04-15-2010, 12:20 AM
(Note: While Heroes such as Long Drong Slayer, Vesparo and Voland cannot be everywhere at once, a number of heroic individuals like them exist in various places. Therefore, when this story mentions one of these heroes by name, it really refers to someone like that person, whom my character met.)
Michael "Cardo" was originally born in the Empire province of Averland. (His surname was originally Holzmann.) Cardo attended the Imperial School of Engineers in Altdorf and showed great potential. After graduating, he was posted to one of the Imperial Artillery units.
Enthusiastic and idealistic, Cardo's imaginative and well-trained mind burst with innovative ideas and schemes. Unfortunately, every time he suggested one of these to his superior, he was told it was not practical or possible. Frustrated, Cardo decided to strike out on his own, hoping he might prove the worthiness of some of his brilliant concepts.
Having made all his preparations in secret, Cardo set off for Tilea, home of the adventurous Dogs of War mercenaries. He hoped they might be more receptive to his "unconventional" ideas.
In the Republic of Remas, Cardo eventually met two other innovative warriors: Long Drong, a Dwarf Slayer pirate, and Vesparo, a Duellist champion. The three of them decided to pool their talents and recruit their own mercenary army. Cardo would command their force's artillery. Since Cardo was still using his real name, they called themselves the "Lovesmann Tigers."
Competition for easy money was extremely intense in Tilea, so they had to accept the greatest challenge at the time: to clear the Blighted Marshes near Miragliano of Skaven hordes roaming around there.
Their first battle showed their inexperience, but, despite heavy losses, they annihilated a large Skaven army there, earning them considerable gold as well as fame!
After several more successes, the wealth started pouring into their coffers. The naive young captains ostentatiously flaunted their wealth, which attracted the envious attention of some of the ambitious young merchants of the ruling houses of the republic. Fearing that their treasures might be confiscated by these young noblemen, the trio subtly began exporting their belongings and relocating their troops to the Border Princes' provinces. Finally, Cardo threw a lavish party, making sure that the greedy princes would sleep soundly until the next day. Then, while the wine flowed without ceasing, Cardo stealthily slipped away, with the last of their company's assets. The trio reassembled their company in Barak Varr, and Cardo decided to change his name, so they became the "Lovesdo Tigers." (He loved collecting maps--to locate the most-favorable terrain for their battles, and to locate trails they might use to outflank the enemy. So, he shortened the title "Cartographer" to "Carto" and changed the "t" to a "d," thus becoming Michael Cardo.)
Long Drong used his family's connections with King Grundadrakk, ruler of Barak Varr, to obtain a commission for the firm. They began clearing out the Chaos and Orc forces pillaging through the region north of the city, gaining confidence and experience with each victory.
Then, suddenly, a huge fleet of Dark Elves arrived near the city! They had been raiding and plundering settlements along the coast. Now, they were threatening to invade Barak Varr.
At an impromptu "Battle of the Two Bridges," the Tigers repelled the Dark Elves, only a handful of whom escaped back to their ships. Again, the Tigers had sustained heavy losses, but had emerged triumphant! As a reward, the king honored them by accepting them as citizens of Barak Varr and members of the city's defense council. He also gave them a tax-free fortress for their headquarters and training grounds, in exchange for their promise to help defend the city against all its enemies. With some of this newly acquired wealth, they bought three Sabertusk cubs, as mascots. The company's Ogres adopted them as pets, but they soon became good "guard-dogs," protecting the compound in the company's absence!
During his map-collecting travels, Cardo was able to contact a Blood-Dragon Vampire keep's scouts and convince them they could work together, for mutual benefits. This keep then cooperated with the Tigers, to defeat several Chaos and Orc foes.
In one of their battles, an Orc with 2 axes burst through and attacked Cardo. Cardo fended him off, killing him, but not before the Orc had almost pierced his breastplate with one of his axes! Cardo later had the interior of his breastplate repaired, but kept the axe-cut showing on the exterior, to display his warrior's courage to all the troops.
After a dozen victories, though, the partners began to drift apart. Long Drong received a title from King Grundadrakk and returned to his Dwarf roots. Vesparo fell in love with a mysterious princess and went to join her people.
Cardo bought their shares of the company and became the sole owner of the Tigers. Sadly, none of his relatives showed any interest in following in his mercenary footsteps, so he decided to groom his bold cavalry commander, Voland, to become his successor, some day. Cardo made him his aid-de-camp and began teaching him all his hard-won knowledge of military strategy and tactics. He even made Voland his heir; but he made sure his protege never learned of this.
Cardo then left Voland in charge of the complex, while he took a long trip, to rethink things. Cardo collected maps wherever he went and even produced some, himself, when none were available. During this time, he met other mercenary leaders and learned much from them. He decided to reshape the Tigers, into an even leaner, more-fearless mercenary army! His year-long absence had proved both refreshing and instructive, and Cardo returned to Barak Varr with new enthusiasm and new ideas for the Tigers.
The Tigers--now "Cardo's Tigers"--wear black leather pants, boots and coats, with gold shirts and trim. They have a marching song, whose tune resembles the later song of the French Foreign Legion:
"Run,
Chaos Forces!
Run,
All you Greenskins!
Run!
Here come the Cardo Tigers!
