The Red Banner are the most famous mercenary company in Jezero, a fighting force of hobgoblins thousands strong. They employ a mix of infantry, cavalry (both ground and winged), mages, scouts, and officers, sending as many units out as any given job requires. They are led by a powerful hobgoblin warlord known only as The General, an honorable man who puts his people first but looks out for those who prove their worth in the Red Banner's eyes.
Quest for the Quintus Gems Campaign
The Barrel Boys first encounter with the Red Banner happened almost immediately after their arrival in Jezero. Following signs and the road to the nearest village, they found a wagon under the Red Banner's protection under attack along the trail. The hobgoblins had been hired to protect the wagon from simple bandits and were unaware that the town had been completely overtaken by outlaws. By the time
the Barrel Boys were able to intervene, only a single hobgoblin scout survived. The scout thanked them for their assistance and offered to hire them to help retake the town from the outlaws, considering it a moral obligation. Once the job was complete, he told them to visit the Red Banner HQ near Lakeview if they were ever in the area.
Some time later,
the Barrel Boys were hired to work security at a rich man's party. They were not the only ones hired, the rest being members of the Red Banner. Their leader, Captain Brux, introduced himself to
Marshall and the two worked out how their groups would handle the security detail. It was quiet at first, but assassins released several wild animals from display cages (including a tyrannosaurus rex) to act as a distraction while they attempted to assassinate the party's host. Captain Brux and his men told
the Barrel Boys to stop the assassins while they held off the hungry t-rex.
The Barrel Boys managed to run the assassins off, but not before the t-rex had managed to crush Captain Brux to death. In the aftermath,
Marshall used his magic to restore Captain Brux to life. The grateful Captain let him know that if
the Barrel Boys ever needed a favor, the Red Banner would be there for them.
That request for a favor came not long after when they learned that an orc horde, goaded by
Cedra, was marching on the elven city of Halvo to wipe out the elves (and so that
Cedra could claim the
Pink Quintus Gem). The adventurers went to the Red Banner HQ and pled their case to The General. He commented that while he wasn't fond of elves, he liked orcs much less and that they would march to meet them. Captain Brux and small squad would scout ahead with
the Barrel Boys while the main army followed behind. While
Myster E and
Yandhi were surprised at the level of support The General was willing to commit,
Marshall managed to read between the lines and figure out that Captain Brux, the man
Marshall had previously saved, was The General's nephew.
The Red Banner army proved critical in the battle against the orc horde, attacking the orcs unprotected rear and forcing their enemies to split their forces between two fronts. In the aftermath of the battle, The General met with
Altmera and received the elf's thanks. This was but the first step in a long journey that would eliminate much of the animosity between elves and hobgoblins in the Jezero region and make their two factions long-term friends & allies.
Comments