Crimsonhand

Legend

“Despite the weight of moral regret burdening his mind, he rose to become one of the most powerful in all The Realm.”

“Very skilled with both rapier and arcane arts.”

~Skjald Yell'a'beard

 

Description

~Skjald Valgrif

 

History

Fourth Age

Born in 1168 in Goldar, the second in a flock of four, with an elder sister, a little brother and a baby sister. Four siblings to a tailor couple are barely handling expenses, often being bullied for protection fees from the underworld or by wealthy people avoiding payment due to obscure claims and legal manoeuvres. This resulted in the four growing up but skin and bone, always hungry, and always working to aid the family.

This made the clover invent a dangerous but rewarding scheme. Their trick was them tumbling out in front of waggons and charts, acting like they were hit and hurt. An outcome most often resulting in a coin or some goods tossed at them, followed by yells of removal. But one day, in 1179, his little sister somehow fell too far and was crushed beneath the heavy wheels of a cargo waggon.

The aftermath became a messy blur of sorrow and yelling, with his father’s words, “You have her blood on your hand, crimson all over…” hurting more than the belting. Those words burnt, especially since he had noticed how his little brother, Spadig, had treated their sister harder than usual. But that evil little monster gave him all the blame, and he never forgave his brother for that. But he took the blame and saw his elder sister being sent away. At midnight he took his revenge and wrapped himself in a kinslayer’s mantle, forever making him known as Crimsonhand, a bloodied fist of revenge.

“He had adored that baby sister, and with her loss his heart iced over.”

~Skjald Sigurd

 

It is said that it was only a day or two after their sister’s death and father’s disappearance that his brother, staying at their uncle’s, also disappeared. Suddenly alone with his mother, having to deal with life in a whole new way, he became determined to become wealthy and deal with liars and oathbreakers, as he had dealt with his father, issues best solved permanently.

Oh, that lad became so adept at their game—the thieves, thugs, and smugglers, that is. At the age of 14, he had already worked his way up in their ranks, so his mother was no longer bullied and pressured. And at 17, not even the highborn or devious ones dared trick her for proper payment, as he had not only climbed ranks but also gained quite a lot of followers and tight friends.

“Grim determination paid off and made him stand out.”

~Skjald Ulrich

 

As he always did, tasks were assigned swiftly and without error, and he paid dues from successful jobs. He was in 1192, allowed to grow his own branch of power; after all, he brought stability to their ranks, the local Shadow Guilders said. More likely they simply wanted to stay alive. He had indeed become Crimson-hand, a name or title, if you like, acquired over 22 years and for several reasons.

As his own group grew in number and power, he began spreading his network to nearby regions, and in 1198 they covered all of Goldar and began to form connections with the neighbour countries. After all, some goods or services extended beyond the borders defined by old nobility.

The first extremely profitable endeavour was to the north, as up in Puchaxa, Jutai Fereira, a powerful enhancer was building his own power base. In 1203 an agreement for weapons made of his alloys for their manpower was made. And around 30 of Crimsonhand’s combat-skilled agents went north. The quality weapons, crafted by Zambuk, they gained in return became one of their marks.

In 1204 Crimsonhand travelled down into Nabkixo, where he saw Aetarnia at a market duelling anyone that dared face her. Not that he needed the silver offered for staying upright or the gold for winning. But he couldn’t resist, tossed the entry fee and stepped in. Sandglass turned, he started dodging and kept dodging every strike and slash she threw. When time ran out and the crowd had finished cheering, Aetarnia suggested they share a mug and meal, as she was intrigued about his rapier.

Admitting it had taken all his bladeweaving to evade leaving no room for attacks, they decided to exchange some techniques after a week’s sparring. Aetarnia left for Puchaxa to get a Zambukian blade herself, and Crimsonhand, with a new leaf to the title, used the leverage to enter the town’s underworld circles.

Returning home, he began strengthening the new connections. Surprisingly Aetarnia passed by in the autumn, and with a new ‘Jutani and Zambuki’ blade, her combinations were much swifter, and although it was but practice duels, Crimsonhand did not pass that visit unscratched.

In the summer of 1206, he decided it was time to reach west into Xothros and went there to explore who was rising and who was crumbling powers. Despite him being an established power, Emini Châva became a favourite target. So work began to infiltrate their court. But 2 weeks later, as Crimsonhand was dining at a tavern, Emini entered with a handful of guards. The room emptied in a heartbeat; even the guards left. And they had a talk.

