifted his cigar to his mouth and took a thoughtful drag. “Yes, but who will answer our call? You know as well as I that the defense force is stretched to the breaking point already” replied the captain. “most of our brothers have seen too many winters….or to few. I will not endanger the other teams needlessly. It was I who requested this mission. So we will be the ones to finish it. “Besides”. The captain continued. “how would it look if we returned to Castle Black with our tail between our legs on your first mission Sulus?” Tyrus looked to Luanna. “and you. You’re so green I bet you piss grass”. “But Captain Rechs…we are low on supplies, and we need a nights rest…”. Sulus’s voice trailed off when he saw the look on Rechs’s face. The captain took another drag on his cigar, filling the air around his face with aromatic smoke. Suddenly the captain reaches out grabbing Sulus by the front of his cloak and pulling him close. “The defense force hangs together by a thread.” The captain said in a low dangerous voice. “It’s men like you that are making us weak. When I was your age the lord commander would cut your ear off for failing a mission. While the times have changed, my duty has not.” Rechs releases Sulus and turns to the third member of their party. “Luanna, gather your gear. We are moving out”
Shapes in the Fog The party of three moved through the dense evergreen forest silently, the smell of pine filling the air. Rain poured down overhead and cracks of thunder punctuated the night. Sulus took the lead followed by Captain Rechs. Luanna lingered about twenty feet behind the men, keeping a watch behind them as they advanced. The hunting party continued to walk deeper into the forest following the tracks of the creatures, Sulus occasionally pausing to make minor adjustments to the trail. After about an hour Sulus stopped. “What is the matter comrade” said Rechs “The tracks go cold here”. Replied Sulus Rechs turned his head to Luanna and nodded. Recognizing the signal Luanna knocked an arrow and took up a watching position behind a red tree covering their flank. Rechs also drew an arrow from the quiver on his back and held his bow at the ready. By the time Rechs turned back to look at Sulus he was already half concealed in the low branches of a tree, bow and arrow at the ready scarcely visible. Rechs strained his ears to listen for sounds, but all that could be heard was the falling rain through the trees. Scanning the surrounding area with his eyes Rechs thought he saw something moving between the trees. Staring at the spot he saw it again, movement. Giving a low whistle Rechs directed his team to look at the spot. The party waited, motionless in the rain. The shape continued to flit between branches and trees never fully revealing itself. Rechs began to move forward slowly, keeping his bow at the ready. Cautiously he approached the shadow between the trees. The closer he got the more noises he heard. Cracks and squelching sounds became more prominent the closer he got to the small clearing. Hiding behind a thick tree on the perimeter of the clearing Rechs saw what was making the noises. A gnoll, not yet fully grown, was gnawing on what looked like a human arm. The other parts of the human body were scattered about the clearing. Blood and lumps of unrecognizable flesh stained the pine needles on the ground. Captain Rechs felt grim determination filling him inch by inch. Staring at the gnoll Captain Rechs mutters, “Go back to hell where you belong creature”. In one swift motion Rechs stands, draws his bow sting back with perfect form and lets an arrow loose towards the gnoll. The arrow buried itself halfway into the creatures windpipe. Nothing but blood came out when the gnoll opened its mouth to scream. Spluttering and gasped for air it slumped to the ground. Rechs knocked another arrow, approached the gnoll bleeding out on the ground and shot it again through its eye without preamble or delay. Captain Rechs was a professional. And he was good at his job. Whistling low for Sulus and Luanna to advance Rechs knocked another arrow and looked around the clearing. Gnolls always traveled in packs. Staying low, Rechs moved to a fallen tree and continued to scan the surrounding forest. Sure enough, Rechs spotted more movement deeper in the woods. The Village Rechs could see the other gnoll now. Walking though the forest heading south. Rechs, Sulus, and Luanna followed the gnoll silently. Blessing the rain for the added stealth it provided. The gnoll lead the party to the outskirts of a small village. Seven or eight buildings and one watch tower surrounded a large church with onion shaped domes. Nothing but the pouring rain and stench of blood greeted the party as they approached. The gnoll continued walking and went into the church. Noiselessly Rechs, Sulus, and Luanna made their way through the small village checking every building, saving the church in the center of town for last. Blood, gore, and claw marks decorated every building like some sort of macabre festival. Severed limbs and unrecognizable