Brotherhood of the Wolf Pelts

The simple structure of the Wolf Pelts are essential to it's survival, Ulrica Vargstrom leads it with an iron grip and puts down anyone who steps out of line. If and when she goes her own way nobody knows if another will rise to the top. Though saying this, it is likely to lead to an internal power struggle.

The Brotherhood is founded on bloodshed and violence. They are warriors first and foremost, and rumoured to feast on the fresh warm corpses of the fallen they face. Stories circulate that if not getting to eat the dead of the enemy they will hunt down and kill fresh victims usually on or around the full moon.

Most societies refuse to let them stay anywhere close to settlements. Those that do either place them under heavy guard, or in a place that can be locked from the other side.

They use a series of wolf inspired vocalisations and body language. They don't really care if others see this. Also, the Brotherhood makes use of wolf pelts and bones primarily the skulls and teeth of them. They seem to worship the wolf especially around the time of the full moon, and appears as an offshoot of Germanic beliefs especially the Nordic Aestir gods of war.

Given their nature they are a mercenary band first and foremost. Hiring themselves out to those that pay the best price, and usually will be placed in the front line causing havoc when these berserkers launch themselves in a pack at the enemy. other than that, their worship of the wolf seems to be so important that only battle draws them out from their worship.

The Brotherhood has very little assets. They have plenty of money and never seem to spend it except in basic supply and lodgings where necessary. They regularly use local blacksmiths and weaponsmiths where necessary to maintain their equipment, along with leather workers & hunters for the skins they wear. Exactly where they store their money and any war booty they make in the process.

They do appear to have a number of shrines to the wolves and to Odin & the other gods, though the former appears more important. It is mentioned it's likely they store anything they find important at these shrines. These are scattered throughout the places they operate and likely have other secrets there waiting to be discovered.

Something about them strikes most outsiders as odd. Wolves seem to be attracted to them and massive numbers can build up where they are operating and follow the orders of the Brotherhood. Exactly why is speculated up constantly, and most think it's either from the Brotherhood's personality & appearance appealing to the wolves, or something more sinister... lycanthropy.

For the latter it appears that they do suffer some such disease, and do appear to change when fighting in the midst in battle.

The Brotherhood of the Wolf Pelts were created 10 years ago by Ulrica Vargstrom after she was kicked out of Nordic society. Travelling down through to mainland Europe she is meant to have given a "gift" to a few other worshippers of wolves, and followed the path of the berserker.

She eventually built up a small following throughout this time, and got to the time her Brotherhood needed money to survive when dealing with others. Eventually, they got the idea of melding their talent for violence and savagery to the battlefields of Europe. Many raiders , empire expansion and tribal warfare created the perfect environment for a mercenary band. Taking up this it allowed them to carve a niche market for terror troops for hire.

Striking hard and fast, and victims with injuries like they had been attacked by wild animals. This led them to be labelled as too dangerous after a couple of stories follow them that innocent civilians have disappeared when they camp down in a region. When remains are found, they are found to have been half ate and torn apart in an orgy of savagery. These usually seem to take in the story of them happening around the time of the full moon.

These stories take in eye witness accounts that the Brotherhood is lycanthropes in human, Dwarf and Elf forms. Some who have heard these stories believe that Ulrica Vargstrom is some type of lycanthrope and spread it to these men or dominated a few the Brotherhood encountered.

At present they are fighting on behalf of the Frankish Empire in the Saxon Wars, and usually sent in to the hardest fights and behind enemy lines. Based in the city of Aachen, they seem to be following some trail concerning the breaking of some type of curse. Something they believe can be found to the south of Aachen.

In the meantime, they have built up a sinister reputation around Aachen. Strange wolf howls and large wolves have been reported around the city and surrounding area. A few bodies have turned up mauled and torn apart, usually when the Brotherhood is in town and the moon is full.