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Anders School
| Country of Origin: Vendel Guild Sanctioned: Yes. Basic Curriculum: Fencing, Doctor Swordsman Knacks: |
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Using his knowledge as a talented doctor, Erick Anders has been making a healthy profit recently teaching traveling merchants to defend themselves from packs of scoundrels. Two years ago, after Anders killed the sadistic rogue Aldana master Juarez "El Jefe" Santiago-Medicini with but a single thrust to the thigh, the Swordsman's Guild accepted his style as an official Swordsman School. The power of the Anders style lies within its surgical precision and knowledge of anatomy. It is a practical and direct style, relying on attacks to specific areas of the body to kill or otherwise remove one's opponent as quickly as possible. Anders emphasizes the need to aim, which provides a bit too much caution and hesitation in the style. Any opponent who is swift enough can break an Anders' defenses with a fleeting jab. Apprentice: An Anders student is taught anatomy as part of his basic curriculum. He may substitute his Diagnosis knack for Brawn when making damage rolls. Journeyman: Aiming is essential to the Anders curriculum. Journeymen gain a free raise for every two raises called whenever making a called shot. Master: A master of Anders may opt to make an automatic Dramatic Wound against his opponent instead of rolling for damage by raising twice on an attack (+10 TN). |
Along the soothing waves of the Frothing Sea, The Gelded Serpent rocked her captain to sleep as the crew worked the graveyard shift beneath the black hood of night. The mostly Vendel sailors toiled noiselessly, creating a pristine silence ready to be broken.
"PIRATES!"
Captain Bortman leaped from her hammock soundly on the floor, reaching with one hand to her purse and the other to her musket. Within seconds, the deck of the Serpent was flooded with men brandishing cutlasses and rapiers, holding back any resistance the panicked crew may offer. By the time she made it out of her quarters, the handful of deck hands that had been left out at this time of night were now held at sword point.
A tall man in navy - obviously the captain - strode up to her. She decided not to fight, but rather get to heart of the matter.
"You have my ship. How much will you take?"
"This has only been a test." replied the captain without much tact. He removed his hat to reveal his features. His fair yet weathered skin and fine golden mane hinted at rich Vendel blood. His gray eyes shone with a love for adventure rare among Vendel, while his smile showed a warmth for others rare among seafarers.
"Let this be a lesson to you, Captain. The first one is free, but if you want to learn how to truly deal with pirates, you will need to know how to use a blade. I am Erick Anders and this is my Swordsman school."
Erick Anders has a unique style to making money. Unique... is not the Vendel way.
Disguising his ship (the Emerald Egress) as a pirate vessel, Anders boards lone Vendel merchant ships (making sure not to shed a drop of blood), and confronts the captain with the weaknesses in their defenses. After initial outrage, Anders' charisma and force of will often persuade them to consider his suggestions, which always involve twenty of the ship's brightest seamen to train under Anders and his instructors in the ways of the sword for a thousand guilders apiece.
A black stain on Anders' reputation came from the time he decided to discard generic pirate colors and fly the rumored skull and crossbones flag of the Crimson Roger herself. When the Egress was spotted boarding her victim, two topsmen attempted suicide, the only blood ever shed in Anders' "advertising". Luckily, Anders himself cared for the frightened men, who quickly recovered and retired, suddenly wealthy and highly praising "Cap'n Andries". Oddly, the Emerald Egress has not stayed in any port for more than a day since.
Among the more popular, and flattering, rumors about Anders and his crew is the tale of their defeat of a Vesten raider ship... the same ship that killed Anders' friends and family around him, leaving him the sole survivor. The raiders gave their traditional offer: lower the sails and surrender, or fight to the last man. After running his last victim through, Anders found that the Vesten hanging off his blade was indeed the last man. After an hour of surgery, Anders left the rasping warrior to tell his kin to beware the Emerald Egress.
Last updated:
April 1, 2004
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