The Redwings
1.0 Redwing History 1.1 Origins 1.2 Famous Redwings 2.0 Becoming a Redwing 2.1 Hunters of Padwell 2.2 Recruitment 2.3 Training 3.0 Serving as a Redwing 3.1 Terms 3.2 Redwings Sections 3.3 Redwings Ranks |
Their duties include keeping the peace, protecting the border from Xocrian attacks, providing medical care, as well as assisting the citizens of Padwell in times of crisis and everyday life. While they have a reputation in Xocrium as assassins and spies, Redwings rarely ever leave Padwell’s borders, and instead serve as guards and public service workers.
After all, leaving the shelter of the marshes and heading into the enemy nation is usually either deadly or results in a lifetime stay in Emberrock’s prison for a citizen of Padwell.
After this success, they continued in this manner, using the swamp and stealth to their advantage to fight against attacks. The tactics developed in this period still remain in use today; a mix of poisons, plants, and misdirection that makes the Redwings dizzyingly confusing to fight.
They did not become an official force until after the death of Ohtli Padwell and the return of his second, Toivo Aalto. Toivo took command and shaped the Redwings into an even more formidable group, determined to make certain that his lover and dearest friend’s sacrifice would not be in vain.
You can read about them here:
Becoming a Redwing
Information on the recruitment and training of Redwings agents.
Hunters of Padwell & Wings of High Heart
The modern Hunters are very different; it’s a place for children to learn valuable skills and make friends, as well as the primary place Redwings recruit from - though it’s far from a requirement to join the Redwings after ‘graduating’ from the Hunters. Most children in Padwell take part in the Hunters for at least a few years, as not only does it provide opportunities to learn important skills, it’s also great fun. Hunters also do volunteer work for their towns.
Anyone in Padwell from ages 10-18 can join the Hunters. Adults may volunteer their time as leaders of local groups, although most of the mature teachers are retired Redwings and community leaders.
Some of the skills taught in the Hunters are:
- Combat skills
- Hunting/fishing
- Edible/dangerous plants and how to use them
- Teamwork and forming healthy friendships
- Construction/repairing
- How to live in/navigate the swamps
- How to assist local communities
- How to deal with natural disasters
- Creative skills
- Reading/writing
- Formal education
- Life skills - cooking, treating injuries, etc
Some of the public service Hunters might do:
- Help feed villages in times of flood, drought, or poor hunting
- Disaster relief (for the older Hunters, mostly)
- Repairing damaged buildings
- Helping run festivals
- Help tend to the border ‘gardens’ of dangerous plants (for the older Hunters only)
- Marsh cleanup
- Assisting in construction projects
The Redwings pay close attention to the older members of the Hunters, and invite those with promise into their ranks starting at age 17.
Similar to the Hunters of Padwell, the Wings of High Heart were created during the late years of the rebellion after a discussion between Empress Usva Kesätuuli of Ilma and Queen Tuonetar of Padwell. It was believed that a similar experience as the Hunters could be good for kids growing up in the mountains, and so far the Wings have been popular with High Heart’s Perhes.
The Wings function in a similar manner to the Hunters. It teaches children from 10-18 valuable skills, as well as directing their time to assist the various villages and towns in High Heart.
The only major difference between the two groups is that the Wings teach mountain survival and griffon-training as essential skills. It’s not uncommon for them to ‘trade’ members with the Hunters for a few years once they’ve mastered their local environment to learn from the other group.
Although not as common as with the Hunters, the Redwings may recruit from the Wings as well, though most children who join them end up as griffon-riders, however, not members of the Redwings.
The simplest way is just to ask; the Redwings have offices in larger cities where the Paikata are stationed, and anyone may arrange for an audition/interview to have their skills and potential as a recruit assessed. As long as they show promise in some skillset, and the background checks the Redwings perform don’t come up with anything terrible, they’re not likely to be turned away.
