Editing Scrollhammer: Holds of Skyrim (section)

====The Companions of Ysgramor====

After the Return, the warriors of Ysgramor settled around the mythic Skyforge, deep in the heart of the land. Naming their mead hall Jorvasskr in honor of Ysgramor's ship, they served as defenders of Skyrim and her people ever since. Through four eras, they have endured in one form or another, and their fame spans over all the Holds.

The forms they have taken have been for good or for ill. In days of old, they pledged themselves as warriors for one Hold or another; when Companion slaughtered Companion during the Wars of Succession, they agreed to not to involve themselves in feuds between Jarls in future eras. Instead, they serve as mediators in personal disputes and bounty hunters, whenever they are not defending Skyrim's people from wild beasts, Orcs, Giants, outside invaders. Armed with the mightiest steel of the Skyforge, crafted by the finest smiths in the land, the Companions are truly a sight to behold.

Ever since the passing of Ysgramor to Sovngarde, the Companions have never had a true leader. Every Companion is free to ultimately choose his path in life. Troubles within the organization are resolved by the Circle, the experienced champions. The worthiest of the Circle, the Harbinger, acts as the moral guide to the band, but even the newest blood may dispute his orders. The warriors of Companions for this reason dispense with all honorifics in their addresses and speeches, only referring to one another as brothers in arms.

In the Third Era, the Companions fell into a life of brigandry and dishonor. The name of Ysgramor was shamed by their deeds. But those few in their number still seeking honor gathered in secret, and returned to Jorvasskr to bring the corrupt Harbinger and his lackeys to justice. This action was met by violence, and many Companions spilled the blood of their brothers, but every criminal in the order was slain or driven out that day. Ever since, the Companions have sought to reclaim their lost honor, to find the lost Shield of Ysgramor, and to regain the pieces of his mighty axe Wuuthrad, long since scattered across the land.

A recent action of the Companions in their quest for glory has proven both a blessing and a curse; the blood of Hircine, God of the Hunt. For when the Glenmoril Coven, a band of foul witches, promised power to a hapless Harbinger late in the Third Era, he accepted, not knowing what would befall him and his Circle. For as each of them partook in a dark ritual with the witches, each of them transformed into a great wolf, and set upon their foes not in honorable battle but in ruthless savagery. Even as they recovered and returned to the human shape, half of the spirit of each warrior remained in the lupine aspect, able to transform again at will. Many sought to use this power in secret, for noble purposes; others found themselves unable to control this power, transforming in times of great bloodlust or at the height of the moons, tearing their foes to pieces and devouring their flesh. Every warrior of the Circle has since this day joined the ranks of the Hounds of Hircine, but many with regrets; for all who bear the Beast Blood are tied to the hunt, not to the path of Shor, and so must spend eternity not in Sovngarde, but in the great Hunting Grounds.

23 pts per model

Elite. Infantry, Skirmish, Nord. 5-20 models per unit. You may take 0-1 units of the Companions of Ysgramor as a unique Warrior Clan in your army.

25mm x 25mm base(Companion). 40mm x 40mm base(Wolf Form).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! WS
! BS
! S 
! T 
! W 
! I 
! A 
! Ld 
! Mg 
! Sv 
|-
| Companion
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 1
| 3
| 2
| 8
| 1
| 6+
|-
| Circle Champion
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 1
| 4
| 3
| 9
| 1
| 5+
|-
| Harbinger
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 4
| 2
| 4
| 3
| 10
| 1
| 5+
|-
| (Wolf Form)
| 2
| 0
| 5
| 5
| 2
| 4
| 4
| 9
| 0
| -(6++)
|}

The entire unit has the following Special Rules:

Stubborn.

For every 5 models, you may upgrade one model to Circle Champion for +20 pts

In a unit numbering 10 or more models, you may upgrade one model to the Harbinger for +30 pts

A unit of Companions containing a Circle Champion or the Harbinger have the Fight All Our Lives Mighty Deed.

'''Companions'''

Wargear: Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Great Weapon, Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Hand Weapon, Shield, Light Mail.

