Battaglia
| Battaglia Militancy | |
| Militant | |
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| Stats | |
| Established: | 1025 |
| Founder: | Berenice Terrazzo |
| Region: | Inizio D'Oro |
| Active: | Yes |
Contents
Hierarchy
- Prima Famiglia
- Grand Conductor
- First Chairs
- Second Chairs
- Knights
- Squires
Aside from the roles of the Prima Famiglia, which operates on a bloodline, each of the positions in the militancy are achievable by merit or necessity. Ideally there will be a First and Second chair for each of the 'sections' of the overall army for each division in the army as though the Militancy is one grand orchestra as the naming scheme can imply.
The divisions are:
- Brass (Blades)
- Wind (Magic)
- String (Bow, ranged)
- Percussion (Brute force; fisticuffs, hammers, etc)
Joining
Battaglia's entry process is almost too easy. Any member can recruit.
Recruits are taken to The Choir where they are registered into their records by name and preference of weapon. They are then given a permit slip for a commission of guild-themed versions of their preferred armor and weapon. They will be sorted into their section of the orchestra based on their weapon choice. Recruits that need training or have yet no preference due to inexperience will then be paired with someone who is more proficient, once the recruit finds their preferred weapon they will then be sorted into their section of the orchestra.
Promotions
Rising in rank within the guild is based on merit and need up to and including Grand Conductor.
Sometimes Grand Conductor will be the uncrowned child of the monarchy.
However the Prima Famiglia will only be of the bloodline, making Battaglia members exempt from being selected to marry in.
Life in the Guild
Battaglia in its early days dedicated themselves massively to training and heroic arts, but these days have taken on a more relaxed approach. They travel the world following one bounty after another to supplement their wages.
While Battaglia's head quarters is in Inizio D'Oro, there is nothing stopping them from residing or working outside of the city and into other regions, so long as all other rules are being followed. They are obligated to answer summons to the main city, of course.
Headquarters
The Choir houses satellite offices for all the head guilds across the Tapestry. However, for Battaglia this is its headquarters location making their wing of the structure larger and containing more than offices. There's a barracks that are not enough to hold the whole army, but usually enough for the wave of recruits who have yet to find a home for themselves, or are staying over briefly before setting off after their next bounty. A gathering hall for community things, and of course where the Grand Conductor actually does his record keeping and order writing.
Accessed from their section alone are the holding cells for low level criminals or for people waiting judgement that are not considered a violent threat:
The holding cells beneath the Choir were accessed only from Battaglia's wing. Two gates, only one ever open at a time with all the usual expected securities to make sure of it. It was not massive, making accounting for the prisoners simple at a glance along a single hall that stretched the width of the Choir above. It was one of the only structures beneath the ground like this, the other being the meeting room accessed by all Doges from their respective wings, used only during the Annual Review.
So the rooms here were plain walled, white stone and plaster coating for a rough texture with a small alcove for the bed dug into the wall rather than as some sort of pop up cot of wood. Not the most comfortable thing, but for people who lived modest lives in the country, this wasn't too far off from what they had there. Otherwise it was just four white walls, a barred iron and wood door with locks, and constant monitoring. Here magic was still possible, because they had somewhere else for the dangerous, far away from the crown and the people they protected. These rooms were meant to be temporary while investigations took place, or if the criminal in question was in too high regard to be immediately shipped off to far less favorable conditions.
The food was reasonable, perhaps fresh fruit and plain bread at best however. So long as they were being reasonable, of course.
Rules
- Members are to respect the rules of any nation they cross into, despite serving the crown directly.
- Members are to report back to the Secretary of the Choir regularly with their status and conditions, completed missions, and so on.
- Members are to memorize and be able to recite any song from the song book (below).
- Respect of The Skald and The Prima Famiglia is to be unquestioned.
History
Berenice Terrazzo settled the spot of The Skald's arrival to found Battaglia, a guild dedicated to the preservation of their god's work. It was Berenice that composed the first parts of The Oratorio and who cultivated and passed on bardic skills to her people. Things were a little noisy, as each member worked on various songs that may or may not always harmonize with their neighbor's, but all was well and tidy. Inizio D'Oro thrived and grew steadily, recruiting builders from Uhrwerkstat to complete their dream city with symbols of Divine Treble built right into the stone and iron work, subtle but always present as The Great Skald was said to be.
When the Maestros one by one turned into Virtuoso, Berenice was the last to convert but the first to be defeated. Leone Arturo, a skaldborne of note brought tales with him of knights and kings and held the rank of First Seat for the Brass section. He took charge, rallying his fellow guild mates to try and rescue their maestro. Their efforts spread to other guilds until they had been seen as the driving force toward setting things right again. They had become stronger, more fit with their physical attributes as much as they had their musical ones, perhaps more so as in the years to come true bards would be less common than those who could swing a blade or guide a bow. This is exaggerated as following the war with the Virtuoso the guilds debated on what to do next. After all, they were unable to restore their Maestros.
