The Outfit 2 (Ero-Empire

Race: Human.

Capitol: Shylo, the newly-built city on the shores of Chalice Lake. For now, it is a simple settlement, with new buildings sprawling to life around the great Hall of Banners that is the Outfit's seat of power. With the aid of his advisers from the western city-states, Sarj Beorn is doing his best to implement a proper sewer system for the burgeoning city, as well as a properly defensible plan for its streets and byways. As of yet, there is no wall to protect Shylo, relying instead on the strength of its people's warriors for defense.

Advantage: [Alistairs] Offensive battle advantage. TL;DR, basically Cataphracts.

Description: Though unmistakably human, the average member of the Outfit's core tribal population could be reasonably described as 'giant'. Their average height is closer to seven feet than six, without any of the distortion found in those afflicted with gigantism. In tone, they run from fair to olive-skinned, most usually brown haired, though blonds and redheads are not a sight unseen. Westerners are generally shorter and more lithe, as well as darker of skin and hair. Those hailing from the plains between fall in the middle ground where color is concerned, but are relatively smaller of build than either lake tribal or cityman.

Government: Egalitarian Meritocracy. The first and current leader is one Sarj Beorn, a tribal from the eastern shores of Chalice Lake, on the isthmus between the Eastern mainland and Western subcontinent. It is his reputation for firm fairness that unites the Outfit, providing a clear direction for those who have lost everything or never had much to begin with. For those matters of state and policy for which he is unsuited or ignorant, Sarj has gathered a council of advisers from each of the peoples under his domain. Any citizen may bring a grievance before the Boss for judgement and recompense, but woe betide the fool who wastes Sarj Beorn's time with pettiness.

Culture: An amalgam of pastoral nomads, settled tribes, and refugees from warring city-states in the west, all gathered under the banner of Sarj Beorn's company of mercenaries. Despite early friction between the disparate peoples, Sarj issued an edict to the effect that all peoples are equal, no matter their birth or upbringing. For the most part, they come from the tribes centered around Chalice Lake, Sarj Beorn's own people, with the nomads and westerners forming sizable minorities. Only a few plains tribes have thrown their support behind the Outfit, and only the hardiest of refugees have made the long journey to the east so far.

Economy: Though not an artless people, the Outfit is a society growing out of what was once a military company that warred across the western subcontinent under the command of Sarj Beorn. As such, the vast majority of their skills run to metalworking and engineering. Arms and armor forged from Chalice steel by Outfit smiths are objects to be prized by any warrior or soldier, and while they lack cannon or siege engines, they are more than capable of fortifying their own positions and maximizing advantages of terrain.

Military: Centered on a hard core of professional soldiers called Alistairs, who fight on horse and afoot with lance, backsword, and recurve bow. They provide heavy cavalry and shock infantry to the Outfit, supported by the light horse-archers of the plains nomads and levies of pikemen and archers based on the armies of the western city-states. While the vast majority of the elite Alistairs come from the settled tribes, any member of the Outfit can join their ranks with the appropriate dedication and ability. This is a hard road, though a highly prestigious one, for while the levies must train individually every seventh day, and in full field drill once a month, an Alistair must train constantly to maintain the physical prowess and skill at arms that is their trademark. More than one city's tyrant has underestimated Sarj's 'savage warriors' only to find their army riddled with arrows, pinned down by advancing pikes, and finally pulverized under the hooves of the huge Chalice destriers.