Warriors

From Lithmeria

Archetype Aspalarian variant: Towerguard Teladir variant: Champion Class Features: Versatile stance system Choice of four weapon styles Affinity with every armor type Ability to organise allies into formations Ability to rapidly switch weapons Capable of delivering powerful physical afflictions High sustained damage potential

Rally to me! To me! We will drive these vermin from our lands! For the Accord! For our children! To me!

-- Champion Trendon Jag’hon

Go ahead, release the fireball. It will hit me and I will burn, but I will not stop. Knock me down with your lightning, make my mind and body sluggish with your snow. I will not stop. I will reach you, and nothing will save you from me.

-- Towerguard Ulraen Yirael

The current Lithmerian age is referred to as the ‘Endless Siege.’ A state of eternal war between the Aspalarian Sovereignty in the west and the Accord of Teladir to the east. On the front lines of this war, as in every war before it, march the warriors.

The art of killing a man in direct combat has become increasingly refined over the generations. No longer content to simply charge at one another and hack blindly, both major factions have worked tirelessly to perfect the artifice of slaughter. They have sought more graceful and effective blows, better strategies and different combinations of weapons and armor.

This is not to say that there is any shortage of soldiers, capable of only the most basic and undemanding military task. While the Endless Siege rages the demand for basic troops is unlikely to exhaust itself. These rank and file grunts are adequate... but not warriors.

Warriors are distinguishable in a number of ways. First and foremost, they are natural military leaders. A group of adventurers organised by the firm hand of a warrior into a formation will be far more effective than they would otherwise be.

Warriors are also generally seen lugging vast quantities of equipment, having the training versatility to employ multiple combinations of sword, shield, claymore, plate or leather.

All true warriors fight in a brutal dance of various stances. With a specific opening blow they set themselves into a stance that will affect their subsequent swings. These stances allow warriors to charge their blows with armor penetration, bleeding and many other disparate effects.

The Aspalarian Sovereignty has specially bred their elite warriors, the Towerguard through rigid, carefully regimented training. The Towerguard are a firmly controlled military force, fanatically loyal to the Archmages and the Sovereignty.

From their base at the Ebon Tower, they are the armored first of the Sovereignty, their very name synonymous with discipline, strength and ruthlessness. The Accord obtained its warrior class in a more spontaneous manner. By cultivating close ties with the new breed of Champion, the Accord sought to match the frightening presence of the Towerguard on the battlefield. Though the Champions tend to be individualistic, they are formidable warriors with a solid understanding of tactics and strategy. Shunning the arcane trickery of the Towerguard the Champions have honed their physical strength and powerful sense of duty into an almost berserker fighting style.

So what if he’s got a sword? There’s six of us and only one of him, we can take him right fellas?

-- Teddy 'No arms’ Jackson, back when he was just Teddy Jackson

My sword and your throat are about to become incredibly well acquainted.

-- Lady Aldoriel Yeen