The Reclaimers

The Reclaimers are a branch of the Hegian Empire's military, having existed for nearly as long as the Empire itself. While the primary purpose of the organization has changed and shifted in the centuries since, the current purpose of the Reclaimers is purpose of the organization is broadly defined and subject to change over the centuries it has existed, the Reclaimers can best be described as a specialized mercenary program tasked with performing feats beyond the scope of regular military personnel, such as eliminating dangerous monsters from Empire territories and retrieving artifacts and other treasures from the Pre-Vancian Era in order to bolster the strength of the Empire.
In short, the Reclaimers are effectively a division of government-funded adventuring parties.

History

The Reclaimers were first founded in 631 ME by Emperor Corian I; at the time of its formation, the purpose of the Reclaimers was to aid in the ongoing expansion efforts of the Empire, exploring the regionsCrestfallen continent that still contained remnants of the Millennium War and recovering what magical artifacts could be salvaged from the ruins of the elven civilizations. While much of the elves' Pre-Vancian splendor was unrecoverable, what scant artifacts were successfully secured by the Reclaimers was more than enough to catalyze the Hegian Empire's first magical and technological revolutions, pushing the fledgling empire forward by leaps and bounds in terms of both military and magical might.
As the Empire's power continued to grow, the position of the Reclaimers began to be viewed as an increasingly prestigious position, with the Reclaimers themselves being celebrated as heroes within the Empire's borders for their great contribution to the bolstering the Empire and its resources. The organization grew as exponentially as the Empire itself, as young men and women leapt at the opportunity to get a taste of the wealth, glory and status that becoming a Reclaimer offered to them.
In the Modern Era, becoming a Reclaimer is no easy process, as the requirements to enter the ranks of the organization have adjusted over the centuries to match the prestige associated with the position: Reclaimers accept new members into the fold only twice per year, with applicants being required to pass a written entrance exam as well as a field exam designed to demonstrate an applicant's combat and practical problem-solving prowess. An institution in the Hegian capital of Renouvelle, known only as "the Academy", exists for the purpose of training would-be applicants in preparation for these entrance exams, but the cost is steep: in addition to having a rigorous examination process of their own, a student at the Academy can expect to pay hundreds or even thousands of gold coins in tuition fees during their time in the three-year program; as such, the Academy is typically reserved for the sons and daughters of wealthy nobles able to meet the Academy's exorbitant admission fees.

Structure

Once welcomed into the fold of fully-fledged Reclaimers, new recruits are sorted into divisions (essentially adventuring parties), usually with a more seasoned Reclaimer as division leader. Divisions are then deployed on a variety of assignments in the name of the Empire that may take on a variety of forms, ranging from combing the desert region of Drang for lost artifacts, slaying a particular monster terrorizing a settlement within the Empire, or even aiding in a military conflict on behalf of the Empire or one of its allies.
Duration of a given assignment may vary depending on the nature of its objective, with the Reclaimer division receiving full funding from the Empire to cover food, travel, lodging and other expenses.

Uniform

Perhaps the most striking and noticeable feature of the Reclaimers is the design of the uniform they are expected to wear while deployed on assignment, recognizable far and wide across the continent of Crestfall. The uniform, largely unchanged from the organization's inception, consists of a white tabard with red and gold accents, accompanied by a blood-red sash worn over the right shoulder and running diagonally across the wearer's torso. This latter detail has given rise to a popular nickname for the Reclaimers, referred to as "Red-sashes" or simply "Sashes", usually by the organization's detractors (see below).

Reception

While many subjects of the Hegian Empire view the Reclaimers as heroes, this is not a universally-held opinion: many, especially those in Hegian occupied territories such as the gnomish region of Lubec, view the Reclaimer's as yet another tool of colonization and control, employed by the Emperor to exert authority over his subjects and further expand the influence of the Empire across the continent.
On an individual level, those outside of the Empire's jurisdiction often hold the opinion of visiting Reclaimers as entitled, spoiled, and potentially dangerous, as many of them have been known to flex their status and authority in an attempt to get what they want. This isn't helped by the fact that some regions which receive large quantities of visiting Reclaimers, such as the desert city of Drakmort, often attempt to cater to these wealthy guests personally by offering special discounts and exclusive offers in their businesses and storefronts, much to the chagrin of those who believe the Reclaimers to be a nuisance at best and a violent threat at worst.

Type

Guild, Adventuring