Organizations · Combative · Country/ State
Society of Blood
The Society of Blood is much more benign than its name sounds. Initially created as an award of valor for common foot soldiers, membership. The SOBs decided to make themselves a benevolent, protective order for all veterans. They quickly united informally and, without any bloodshed or even any overt threats, restored order and fairness for veterans through all the lands.
The Society of Blood (affectionately known as the SOBs) is much more benign than its name sounds. Initially created as an award of valor for common foot soldiers, membership requires independently confirmed kills of 10 individual enemies in direct combat (hand weapons or bare hands), and also nomination by both a commanding officer (need not be SOB) and a separate SOB member. The award is based on demonstrated bravery, simple folk honor and martial skill; wanton killers and psychopaths (at least at the time of consideration) are generally excluded. Any cowardly or knowingly dishonorable action will permanently eliminate a candidate from consideration: Hence, membership is not granted until the soldier is mustered out of service. The award is infrequent, perhaps 1 soldier in 50, but based solely on merit of the individual: Twice, the entire surviving cohort of a company was inducted after particularly bloody campaigns.
Acceptance into the SOB is accompanied by a fairly elaborate (and drunken) ceremony involving pledges to live life honorably and in fellowship with other SOB, and results in a prominent 'SOB' tattoo, typically on the inside swordarm wrist, and also the award of good weapons and armor.
If this was where it ended, it would have become just another boring army drinking club.
The Great War lasted many more years than expected, and took both men and women away from their families, fields and forges for several seasons. Many who had survived battles returned to find their families relocated and their fortunes usurped and plundered, frequently quasi-legally at the hands of some corrupt petty official. The lords of the estate were still off at the War, and fair resolution, if possible, would have to await their eventual return. A returning SOB, however, found most issues quickly resolved themselves to a proper state. The SOBs rarely, almost never, had to enter into any fights: Seems few people back in the village wanted to tangle with an armed warrior with proof of 10 or more individual kills.
The SOBs decided to make themselves a benevolent, protective order for all veterans. They quickly united informally and, without any bloodshed or even any overt threats, restored order and fairness for veterans through all the lands.
Not that all SOB's are paragons of virtue. SOBs, being drawn from farmers and shopkeepers, drovers and laborers, have few common traits beyond combat skill and bravery. Some are braggarts, some are silent; some are cultured, some are crude; some are naturally honest, and a few are less so. One important political implication is that a serf who makes SOB is granted full freeholder status, along with immediate family (spouse and children). Any commoner, of any demeanor, may be SOB. However, most appear to take their oaths seriously, and avoid besmirching the SOB.
Today, though the Great Wars ended years ago, the SOB still provide suitable burial benefits for veterans, and sustenance for widow(er)s and orphans. They also provide aid and comfort especially for other SOB's that have fallen on hard times, or to drink, or are unable to overcome their demons and nightmares. They accept no gifts or donations, since an early situation that appeared to be extortion based on threat. They SOB's are still held in high esteem by both commoners and lords, and frequently enjoy important positions and burghers and elders, and, naturally, more than a few gained additional fame as extraordinary adventurers.
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Links to this article 1
- Societies, Guilds, and Groups CaptainPenguin linked by MoonHunter
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A vetran's guild. Very cool. Military people will always seek a somewhat military solution (being it is one they can understand. They can continue on supporting 'The Unit' even when discharged.
This could have a few evil members within it's ranks whilst still being basicly a good organization.
This is a rather grand idea. I like it in it's simplicity and complexity of the guild at the same time. Wonderful addition.
A society I would love to transplant into any setting.
Granted, in peaceful times there would be much fewer members than in times of war. Still, this one society would hardly vanish from people's memory - they know who those men are, and there will be respect and fear accompanying them.
And don't forget the odd swindlers that now and then take on the image, paint a tatoo on their arm and borrows a lot of money to run away with.
This fantastic, I am glad it was highlighted today, it is little details like these that can make game seem deep real and alive. Conversely this could be great fun the for PCs to plant into there own backstory or to find in the backstory of NPCs. For the GM this is an easy way to add weight to an NPC. The cute double entendre will make the device easy to remember, accessable and amusing for the people at the table. Of course you know all this, you wrote it, but I appreciate it.
A neat little organization, if a little too squeaky clean for my tastes.
Good work!