lumps of flesh were flung everywhere. Not a single window was left unbroken and one of the houses was on fire. It was twilight by the time Rechs and the others were ready to breach the church. Rain continued to fall from the sky as it became darker and harder to see. Luanna scouted the church and reported two gnolls in the building who were sleeping on the blood stained floor. Rechs nodded and drew from his belt a black hand axe. The weapon was finely crafted by the dwarfs of Mirabar and black as ravens’ feathers except for the blade which was forged out of Damascus steel. The axe was balanced enough that it could be thrown by a well-practiced hand and sharp enough to cut through leather armor with ease. Rechs’s intent was clear as Sulus and Luanna pulled out their own black hand axes and silently entered the church. The stench was overwhelming. Blood mixed with the smell of wet hounds filled the space. The party immediately came across two small bodies of children horribly mangled beyond recognition in the foyer of the church. Luanna bent down to look for signs of life but Rechs knew she was just going through the motions. The children were long dead. Entering the sanctuary Rechs spotted the two gnolls sleeping amongst the debris. Crouching low the party approached the two sleeping creatures. Captain Rechs stood behind one gnoll and ordered Sulus and Luanna to kill the other one. Rechs looked down at the creature before him. Yellow and black fur matted with dried blood adorned the neck and body of the dog like monster. It wore tattered leather scraps and skins for armor and had razor-sharp claws to shred into anything it thought it could eat. The face was cruel and featured an elongated snout filled with canine teeth. Bringing the handaxe high over his head captain Rechs brought the blade of the axe down on the face of the sleeping gnoll. The force of the blow almost split the gnolls face in two. Rechs lifted the axe and brought it down again on the gnolls face cleaving the head into two different pieces still attached to the neck of the gnoll. Rechs removed his handaxe from the face of the gnoll, watching the life poor from the dead body. Looking up Rechs saw Luanna and Sulus dispatching their gnoll. Rain continued to poor outside as Rechs began to search the sanctuary for hints of more creatures. He found none and met back up with the others. “I reckon around a hundred men with their woman and children lived in this village”. Said Sulus. “Men, women, children. All dead now. How can there be no survivors” commented Luanna darkly. “I have seen this before”. Replied Rechs. “The gnolls are monsters, they slash and burn anything in their path. They have no thought but hunger, no strategy but destruction. It has been this way for my father and his father before. But these scourge dogs seem different than the others I have seen.” Bending down to examine the gnoll Rechs continues. “Some evil gives these creatures strength. I have never seen creatures this big before or claws quite as deadly”. “What do you mean by that”? asked Luanna. Rising to his feet Rechs replies, “I have been fighting this fight for a long time. Something or someone is making these creatures bigger and more daring. We are fortunate to have come across them while they slept”. Sulus bent down closer to the gnoll’s face and removed a dagger from his belt. Jamming the dagger into the mouth of the gnoll Sulus was able to extract two large canine fangs from the creature. He went to the body of the other gnoll and extracted one more tooth. Working quickly Sulus fashioned a cord around each of the gnoll teeth. Placing one around his neck, Sulus then hands one to Luanna and the other to Captain Rechs. The Bells Captain Tyrus Rechs led his ranging party back through the Forbidden Forrest towards Castle Black. It continued to rain as they passed the sacred pool. “We will be back soon” said Rechs. “hot food and warm beds await us comrades”. The party continued down the well-worn path from the sacred pool to the western gate of Castle Black. “Aye, some red meat with rosemary and potatoes would…”Sulus broke off. “Captain, do you hear that?” The rangers froze in place listening. A low dull ringing reverberated again, and again. Shock and fear gripped them as they heard the warning bell being rung from Castle Black. “Here! So close to the castle”? exclaimed Luanna. “The creatures have grown bold” “They are brave gnolls, let’s go kill them”. Said Sulus while he readied his bow. Without orders from their captain Sulus and Luanna charged down the path towards the western gate weapons at the ready. “Hold”! Shouted captain Rechs. But it was no use. Sulus and Luanna were swift of feet and already turning the next bend in the path. Rechs had no choice but to ready his bow and follow Sulus and Luanna down the path. Castle Black Captain Rechs made his way down the path. As he got closer to the gate Rechs heard the sounds of steel, voices yelling, and men screaming. He slowed his pace down and prepared for what he might see around the last bend in