Vargs' Legion

Vargs' Legion, founded by the Nord werewolf Varg Greyblood, were a group of lycanthropes dedicated to wiping out their feral brethren. They were extremely disciplined, and willing to make any sacrifice to accomplish their mission. Furthermore, should one of their number turn to the beast, the Legion took it upon themselves to execute their savage fellow. Because of their ideals, they were mistrusted or outright hated by other lycanthropes.

The Legion were staunch allies of the Mist Wardens, and eternally grateful to them for certain enchantments bestowed upon them at the Legions, and Wardens' foundings. For the most part, Vargs' Legion ignored the civil war in Skyrim, and most subsequent conflicts.However, the entire Legion did take to the field in 4E 206, when the Blight rampaged through High Rock.

History
Vargs' Legion was founded in 4E 103, by the Nordic werewolf, Varg Greyblood. Greyblood, a former member of the Companions, was haunted by his actions while part of the group, and the unstable nature of Lycanthropy. Realizing that the feral lycans that dwelt throughout Skyrim, and many areas in the rest of Tamriel, would continue to terrorize the world of mortals, he accumulated like minded lycanthropes. The goal, was to eliminate the entirety of feral lycans throughout Tamriel.

Greybloods' friend, Ricard Tyrem, founder of the Mist Wardens, assisted Varg with founding the Legion, and enchanted the first Silverblood Talisman. Varg commissioned more of the talismans as the Legion grew, keeping the lycanthropic members of the Legion human, so long as they wore the jewelry.The enchanted amulets meant that the Legion were indebted to the Wardens. The two factions quickly became close allies, with the Legion sworn to defend the Wardens, should they need it.

Though they originated in Skyrim, the Legion left for High Rock, seeking a home for themselves. In the mountains of northern High Rock, they discovered an abandoned, decrepit keep. The Legion occupied the fort, and renamed it Wolfblood Keep. They spent several months repairing and restocking the fort, before beginning to scour the surrounding countryside for their prey.

Within a month of the Legions arrival in the Kingdom of Jehenna, lycanthropes populations decreased dramatically. The local nobility were wary of such a strong military presence on their northern border, though many also saw them as a buffer against their frequent enemies in Skyrim. Their hopes were dashed, however, when First Watcher Varg Greyblood, announced that the Legion would be neutral towards both sides in any conflict.

The Legion held true to their word, ignoring the conflict between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire. The members of the Legion continued to hunt feral lycans throughout High Rock, and refused to intercede on behalf of the city of Wayrest, when corsairs sacked it in 4E 188. Their inaction throughout High Rocks history of hardship gained them enmity from several prominent nobles. However, they were welcomed in the kingdom of Evermore, as the Legion arrived shortly after 4E 201, and wiped out a group of were-bears terrorizing the local peasants.

The legionnaires became well known throughout Evermore as they secured the kingdom from ferals. Like minded High Lycans joined the Legion, swelling their numbers. However, the Legion never reached full legion strength that larger organizations,like the Empires' military could boast. The largest the Vargs' Legion ever reached was in 4E 195, after a particularly ferocious outbreak of lycanthropes in southern Skyrim. Estimates place their numbers at just over a thousand legionnaires.

However, their increase in numbers was not to last, as Legion patrols in the wilds of Skyrim became easy targets for the lycan hunting organization, the Silver Hand. Legionnaires were forced to fight both the hunters and their prey, the feral lycans. High lycan packs, opposed to what they saw as 'bloodsport' discretely supplied the Silver Hand with information on the Legions' movements, and harboured ferals.

When the civil war in Skyrim broke out, the Legion attempted to maintain its neutral stance. However, near the end of the war, in the village of Coalharbour, they were encountered by a large Stormcloak force. When attempts to negotiate, due to ignorance of both parties failed, battle was joined. Though victorious, the Legion was ordered to remain out of Skyrim entirely by the failing Stormcloak leadership. Though they promptly disregarded these orders, with the intent of fulfilling their missions. Due to the Stormcloak edict, cooperation from pro-Stormcloak Nords was rare.

Vargs' followers had better luck in High Rock, though they suffered casualties at the hands of a resurgent Reachmen rebellion. After the civil war in Skyrim wound down, the Legion became slightly more popular in the kingdom, though they still had low recruitment rates. Under the short leadership of First Watcher Garard Marmun, the Legion made an effort to befriend the Nordic locals, though they were not very successful in regards to Whiterun, due to the presence of the Companions. However, both Riften and the village of Coalharbour, along with several other settlements, agreed to supply the Legion with steel for their weapons and armours, and fish rations.

The Legion was forced out of neutrality when the Blight emerged on the world above. When the Blight rampaged throughout the regions of High Rock, Vargs' Legion took to the field. They fought at several battles, including the battle of Evermore. Though they survived the wars, the Blight took a heavy toll on their number, leaving them under strength for several years.

