Roderick Robertson

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 Air Superiority
Ideology:	Flying is not just a job, It’s an adventure!
Look and Feel:	A rag-tag band of aerial warriors and stuntmen. Misfits, they are slovenly in camp, disrespectful of authority figures (except their leader), and pure dynamite in the air. A combination of von Richthofen’s Flying Circus, ‘Pappy’ Boyington’s Black 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 its 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:	9 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 unit 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 get to stay away from the fighting.

The 9 wyverns fly in three “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 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 the handling of 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 dragonids, 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:	Ride Wyvern, Aerial Combat, Bow Combat, Lance Combat, Acrobatic flying
Typical Personality Traits:	Pilots: Daredevil, Devil-may-care, Reject Authority (Other than the Baron). Ground Crew: Ignore Arrogance
Magic:	None specifically taught. Most pilots follow warriors 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. A red beam will flash out from Ruby Red to pinpoint approaching enemy fliers.
Blessing Function:	Stay On. Even in the most acrobatic maneuvers Ruby Red’s magic helps the wyverns keep their riders
Defense Function:	Tough Belly. The belly and chest skin (of both the wyverns and the riders) toughens, granting 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.