Virtuous Worms

Banner believed to be used by the Grand Company of the Virtuous Worms

The Grand Company of the Virtuous Worms was a Daxian mercenary army active in various conflicts starting in the early 10th century until their forceful disbandment in 1250 CE. Formed in the dying years of the Chen dynasty as its power waned and desertion became more widespread among border garrisons, its initial core was formed from the soldiers of the fortress of Kathok who deserted after their wages were stolen by treasury officials. Under the command of the self styled High Marshall Xol, Will of Thousands they entered the service of the usurper Tengu Peg-Leg and after his overthrow, the United Cities. From an initial size of around eight hundred men, the intake of adventurers, bandits and prisoners of war would by the 1200's balloon the company to a size of around nine thousand men under arms.

Origin

The general malaise and military decrepitude of the late period Chen dynasty coupled with the start of the crisis of the Four Great Impostors meant that the years from 900 CE and onwards saw considerable upheaval in all strata of society, including military formations. Corruption and falling military budgets meant that military forces guarding the borders often went unpaid for long stretches of time. This led to high rates of desertion, pillaging and abuses towards local populations and revolts. The fortress of Kathok was one of the most important strongholds protecting Pingu province, sitting right on the border with all the eastern territories that had already defected to usurper Tengu Peg Leg. Having repulsed at least two attacks by Tengu's forces and having not been paid for six months, mutinous sentiment began to quickly spread inside the garrison. Upon news that a caravan from Zhongzi carrying the soldier's wages had either been robbed by bandits or diverted by corrupt officials, the garrison mutinied. They immediately sent messengers to Tengu and offered to sell Kathok to him, an offer he agreed to. The now renegade group of soldiers now moved by an appetite for revenge moved towards Zhongzi, led by Kathok's former quartermaster, an officer named Xol. Having no walls and only small garrison, the defenses of the city of Zhongzi were quickly overwhelmed after which an entire week of pillaging and brutality was observed. In order to save his daughter from rape, the town magistrate agreed to marry his daughter to Xol, a practice common to the era. The brutal ransacking of Zhongzi led to Xol's men being dubbed as Vile Worms by a government pronouncement, a name that they changed to the Virtuous Worms when they began taking on mercenary work.

Service with the United Cities

Painting of a Daxian mercenary of the Chen era, he is armed with a rudimentary firearm

The occupation of the fortress of Khartok created such panic at the Chen court that the military response to Tengu Peg Leg's rising was accelerated, with Da Beipan's army being ordered west to confront the usurper. Having made themselves at home in Zhongzi, the Worms were sent into a frenzy of anxiety at the news of the rapidly approaching imperial army. Gathering their new wives and all the loot they could carry, the company decided to retreat back to Khartok in all haste. They set Zhongzi on fire before leaving to slow down Da Beipan and cover their retreat. Arriving at Khartok, the company negotiated for entrance with the castellan, an official named Eir. Knowing that if they did not get into the fortress they could be caught and slaughtered outside, Eir haggled harshly for their service and also demanded that the men of the company be dispersed widely through the garrison (to make plotting treachery a harder task). Xol and his men had no choice but to accept the conditions and officially entered the service of the usurper Tengu Peg-Leg. The imperial army eventually arrived at the fortress and laid siege to it for three months during which the mercenaries fought tenaciously, knowing only traitor's nooses awaited them if the castle fell. That fate was avoided with the arrival of a relief army with the Chen army refusing to engage and retreating for the time being.

The Worms were dispatched to harass the retreating foe and attack its foragers and scouts wherever possible.

Notable Commanders

• Xita the Nurturing Worm
• Akka the Worm of Secrets
• Eir the Keeper of Order
• Ur the Ever-Hunger
• Xol Will of the Thousands
• Yul the Honest Worm