The Brass Legion.
“Threats to home must be terminated without prejudice. Fight for the security and glory of your people!”
Faction Overview
Originally formed as a coalition of the free cities of the west. The Brass Legion was originally a coalition created by the rulers of the largest cities in western Elrün. They collectively agreed that some solidarity is needed to keep the rise of evil at bay. However, after some political upheaval they legion was left without support and was set to be disbanded. It was at this time the current leading Warduke, Cyrus Faust, took charge and led the legion to its present state. Clad in armor and fueled by unwavering courage, the soldiers of the Brass Legion take up steel against the corruption and lawlessness that gnaw at the soul of Elrün. Now, any may come to legion and enlist their aid to dispatch threats in their area. These hardened and well trained warriors include sophisticated bards, zealous paladins, pious clerics, and grizzled warriors.
Wherever criminals exploit others, petty tyrants make grabs for power, or violence erupts and leaves devastation in its wake, soldiers of the Brass Legion are there fighting to make things right. However, the Iron Knights can only survive if its members “play nice” with one another, which requires a certain measure of diplomacy. Rogue agents within the Brass Legion are rare, but defections have been known to occur.
Beliefs
- If civilization is to survive, we must stand strong against the dark forces that threaten it.
- Glory comes from protecting one’s home and honoring its leaders.
- The best defense is a strong offense
Goals
The Legion stands for peace and justice, and actively works to oppose criminals and tyrants. Its moral stance is fundamentally good, as it strives to protect the innocent and powerless from oppression and exploitation. At the same time, members of the legion are passionate about their pursuit of justice. Many are spurred by a righteous wrath into action against evil and injustice. Ironically, this means that members sometimes do not always follow the local rules and laws, cleaving to the spirit of the law when the letter no longer serves justice.
Rank and Renown
All members once inducted into the Brass Legion are “Guards” and are subject to the higher rank of individuals above them. In order to be inducted you are required to have at least 1 renown with the faction and under go the initial induction ceremony by a higher ranking member.
By gaining renown as a member of the Brass Legion, you can ascend through an ordered series of ranks within the guild. Promotion always requires the approval of a superior officer. It is a reward for services rendered to the guild, rather than an automatic consequence of increased renown.
In addition, certain positions become available to you when both your renown and your character level reach certain thresholds.
Ranks
| Rank | Title | Renown | Level | Perk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guard | 1 | – | Part of the Legion |
| 2 | Sergeant | 3 | – | Can be assigned a squad of 1d4+1 soldiers to assist on missions and at 6+ renown you gain your Sergeant’s Aura. |
| Special | Brightblade | 10 | 7th | Specialists within the legion. You gain access to an improved squad for missions and skills to aid you in missions. You learn thieves’ cant and gain the Covert Ops feature, and at renown 12 you learn the Coordinated Strike feature. |
| Special | Nightblade | 10 | 7th | Specially trained to combat and eliminate the dark threats. Gain access to specialized equipment. At renown 15+ you gain access to the ….. feature. |
| Special | Brightshield | 10 | 7th | Stalward Defenders in the legion. |
| 3 | Captain | 18 | 10th | Responsible for a small area within a garrisons region. Lead a regiment of soldiers (called a banner) that consists for 5 squads. Modest lifestyle while within garrison (bigger personal quarters) |
| 4 | Commander | 30 | 13th | You lead a small garrison or outpost. It consists of 5 banners and 1 additional squad as your personal retinue. Comfortable lifestyle |
| 5 | Warduke | 50 | 16th | Command one of the 3 major garrisons of the legion. If you are a Brightblade, you could command that whole elite force instead. Comfortable lifestyle. |
Part of the Legion
As a member of the Brass Legion, you have chosen to serve and help protect those around you who are not as capable. Whether that be defending farmers, delving into caves, or ridding the countryside of bandits. You help ensure the saftey and protection to all under a garrison or outposts watchful eye.
For your service to villages, towns, cities and other communities you recieve various benefits and perks:
- While you are staying within a garrison or outpost your living expenses are covered at a Modest Lifestyle.
- When given a mission or station and while serving you earn 5sp per day. In extra hazardous conditions you earn 1gp per day.
