Chou-Hadra is Arabic for 'Warriors of Renown' or 'Brethren of the Sword'. The original group was formed during the siege of the port city or Kurgal, the capital of the Opal Emirates on the realm of Illyria. The country had been invaded by the Babylonians and the capital was the only possible position which could hold until the allied armies could reach the scene. Torcal Khan had been asked to lead the defence, but with the old emirate dead and his newly crowned son only fifteen years old, matters were bleak even without the shortages that he faced.

    Upon closer inspection the situation was desperate with only a poorly trained and equipped conscript force trying to defend over four miles of city walls. As the invaders closed relentlessly on the beleaguered city with the avowed intention of razing it to the ground, it was clear that all who could flee would do so.

    Torcal went on a tour of the walls to position his forces as best he could, but in his heart he was already preparing for his death at the hands of the oncoming horde. Whilst he was away he asked Duar to go to the market place to ask for volunteers, and so it was that Duar went through the unseasonable early morning fog and appealed to those of brave heart and stern resolve to enlist and fight for their city.

    Immediately a man in strange garb stepped forward and took his hand

    "I come from another place but your fight is just and my sword is ready"

    And so joined Vandor Cardain. Next, a travel stained Orc pushed his way through the crowd/

    " I 'ave crossed da Urg to fight with ya"

    And so came Egrim. Another man stepped forward, dressed in fine clothes.

    "Where there is peril is perhaps the greatest reward" uttered the stranger, and so came Felix.
 
    Soon after came Arron Wandera, Sturgeth Two-Swords and Zachery Moores.

    Surprised even by these few volunteers, Duar led the handful of men and together they recruited more. When Torcal returned to the palace he met with fifty who would fight. With no other forces to spare to form a reserve Torcal greeted them warmly, though he knew this pitifully small number did not stand a chance against the thousands of troops being sent against them.

    Later that afternoon the first serious attack came. The attackers soon breached the North wall and the small band were forced into desperate street fighting in order to push back the attackers. Their courage inspired the conscripts, and amazingly the initial attack was repulsed. By dusk that evening the Black Horse Banner once again flew above the North gate, but of the fifty there were now only forty-two.

    The second day brought new terrors to the city as the Babylonians massed a battery of twenty trebuchets and showered the city with Greek Fire. More and more buildings caught alight leaving the defenders fighting through thick seas of smoke that smothered their throats and blocked out the very sun. The fiercest fighting took place around the infirmary, but again was repulsed, but at the cost of some five hundred conscripts and another thirteen of the volunteers.

    The third day brought the Brethren to their 'Kort'Baval' or crisis point. Severley weakened, the defenders had to fight off two breaches at opposite ends of the city. Somehow the defenders held out and the crisis was overcome, but hundreds more troops had been lost and another nine of the volunteers lost their lives. Their brave sacrifice raised hope in the hearts of the remaining population and fresh volunteers flocked to the Black Horse banner.

    Furious with the resiliance of the city, the Babylonian generals start to mass over nine thousand troops into a massive atatck on the South gate, a force larger than the entire defending force. However, their assault is defeated before it ever reaches the walls, as the Brethren lead their first assault against the enemy. Over a hundred troops were killed in the charge, but they were able to smash the enemy formation and killed almostr a thousand enemy troops in the confusion.
    Late into the night, new was received that the Babylonian generals had sent five assasin to slay Torcal. Egrim rushed to warn the sleeping Torcal. Crashing through the door of his quarters, Egrim saw Torcal weaponless and Feral, trying desperately to fight of the assasins. Blood flowed from countless wounds on Torcal's body as his fighting spirit slowly faded away. Desperate to save his life, Egrim threw himself in front of the deathblow and took it himself.
    For several hours it seemed as if both would die as Torcal, still in feral form, would let none other than Duar near and Egrim fought against the poison now coursing around his body.

