[Plotline Story] Return of the Rogues - part 1

[Kazuo Shinrai]

It was a bright sunny day in the Yew. The Guardsmen were ever present, trainees harvesting resources in the forrest nearby while the more experienced guards were patrolling the roads. Outside Stonekeep business was thriving. Crafters trying to peddle their wares, nobles prancing around on their horses and the church ever vigilant, trying to spot a citizen they could deem a heretic. All in all, business as usual.

However, deeper in the forrest, near the borders of Britain, a different scenario took place. When one looked hard, one would find a small town, consisting of a few ramshackle buildings and one sturdy tavern. This was Roguetown, a save haven for murders, brigands and cutthroads. The door of the tavern opened and a half elf in the prime of his years and clad in iron plate armour, carrying a heavy crossbow on his shoulder, walked out. Followed by his bodyguards he walked to the center of Roguetown and had a good look around. He deeply inhaled the fresh summer air and a wicked grin appeared on his face. "Thor, get the men ready, this be a fine day fer a robbery!", he spoke.

- "Aye boss! ALRIGHT YE MAGGOTS! Grab yerself a weapon and put on that armour, we be paying the roads near Stonekeep a visit!", was the quick response by a large burly man wielding a club, shouting orders around. Rogues were dashing around trying to get ready as soon as possible, not realizing they were being watched from a distance. There, a half drow named Jade watched under the cover of the shadows, watching every movement of the rogues. She made damn sure none of them would gather the courage to sneak up to the half-elf in an attempt to become the next Crimson Rogue, the leader of this pack.

Thor, now fully geared up in a full set of plate armour as well, walked up to the half elf and bowed down. "Alright mister Lir, yer men are ready!". The half elf nodded. "Capital! Oi! Roger!", the half elf shouted to a man casually leaning against the tavern, "Ye comin' along?". The man slowly composed himself and cocked his crossbow. "Aye Lothlann, it would be good ter have a look upon Stonekeep again, preferably when it burns after we pillage the place!". It was then that a man dressed up in knights armour came riding into Roguetown, followed by about half a dozen more riders. He dismounted and nodded at Lothlann Lir. "Ahh, Wind, perfect timing as always, whaddaye say, will the Dragoons aid us in paying Stonekeep a visit?". Wind, the Dragoon captain gave Lothlann a disdainful smirk. "If we must..."

And so it came that a few dozen men, armed to the teeth and lead by Lothann Lir, the Crimson Rogue, were headed for Stonekeep. As they were on their way to burn the keep to the ground, a voice called out towards Lir.

"Lir!"

"OI! Lothlann Lir!"

Things then went black.

"OI! WAKE UP YE! LIR!!"
As Lir opened his eyes, he found himself laying in a bed with filthy sheets. Next to him a scantly dressed young girl and a pile of empty bottles of ale on the floor. On a table across the room was a burnt out nightshade pipe he had smoked from the night before.

The half elf groggily looked around the room, he then realized that not counting the presense of the hooker, he was not alone. A gloved hand was shaking his shoulder. As he looked up, he squinted his eyes as without doubt he had once again one hell of a hangover.

A man was kneeled down in front of him, his gloved hand shaking the shoulder of the old rogue, trying to get him to come to his senses. When the old rogue stared at him with glazed eyes, he grinned. "Well well, mister Lir..." The man spoke. Then, as Lir looked around the room again, he noticed someone else standing in the corner. a robed woman stepped out of the shadows. She spoke to the man trying to wake up Lir. "It is no use Losis, he be long gone" and she smirked.




Losis then turned around and sighed deeply. "Aye Jade, per'aps yer right..."