- Armor and weapons can be requisitioned without cost from a garrison or outpost as needed.
- Smithies, armorers, ferriers, blade makers, etc who are friendly to the Legion will grant you a 10% discount on goods and services.
Guard
Renown 1+
As a guard, you do not always get the most glorious or glamourous duties but they are neccessary to keep the legion functioning. Most often though, you are sent to assist higher ranking officers on their missions or sent to do drills (lots and lots of drills).
One of the first things taught in the Brass Legion is how to hold the line. You gain access to the Stand Firm feature.
Stand Firm
You are trained to hold firm against a charging foe and always be ready to strike at unwary enemies. While you are in combat you gain advantage on Strength (Athletics) skill checks and saving throws to be knocked prone. Additionally, you add your proficiency bonus to damage rolls on attacks made using your reaction, such as opportunity attacks or with the ready action.
Sergeant
Renown 3+
As a Sergeant you have proven your skill and prowess to be a cut above the rest. Now with a higher rank you are sometimes given opportunities to lead others on missions to prove your leadership.
You gain access to the requisition squad feature, which allows you to lead 1d4+1 soldiers on missions. This is usable once per month.
Renown 6+
Your increased experience as a leader inspires your squad and helps them achieve successful results. You gain a special legion aura.
Assemble the Squad
At this rank, you gain some authority over lower-ranking soldiers. When you undertake a mission on the Legion’s behalf that requires military strength, a squad of 1d4+1 soldiers accompanies and assists you for the duration of the mission. In combat, the soldiers have their own initiative as a group. As their leader you guide and direct their actions.
Commanding Aura
Your skill and leadership inspires those you lead. All Brass Legion troops within a 30-foot radius add your proficiency bonus to the following:
- Attack rolls
- Damage rolls
- Skill checks
- Saving throws
Brightblade
Renown 7+ and 7th Level
If you meet the prerequisites, you can apply to join the elite ranks of the Brightblades. These specialists serve as a combination of military intelligence and covert ops, giving them a fair degree of independence within the legion. Its members work to predict potential threats, assess their military strength, and they sometimes activate squads to defuse threats before they grow more serious.
These specialists can function under deep cover for long durations. As such, they are often charged with the tasks of investigating, apprehending, and dispatching high threat targets.
Brightblade Troops
With this rank you gain access to Brightblade troops to be used on missions. When you use your Assemble the Squad feature, you may choose one of the following to be part of your squad:
Thieves’ Cant
You learn to communicate using Thieves’ Cant
Covert Ops
Your Commanding Aura is improved, providing advantage on various skill checks.
Renown 12+
You gain access to the Coordinated Strike feature.
Brightblade Troop Options
Thieves' Cant
During your brightblade training you learned thieves’ cant to aid you in your covert operations. It is a secret mix of dialect, jargon, and code that allows you to hide messages in seemingly normal conversation. Only another creature that knows thieves’ cant understands such messages. It takes four times longer to convey such a message than it does to speak the same idea plainly.
In addition, you understand a set of secret signs and symbols used to convey short, simple messages, such as your undercover status, whether a target is near, or other messages that thieves commonly use.
Covert Ops
Your aura now additionally grants advantage on deception, sleight of hand, and stealth skill checks.
Coordinated Strike
Renown 12+
You can exploit an opening created by your coordination with your squad. Once per turn you can deal and extra 2d6 damage to a creature you hit with an attack if that creature is within 5 feet of a Brass Legion troop that isn’t incapacitated.
Nightblade
Renown 10+ and 7th Level
If you meet the prerequisites, you can apply to join the elite ranks of the Nightblades. These new deadly specialists are specifically trained to combat and eliminate the darkling threat. They gain access to specialized equipment and techniques developed in the newly discovered city of Seebo.
Renown 15+
You gain into the access to the Void Walk feature.
Nightblade Troop Options
Nightblade Troops
With this rank you, when you use your Assemble the Squad feature, you may have one of your squad be a Nightblade.
Nightblade Equipment
As a nightblade you gain access to special equipment developed in the city of Seebo. You may choose one of the following items to use and you may switch items anytime you return to a garrison.
