Order of the Cohorts of Gashang
The Cohorts of Gashang was formed from the fighting Order of the Red Shadows of Hepra and some former priests of the Temple of Hepra the Mace.
They look to their sponsoring clerical Order of the Eight Demons for guidance, inspiration, and direction.
A core tenant of their faith is the belief that pain and suffering build strength. The Orders commanders and the Eight Demon Priestesses often inflict painful ordeals on the Cohorts, these include branding and all manner of torture. As a result, the Cohorts fight with a merciless ferocity and seeming unaffected by pain and grievous injuries.
The order is actively recruiting and is not particularly fussy accepting martially incline men from dubious sources such as Legionary dropouts, minor Rethemi nobility, bandits and criminals from the Kingdoms of Rethem and Kanday. This has created an undisciplined fighting force gaining a reputation for violence and brutality. Even other Agrikans consider them extreme.
Generally, the Cohorts fall into two camps, the intimidating dedicated traditionalists calling themselves the Berthen mostly former Red Shadow warriors and the Mob the new undisciplined recruits.
Structure
Akarata – Grandmaster and Head of the Order.
Tenaka – Deputy Grandmaster.
Mekata – High Commander commands multiple Squadron of Knights.
Telmen – Knight Commander Leads 1 Squadron of Knights (8 knights).
Haragki – Knight.
T’kelans – Sergeant leads an Octad (8 men).
Laumak – Soldier.
Public Agenda
Protection and support the Order of the Eight Demons.
Ensure dominance of the church of Agrik.
Removal of Order of Hepra the Mace and the Order of the Red Shadows of Hepra from the Thardic Republic.
Support any war with the Kingdom of Kanday and any crusade against the forces of Larani.
Assets
Several manors and chapter houses in the Themeson District.
Chapter-houses in Shiran, Coranan, and Geshtei.
History
708TR - The Red Shadows, under the direction of the Order of Hepra the Mace, capture Themeson keep from the Thardic Republic.
714TR - A theological dispute within the clergy lead to a spilt and the formation of the within the Order of Hepra the Mace leading to the founding of the Order of the Eight Demons. The Red Shadows also split forming the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang. The Cohorts annexed Themeson Keep.
717TR - The Order of Herpa the Mace makes peace with the Order of Eight Demons, at least on the surface. Even so, the Red Shadows and Cohorts still skirmish.
721TR - The Treaty of Themeson is signed and Castle of Themeson is returned to the Thardic Republic. The majority of the Cohorts are mobile and placed under the command of the King of Rethem to help put down the Tormau Rebellion. They prove a useful tool capturing a number of holdings.
723TR - During the Battle of Rylosin Forest the cowardly and traitorous Red Shadows of Hepra turn on Cohorts and massacre the units supporting the royal army. The Orders are once more at war. To make matters worse the Cohorts are expelled from Rethem.
Military
The Cohorts’ units are mainly undisciplined light cavalry and light infantry, preferring ambush and terror attacks.
The Brethren are much more cohesive and better equipped.
Purge the Unclean.
D&D 5E Notes
The Cohorts of Gashang have a fearsome reputation and have a high tolerance for pain.
NPC's can use the Barbarian Rage ability and at higher level gain the functionality of a Barbarian who has taken the Path of the Zealot. PC members of the order can take the class or levels in Barbarian (Path of the Zealot) however skill and weapon sections will require adjustment.
In addition Members of the Order can use Demon Branding.
Comments