[OOC notice : The Dream of Lothlann Lir really happend, between 2001 and 2003 the roads in Yew were not safe. Criminals of all sorts had rallied under one banner, lead by one man. The Crimson Rogue. Once this rogue was Lothann Lir, the founder of the rogues. Later many followed in his footsteps, of which perhaps the most famed and respected rogue was a man named Losis Rederic. Some of you might know him now as Gregor Eason (different character, same person). Jade was the assassin mistress, under her command many a noble as well as high ranking guards and samurai feared for their lives. For when she and her assassins had set their minds on a mission, failure was not an option. As for the rest of the names in the story, it's a tribute to those who made TCR what it once was. Those who have seen those days and are still around just may confirm that the Rogues were perhaps the best criminal guild ever to have formed on Europa...

[Khaelieth]

OOC: *confirms*

[Talpa Europaea]

[OOC] Was never very good with names, but I do remember competing unofficially with Teclis to claim the most bounties in Yew.  Don't think anyone was actually keeping score but it was fun nonetheless.  Another name is on the tip of my tongue as well, a rogue that used to ride on horseback with a warhammer?...

Dragoons? *Mumble grumble* Will no doubt come back to me when i am trying to pay attention to something important tomorrow!

Wulfgar.... hhhrm someone ex-TCR help me out please? [/OOC]

[Gregor Eason]

(OOC: Dragoons would have included Wind Of Death, Ro'tzac, er.. Mungo maybe..
Other big names included Roger DiSignor, Thor, Marcus Del Ray, Celendil, N'iilaryn Garlen.)

[Talpa Europaea]

Might be thinking of Naglfar 

[Gregor Eason]

(OOC: Naglfar. Ah yes Good chap. Think he went onto UD after his TCR career; not sure where he's at at the moment.)

[Kazuo Shinrai]

OOC
The Dragoons (or at least those that were the most renowed and stuck around the longest) :
 Wind of Death - Dragoon Captain
 Naglfar - Dragoon Sergeant, develloped "Naglfar's Combat Training"
 Reginald P. Walt - Veteran Dragoon
 Tearstain - Dragoon Sergeant, took over from Naglfar
 Shay, Ro'tzac, Sol - Dragoons
The Dragoons were knights of Trinsic, saved by Lothlann Lir and his men when they were a mercenary outfit called "Warriors of the Coin". In gratitude, Wind pledged himself and his men to Lothlann Lir and serve him loyally. Being rogues dishonoured the initial dragoons but they had no choice but to follow Lir & Roger. Later, Wind recruited veteran warriors, to be trained as Dragoons, from Roguetown. They were the heavy cavalry of TCR, never much for pvp, more acted as expeditionary forces. However, whenever they did participate in a raid or defence of Roguetown their power was unmatched. Wind was an old school pvper/roleplayer, he only took on those in his unit if he agreed with them OOC and thought they'd have potential. He's also the best  fighter I have ever met in this game (in the days of old). Basically, he was a pioneer on the field of cross healing.

 Celendil, Akira & Teclis - Under Jade's command, they were the most feared assassins to have roamed Yew. Trained in their skills in Felucca, they spent many hours honing their skills and perfecting their tactics.

Losis and N'iilaryn Garlen - Heh, they managed to die in almost every fight they ever got in. But nevertheless, they were some of the finest event runners I have had the pleasure of meeting. It was mainly due to them that TCR was the fun guild it was! Their creativity was endless and they spent long hours coming up with new ways to make TCR more than just another guild or raiders.

Roger Disignor - Co-founder of TCR, Lir's best friend
Thor - Veteran member and one of the hardest rogues around, he formed the Town Mob, who were the guards of Roguetown and the main core. Piss him off and you would soon find yourself clubbed to death in a dark alley in Roguetown.

But... this is turning into an OOC thread, if you got more to say about TCR, please let's take it to the OOC board. The main point is though that most of the people here agree with me that TCR was one hell of a guild and it's an honour to have been part of it. Also one of the founding guilds of CoY. Cheers

"The Roads shall never be safe!"
                               - Lothlann Lir & Roger DiSignor 2001

[Khaelieth]

OOC: Are they returning? Remember being chased by TCR, my poor footie...