the path. Crouching low Rechs crept closer to the gate, taking cover behind an upturned wagon. The path that lead up to the gate was littered with bodies, human and gnoll alike, and the wooden doors of the gate were ablaze. Smoke filled the area obscuring anything more then a few yards in front of Rechs. Rechs began moving through the dead and dying making his way into the castle yard where the sounds of battle could still be heard. Gnolls infested the castle yard and battlements like cockroaches. Here and there pockets of resistance could be seen as the rangers fought desperately against the onslaught. Captain Rechs knocked an arrow and sent it flying. The arrow traveled just five feet when it buried into the back of a gnoll. The creature turned and let out a blood thirsty screen as it lunged for Rechs. Side stepping the charging gnoll and knocking another arrow in the same motion, Rechs took aim at the exposed back of the creature. The arrow thumped into the back of the wounded gnoll sending it to the ground. Knocking another arrow Captain Rechs scanned the yard for another target. Seeing a ranger surrounded by three gnolls Rechs sent a flurry of arrows towards the creatures. Two of the gnolls dropped dead from the steel tipped arrows slamming into them. The third managed to dodge the arrows and turn towards the new danger, Rechs. Rechs was reaching for another arrow when the head of a spear burst through the gnolls chest. The gnoll slumped to the side reveling the ranger holding the other end of the spear in his hands. Rechs and the unknown ranger gave each other the slightest of nods. “where is the lord commander”? Yelled Rechs over the din of battle. “he was in the keep when we were attacked, sir” replied the ranger. “let me fight with you”. The ranger then ran to join Rechs. Together Rechs and the ranger fought their way to the entrance of the keep. Killing two gnolls and wounding two more in the process. Rechs and the ranger entered the keep through a large double door that opened into the great hall. The great hall was usually filled with food, laughter, and warmth. Now the hall was filled with smoke, ash, and the screams of the dying. Breathing was very difficult in the hall and visibility was next to impossible but Rechs had to find the lord commander. Entering the hall and staying low Rechs began to search for the commander. Rechs came across mangled bodies of men he knew and creatures he despised. The heat and flames of the fire raging in the hall flooded over Captain Rechs like a wave. Smoke obscured his vision making his eyes water and throat gag as men cried out for help all around him. With each step Rechs felt like he was descending deeper into hell itself. Rechs stumbled into another ranger that was amazingly on his feet carrying another man across his shoulders. “lord commander” shouted Rechs over the raging fire. “I need to get you out of here”! Coughing and spluttering the commander replied “Tyrus, help me with him” The lord commander hefted the ranger he had been carrying onto Rech’s shoulder. And continued. “take this too, it is the key to….everything”. Rechs felt more then saw the commander stuff something leathery into the folds of his cloak. “I don’t know how they got so strong. They attacked in great number and overwhelmed our defenses. Sound the horn, fall back to exfil one, and save everyone you can Tyrus. There is something I must do”. Giving Tyrus a shove the lord commander shouted. “Forth brother! And fear no evil”. With that the commander disappeared back into the smoke and flame. Exfiltration Rechs sucked the clean air in great lungful’s when he made it back outside. Looking around the yard Rechs saw the last defenders of Castle Black being cut down by the gnolls. Rangers, stable boys, and even the ladies of the castle all fought desperately against the flood of gnolls. But it was no use. The creatures were pouring through the western gate and climbing over the walls and ramparts. Defenders were surrounded and savagely cut down. Still holding the unconscious ranger over his shoulder Rechs pulled out his rams horn and gave one mighty blow and then another. The high, clear sound of the horn cut through the sounds of the battle signaling a retreat for all those that heard. Rechs then turned towards the eastern gate and ran with all his might hoping that Sulus and Luanna heard the call and would be at the gate. Rechs was in sight of the gate, just twenty more yards to go, when a gnoll on a nearby roof pounced on Rechs sending him and the ranger he was carrying to the ground. The gnoll recovered quickly and sank its razor sharp claws into the flesh of the ranger Rechs was carrying. Blood and flesh splattered Rechs as the gnoll ripped apart the ranger. Rechs scrambled to his feet and continued to run towards the eastern gate but another gnoll was quickly on his trail. About fifteen rangers stood around the gate, bows at the ready. One of them called out “Rechs! Drop!” As fifteen arrows flew through the air towards Captain Rechs and the charging gnoll. Rechs