The Black Company: The Clan of War

By ShadowWalkyr (shadowwalkyr@hotmail.com)

Author's Note

Robert Sable is a character of mine in a V:tM LARP. We aren't using MET (because we hate it), so I've translated this from our own system into tabletop rules. At the moment, Sable is the only Taker who exists thus far (I can't find people to play my Childer), but in someone else's chronicle, feel free to create as many as desired.

Background

A thousand years ago (or so), a young Caitiff named Sir Robort LeSobol formed a mercenary company of other Caitiff. Slowly this company grew from simple peasant bumpkins to one of the most significant companies in Europe. At first, they had no base, but wandered from job to job until they settled in a hidden valley in Bukovnia. They fought in wars (usually, but not always, between Cainites) all over Europe, traveled into the Middle East on a few Crusades for the Catholic Church (unlike the later Crusades, these "Black Crusades" limited themselves to military targets. LeSobol knew the difference between right and wrong) and even fought east of the Ural Mountains (this region was considered Asia). Though they never did go to Africa, it wouldn't have surprised anyone. For fifty years, diplomacy was rapidly becoming the watchword among Cainites. No one wanted to risk going to war when the enemy might hire the Black Company (this does not mean they were at all lacking for assignments.)

But all was not well. Elements in Cainite society (including other mercenary companies) wanted them all Dead. The Company weathered several attacks by individual companies, decimating their soldiers and, usually, executing their officers.

Then an offer came from the Cainite who ruled Moldavia. He was going to war with Walachia and needed soldiers. The cause was good (as far as such things go) and the price was right, so LeSobol mustered his troops and rode out to fight.

It was a trap. Ten thousand soldiers (seven mercenary companies and the armies of Moldavia and Walachia) converged on the six hundred soldiers of the Black Company. Slowly, the soldiers of the Company died the Final Death. In the end, only LeSobol and two of his lieutenants were left. From the enemies, only fifty soldiers and a few officers were still undead.

The first fifty didn't stand a chance. The rest wheeled their horses to the West and rode for their unlives. LeSobol and Company (such as it was) rode after them. They had minor skirmishes all over their route but the final battle did not come until they reached France. LeSobol opted to have a mausoleum built for the leader of the renegades, loosely defined as the last one alive. Within the final battle, both of LeSobol's lieutenants were destroyed. LeSobol himself was staked and placed within that same mausoleum he'd had made. He spend most of the next thousand years drifting in and out of consciousness once a month or so. All of which is simply background. LeSobol, now calling himself Sir Robert Sable, has been released and is trying to recreate his Black Company. This time, however, it will be more than just a company. It will be a Clan.

Nickname

Takers

Appearance

Takers dress as they please. However, they tend to have steely glints in their eyes and cynical expressions on their faces. Also, they won't wear anything they can't run or fight in and are never unarmed if they can help it.

Havens

Any place that might be considered defensible.

Background

Military types, sneaky people, martial artists, gang members, if you can fight, and do it well, you're up for consideration.

Creation

Physical attributes tend to be primary, as are Skills. Knowledges tend to be practical rather than esoteric, although "Basic Training" for the Clan always includes at least one dot in Occult (all Clanmembers must have this). Also, most have very high Courage and Willpower scores and they prefer the Road of the Mercenary to Humanity. Takers may not start out with five dots in Generation; Sable himself is only Eighth Gen.

Disciplines

Potence, Way of the Warrior, Purity. Also, most members have other Disciplines (Fortitude, Thaumaturgy, and Celerity are favorites.)

Disadvantage

The Contract: Members of the Black Company, once they agree to a contract, cannot and will not break it. Attempting to do so will result in taking an aggravated wound level (this is not soakable). If two contracts conflict (avoid this), then the first one takes precedence (and you take the above wound level.)

Organization

Very military in structure (if somewhat simpler than the ranking system used by the modern military). Everybody has a rank and is answerable to someone higher up. Sable himself promotes and demotes as he sees fit. The ranks correspond exactly to Clan Prestige. They are Recruit (00 CP; the same thing as Childe to any other Clan), Soldier (01 CP), Corporal (02 CP), Sergeant (03 CP), Sergeant Major (04 CP), Lieutenant (05 CP), and Captain (06 CP; only Sable himself holds this rank). A brand new character cannot start out higher than a Corporal, unless the player gives a really good back story to cover it.

Quote

"Sure, but it'll cost ya."