Lastly, any Redwings agent may also recommend an interested person as a recruit, though those lower than Paikata in rank cannot officially recruit another agent without approval from senior agents. This is a common method for people in the Land of Rivers to be recruited, and for those with a family history of service in the Redwings.
Any recruit must be at least 17 years old to be offered membership in the Redwings.
Recruits are referred to as “Junior Redwings” and are sorted into temporary learning yhtye (squad) under more senior agents. It’s traditional for a Junior Redwing to spend at least a month in Redwing City before becoming a full member.
Skills that a Redwing-in-training may be taught:
- Reading/writing if not already known
- How to give/follow orders
- Redwings protocols
- Marsh survival skills
- Combat skills (common Redwings weapons are blowdarts, shortswords, daggers/throwing knives, shortbows, crossbows, etc)
- Safe poisons handling
- First aid training
- Situational awareness
- How to deal with disaster situations
- And other relevant skills
Most agents possess at least some competence in the above skills, even if their primary duties lay elsewhere.
Yhtye - A small team of Redwings, let by one Johtaja and a handful of Toinen.
Ainoa - A solitary Redwing agent working outside of a yhtye. Rare and usually temporary.
Korjata - The overall leader of each section of the Redwings. Report to the leader of the Redwings, Veera Nieminen.
Paikata - Regional leaders of each section of the Redwings. They report to their Korjata.
Johtaja - Leaders of yhtye. Receive orders from their Paikatas/other senior Redwings agents.
Toinen - Seconds-in-command within yhtye. They report to their Johtaja and help them lead.
Junior Redwing - Redwings-in-training. New recruits.
Healer - One of the five sections of the Redwings. They act as medics, offering healing to both other Redwings and regular Padwellan citizens.
Disaster Relief - One of the five sections of the Redwings. They act as firefighters and first responders, rescuing people from natural disasters and helping them recover in the aftermath.
Border Patrol - One of the five sections of the Redwings. They patrol the marshes and mountains of Padwell, guarding the borders against hostile intruders.
Canal Guard - One of the five sections of the Redwings. They guard the port cities and internal waterways of Padwell, working to stop smuggling, catch unwelcome intruders, and to guide those who may not know their way through the marshes.
Town Guard - One of the five sections of the Redwings. They guard cities and towns within Padwell, protecting their people and contributing to local communities.
Verisiipi - The original ‘section’ of the Redwings. The verisiipi as a faction no longer properly exist, and no new members of their ‘section’ have been trained since the end of the war.
How long someone remains junior Redwing varies on their prior experience and how quickly they learn; it can take anywhere from a few months to multiple years. They learn Redwing tactics, how to follow orders and work as a team, to read maps, how to improvise in dangerous situations, any basic education (such as reading/writing) they may have been lacking, and several other skills.
While there are Redwing outposts across Padwell, it’s traditional for a Junior Redwing to spend at least one month in Redwing City before graduation.
Uniforms*Junior Redwing uniforms vary greatly as recruits often source their own starting gear. They’ll be given a black-red-and-gold bandana (which can be worn around their neck, on their head, etc, however they want it) to mark them as Redwings-in-training. They are given their Redwing pin when they start training. They will keep this throughout their membership in the order, and it serves as identification and proof that they’re a real Redwing.
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DutiesA Junior Redwing’s primary duty is to learn and expand their skill set. Most of their time is spent training. If extra hands are needed, it’s not uncommon for Junior Redwings to be sent to assist healers or the disaster relief sections of the Redwings.
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Some healing yhtye are assigned to specific locations or other Redwings, while others travel Padwell and High Heart offering medical aid to those in need.
Since the end of the rebellion, Queen Tuonetar has encouraged Redwing healers to travel abroad to places like Ironbrook, Meros, or the Republic of the Spire to learn more about cutting-edge medical discoveries that can be shared with their people.
Uniforms*A Redwing healer’s most distinct piece of uniform is their cloak; worn over their shoulders and patterned like a red-winged blackbird’s plumage. These cloaks are meant to make them easily recognizable as a doctor while on duty.
