a Greydog Treasure

David Hall

(based on Martin Laurie’s original concept)

Background

The Roving Sword was discovered within the Indrodar Temple armoury at Swordvale by Gunnar Greydog, a young initiate of Indrodar. Before Gunnar, the Sword had merely been a plain iron sword, left there by a long-forgotten warrior and for some reason overlooked. However, to Gunnar the Sword spoke, revealing a spirit bound within. It invited him to wield it and thereby gain glory and honour for himself, his clan, and his kingdom.

The temple priests were at first reluctant to favour such a young warrior with this Sword. But eventually they relinquished the Sword to Gunnar at the request of his father, Korlmar, a previous king of the tribe.

In time, the Sword revealed some of its secrets, and using its powers, Gunnar formed the Roving Sword heroband - with the spirit of the Sword as the heroband’s guardian.

Gunnar and his followers first took the Roving Sword to the Holy Country as part of the annual gift-giving embassy to the City of Wonders. Later, the Sword was present in Esrolia at the time that the royal heir Sarotar was murdered. The Sword also witnessed the solemn oath that Tarkalor made to Sarotar’s son, Jarolar.

The Roving Sword was part of the host which accompanied Duke Dorasar to Prax and helped to found New Pavis. However, the Sword was always restless. It left Dorasar, and for a time it followed Tarkalor in his travels across the Wastes and beyond. Later, the Sword returned to Sartar, having also abandoned Tarkalor.

But even at home the Sword was restless. It became a roving mercenary band fighting for whoever offered the most glory, or paid the Champion the most. Over time, the Sword became ever more obsessed with one particular foe: the Lunar Empire. It saw that the greatest glory was to be found in that Empire’s defeat.

In 1565 the Roving Sword fought at the Battle of Dwarf Ford and covered the retreat of the Sartarite army as the doomed Prince Jarolar and his Household fought the enemy to a standstill. After this battle, the Sword left Sartar to search for Gunnar’s long-lost foster-brother - they found him, drunk as usual, in Casino Town and he was returned safely to the bosom of his family.

After this the Roving Sword roved again for many years across the whole Dragon Pass region and further to the west, though now without Gunnar to lead it. At times it’s numbers dwindled to single figures, and half-a-dozen Champions came and went.

Then, in 1582 the Sword at last returned to Sartar, called back by solemn and binding oaths. The heroband was re-forged to become the Roving Sword Clan, and once again Gunnar became its champion and leader.

At the Battle of Grizzly Peak King Tarkalor summoned the Roving Sword Clan to fight for him against the Lunar Empire.

"That day, the Storms couldn't come as the sky was too blue and Yelm shone undiminished. At first Tarkalor was undismayed for he held a strong position and he knew that the rest of his army marched from Sartar and that his Exile allies might well rally behind the Lunar main body. However, as the day lengthened and after repulsing many attacks and the assault of evil spirits, Tarkalor grew desperate. He could see no sign of the Tarsh assault on his shield wall slacking, or the return of his shattered allies. He sent wind words to the Roving Sword Clan, and to all the arriving Fyrds and warbands he could, to help him break out of the encircling Lunar forces. The Roving Sword, led by Tarkalor’s foster-brother, Gunnar Greydog, saw the host arrayed against them and knew that their death was the only reward likely for attempting their king’s relief. Yet they were bound by their oaths to obey, even unto death itself.

Summoning the spirit of Indrodar, they gave themselves to Humakt. Empowered and unafraid they marched to their doom. Like the slicing blade they cut through the legions of Tarsh around Grizzly Peak and found the king amid his household, lying dead next to his Queen. Both had fought to hold the assault of the Feathered Axe soldiers. They fell as they had lived - together.

Surrounded and set upon by magics both evil and potent, the Roving Sword roved no more. They stood and died, true to their word. Each fell in their places like a stone. Each sent a hand or more of their foes ahead of them to the Halls of the Dead. When the Tarshites finally reached where the king had fallen there was no sign of his body. ”

Nor was there any sign of the Roving Sword.

Resources

None. The Roving Sword is now lost, and it cannot function as a heroband unless it is rediscovered.

It is unclear whether the full powers and enchantments of the iron sword have ever been fully understood or utilised, even by the Blackdog. Though any undiscovered powers would most likely only be available to the wielder of the sword, and not the whole heroband.

Renowned members: Gunnar Roving Sword was the most famous member and champion of the heroband. It is also said that Tarkalor was once a member.

Organisation

When the Roving Sword functioned as a Heroband, the leader, the Champion, wielded the sword and was the only person who could communicate with it. The sword only spoke to this person, and it would choose them based on their bloodline in the Greydog clan.

Otherwise the members of the heroband organised themselves in the same way as a Humakti warband. Only at Grizzly Peak were there enough members to form a whole battalion.

Membership Keyword

Membership Requirements: Members must be initiates of Indrodar and have been born or adopted into the Lismelder tribe. However, they must not be kinslayers or members of the Hillhaven clan. They must cut off their ties with their kin for the duration of the time they serve with the heroband.

Skills taught: Sword Fighting, Warband Tactics, Scout.

Typical Personality Traits: Brave, Stoic, Restless.

Magic: None taught.

The Blackdog (Guardian)

The guardian is known to its heroband members as The Roving Sword, but to its champion it is known by its true name, the Blackdog.

The spirit will only reveal itself to a descendant of Hodir, a Greydog noble of the early 15th century. It confides to the descendant that it is bound to the same sword that killed it many years ago in a treacherous act of kinstrife. However, the spirit also knows that it brought this kinstrife upon itself by its dishonourable and callous actions - it appears to be remorseful, and wishes to try and atone for this (though it does not know how).

However, over time the guardian will also reveal a brutal streak, a wanderlust, a craving for glory, and a desperate need to vanquish its foes. These attributes it will slowly and subtly impose on its wielder (and the heroband) as their bond grows stronger.

The Blackdog shows absolutely no interest in the Upland Marsh, Delecti, or undead creatures – unless directly confronted by them. However, the iron sword itself does react in their presence, becoming warm to the touch - almost as if something else is guiding it (apparently outside of the Blackdog’s control, or suppressed by it).

Method: Archetype

Form: An enchanted iron sword without any adornments, typical of a Humakti warrior’s fighting sword.

Communication: Whenever the Roving Sword communicates with its champion the heroband members can feel their own swords grow warm to the touch.

Guardian Requirements: Swear an oath to Humakt to follow the champion of the Roving Sword unto death, or until released from their oath.

Functions:
Awareness: Find Safe Path
Blessing: The Slicing Blade
Defence: The Last Stand