We won't stop, we won't stop,
Till the battle is won!
We are the Cardo Ti-i-gers!
Monsters, whether they're short or tall--
All our enemies shall fall!"
Michael "Cardo" was originally born in the Empire province of Averland. (His surname was originally Holzmann.) Cardo attended the Imperial School of Engineers in Altdorf and showed great potential. After graduating, he was posted to one of the Imperial Artillery units.
Enthusiastic and idealistic, Cardo's imaginative and well-trained mind burst with innovative ideas and schemes. Unfortunately, every time he suggested one of these to his superior, he was told it was not practical or possible. Frustrated, Cardo decided to strike out on his own, hoping he might prove the worthiness of some of his brilliant concepts.
Having made all his preparations in secret, Cardo set off for Tilea, home of the adventurous Dogs of War mercenaries. He hoped they might be more receptive to his "unconventional" ideas.
In the Republic of Remas, Cardo eventually met two other innovative warriors: Long Drong, a Dwarf Slayer pirate, and Vesparo, a Duellist champion. The three of them decided to pool their talents and recruit their own mercenary army. Cardo would command their force's artillery. Since Cardo was still using his real name, they called themselves the "Lovesmann Tigers."
Competition for easy money was extremely intense in Tilea, so they had to accept the greatest challenge at the time: to clear the Blighted Marshes near Miragliano of Skaven hordes roaming around there.
Their first battle showed their inexperience, but, despite heavy losses, they annihilated a large Skaven army there, earning them considerable gold as well as fame!
After several more successes, the wealth started pouring into their coffers. The naive young captains ostentatiously flaunted their wealth, which attracted the envious attention of some of the ambitious young merchants of the ruling houses of the republic. Fearing that their treasures might be confiscated by these young noblemen, the trio subtly began exporting their belongings and relocating their troops to the Border Princes' provinces. Finally, Cardo threw a lavish party, making sure that the greedy princes would sleep soundly until the next day. Then, while the wine flowed without ceasing, Cardo stealthily slipped away, with the last of their company's assets. The trio reassembled their company in Barak Varr, and Cardo decided to change his name, so they became the "Lovesdo Tigers." (He loved collecting maps--to locate the most-favorable terrain for their battles, and to locate trails they might use to outflank the enemy. So, he shortened the title "Cartographer" to "Carto" and changed the "t" to a "d," thus becoming Michael Cardo.)
Long Drong used his family's connections with King Grundadrakk, ruler of Barak Varr, to obtain a commission for the firm. They began clearing out the Chaos and Orc forces pillaging through the region north of the city, gaining confidence and experience with each victory.
Then, suddenly, a huge fleet of Dark Elves arrived near the city! They had been raiding and plundering settlements along the coast. Now, they were threatening to invade Barak Varr.
At an impromptu "Battle of the Two Bridges," the Tigers repelled the Dark Elves, only a handful of whom escaped back to their ships. Again, the Tigers had sustained heavy losses, but had emerged triumphant! As a reward, the king honored them by accepting them as citizens of Barak Varr and members of the city's defense council. He also gave them a tax-free fortress for their headquarters and training grounds, in exchange for their promise to help defend the city against all its enemies. With some of this newly acquired wealth, they bought three Sabertusk cubs, as mascots. The company's Ogres adopted them as pets, but they soon became good "guard-dogs," protecting the compound in the company's absence!
During his map-collecting travels, Cardo was able to contact a Blood-Dragon Vampire keep's scouts and convince them they could work together, for mutual benefits. This keep then cooperated with the Tigers, to defeat several Chaos and Orc foes.
In one of their battles, an Orc with 2 axes burst through and attacked Cardo. Cardo fended him off, killing him, but not before the Orc had almost pierced his breastplate with one of his axes! Cardo later had the interior of his breastplate repaired, but kept the axe-cut showing on the exterior, to display his warrior's courage to all the troops.
After a dozen victories, though, the partners began to drift apart. Long Drong received a title from King Grundadrakk and returned to his Dwarf roots. Vesparo fell in love with a mysterious princess and went to join her people.
Cardo bought their shares of the company and became the sole owner of the Tigers. Sadly, none of his relatives showed any interest in following in his mercenary footsteps, so he decided to groom his bold cavalry commander, Voland, to become his successor, some day. Cardo made him his aid-de-camp and began teaching him all his hard-won knowledge of military strategy and tactics. He even made Voland his heir; but he made sure his protege never learned of this.
Cardo then left Voland in charge of the complex, while he took a long trip, to rethink things. Cardo collected maps wherever he went and even produced some, himself, when none were available. During this time, he met other mercenary leaders and learned much from them. He decided to reshape the Tigers, into an even leaner, more-fearless mercenary army! His year-long absence had proved both refreshing and instructive, and Cardo returned to Barak Varr with new enthusiasm and new ideas for the Tigers.
The Tigers--now "Cardo's Tigers"--wear black leather pants, boots and coats, with gold shirts and trim. They have a marching song, whose tune resembles the later song of the French Foreign Legion:
"Run,
Chaos Forces!
Run,
All you Greenskins!
Run!
Here come the Cardo Tigers!
We won't stop, we won't stop,
Till the battle is won!
We are the Cardo Ti-i-gers!
Monsters, whether they're short or tall--
All our enemies shall fall!"