Dimensional Belt. While you wear this belt you can use the Misty Step spell once per long rest without expending a spell slot and not requiring components. You can also cast this spell using spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Kinetic Gauntlets. While you wear these gem studded gauntlets you benefit from the Telekinetic feat.
Quick Boots. While you where these strange mechanical boots you benefit from the Mobile feat.
Skulker’s Lense. While you wear this ruby colored lense you benefit from the Skulker feat and gain expertise with the Perception skill. Additionally the lense acts as a spyglass.
Smoke Pellets. You gain a number of pellets equal to 2x your proficiency bonus each day. As a bonus action you may throw up to three (3) pellets at a point within 15 feet. Each pellet creates a cloud of thick smoke in a 5-foot cube that persists for 1 minute. The cloud spreads around corners and its area is heavily obscured. A moderate wind (11 to 20 mph) can also disperse the smoke after 1 round.
Stalker’s Goggles. While you wear these amethyst lenses you can use the See Invisiblity once per long rest without expending a spell slot and not requiring components. You can also cast this spell using spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Void Walk
Renown 15+
As a bonus action, you partially crossover into an ethereal state. Until the start of your next turn, you become invisible, gain a bonus 40 feet to your movement speed, can fly, and are incorporeal. Moving through creatures or objects is difficult terrain.
While in this state, any creature you move through takes 3d10+5 force damage.
At the start of your next turn, if you start in a place already occupied by an object or creature, you take 4d10 force damage and are shunted to the nearest unoccupied space.
You may use the ability a number of times per long rest equal to your proficiency bonus.
Captain
Renown 18+ and 9th Level
As a captain, you are responsible for missions and strategies that you can’t execute entirely on your own or with the aid of a handful of soldiers. After receiving goals handed down from the commander above you, it’s your job to figure out the tactics needed to accomplish those goals.
You gain access to the call the banner feature, which allows you to lead five squads called a banner (about 20 soldiers). If you are also a brightblade, brightshield, or a nightblade, at least of one of these squads is made of them. You can assign these squads to tasks of your choosing within the area of the garrison where you have authority, or bring one squad with you on missions.
Renown 22+
Your increased experience as a leader inspires your squads and helps them achieve successful results. Your commanding aura improves.
Call the Banner
You lead five squads, each made up of four soldiers and commanded by a sergeant, called a banner. If you are also a brightblade, brightshield, or a nightblade, at least of one of these squads is made of them. You can assign these squads to tasks of your choosing within the area of the garrison where you have authority, or bring one squad and its sergeant with you on legion missions (as per the assemble the squad feature).
Rally the Banner
As an bonus action you shout out a rallying cry, inspiring bravery in those around you to fight on.
All friendly creatures who can see and hear you each regain 1d10+5 hit points, have one frightened or charmed condition removed, and gain advantage on their next attack roll.
You can use twice between long rests.
Commander
Renown 30+ and 13th Level
As a captain, you are responsible for missions and strategies that you can’t execute entirely on your own or with the aid of a handful of soldiers. After receiving goals handed down from the commander above you, it’s your job to figure out the tactics needed to accomplish those goals.
You gain access to the call the banner feature, which allows you to lead five squads, each made up of four soldiers and commanded by a sergeant, called a banner. If you are also a brightblade or a nightblade, at least of one of these squads is made of them. You can assign these squads to tasks of your choosing within the area of the garrison where you have authority, or bring one squad and its sergeant with you on legion missions.
Battle Tactics
You learn two battle tactics of your choice for which you qualify. They are detailed under “Battle Tactics” below.
Renown 22+
Your increased experience as a leader inspires your squads and helps them achieve successful results. Your commanding aura improves.
Ready the Garrison
You lead a small garrison or outpost. It consists of five (5 banners (about 100 soldiers) and one additional squad as your personal retinue. If you are also a brightblade, brightshield, or a nightblade, at least of one of the banners is made of them. You can assign these banners to tasks of your choosing within the area of the outpost or garrison where you have authority, or bring one squad with you on missions (as per the assemble the squad feature).
Commanders Steward
As a commander you have a special steward to aid you in your administrative tasks as a commander.