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through the dead pirate's pockets and turned. The speaker's

hulking build blocked out the setting sun, adding to their menacing presence. The scarred lorthorn cast a heavy, meaningful glance at the mutlilated corpse by his feet, and the khajiit's eyes widened with realisation. "My payment, as promised". The captain grudgingly handed over the best part of the loot he'd just pilfered, resenting the enormous fees it cost to hire soldiers like Varn. He had made short work of those pirates though...

Loyalty. To your family, your house and your people. Comittment. To your values, your promises and yourself. Integrity. These are the three pillars upon which the mighty lorthorn empire, and all of lorthorn society, are built. Unparalled Might Scarred from countless battles and always wearing a weapon or three on their belt, lorthorn are renowned mercenaries the world over. This reputation is well deserved, for they hone their skills with years of training and practice, and don't stop until the day they die. Lorthorn stand between 6 and over 7 feet tall, with an impressive broad and muscled physique to match. To an outsider, individual lorthorn are almost impossible to recognise, but the more wily will identify a lorthorn from it's scars, weapons and armour; however none can distinguish between genders. This amuses lorthorn greatly.







































































Warrior Society Lorthon are, for the most part, peaceable and law abiding citizens who will always seek out what they believe consitutes justice, intervening in any matter they deem morally wrong. More importantly, all lorthorn are bound by a legal code of honour. The Warrior's Code, as it is known, sets most of the laws of lorthorn society. Any crime not specified by them is decided by the head of the Household, or any suitable elder. More serious crimes are dealt with by a group of elders in a public trial, with the accused expected to commit ritual suicide. Those who refuse this slight redemption are publically executed by their close family, to absolve them of the shame of being related to such a stain on society. Lorthorn are not ruled by one king but by the Lord of their Household. Apart from this, lorthorn society is fair and inclusive, with everybody working towards the same goal. The state provides young lorthon with the skills needed to become a highly sought after mercenary, and in return all lorthorn pay a commision for all contracts they get. This income, used as opposed to a tax on the whole population, is used to buy the food and materials that they rely on, and maintain the Lodges and cities of Amoret. Their are few Lorthorn cities, and the ones there are are more like large towns, but the true size of the total lorthorn population is hard to ascertain; most lorthorn are mercenaries, so are spread across the known world and can be found in every city and most towns. In contrast, other races are unwelcome in many lorthorn cities. 1

Lorthorn Lodges Lorthorn always help their kin and most cities have a Lodge, where any Lorthorn is able to rest, train and receive contracts to work. Each Lodge is run by a triumvirate of older, more experienced Lorthorn consisting of an Elder, a Sergeant and a Quartermaster. All Lodges are outfitted with a bakery, barracks and yard to train in; larger Lodges contain weapon and armour smiths and numerous training fields, and are major enclaves containing hundreds of Lorthorn warriors. The Lodge is almost always the best place to hire mercenaries in any given city. Lorthorn are also capable craftspeople, and when not training help in the running of the Lodge by peforming basic maintainance and doing menial jobs. This is opposed to crafting, a popular pastime among soldiers of other races, as lorthorn are not inclined towards art and their architecture is particularly basic, making a Lodge stand out in the cityscape due to its brutalist design. Coming of Age The Warrior's Code states that all lorthorn must explore the world as a mercenary when they come of age at 24. Young lorthorn are sent to the Grand Lodge in anticipation of this pivotal moment in their lives, where they spend eight years training, learning the strengths of every weapon, fighting style and tactic, putting them to good use on the expansive Forres' Field, where the entire lorthorn army, consisting of every lorthorn of fighting age, gathers in times of war. Having travelled the world plying their trade for eight years, they finally recieve the honour of meeting their family and Lord of their Household, and can pledge their allegiance as a lorthorn warrior. Wisdom of the Ancients Lorthorn also have long memories, with stories passed down by word of mouth. They don't tend to worship gods but they venerate their ancestors, especially warriors of fame and fortune. One warrior enshrined in legend is Forres Te'nek, whose expoits still echoe down the ages. All Lorthorn can recite the stories of their family's greatest warriors as well as the most famous warriors to have lived. A lorthorn will use the example of their ancestors, good, dependable warriors all, to inspire them in their day to day. Naturally they live to around the middle of their second century, longer than most other races around. They have an excellent written heritage, and have the largest library, however it contains less literature than death certificates. Fury of Forres In times of war, all eligible warriors will return to the Grand Lodge and renew their pledge of allegiance to their Lord. This is important as any young lorthorn who are still completing their eight years of service can pledge their allegiance to a Lord, and must do so. As allegiance is for life, these new declarations are one of the only ways to shift the balance of power in the military hierachy. Any lorthorn can become a Lord, as to become one only requires that they have fought in a war before and a pledge of allegiance from one or more warriors. Lords can have as little as half a dozen warriors in their Household, to many hundreds of battle ready warriors. The eight most popular Lords have been elected into the War Council, and assume control of the assembled force, becoming it's generals and commanders in the battles to come. Any lords not in the top eight then declare their allegiance, and warriors, to one of them, and become an aide, lieutenant, and bodyguard to that Councillor.















































Forging a Friendship Lorthorn make good, dependable friends who will always have your back, but to earn their friendship you must follow their virtuous example. 2