    By dawn of the fifth day, Torcal and Egrim have both recovered somewhat, although they were still unconcious. News of their injuries is kept from the populace as Vandor and Felix lead the defence. As the day wears on the fighting around the South gate intensifies. Finally news of Torcal and Egrim's injuries leeks out and the South gate falls.

    Day six and again things are desperate. Th enemy pour even more troops into the city through the breached gates. Early on, Egrim and Torcal are forced to rise from their beds to give heart to the defenders, and twelve hours of desperate street fighting follows. As the Brethren and the conscripts fall back into the city, it seems that no matter how many enemies they kill there are always more to take their place. As dusk falls the Brethren are fighting around the walls of the palace itself, and even the young Emir joins their ranks. Finally, with the last rays of sunligh fading over the horizon, the trumpet calls of the allied army can be heard and the siege is broken.

    As the group of defenders gather in the marketplace to greet the reinforcements friends seek out friends and the awful cost is revealed....only sixty seven of the original conscript force of eight thousand remains and of the fifty original volunteers only eight had survived.

    In thanks for saving the capital the emirate, then and there among the blood and smoke of battle, invested the eight as Chou-Hadra, thus comes....

    From that time on the Chou-Hadra fought, bled, drank and lived their lives together. The bonds forged during those desperate days were drawn still closer as for the next three years, the Chou-hadra plied their trade as mercenaries and built up quite a reputation. During this time their numbers grew, but it came apparent that some seemed to form a closer bond than others, seeming almost telepathically linked.
 
    In 1079 the seconf time of destiny came. While at the castle of Boreth in Tuscany the Brethren were approached by Compte Giovanni Feretteuch, the castellean of Remon, the Holy city of the Pontiffs. He told how the Paxan lands around the city were being invaded by a massed goblinoid army, ranked with huge numbers of unliving. Th pontiff's own armies were incapable of fighting these hordes so he came to the Chou-Hadra to seek their help. While he could offer little in the way of wealth, all who fought would be welcome to settle and live in the Paxan lands if the invasion was repulsed. The Chou-Hadra accepted his offer and travelled to the Paxan lands to fight the Vandrell army.

    For the next three years the Chou-Hadra led one of the three armies of the Pontiff. The army of the North soon musters almost every race and creed to their ranks, but follows the strictest code and is probably the most succesful.

    In 1080 Torcal marries Ysabelle, only daughter of Giovanni.

    Slowlt the tide of the war turns in favor of the Pontiff and by 1081 the lands are almost reclaimed. Suddenly in February of this year the Pontiff dies after a short illness. With accusations of murder and corruption flowing like rivers the council of bishops gather and select Philip of Randrell to receive the holy spirit. Soon after his coronation Philips summons all his generals to Remon and blesses them for their success. He also pledges them reaches and land when the Vandrells are completly driven off.

March 1081

            The newly formed Inquisition passes 'The Edict of Jude' which bans all non humans from owning property, travelling freely or holding any court position within the boundaries of the Paxan lands. Further more, all non humans of less than three generations lineage are to be exiled immediately.

           The army of the north, numbering almost half non humans, is lead by the Chou-Hdara into Lombardy where, at the castle of Boreth, the High Kor'tova sits to decide whether to wage war against the new Pontiff. Ysabelle dies in childbirth and Torcal's only child, a son, apparently dies also.

            Deciding against such an action the debate rages as to what the next course of action should be. At the same time the Pontiff persuades his council of Bishops to level a great curse to destroy the army. The curse causes an Earthquake which destroys the castle of Borethand causes the troops camped outside to flee.. Raj snatches Vandor to save him from death, but so close is the bond of the Chou-Hadra that his companions are drawn with him: Torcal Khan, Duar Soulburner, Egrimm Von Helbras, Felix Jeigah, Arran Wandera and Zachery Moores. Of the original eight, onyl Sturgeth two-swords is killed.

    In Illyria Hapslionn and Bowreth arrowheart lead the rest of the Chou-Hadra and the remnants of the army of the North into hiding, while the original seven are forced to cross the seventeen realms as Raj teleports Vandor away from danger, to what end is unknown.