SoW Lore - Factions - Soln Kayd and the Blackspear Company
by Gareth Fouche · 04/25/2009 (12:34 am) · 5 comments
Named for their leader's signature weapon, the legendary Black Spear of Anados, the Blackspear Company is an infamous mercenary band which can be found operating throughout the Westlands, wherever there is conflict and coin to be made from it. The Company has profited tremendously from the Mirtaran-Lethani war. Currently, the majority of the Companies forces are contracted by the Mirtaran government to bolster it's eastern border with Lethan and to provide security services within the capital of Endaurvar while the succession is being decided.
Click for bigger
The history of the Blackspear Company is, in essence, the history of Soln Kayd. While most mercenary companies reflect something of the nature of their leaders, this has never been truer than in regard to the Blackspear Company. Dynamic, opportunistic, exceptionally skilled and, most of all, eclectic, the Company has risen in the estimation of clients, rivals and enemies alike. To underestimate Kayd is, it is known, an often fatal error in judgement.
On the surface of things, Kayd appears little more than a common soldier; cunning, certainly, and with a natural charisma to him, but little depth beyond that. Appearances can be deceiving. Behind the brusque manner, crude humor and quick temper lies a clever, calculating mind, one that is always looking for an opportunity to turn events to Kayd's gain. Those who see past the surface of this man wonder if that surface layer is merely a mask, a ruse to disarm foes of their caution.
That mind has served Kayd well throughout his career. While little is known of his youth, it is well known that he travelled East as a young man, selling his services as a freelance sword in the civil war wracking the region following the Ajhan Uprising. Ten years later Kayd would return to the lands of his birth in possession of the Spear, a weapon legend says was used by the hero Kimaran Zolak to kill the Imaarian Lion, staining the spear with the beast's poisonous blood in the process, as well as a small fortune and the services of Alam Hasvirad, a sneering foreign mage with a cruel disposition.
Many would have been content to retire and enjoy their successes, but Kayd was never one to settle. Using his campaign spoils to fund his vision, he set about creating an elite mercenary company. Lured by the promise of wealth and Kayd's charisma, the Blackspear Companies' ranks quickly swelled with mercenaries, retired soldiers , even ex-criminals. Kayd seems less interested in pedigree than in demonstration of talent, offering positions to individuals others would have turned away due to their dubious reputation. Kayd's band attracted others like him, warriors whose names were known wherever soldiers gathered to gossip, men and women known for their prowess and their deeds, both heroic and villainous. Jango Ven, Wrain of Keton, the Asaric Twins, Jen of Blades, the legendary tracker Sixwinds...the Companies' roster reads like the cast of a bardic epic.
And, under Kayd's leadership, the Company has gone from success to success. Their fortunes increasing tenfold, the Company has headquarters in the capitals of Athar and Mirtar, private contracts with noble houses and merchant barons, the finest equipment. The Company even has use of a Ygatii Airship, a unique vessel Kayd acquired during another expedition East three years ago and which now serves as his mobile headquarters.
Although the results achieved by this diverse collection of talent is undeniable, it is also the Companies' greatest weakness. With so many famous names and egos in one group, struggles over authority are frequent. In a way, the Blackspear company reselmbles a pack of wolves, leadership residing with the strongest and most cunning. So far, Kayd has retained his control in the face of three direct challenges to his authority and two assassination attempts. Kayd favours direct physical confrontation for resolving challenges to his position, using the opportunity to make an example of the challenger to anyone else with rebellious thoughts.
Although Kayd has won all three challenges, he only survived the last with the subtle help of Alam's magical talents, a fact he hides from his followers. Although externally as confident as ever, Kayd's grip on the Company is tenuous and he knows it. A reckoning is coming and it remains to be seen if even Kayd's cunning will see him through it.
In the days since the end of the war Kayd has been highly active, his airship seen across the Westlands. Kayd is rarely seen without the company of his inner circle, Company members whose loyaltyKayd considers unquestionable. What they are about, no one knows, but this flurry of activity has drawn the interest of a number of political players, forces who would pay much to know what Kayd is up to.
Addendum
Alam Hasvirad : Sharp of tongue and cunning of wit, Alam has a reputation both for his skill as a battlemage and for his cruel streak. Although he bows to Soln's will it seems he does so only grudginly, rumor has it that he is bound by some debt which he is paying off, reluctantly. His reddish skin marks him as coming from the East, probably Ghiet or Rhodan.
Wrain of Keton : A large, powerful warrior, Wrain is surprisingly well spoken and educated. Not only does he seem knowledgeable on the subjects of history, geography and politics, he speaks a number of langugages fluently. Probably the greatest mystery surrounding Wrain is the exact location of "Keton", no one has ever heard of such a place. And Wrain refuses to speak on the subject.
Jen of Blades : Sometime in the past, something scoured all compassion and softness out of the woman who calls herself simply "Jen". Short but muscled, Jen's skill with her knives is the stuff of bar-room legends. While no one knows much about Jen's background, the latticework of scars across her back and around her wrists speak volumes.
The Black Spear of Anados : A legendary artifact, even the slightest scratch from the Spear poisons the blood of it's victim with the tainted essence of the Imaarian Lion. Short of direct intervention by a Power, the victim's fate is sealed, death claims them within an hour.
Kayd's Airship : A Ygattii vessel, unique in it's size, speed, manoeverabilty and firepower. The only such vessel in the Westlands.