dropped to the ground and covered his head with his hands. He heard the satisfying thud of steel tips hitting flesh and a soft whimper from behind. Looking back as he got up Rechs saw the now dead gnoll falling to the mud, pierced by many arrows. “comrades” called Rechs. “we must regroup at exfil one. Castle Black is lost.” “what of the lord commander”? Asked one of the blood soaked rangers. “these are his orders. Now swiftly, before the creatures see us”. Said Rechs. Equivalent Exchange Night had fallen and the rain continued to come down in great sheets. The old ruins that served as exfil one offered some protection from the storm but the rangers dare not light a fire for fear of another gnoll attack. Rechs sat amongst the young frightened rangers, deciding what to do next. A ginger bearded ranger captain that Rechs knew as Këvon was speaking. “Castle Black is overrun. I have never seen so many of the creatures at once”. “yes, but who is mastering them”? Asked another ranger. “my gran would tell me stories of powerful necromancers in the woods. Maybe the gnolls are enchanted.” “don’t be daft boy” replied Këvon. “the gnolls make sure that there is nothing but death in the wood. They rip and tear all that is living and destroy anything and anyone they come across. You saw yourself at Castle Black”. “the boy might be right” said Rechs holding a piece of leather in his hands. “the lord commander gave me this before he disappeared” tossing the leather to Këvon Rechs continued. “I have seen that mark only once before. It’s the symbol of the alchemist necromancer.” Examining the transmutation circle written on the leather Këvon replied. “this is blood magic, get it away from me”. Këvon tossed the leather back to Rechs. “the lord commander gave this to me, it must be clue to breaking the gnolls. Or it could be some hidden weapon.” Said Rechs. “or it will break us, for all we know we could be the last of the defense force. Have you forgotten your duty captain Rechs” Replied Këvon hotly. “The rangers have no use for evil magic. We are the wardens of the north, we are the shield, we are the brotherhood. Our strength comes from each other. Blood magic has no place here. Our duty is to regroup and return to Mirabar to give a report and strength their defenses. And this sorcery”. Këvon looks at the transmutation circle in Rech’s hand. “needs to be destroyed”. Many of the other rangers gathered nod their heads in agreement. Rising to his feet Rechs said, “do not educate me on what waits in the dark. I have defended this land all my life and have lost everything to the creatures” Rechs hesitates for a moment before continuing in a determined voice addressing the entire clearing. “My mother and father torn apart before my eyes when I was a child. My brothers, killed by the creatures while bird hunting. My wife, slaughtered in the night without me to protect her. My son…taken by the creatures. Brothers, the lord commander entrusted this to me. He said it was the key to everything. We must understand this blood magic and find its creator. You must understand your enemy if you are to see things the way they do and you need to see things the way they do if you’re to anticipate their actions, respond effectively, and beat them. It is our duty to beat them. Because if we don’t, I fear this wave of evil will wash over Mirabar slaughtering your parents, your brothers, your wives, and your children”. Rain pinged off waxed canvas hoods and leather armor for a long moment until a young ranger in the back of the clearing stood. Two more rangers stood and looked resolutely at Captain Rechs. One by one all the rangers stood around Captain Rechs silently making their choice clear. Amongst all the death and defeat it felt good to have this small victory. Aftermath Captain Rechs tightened the girth on his horse. It had been decided that Captain Këvon would take half the survivors back to Mirabar to report. The more senior rangers would go to the surrounding cities in search of the meaning of the symbol. Rechs was headed south to Waterdeep. He had heard of a powerful wizard called the blackstaff who might have some answers for him. Mounting up Captain Rechs took his reigns and set off at a canter down the muddy road. The rain continued to fall.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Order of Heros Captains Guild Mirabar Defense Force

Religious Views

Cursed The dark gift of Dahlver-Nar, He of Many Teeth

Mannerisms

Captain Rechs enjoys psychedelic cigars, dark ale, and aged cheese.

Hobbies & Pets

Tyrus keeps no pets, but enjoys the company of woodland birds and animals.

Ranger in the Mirabar Defense Force

View Character Profile

Alignment

Good

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Captain-Mirabar Defense Force

Age

55

Birthplace

Mirabar

Current Residence

Waterdeep

Gender

Male

Eyes

Dark

Hair

Salt and Pepper

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tanned

Height

6'

Weight

210 lb

Known Languages

Common, Deep Speech, Dwarvish, Orc

Ruled Locations

• T-Rechs Cigars