The Crimson Cohort

Faction Color: [#8B0000] (A deep, dried-blood red)

Description: A mercenary company of war zealots devoted to Ares, clad in red armor and scarlet cloaks. They embrace war as divine worship, believing each battle to be a purifying, divine rite. Feared as ruthless butchers by enemies and indispensable terrors by patrons, they thrive in chaos and bloodshed.

Detailed Faction Profile

Core Identity & Philosophy:

 * Identity: A fanatical mercenary company and militarized war cult.

 * Philosophy: "War is the ultimate truth. Battle is the only prayer. Ares speaks in the clash of steel and the cry of the dying. We are his faithful. Through relentless slaughter, we purify ourselves and honor our god. We do not fight for gold, though we demand it. We fight for the sake of the fight. We are the divine instruments of chaos and bloodshed."

History & Origins:

 * Founding Story: The Cohort was founded by a disgraced general named Kallias "The Blood-Soaked," who was exiled for excessive brutality. In the wilderness, he had a vision of Ares, who told him that war was not a tool of the state, but the purpose of the state. He gathered other exiles, bloodthirsty mercenaries, and outcasts, forging them into a company bound not by a nation, but by a fanatical devotion to the God of War.

 * Key Events:

   * The Sacking of Miletos: Hired to "break" a siege, the Cohort not only broke the siege but sacked the entire city in a single night of "divine rapture," sacrificing its entire populace to Ares. This act made them both infamous and highly sought after by desperate patrons.

   * The Red Feast: A rival mercenary band, "The Golden Spears," publicly mocked the Cohort's "zealotry." The Cohort challenged them to a "paid" battle, then slaughtered them to a man, cooked their war-horses for a feast, and delivered their "payment"—the Golden Spears' own melted-down armor—to their former patrons.

Goals & Motivations:

 * Long-Term Ambition: To be in a state of perpetual war. Peace is anathema to them. Their ultimate goal is to incite a "Total War" that will consume all of Hellenara, which they believe will be the ultimate offering to Ares.

 * Short-Term Objective: To secure their next "contract." They are currently "between wars" and are actively trying to foment conflict between two bordering poleis so they can be hired by one side (or both).

 * Driving Force: Bloodlust and Fanatical Zeal. They are true believers who joyfully practice their faith through violence.

Methods & Tactics:

 * Operational Style: Overt, brutal, and terrifying. They are the "shock and awe" faction. They make no secret of their arrival, often marching with banners, horns, and ritualistic war-drums.

 * Preferred Strategies:

   * Brutal Frontal Assault: They believe in overwhelming force and terrifying their enemy into breaking.

   * Battle-Rites: Before combat, they engage in loud, bloody rituals (often involving animal or prisoner sacrifice) to work themselves into a divine frenzy (Barbarian Rage is common).

   * "Terror" Contracts: They are often hired not to win a war, but to make the other side's life so horrific that they surrender.

Internal Structure & Culture:

 * Hierarchy: Led by a single War-Priest General. Rank is determined by martial prowess and "divine fervor" shown in battle. The most elite units of fanatical champions are known as the "Crimson Blades."

 * Atmosphere: Loud, violent, competitive, and fanatical. Their camps are a constant din of weapon-training, brawling, and ritualistic chants. There is a strong, if brutal, camaraderie.

 * Recruitment: Open to any warrior who can survive their "initiation": a one-on-one duel to first blood (or death, depending on the recruiter's mood) with a Cohort member, followed by a blood-oath to Ares.

Key Members:

 * Leader: War-Priest General Vorlag the Unchained (Path of the Zealot Barbarian/War Domain Cleric). A mountain of a man, covered in ritual scars. He leads from the front, wielding a massive, blood-drenched axe, and his "sermons" are terrifying battle-cries.

 * Prominent Member 1: Lykaia, "The Red-Handed" (Champion Fighter). Leader of the Crimson Blades. She is known for her cold, efficient brutality and for never wearing a helmet, claiming Ares "turns aside" any blade meant for her.

 * Prominent Member 2: Phobos "The Chanter" (Bard of Valor). Not a musician in the traditional sense. Phobos is a "War-Drummer" and "Scream-Priest." He uses his magic to incite mindless terror in the enemy and supernatural fervor in his allies.

 * Common Archetypes: The raging barbarian, the bloodthirsty fighter, the sadistic war-priest, the terrifying war-chanter.

Relationships:

 * Allies: (Clients only) Desperate tyrants, ambitious warlords, and anyone who needs a "problem" solved with extreme prejudice. They have a grudging respect for the Argent Banner's professionalism, but see them as "cowards" who don't revel in the kill.

 * Enemies: Everyone else.

   * Republic of Theros: The Cohort loathes the Republic, seeing their "peace" and "logic" as the ultimate blasphemy against Ares. They dream of being hired to burn Theros to the ground.

   * Garden Wardens: They see this faction as weak, "dirt-worshippers" who represent the opposite of their values.

   * Dawnfeast Fellowship: They view the Fellowship as soft, decadent, and their "ecstasy" as a pale imitation of true "battle-rapture."

Public Perception & Reputation:

 * Universally feared. They are the "butchers for hire." Seeing their red-cloaked banners on the horizon means one thing: the time for diplomacy is over, and a time of slaughter is about to begin. They are seen as a divine plague given form.

Resources & Assets:

 * Key Assets:

   * Aura of Terror: Their reputation is a weapon. Armies often break before the Cohort even reaches their lines.

   * Ares's Favor: Their fanatical zeal grants them genuine supernatural boons in battle (e.g., Rage Beyond Death, fear effects).

   * The War-Chest: They are exceptionally wealthy, as they demand exorbitant prices for their "indispensable" services and take whatever they want as "sacrifice" (loot).

 * Strengths: Unmatched in pure, chaotic combat. Terrifying reputation. Fanatical loyalty (to Ares, if not each other).

 * Weaknesses: Zero subtlety. They are a hammer, and every problem is a nail. They are useless in any situation requiring diplomacy, stealth, or "non-lethal" solutions. Their zealotry makes them uncontrollable, and they have been known to "finish a job" even after their patron has surrendered or called them off.

Notable Deeds & Current Status:

 * Deeds: The Sacking of Miletos; The Red Feast.

 * Status: Currently encamped on the border between two nervous poleis, loudly "praying" to Ares (i.e., sacrificing, drumming, and sharpening their weapons) while waiting for one side to crack and hire them.