Aside from their cloak, they carry a waterskin and a bag or two of medical equipment: knives, disinfectant, medicine, various herbs, etc. Mitotiqui flowers are a common motif in the equipment and jewellery of healers. |
DutiesRedwing healers serve as doctors and medics, both for fellow agents and for everyday people in Padwell. They offer medicine, health advice, and other services to citizens of Padwell free of charge.
Healers are also expected to continue their studies of medicine and healing throughout their life, even after finishing training, so they can continue to offer the best care to others. Some healers specialize in physical healing or mental health care, while others have skill in both. |
Smugglers who get caught may be held for a few months at most in a small local prison, but are kicked out of the country rather than being jailed forever. It’s simply not worth the cost of feeding them. Smugglers are fined and may be banned from trading in Padwell if they have repeatedly attempted to bring illegal items into the nation, or if they were caught attempting a very severe crime.
Uniform*Canal guards wear practical clothing that provides protection whilst not weighing them down or being too awkward to get about in. They’re armed with spears, bows, daggers, or shortswords. They’re marked as members of the canal guard by a single shoulder pauldron in Redwing colours, with a bar of blue-green at the edge.
Water basilisks (large, eel-like creatures) are a common motif in the equipment and jewelry of canal guard members. |
DutiesProtecting the Redwing Waterways from abuse.
Recording traffic in and out of Padwell and ensuring that dangerous individuals such as Division agents are not able to cross the border. Inspecting incoming cargo to ensure no illegal goods or people are smuggled in or out of the country. |
While their duties are primarily to enforce laws and investigate crime, they are also expected to be a benefit to the community they work in, and town guards will often assist with construction, hunting, and upkeep for the town they are assigned to.
Uniform*Town guards wear practical clothing that provides protection whilst not weighing them down or being too awkward to get about in. As the public face of the Redwings and what most will see of them day-to-day, they’re expected to be presentable when on-duty.
They’re armed with spears, bows, daggers, or shortswords, and marked as town guards by their single shoulder pauldron in Redwing colours. Chapalu are a common motif in the equipment and jewelry of town guards. |
DutiesLocal law enforcement and investigators.
Protectors of the communities they are assigned to. Assist in public projects, hunting, and construction. Aid their community in times of disaster, working in collaboration with disaster relief agents. |
While not as prestigious as being a border guard, members of this rank are treated with respect by all people of Padwell - they don’t fight off incursions at the border, sure, but many people owe their lives to their hard work.
They work in yhtye of 10-20 people, and either roam the country looking out for places in need of assistance, or are given notice of a disaster and sent to assist. Most towns/cities have at least one disaster relief yhtye stationed nearby.
Uniform*Disaster relief agents typically wear practical clothing, with knee pads and thick gloves, though their exact gear varies wildly depending on what exactly they’re faced with.
They all receive a waterproofed ‘rain cape’, one side in dull camouflage colours and the other in the red-black-gold of the Redwings. It has many uses; as a raincoat, unfolded as a tarp, pulled over one’s mouth and nose to block smoke, or even to be folded over a sharp surface to prevent injury. Giant toebiters are a common motif in the equipment and jewelry of disaster relief agents. |
DutiesPadwell’s emergency services and first responders. They help put out fires, provide immediate medical care to those in need before bringing them to a doctor, search for missing persons, etc.
They also study past disasters to formulate response plans and ways to avoid them in the future, and assist in the recovery of villages/cities following large-scale disasters, repairing buildings and helping supply food. |
Most members here have proven their skills as canal or town guards, although healers and other ranks may also earn a position here as well. Their main duties are to stop intrusions from their western neighbour, make sure that the defences are kept in order by tending the deadly plants and managing the hidden underwater trenches.
Redwings that guard the border live in yhtye of ten; one leader, two seconds, and then seven regular members. They serve for three-month periods before returning to another position for a three-month rest period.
