Desert Crows

The Desert Crows are a small band of mercenaries that travel the regions of Hossberg and Vol Dorma. Their core-group always stays the same, but usually they also offer unaffiliated mercenaries and adventurers to join them for a limited amout of time. Unlike most mercenary groups the Desert Crows aren't specialized in combat, but rather in transport. They offer safe passage through the desert of the Anderfels region, protection from darkspawn raids, and a fast and comfortable journey.

Structure

The leader of the Desert Crows is Valentin Strasser, an Ex-Imperial-Soldier. He is reserved about his past, and while some call him a good man, would even trust him with his life, he also has a reputation of being a fraud and only caring about his own personal gain out of what his group offers.
Valentin's right and left hand at the head of the mercenary group are Teresa Casta, a mage from the Wandering Hills, and Konstantin, a very tall and imposing man of unknown background and origin. While Valentin manages the finances and is the overall decision maker of the caravan, Teresa and Konstantin have very similar rights and Valentin fully relies on their judgment. Teresa is a skilled navigator and often seen at Valentin's side, while Konstantin is mostly responsible for keeping the inventory in check and caring for the animals - but he also uses his authority to delegate tasks and keep everyone in check.
The Desert Crow's healer is a Tevinter mage by the name Larius Ripanus, who doesn't seem to fit in that well with the rough ex-soldiers and runaways.
Valentin commands a group of usually 30-40 mercenaries, partly permanent members who consist mostly of ex-soldiers and other adventurers, partly of hired helpers who join the caravan usually for one trip to earn some money, but don't intend to stay.

Public Agenda

The Desert Crows offer safe passage through unsafe territory, provide food, shelter, and warmth, and can look back on almost a decade of successful journeys through the desert. They are professionals taking their responsibilities seriously - but their services come at a price.

History

The Desert Crows were founded in the year 880 TE by Valentin Strasser and Teresa Casta. Valentin had returned from the south and had been discharged from the military, Teresa had fled her home after an intense darkspawn raid. Both were looking for a new purpose and their very different skillsets complimented each other perfectly.
Valentin, much older and a bit wiser than Teresa, had the initial idea for the formation, and also the connections to help them grow. Teresa is an excellent navigator and a mage, due to her Orth upbringing skilled in wilderness survival, tracking, and healing, and empathy, was essential to the group's long term survival and success.
Following their goals of wanting to protect civilians they initially started by guarding caravans to build up their skills and a good reputation - as well as increase their funds to start a business of their own. The Desert Crows grew and fairly soon gained trust with the citizens of the Anderfels, who became more and more disillusioned by the Imperium that didn't manage to protect its most remote villages anymore. The Desert Crows therefore started to offer the additional service of leading their own caravans through the desert, that would take anyone who wanted to to a bigger city, where it still was safe.
Originally they travelled mostly in the Hossberg region, but soon expanded to Vol Dorma - and this is where they received a first big setback. While journeying through the desert the caravan was ambushed by a rival mercenary company: the Nightbrand Legion. Stealing supplies, carts and horses, damaging equipment, threatening the civilians, the Nightbrand Legion didn't care much about protecting anyone, but the Desert Crow's reputation received permanent damage. They had been too ambitious and while skilled and experienced in fighting darkspawn, none of them had been prepared against the attack of another mercenary group. The trip almost ended in a total disaster when the supplies ran out and the caravan had to mostly travel on foot through the desert for much longer than originally planned.
The Desert Crows only slowly recovered from this blow and it took years for them to reach a decent reputation again and replace what had been damaged in the raid of the Nightbrand Legion. But they also became more careful, a little more expensive, and hired more people. After a few years they also started to hire non-permanent contractors for their caravan travels, as additional backup, because the darkspawn activity increased more and more in the Anderfels.
In 883, the year after the attack, Larius Ripanus joined the Desert Crows as a healer, allowing Teresa to focus more on her tasks as navigator and batte mage.
In 886 Konstantin joined the group, originally just as a contractor, but Valentin was deeply impressed by his skills and hired him as a permanent member.
Nowadays the Desert Crows run 3-5 caravan trips per year, starting in Hossberg, passing by a variety of desert villages, and ending the trip in Vol Dorma. Additionally they are also open for hire for other mercenary jobs, which they usually do in downtime between caravan trips - and without contractors that aren't permanent members.

Protection, Perserverance, Guidance.

Type

Guild, Fighter / Mercenary

Training Level

Trained

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Desert Crow(s)

Leader

Valentin Strasser

Notable Members

• Teresa Casta
• Valentin Strasser

Related Plots

• The Desert Caravan