Since someone mentioned Wyvern Riders, I figured I'd write up these guys. They can be as crazy, reckless and useful as you like - have they really performed all their assignments well, or is there a large amount of luck and/or "creative after action report writing"?
RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has
done what he has done.
- Richelieu
Arlaralanth's Wyverneers
Control of the Skies is the key to a new world
The Wyverneers are a unit of men and women (and others) mounted on wyverns. Their role is usually air-superiority - they are there to eliminate enemy fliers from the skies. They are the pet project of Baron Arlaralanth, a Kostaddi nobleman. He oversees the squadron, flies lead on his four-legged wyvern, Ruby Red, and tries to keep "his boys and girls" away from military justice. He will intercede for them at every level (his family has connections at the Imperial Court), and has even been known to lead his merry band on rescue missions. The fliers are the stars of the show, but there is a large contingent of "ground crew" who keep the unit performing smoothly, the wyverns fed and healthy, and the provide the pilots what they need.
Common Names: The Flying Circus, Snakes with wings, Naked Birds
Form: Light, flying Military Unit
Cultural Context: Scouts and light air cover
Ideology: They'll *pay* us to fly?
Look and Feel: A rag-tag band of aerial warriors and stuntmen. Misfits, they
are slovenly in camp, egotistical, disrespectful of authority figures
(except the Baron), and pure dynamite in the air. A combination of Richtofen
's Flying Circus, 'Pappy' Boyd's Lost Sheep Squadron, and the guys from
M*A*S*H.
Purpose: To wage war in the sky.
Headquarters: The band makes it's base wherever it's needed. The base is usually well behind the front lines of battle or siege, which does not make the Wyverneers popular with the rank-and-file soldiers of the army. The unit has a number of sumptuous tents for its mess-hall, barracks, and to protect the wyverns when on the ground. The local area is scoured for the best in food, drink and entertainment.
Reactions: Military officers dislike them because of the image they project, and they are constantly "up on charges". However, no-one can complain of the way they perform their duties. If the Lunar Army gave unit demerits, they'd have a bucketful.
Resources
Leader: "Baron" Arlaralanthor, the somewhat stolid commander of the
Wyverneers, acts and dresses much more conservatively than the men and women
under his command. He tries his best to keep "The Gold" (General Staff
officers and REMFs in general) off his boys and girls, and to keep them out
of trouble and flying. He is on good terms with his family (The Smer-Fakolar
family of Kostaddi, a prominent family in the River Plateau League).
Renowned Members: "Wildman" Aggayanafals, the best flyer in the band. Completely contemptuous of "The Gold". Paints his wyvern in a bold red and white pattern; "Ice Maiden" Ravarina. The only daughter of a noble from Rinliddi, she was forbidden entrance to the Avilry, and took the next best thing. She is a natural born flyer and killer. Her wyvern, Icebeak, is painted in blues, whites and grays; Three-eye Haldor. An Illuminated broo with a head and a half, an arm and a half, and a penis and a half. He is the best shot with the heavy bows favored by the unit. His Wyvern, Shit from the Skies, has perfected "bombing runs" with feces.
Membership: 6 Pilots and wyverns, about 150 "ground crew".
Other Contacts: This unit was raised by the Baron out of his personal pocket. His good relations with his family and League allow him to provide the best equipment and beasts available to his fliers. The family controls the Lurnirjat Breeding Reach, giving the unit access to good wyvern stock. The Baron is seen as both an asset and a liability by the military authorities, and is often misunderstood as to its purpose, so is given assignments well outside of their parameters or expertise. It will be noted that with few exceptions, they have performed brilliantly during these missions. .
Organization
The Wyverneers consider themselves an elite unit. If they held more to
military discipline and stayed out of trouble, others might agree with them.
But their attitude is not without merit - they have proven their worth in
air-superiority roles from one end of the empire to the other. The unit is
composed of the highly eccentric and egotistical fliers, and the more
down-to-earth ground crew. The fliers get the glory, while the ground crew
gets to stay away from the fighting. The 6 wyverns fly in to "Wings" of
three wyverns each. The intention is that the fliers support each other, but
much more often aerial combat devolves into a free-for-all known commonly
called a "Snake-fight". Each wyvern has a dedicated keeper and feeder, each
pilot has a body servant. Healing is provided to both men and wyverns, and
the medical unit is particularly experienced with poisons.
Membership Keyword
Membership Requirements: Ground crew need to follow orders, and not annoy
the pilots too badly. Special abilities in handling wyverns (or pilots) are
a plus, but there is always a need for cooks and medics, quartermasters and
general servants. Pilots are usually recruited from the wyvern-handlers
among the ground crew, who already have experience with the irascible birds,
and have the opportunity to learn to ride. If a qualified rider applied to
join the group, he would not be turned away.
Abilities taught (Wyvern Handlers): Animal handling (Wyvern), Dodge, Stand
up self, Ride Wyvern
Abilities taught (Pilots): Ride Wyvern, Aerial Combat, Bow Combat, Lance
Combat, Acrobatic flying
Typical Personality Traits:
Pilots: Arrogant, Daredevil, Devil-may-care, Reject Authority (Other than
the Baron) Ground Crew: Ignore Arrogance
Magic: None specifically taught. Most pilots follow warrior cults, traditions or orders
Guardian Being
The Baron's Wyvern, Ruby Red, is the Guardian of the band. Ruby Red has
forelegs, which makes some question whether he is a wyvern or perhaps a
small Dream-Dragon.
Method: Manifest
Form: Ruby Red, the baron's Four-legged wyvern. It pulses with a scarlet light, which can intensify until it is blinding. Its teeth and claws are (or seem to be) silver.
Membership Requirements: Ruby Red requires that his followers wear the color Red somewhere on their person at all times, that they drink nothing but the best wine, gin or spirits available in their current assignment, that they tattoo the "Wyvern's Eye" over their right breast.
Awareness Function: Detect Flying Enemy 13w. A red beam will flash out from Ruby Red to pinpoint approaching enemy fliers.
Blessing Function: Stay On 17. Even in the most acrobatic maneuvers Ruby Red
's magic helps the wyverns keep their riders
Defense Function: Tough Belly 15w. The belly and chest skin (of both the wyverns and the riders) toughens, granting a +4 armor against attacks directed at the front of the pilot, or the belly of the wyvern. This aids against both aerial opponents and archery from the ground.
Typical Kit-out for a Wyvern and Rider:
Pilot:
Leather armor and helmet (+3)
Lance (+5)
Heavy Bow (+4)
Wyvern:
Tail Spikes for the wyvern (+3 to Sting attack)
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