Uniform*The equipment of members of the border patrol serves two purposes; to protect them from injury and to help them blend in. Their gear is a mix of greens, greys and browns, with lots of pockets and pouches to carry supplies and poisons in, and covers almost all of their skin. The less exposed to the toxins of the marsh, the better.
As their work involves the expectation of combat, border patrol members carry weapons with them through the marshes. Their preferred weapons are typically on the smaller side; daggers, throwing knives, poisons of all kinds, blowdarts, small crossbows, shortbows, shortswords, etc. Miquiztli spiders are a common motif in the equipment and jewelry of border patrol members. Members of the border patrol do not wear rank markers to avoid making yhtye leaders targets. Border patrol members are also gifted a hunting knife engraved with redwing motifs on their first patrol of the marshes. |
DutiesTheir primary duty is to guard the border with Xocrium, and fend off knights and Division agents who attempt to cross into the country and do harm. They also maintain border defences - the small forts, underwater trenches and barriers, groves of toxic plants, etc, that help make the borders impassable.
They are also expected to report on hazards deep within the marshes, and protect any people in need they come across on their patrols |
While inactive, there is an unspoken expectation that, if another war should occur, the Verisiipi will be reformed and train new members.
Uniform*Verisiipi equipment was not dissimilar to that of the modern border patrol, though was often patchwork and made from whatever a Redwing recruit during the early days had on hand.
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DutiesThe Verisiipi operated during a time when the Redwings were in their infancy and no distinct sections existed. Most served as assassins and soldiers, guarding Padwell’s lands and fighting for their independence, but there were also healers, craftsmen and other non-combatants in their ranks.
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* Note that Redwing uniforms are handmade for each agent. While they may have certain shared motifs and accessories, no single getup should look exactly alike. Don’t copy 1:1 clothing that other Redwing characters or NPCs have - it doesn’t make sense lore-wise and it is plagiarism if you don’t have permission to do so.
Red-winged blackbirds are a common motif in clothing throughout all sections of the Redwings.
Redwings Ranks
Redwing Command | The highest ranks of the Redwings.
Title | Duties | Rank Marker |
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Head of the Redwings |
The entirety of the Redwings follow a single leader, currently Veera Neiminen. The Head of the Redwings reports directly to the Aateli and Queen Tuonetar, and guides the broad motions of their order. |
The Head of the Redwings is one of the few people, outside of the Haikaroita and the royal family, allowed to wear white heron feathers. Along with that, they also a Korjata’s markers in gold, and a short red-gold-black cape for formal occasions. |
Korjata |
Each section of the Redwings has a single Korjata. They guide their part of the organization as a whole and report directly to the Head of the Redwings, Veera Nieminen. |
Korajata wear a white heron symbol on their shoulder, overtop a Johtaja’s single bar. |
Paikata |
Paikata are the regional leaders of each section of the Redwings. There are five each in Windridge, the Mire, Deepmarsh, Shadowshore and High Heart respectively. They are responsible for accepting reports from and coordinating yhtye and ainoa stationed in their region of the country. Paikata serving in High Heart are usually locals and must be personally appointed by the Empress and Perhe councils. |
Paikata wear a false serpent symbol on their shoulder, overtop a Johtaja’s single bar. |
Ranks within Yhtye | Ranks within smaller groups of the Redwings.
Title | Duties | Rank Marker |
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Johtaja |
Leaders of Redwing yhtye. Direct and look out for their subordinates. Johtaja is currently the highest rank a player character (or player-made NPC) can hold. |
A single bar. |
Toinen |
Seconds-in-command in Redwing yhtye. Aid their Johtaja in leading and take over if they’re injured or otherwise indisposed. Individual Toinen are ranked by seniority. |
Double bar (a reference to Toinen literally meaning “second”) |
Regular Yhtye Member |
Average Redwing agents that serve as regular members of the organization. The exact number depends on their duties: Border Patrol Yhtye are typically ten or more members, Disaster Relief ten to twenty, City/Town Guards ten to fifteen, Canal Guards ten to fifteen, Junior Redwings in groups of ten, and Healers six to twelve. |
None. |