The Legion broke tradition when, under the leadership of Aldrich Ordrest, began recruiting non-werewolves. Applicants drank wolf's blood, and were, through strength of will, resist their first change. If they succeeded, a Silverblood Talisman was bestowed upon them. If they failed the test, the Legion Sentinels promptly executed them. This new practice drew outrage from other lycan packs, as they saw the Legion, sworn to destroy lycanthropy, creating more of their kind. Despite this desperate attempt to bolster their ranks, the Legions' numbers decreased almost faster than they could recruit. As a result, their number was down to around five hundred members by 4E 208.

Training and tactics
Legionnaires were trained to fight in groups, but be successful individual warriors as well. They wore heavy armours, and wielded tower shields, made of stout planks. Standard legionnaires,for the most part, also used single edged swords, that were capable of stabbing or slashing, though thicker than typical weapons. Common combat doctrine was to meet a feral with a raised shield, while ones' comrades slashed and stabbed at it with their blades.

Against a pair or more of feral lycanthropes, the legionnaires formed a shieldwall, while their comrades in the rank behind them chopped at the foe. Legion Arbalists were trained to use the powerful siege crossbow. A weapon suited for piercing the thick hide of lycanthropes. In battle, they depended on their comrades to hold an enemy back, while their powerful weapons struck them down. Legion Stormhands were warriors who used claymores or the like, and remained in the second rank of a shieldwall. While front line legionnaires held back their enemy, the Stormhands chopped or stabbed over or around their companions.

Legion Pathfinders served as scouts for a main force, ranging far ahead of their comrades, They were trained to search out lycan lairs, and report back to their troops. However, they were also more heavily equipped than standard scouts, and, if discovered, would attempt to form a line of skirmish, and withdraw, peppering the enemy with crossbow bolts.

Legion Sentinels, however, were trained as observers, rather than direct combatants. Inside every Legion force, was a group of Sentinels, who made sure the change did not overcome their brethren. If a legionnaire began to turn, due to losing their Talisman or willfully taking it off, the Sentinels stepped in and executed them.

Unit types
Vargs' Legionnaire- The legionnaires' made up the majority of the Legion. They were equipped with single edged, standard length swords, and tower shields. They fought feral lycans in groups of a dozen, though they could be seen fighting them in larger or smaller groups. When the Legion took to the field in the Blight wars, they fought in companies of a hundred men. Despite having unique ranks and specializations, every member of the Legion was technically a legionnaire.

Legion Arbalist- Legionniares equipped with siege crossbows. In keeping with the armour piercing capabilities of a standard crossbow, siege crossbows are much the same. Designed to punch through the thick hides of lycanthropes. Though they could also punch through plate armours, and Arbalists were often heard boasting that their weapons could punch through the thickest of armours.

Legion Pathfinder- Legion scouts. Unlike typical scouts, pathfinders' wore heavy Legion armour, and wielded crossbows. They were tasked with scouting the path of the main Legion force, and search out lycan dens. When encountering hostiles, they would attempt to link up with other pathfinders, and form a line of skirmish. They would then fall back towards the main force, peppering the enemy with crossbow bolts as they went.

Legion Stormhands- Legionnaires wielding two handed swords. Despite their intimidating weapons, the primary purpose of the Stormhands was to defend their shield bearing comrades. Fighting in the second rank of a shieldwall, they used their swords to chop and slash at lycans attempting to get past the shields of their fellow legionnaires.

Legion Captains- Ranking legionnaires, often wielding the same weapons as their more common brethren. They lead groups of two dozen legionnaires, supported by arbalists and pathfinders.

Legion Sentinels- Legionnaires trained to utilize javelins in addition with the standard Legion sword. The tips of their javelins were coated with wolfsbane poison, and were extremely effective against lycanthropes. Sentinels were expected to put down legionnaires who changed, regardless of rank.

Legion Commander- Veteran legionnaires, chosen to lead large groups of Legion forces. Lead companies of up to a hundred men.

The First Watcher- Leader of Vargs' Legion. The First Watcher was charged with maintaining trade agreements with other organizations, along with keeping the Legion operating. They were also responsible for watching for signs of the change in legionnaires. They fought at the head of the Legion, and were as susceptible to the change, just as any of the legionnaires.

Silverblood Talismans
Silverblood Talismans, introduced by Ricard Thyrem to Varg Greyblood in order to stop his changes, the amulet was a piece of round silver, with a ruby set in the middle. The Masked Mages of the Mist Wardens replicated this piece of magic for every member of the Legion.

The Talismans contained magic that suppressed the lycanthropic transformation present in all were-beasts.However, it could not remove the curse completely. Therefore, legionnaires were required to wear the Talisman at all times, to keep transformation at bay. Those whose Talismans were destroyed, willfully removed, or lost, quickly transformed.

Relationship with Hircine
Though they, for the most part, considered themselves enemies of the Daedric lord Hircine, it is possible that Hircine did not feel the same. As the Legion were still, at their core, lycanthropes, and hunters, there was a good chance that he felt ambigouous towards the Legion, if anything. Despite this, feral werewolves, known to obey the god of the hunt, continued to harass their Legion hunters, though this may be because of the ferals vicious nature.