Any number of models may replace their Great Weapon or Shield with any of the following:

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Poleaxe (free)

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Hand Weapon (free)

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Spear (free) 

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Dagger (free)

*Bow (free) 

*Short Bow (free)

Any number of models may replace their armor with any of the following:

*Chainmail or Plate Armor +2 pts per model

*Scaled Mail +3 pts per model 

*Full Plate Armor +6 pts per model

Spells: None

'''Circle Champions and Harbinger'''

Wargear: Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Great Weapon, Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Hand Weapon, Wolf Armor(5+ Light Armor).

Any number of models may replace their Great Weapon or Shield with any of the following:

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Poleaxe (free)

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Hand Weapon (free)

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Spear (free) 

*Master-Crafted Skyforge Steel Dagger (free)

*Bow (free) 

*Short Bow (free)

Any number of models may replace their armor with any of the following:

*Full Plate Armor +3 pts per model

*Nordic Relic Armor +10 pts per model

Each Circle Champion may purchase up to 20 points of magic items where appropriate from the armory. The Harbinger may purchase any number of magic items where appropriate from the armory, and may purchase one or more of the the following artifacts:

The Shield of Ysgramor: Shield, Artifact. The ancient shield of Ysgramor may only be wielded by the Harbinger of the Companions or by the Dovahkiin himself. Bearer has +1 Wound and a 4+ Ward save against spell damage. +35 pts

Wuuthrad: Artifact, Battle Axe. The mighty axe of Ysgramor himself may only be wielded by the Harbinger of the Companions or by the Dovahkiin. Wuuthrad is a Master-Crafted Runic Battle Axe that strikes with +2 Strength, and re-rolls all failed wounds against Elves(including Falmer, but not including Orcs). The sight of such a mythic weapon, reforged after millennia, causes all friendly units from this army book within 6" of wielder to become Fearless. +48 points.

Spells: None

Special Rules:

Character. The Harbinger is a Special Character, and so only one may be taken. Immune to Disease.

Mighty Deeds: In addition, each Circle Champion and the Harbinger must also take of the following Mighty Deeds: Battle Rage, Cleaving Blows, Skilled Hunter, Feller of Giants, Resilience, Shield Brothers(these Mighty Deeds only apply to them individually, not to the entire unit).

Battle-Prowess: Each Circle Champion and the Harbinger may take Skilled Fighter for +3 pts, Deadeye for +6 pts, or Legendary Fury for +10 pts. (See the Warrior Clans rules for further details). These upgrades only apply to the model purchasing them, not to the entire unit.

The Beast Blood: Once per game, at the beginning of your movement phase, if there are no Independent Characters (other than the Dovahkiin) attached to a unit of Companions, and no other friendly or allied units within 6" of a unit of the Companions, all Circle Champions and the Harbinger in the unit may call upon the power of Hircine. In a span of mere seconds, their bodies undergo a terrible transformation, from men into great savage wolves. While in this form, they use the Wolf Form profile rather than their own, and bear no wargear. \

Replace each model in Wolf Form with a more appropriate model if you wish; note that models in Wolf Form are mounted on 40mm x 40mm bases. At the end of each of your turns, if a model in Wolf Form has not slain a model, return that model to his normal profile, with all his previous wargear and abilities. No Independent Character (other than the Dovahkiin) can join a unit of Companions with one or more models currently in Wolf Form.

'''Wolf Form'''

Beasts, Skirmish, Werewolf.

The characteristics of a model in Wolf Form are included in the profile for Companions above.

Wargear:
None

Spells:
None

Special Rules:

Fearless, Rending, Causes Terror

Hircine's Blessing: This model is Ethereal, but the Ward Save granted against mundane attacks is only 6+.

Controlled Savagery:
To enter the shape of a wolf is to endanger one's sanity, to subject oneself to the rage of a mindless killer. As each model that enters Wolf Form, that model must take a Leadership test on its own value. If that model fails, it gains Frenzied and Bestial Instinct, and if any of its attacks miss in close combat, you must instead allocate them to a non-Werewolf model in the same unit as the model that failed the Leadership check. These rules apply for as long as the model remains in Wolf Form. It cannot be shaken from its Frenzied state by any means other than leaving Wolf Form. If the Leadership check is passed, however, the model instead may continue to use its Mighty Deeds and Battle Prowess while in Wolf Form.