Leone Arturo suggested to not change anything, to select their new leaders and continue as they were. It would not be quite the same, he understood. The time where they accepted quests and duties from Maestros was over. Their direct link to The Skald was severed but they were not without their deity. They would still be held to the same ideals. This, he insisted, gave them opportunity for more growth. To further it, he brought up the stories with their structures of benevolent monarchies with shining crowns. He suggested they implement that as yet another tier of growth.
Traditions and Relevant Lore
Marriage: Battaglia marriages are typically hand-fasting ceremonies with gold tasseled cord. The process is repeated with associated banners, braiding them together for display in their home. A grand example lies behind the throne in the Manor, where a braid of battaglia banners with various guilds' expresses the family tree.
Death: Like most of The Tapestry, it is expectant to hold the body-- if in well condition-- a month to see if they will wake. These wakes are typically set up with the deceased surrounded by mementos of their deeds if applicable with a black sheer sheet. The truly dead, if notable enough to be Renowned (as a hero, not villain) will be moved to Chanson Isole'e into the catacombs for permanent burial in a special wing known as Hero's Rest. Royalty is also buried this way.
For the regular folk, they are then burned and the bones are brought to Chanson Isole'e for a more general and less fantastic introduction for their final rest.
Song Book
The guild takes special attention and pride in enlisting bards, especially ones who can harness their music to bring the chants to life. This is reflected in the city's focus and the royal family's own lineage hosting a lot of musical talent. Below are common songs members are taught. They only hold power when a bard sings them, and only if they apply that power at the time. The songs are often referenced in casual conversation as reminders to their creeds and beliefs.
The songs are organized by power category, and lyrics are provided for ease of role-play and if applicable a link to it on YouTube.
NOTE: None of these songs are owned by SkaldSong RP except those expressed in The Oratorio.
Morale Boosters
- Spark Inside Us - The Princess and the Goblin
There's a spark inside us
That we can all ignite
And all that's dark inside us
Will flicker into light
There's a power in every breath
There's a power in every note
A power that starts within the heart
A power that rises through the throat
And when it sails on through the air
More beautiful than any prayer
This power can right all wrong
And it will always thrill the ear
Of those who have the power to hear
The magic of a song
There's a strong inside us
That tells us wrong from right
Becomes the song inside us
To chase away the night
- History Maker - Dean Fujioka
Can you feel my heart beat?
I'm tired of feeling never enough
I close my eyes and tell myself
That my dreams will come true
There'll be no more darkness
When you believe in yourself,
You are unstoppable
Where your destiny lies
Dancing on the blades, you set my heart on fire
Don't stop us now, the moment of truth
We were born to make history
We'll make it happen, we'll turn it around
Yes, we were born to make history
Born to make history!
Yes, we were born to make history!
Prayer
- Lost in Thoughts All Alone - Fire Emblem Fates ([English cover by AmaLee])
You are an ocean of waves
Weaving a dream, like thoughts become a river stream
Yet may the tide ever change
Flowing like time, to the path, yours to climb
Thou seek the light with an outstretched hand
A divine blade lies before you
So command the wake of dreams
To restore the world, cut 'way the seams
Join in our prayer - in our song - of birthrights and love
Come the sun, illuminate the sky
Pray that we may quell the dark
Light take the throne
Lost in thoughts all alone
You are an ocean of waves
Weaving a dream, like thoughts become a river stream
Yet may the tide ever change
Flowing like time, to the path, yours to claim
Thou seek the dark with an unsheathed blade
Now a white ivory throne beckons
So obtain the fate you sow
On this path, be weary friend and foe
Join in the tale - in the blight - of conquest and lies
Come the sun, to tarnish in the sky
Vow that we shall tear the light
Dark seize the throne
Lost in thoughts all alone
May the chosen path lead way and grace you with virtue
But surely a balance awaits
So be it bliss or pain you gain
Beyond the route-way's end, you'll gain resilience and weakness
The trials - the thorn in your side - becomes the greatest strength in you
Descend into the abyss thou see
Where the hearts of many wander
Quietly, they wish and weave
Placing hope inside their one, pure dream
After the storm stills its wake,
May all be blessed, so the fate and fallen can find rest
Your will, the water reflects, so all will know
Your hands brought the morrow
You are an ocean of waves
Weaving a dream, like thoughts become a river stream
Yet may the tide ever change
Flowing like time, to the path, yours to climb
You are an ocean of waves
- Good Times - All Time Low
We were bare knuckle, tight lip,
Middle fingers up, ego trip,
Devil-may-care but we didn’t mind,
I won’t forget the good times,
With the boys in black smoking cigarettes,
Chasing girls who didn’t know love yet,
As the bonfire moon came down,
I won’t forget the good times
I never want to leave this sunset town,
But one day the time may come,
And I’ll take you at your word and carry on,
I’ll hate the goodbye,
But I won’t forget the good times,
I won’t forget the good times
When we laughed,
When we cried,
Those were the days we owned the nights,
Locked away,
Lost in time,
I found the nerve to say that
I never want to leave this sunset town,
But one day the time may come,
And I’ll take you at your word and carry on,
I’ll hate the goodbye,
But I won’t forget the good times
I won’t forget the good times