(Mirrored from the Blog of War)
Click for biggerThe history of the Blackspear Company is, in essence, the history of Soln Kayd. While most mercenary companies reflect something of the nature of their leaders, this has never been truer than in regard to the Blackspear Company. Dynamic, opportunistic, exceptionally skilled and, most of all, eclectic, the Company has risen in the estimation of clients, rivals and enemies alike. To underestimate Kayd is, it is known, an often fatal error in judgement.
On the surface of things, Kayd appears little more than a common soldier; cunning, certainly, and with a natural charisma to him, but little depth beyond that. Appearances can be deceiving. Behind the brusque manner, crude humor and quick temper lies a clever, calculating mind, one that is always looking for an opportunity to turn events to Kayd's gain. Those who see past the surface of this man wonder if that surface layer is merely a mask, a ruse to disarm foes of their caution.
That mind has served Kayd well throughout his career. While little is known of his youth, it is well known that he travelled East as a young man, selling his services as a freelance sword in the civil war wracking the region following the Ajhan Uprising. Ten years later Kayd would return to the lands of his birth in possession of the Spear, a weapon legend says was used by the hero Kimaran Zolak to kill the Imaarian Lion, staining the spear with the beast's poisonous blood in the process, as well as a small fortune and the services of Alam Hasvirad, a sneering foreign mage with a cruel disposition.
Many would have been content to retire and enjoy their successes, but Kayd was never one to settle. Using his campaign spoils to fund his vision, he set about creating an elite mercenary company. Lured by the promise of wealth and Kayd's charisma, the Blackspear Companies' ranks quickly swelled with mercenaries, retired soldiers , even ex-criminals. Kayd seems less interested in pedigree than in demonstration of talent, offering positions to individuals others would have turned away due to their dubious reputation. Kayd's band attracted others like him, warriors whose names were known wherever soldiers gathered to gossip, men and women known for their prowess and their deeds, both heroic and villainous. Jango Ven, Wrain of Keton, the Asaric Twins, Jen of Blades, the legendary tracker Sixwinds...the Companies' roster reads like the cast of a bardic epic.
And, under Kayd's leadership, the Company has gone from success to success. Their fortunes increasing tenfold, the Company has headquarters in the capitals of Athar and Mirtar, private contracts with noble houses and merchant barons, the finest equipment. The Company even has use of a Ygatii Airship, a unique vessel Kayd acquired during another expedition East three years ago and which now serves as his mobile headquarters.
Although the results achieved by this diverse collection of talent is undeniable, it is also the Companies' greatest weakness. With so many famous names and egos in one group, struggles over authority are frequent. In a way, the Blackspear company reselmbles a pack of wolves, leadership residing with the strongest and most cunning. So far, Kayd has retained his control in the face of three direct challenges to his authority and two assassination attempts. Kayd favours direct physical confrontation for resolving challenges to his position, using the opportunity to make an example of the challenger to anyone else with rebellious thoughts.
Although Kayd has won all three challenges, he only survived the last with the subtle help of Alam's magical talents, a fact he hides from his followers. Although externally as confident as ever, Kayd's grip on the Company is tenuous and he knows it. A reckoning is coming and it remains to be seen if even Kayd's cunning will see him through it.
In the days since the end of the war Kayd has been highly active, his airship seen across the Westlands. Kayd is rarely seen without the company of his inner circle, Company members whose loyaltyKayd considers unquestionable. What they are about, no one knows, but this flurry of activity has drawn the interest of a number of political players, forces who would pay much to know what Kayd is up to.
Addendum
Alam Hasvirad : Sharp of tongue and cunning of wit, Alam has a reputation both for his skill as a battlemage and for his cruel streak. Although he bows to Soln's will it seems he does so only grudginly, rumor has it that he is bound by some debt which he is paying off, reluctantly. His reddish skin marks him as coming from the East, probably Ghiet or Rhodan.
Wrain of Keton : A large, powerful warrior, Wrain is surprisingly well spoken and educated. Not only does he seem knowledgeable on the subjects of history, geography and politics, he speaks a number of langugages fluently. Probably the greatest mystery surrounding Wrain is the exact location of "Keton", no one has ever heard of such a place. And Wrain refuses to speak on the subject.
Jen of Blades : Sometime in the past, something scoured all compassion and softness out of the woman who calls herself simply "Jen". Short but muscled, Jen's skill with her knives is the stuff of bar-room legends. While no one knows much about Jen's background, the latticework of scars across her back and around her wrists speak volumes.
The Black Spear of Anados : A legendary artifact, even the slightest scratch from the Spear poisons the blood of it's victim with the tainted essence of the Imaarian Lion. Short of direct intervention by a Power, the victim's fate is sealed, death claims them within an hour.
Kayd's Airship : A Ygattii vessel, unique in it's size, speed, manoeverabilty and firepower. The only such vessel in the Westlands.
(Mirrored from the Blog of War)
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#2
04/25/2009 (8:49 am)
You've information vegetable, animal, and mineral. 
#3
It'll be interesting to see how you implement your story.
@Russel - I used to love "VAM" back in '82!
04/25/2009 (11:24 am)
Nice concept artwork!It'll be interesting to see how you implement your story.
@Russel - I used to love "VAM" back in '82!
#4
04/25/2009 (1:31 pm)
Wow, I enjoyed the artwork, but I liked the storyline even better. Very detailed, and edited to a fine polish. When you present it in this way it makes me want to read more. Will Kayd be able to hold control of the volatile Black Spear Company?
#5
04/27/2009 (10:32 pm)
I read your web-site and the South African horrors going on. I grew up in S.A and moved to Australia in 2003 after coming close to experiencing a few horrors myself. It's hard to fit in in Aus but at least I don't need an electric barbed wire fence around my house anymore (I lived in Jhb) and I sleep very peacefully now. 
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