Clan: Jerrick
Culture
Jerricks are a proud and sturdy clan. They have long served as blacksmiths for kings and emperors; however, with the fall of the Imperium, they now find themselves as the primary rulers of the Kingdom of Gaulantis. It was through Jerrick ingenuity and tactical adaptability that many great ancient battles were won: the most notorious being the victory against a great and evil necromancer. As a reward for defeating their enemy, the Imperials awarded the Jerricks with the rule of the Kingdom of Gaulantis, at the same time punishing the Gaulantis clan for their perceived ineptitude during the Necromancer war. This was 300 years ago. The Jerricks still pride themselves on their metal craft and their craft is widely sought throughout the kingdom and neighboring kingdoms.
Jerricks have a mistrust of magic.
Physical Description
Jerricks are recognized by their stocky builds. They tend to be only a little bit taller than the Gaulantiss, yet have remarkably greater muscle mass and strength. Even though they’re nearly half a foot shorter than the Jashon’s, Jerricks tend to match their strength and ferocity while on the battlefield. Jerricks possess a mixture of coloring from both ancestry in the Northern Tribe lands and in the Pre-Imperial South. They tend to have gold to tan-bronzed skin with sandy blonde to blonde hair. Their eyes tend to be gold, yellow, or hazel eyes. Male and female Jerricks tend to be slightly more dymorphic, with the men having greater upper muscular strength with toned thighs and calves, and women tend to have toned arms and stomachs with slightly larger and more muscular legs.
While laboring at the anvil or working at the larder or brewery, Jerricks tend to wear a loose-fitting white or tan shirt, or sleeveless tunic. They tend to wear longer brown pants and a leather labor men's apron. The only difference between male and female laborers among the Jerricks is women tend to wear a slightly longer tunic that comes down to the mid-thigh. The tunic is parted on the sides of the thighs to allow for more movement.
To avoid hot embers entering their boots, Jerricks will either wear boots bound at the mouth with a leather garter to keep it flush with the leg.
When not laboring and in public, Jerricks, both male and female, tend to adorn their midsection in a supportive waistcoat or band. Over their white labor shirt and their waistcoat, they drape a long loose outer tunic. These are usually collared and open in a v-style well down into the chest area (a little higher cut for women) and is usually short-sleeved. This outer tunic is then pulled snug with a sash or thick belt.
When not at work at the forge, Jerricks tend to wear their boots loose.
On more formal occasions, a shoulder decorative drape that extends down to the right wrist will be worn. This drape is typically red or blue, signifying apprentice or smith. The rarer yellow drape signifies master.
Jerricks are very rarely ever seen without some form of glove.
Jerrick hair is straight with a slight wave and is coarse. Jerrick men tend to wear their hair past their ears but above the shoulder. They sport a short beard, goatee, or simply grizzle. Jerrick women tend to wear their hair longer, usually extending down to just below the mid back. Both Jerrick men and women tie their hair back when working at the forge.
Weapons and Armor
Jerricks are masters at the forge, though they know how to make nearly any type of weapon, they prefer the use of long, single-sided cleavers. These cleavers typically have juts or points on one or two locations along the blade for piercing armor. These cleavers tend to be thick and heavy, able to break through wood, cut through flesh, or pierce through metal. The typical Jerrick soldier is armed with a thin metal shield and a single-sided cleaver, acting in basic formation to drive back enemy ranks. Another weapon employed by the Jerricks are the tall double-sided great swords, known as Jerrick double cleavers. These too tend to have a small point on both sides near the top of the blade or piercing heavy armor. This blade is typically too heavy to be used with a shield.
Jerrick ranks are made up of two soldier types: The Jerrick Undersoldier and the Jerrick Overknight. Undersoldiers are typically adorned in a thick breastplate that extends down to the mid-diaphragm. They also have heavy shin guards. The wrist guards they wear are usually worn on the arm holding the weapon. These are the ranks that are typically acting in formation with lighter armor and heavy formation discipline. Benin Undersoldiers are adept at being able to quickly surround and control enemy’s movements through their disciplined shield formations.
Benin Over-Knights are adorned from head to toe in thick Jerrick steel. These suits of armor are nearly impossible to break or pierce with weapons. Additionally, the Jerricks more stout, muscular builds provide them the strength and ability to both wear and excel in these armored tanks. Over-Knights typically act as a slightly more flexible unit to deal with singular enemies with particularly good skills that are breaking Jerrick ranks. Additionally, Benin Over-Knights, with their tall double blades at hand, also tend to be the unit or units to respond to broken calvary.
Some Jerrick soldiers employ a short bow, however a Jerrick craftsman’s pride is when he can make a Jerrick heavy crossbow. These deadly weapons can pierce through just about any armor with devastating effects. Like all those in the Kingdom of Gaulantis, Jerricks too wear a helmet similar to a Spartan or Roman Legionair’s helmet known as the Frellohelm, although Jerrick Frellohelms are thicker and heavier than most other army’s variants. Additionally, Benin Undersoldier Frellohelms tend to be very simplistic while the Jerrick Over-Knight tends to wear metallic ram horns that come from the side or top of the helmet and extend upwards. This allows Undersoldiers to find their Over-Knights more easily.