Act 1 Sc. 1; Orders, a Bridge and Strange Wolves

By the time they made landfall, the torrential downpour had soaked the members of the 5th Spear far beyond any had experienced in their short lives. Centurion Andronicus accompanied the short manned spear to the coast in a lurching longboat. Taking shelter in an abandoned hermit's stone hut, Andronicus took out a bronze capped red scroll that you have come to expect as conveying official business. Breaking the wax seal with the pommel of his gladius. He began to read:

Salve, members of the 23rd cohort, 5th spear. You have been brought to the Isle of Man in order to assist the 23rd Brittanicus cohort in the Holy task of defending the Empire and her allies against the forces of darkness. In this region you will find pockets of orckind and goblin servants.

Remember that in all things you represent the 13th Legion. Report at Ballasalla, a small mining town, to Centurion Longinus Gallus Dronicus called the Wanderer for orders.

Should you encounter those not yet friendly to the empire, deal with them fairly. Should you find those hostile to the empire deal with them forcefully, but do not throw away your lives. You are the property of the Holy Roman Empire and may easily grow into the service that you were intended for should you survive the Year of Proving. May the Almighty guide your paths. Strength and Honor!

With that (and brief direction to the mining town), salutes were exchanged and the centurion rapidly disappeared in the growing darkness. None too eager to return to the gloom outside, the Spear nonetheless soon made their way to the old Roman road (or as the locals referred to it, "The King's Highway"). The familiar path of basalt under their Caligaes, the four tromped through the mud for hours. Though catching a glimpse of lights in the far distance, no other sights disturbed the monotony of rain and mud until the bridge was reached. After a harrowing experience of crossing the rickety bridge, which the Goliath narrowly escaped only through an exhausting battle with the river itself.

Some time later the lights appeared again, leading the soggy quartet to another monk's stone cell, this time recently abandoned. Boot prints were observed in the muck within (sans hobnails - these weren't made by Legio!), as well as a half a glass of particularly fine wine and a meal half eaten. Water droplets left on the table in a square pattern (not unlike the bottom of the lantern carried by Aleksandra, the Spear's light bearer) pointed further yet to the hasty abandonment of the ascetic's cell.

Left with no other option, the 4 continued through the morass of rain and gloom until they came to a place where the old road ran through a deepening ravine, with cliff facings creating a natural valley. Lightning strikes illuminated a trio of gray wolves in the distance, casually barring the path of the 5th Spear. Combat ensued and despite the tripping attacks of the wolves, the party was victorious. As the third wolf fell, it spoke in an eerie voice, exclaiming, "Unwelcome" before it perished. Each of the wolves was discovered to have a slender, razor sharp silver coil around its neck. With 4 miles to go in the rain and muck, the weary spear continued.

The Cast - Aleksandra Petrovich

Bianca plays Aleksandra Petrovich, a Russian 17yr old 5’10” 130# Elf Avenger. Prone to small talk and a 1000 yd stare she may not respond. Known as Sasha to her Vodka sharing friends.

The Cast - Jussn der Kernvos von Augsburg

Dale portrays Jussn (Yo-sin) der Kernvos von Augsburg, a German dwarf. Jussn enlisted to annoy his father, taking Dad’s crossbow as souvenir. Wants to understand and improve everything that he can tinker with, preferring arms and armour. His beard is frequently scorched from his machinations. 4’9” 195# , Jussn is the equivalent of an 18 year old.

The Cast - Cauis Gorim

Josh is Cauis (Kay-us) Gorim (Gore-ihm), a blunt and honest Goliath fighter of great staure. 7’5”, 300#, the 21 year old from the Scottish Lowlands is the son of a Clan Guardsman and is used to following orders as a minion to his older siblings. Though Gorim Inherited armour and weapon, he currently wears the stylized Roman plate and prefers the Greatsword. His family enlisted him in Roman service that he might follow in his father's footsteps in a way that kept him away from his brothers.

The Cast - Ohtis Primus

Mladen is Ohtis Phadocia – Human fighter, 6'1", 220#, 19 years old from the equivalent of modern Croatia (Ilium). Perhaps Ohtis's noble family got him the title of Primus, erstwhile leader of the 5th Spear, but his wisdom and martial prowess have kept him there. Clad in Romanized scale armour, Ohtis fights with a greatsword, though he carries the traditional gladius and 3 pilum as well as a small dagger wrapped in cloth he never uses. In training, the Spear came to realize that their Primus had an unnatural dislike of dogs.

A beginning is a difficult thing.

The general premise is that the world is a parallel of our earth where The Holy Roman Empire never fell. The action takes place in the mid 14th century; the Empire is continually at war with the forces of darkness. For more than a millenia undead and demonkind spill from rifts in the Shadowfell to unite the Empire under a common cause. Christianity is the central religion of the Empire though others are loosely tolerated as long as their central tenets aren't perceived as contrary to Christianity or the causes of the Empire. Humans are the overwhelming majority in civilized lands; the further one gets from human the more suspicion one might incur. Arcane magic is seen as too firmly linked with the darkness and it's practice has been outlawed. It is worth noting that in some places like the frozen steppes of Russia there are Arcane Magisters within the ranks of the Legion (expediency informs policy - in the remote corners of the Empire where darkness gathers in such great strength, the powers that be care less for what you do as you long as you do it for Rome!) Divine magic is welcomed and practitioners typically receive deferential treatment.