The next morning Crimsonhead travelled home and decided to stay out of Xothros. In 1207 his agents travelled into Spiy with much more care than they used to, as it was the homeland of The Pilgrim, and one never knew when that perceptive mace-wielding jump-spinner would come around the bend or be at an inn or tavern. In 1208, when he was visiting Tartu to check on progress and trying to figure out what went on in Gramshirs Villa, as he was sharing a mug and meal with local contacts, he suddenly found himself greeted by The Pilgrim. Sitting uninvited, he looked at the assembly; everyone continued to drink and eat, as they knew the cover was blown.

It’s said that that coolness saved each and every one’s life; most likely it was just The Pilgrim wanting them to witness the exchange of words and spread it, as it was but a mere warning that any power move that would result in common people suffering would result in his mace cracking skulls until none were left. But they could infight as much as they liked. Some of them managed to claim Crimsonhand had been pale white during the talks but was genuinely relieved afterwards, before they all had disappeared a week later. After that Crimsonhand was seen talking with other thieves.

“Approach results learnt the hard way shifted all from boldness to subtlety.”

~Skjald Vinotis

 

In the 1240s he saw the age of hordes beginning to fade and a new idea being unveiled. Crimsohand began preparing his organisation and network for what was bound to happen. Those of elder days would one day be under such pressure that it would erupt into violence. But as the number of supporters for the 1st alliance and their idea of a unified realm grew, he believed the new order would win.

So he trimmed and layered the organisation and began to favour one side above the other. At first, there were declines based on excuses about lack of manpower, then direct refusals, as it would endanger his crew. With his retraction the torch lost another of their supporting flames, although he kept a few embers – like the supply of Combat Herbs from Triad traders.

In 1244 Spadig was seen for the first time in years, with Black Pelvis and So-Ein Begir, as they joined forces with Deadly Assassins. Trying to prevent the creation of the realm and election of the 1st High King, they instigated a violent civil war which quickly became a lost cause. Hearing of his brother, Crimsonhand began his own hunt, but when their rise against the 1st alliance failed in 1249, they fled into hiding once more.

“Years waiting for revenge, his urgent hunt unsolved once more.”

~Skjald El Mary

 

During the reign of the High Kings he did not create much fuss, but when certain members of the torch in 1253 once more showed their faces. Forcing Zyr 'O' Loth away from power down in Oglan, he immediately left for Skagtrönd, Oglan’s capital, to see if he could gain information about his brother. But as they had secured control over the infant king and the entire court, it was impossible to deal with them as expected.

During his stay he did, though, notice a new faction operating alongside everyone else. So he reached out to Bergon, and Lionel to hear if it was theirs. Denials became a shared interest, and they learned of the new player’s origin – the Kinoblins of Outlands. All eager to figure out what was going on, they separately began dealing with the Kinoblins.

I met Crimsonhand the first time by sheer accident in 1274. He was dealing with the Kinoblins owning the junk I had smuggled myself back on. Their short stop north of Puchaxa, where goods were changing hands, allowed me to slide silently into the water and cling to the railing of his boat when it went back to the harbour. When they were done unloading and had left, leaving only him at the pier, I heaved myself up and approached him.

Soaking to the bone, I quickly stated my name, occupation, and urgency. I’m glad I can be swift with words as he moves like a cobra and strikes faster than a scorpion, but I aroused his interest with words about Outlands and the Kinoblin agenda.

“Fast as a cobra and with scorpion stings, he is a deadly encounter.”

~Skjald Yell’a’Beard

 

In 1277, as The Great Invasion hit, he was the most prepared of all the traders, and it’s said that he has treasure buried and stored all over the Isles. So, no matter where he and his agents travelled, they were secured with a bed, blanket, meals, and a mug. Wealth, which came in handy as he heard Spadig was seen in the vanguard of an invader-supporting force over in Bebram. So he once more set out on a private hunt.

During the first years all was chaos, but as the old High King was reinstated, even though Crimsonhand disliked him, he respected the old man’s achievements. So he has spent fortunes since 1281 on provisioning the High King’s army during the cleansing crusade and paying for free passage to numerous agents of a handful of organisations. Most likely to flush his brother and that gang out. Despite the drain, I am certain he is still to be counted amongst the richest in the rebuilding realm. And even if he doesn’t need to, he is still on the road, tracking the traitors on his list!

“From field to field, the stings missed pushing hands over and over.”

~Skjald Sejrik

 

Organisation

Crimsonhand has his own… but is also a Triad Trader.

“So many cards… at that crimson hand… hard to know… what he’ll show.”

~Skjald Kazumix

 

Special

Well-planned calculations crumble if he’s told the whereabouts of his brother.

“So much wealth is hidden across the Isles that any lucky finders may keep the lot.”

~Skjald Sigurd