作者 主题: 乌尔芬卫士  (阅读 11857 次)

副标题: 塔尔多背景设定,当然是没有玩家资源

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乌尔芬卫士
« 于: 2019-02-20, 周三 21:33:17 »
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“We trendsetters need to stay ahead of the times. I knew the next winter would be a hard one, and I’d already been thinking about adding furs to the upcoming cold-weather fashions. While eyeing those northern brutes clustering around the throne like a herd of aurochs protecting their young, I had an epiphany! I could design a line of Ulfen-inspired clothing to be both warm and chic. The furs wouldn’t be common bear or rabbit or whatever those barbarians use, but the softest ermine and mink. The barbarians wear their clothes like a saddle draped over a cow. I’d make sure the lines were tighter and more fitting. I had a few prototype designs finished when I received a personal visit from Kol Kodranson himself, leader of the Ulfen Guard. The man is positively immense, and he radiates menace. ‘None of that,’ was all he growled, and then he left. I didn’t need to ask what he meant. I halted production immediately.”
—Vellesh Varrikan, Taldan clothing designer

“我们这些引领潮流的人必须始终走在时代的前列。我知道下一个冬天将无比难熬,而我也早在考虑给即将来临的寒冬时尚加入些皮草元素。当我注视著那些如同原牛庇护幼崽一般簇拥着王座的北方野兽时,心头忽生一计!我可以设计一系列兼具保暖与时髦的乌尔芬风格服饰。制服皮草绝不会采用普通的熊皮、兔皮或是别的什么野蛮人才穿的东西,柔软而温和的貂皮才是首选。那些披着皮毛的野蛮人看起来就像挂着鞍座的母牛。我敢肯定这系列的服饰会更加紧致和舒适。在我受到乌尔芬卫士首领,科尔•科德雷森本人的私人拜访时,我已经有了好几件完工的设计原型。这个男人身材高大,浑身散发著可怖的气息。‘净是胡扯,’他的咆哮填满了房间,随后便转身离开。而我也没必要再细究他的话,赶紧停止了服装生产。”
——维利什•瓦里肯(Vellesh Varrikan),塔尔多服装设计师

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The personal guard of the grand prince, the Ulfen Guard, fills its fearsome ranks with Ulfen from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, who travel from northwestern Avistan to serve as defenders of the Taldan emperor. As Ulfen barbarians from the distant north lack ties to the complicated web of patronage and conspiracy so prevalent in Taldan courts, they have long been seen as the safest-possible guards of the emperor’s person. The Ulfen Guard cares little for the fate of Taldor as a whole, or for any of its soft, scheming aristocrats; their loyalty is to the wearer of the Primogen Crown alone, and their honor compels them to fight—and, when they must, to die— to protect their charge. Of course, the members of the Ulfen Guard aren’t immune to the intrigue prevalent in Taldor, but their unfailing honor, extraordinary solidarity, and unfamiliarity with Taldan customs (and even, at times, Taldan language) make them nearly incorruptible. A member of the Ulfen Guard is not easily bribed—at the end of her term of service, she is entitled to take whatever treasure she can carry from the imperial vaults back home, and it is rare that an Ulfen sees a need for more wealth than this.

作为大亲王的私人护卫,乌尔芬卫士那可怖的行伍由来自林诺姆诸王国的乌尔芬人组成,他们从西北方的阿维斯坦旅行至此,担任塔尔多皇帝的保卫者。正因为这些乌尔芬野蛮人与盛行于塔尔多宫廷错综复杂的利益与阴谋之网毫不相干,他们始终被看作可能是最为安全可靠的皇帝私人护卫。乌尔芬卫士很少担心塔尔多整体的命运,也不在乎它的软肋和那些满腹心机的贵族;他们只向继业冕冠(Primogen Crown)的佩戴者宣誓效忠,而荣誉迫使他们为之战斗——在必要的时候,为之牺牲——从而保护他们的主人。当然,乌尔芬卫士的成员对充斥着塔尔多的阴谋诡计并不免疫,然而那不朽的荣誉,惊人的团结以及对塔尔多习俗(有时候,甚至是塔尔多语言)的无知,让他们变得异常清廉。收买乌尔芬卫士的成员并不容易——在他们的任期结束时,她有权带走任何能够亲自从帝国仓库里搬回家的宝物,很少有乌尔芬卫士会需要比这更多的财富。

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To an ordinary Ulfen leading a hardscrabble existence in the north, Taldor is so alien and distant that the tales of gilded galas and backstabbing masquerades are no more real than fairy stories. But veteran warriors return from this distant land with gold and gems as living proof that Taldor is an actual place—one where fierce loyalty is rewarded with riches. Not every Ulfen who travels to Taldor to join the Ulfen Guard is accepted; current or retired members of the Ulfen Guard must testify that a newcomer is canny, honorable, observant, and resolute before she can be considered for membership.

对于经营著贫困生活的普通乌尔芬人来说,塔尔多遥远而陌生,那些富丽堂皇的节日和阳奉阴违的舞会只是比神话传说还要不真实的故事。然而带着黄金与宝石从那遥远国土归来的老练勇士却又是塔尔多真实存在的生动证明——那是一片对勇猛的忠诚报之以财富的土地。并不是每个为加入乌尔芬卫士而旅行至塔尔多的乌尔芬人都能得到承认;必须有现役或退休的乌尔芬卫士证明这位新人重视荣誉并且谨慎、机警而果断,她才会被考虑授予加入卫队的资格。

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Despite the organization’s self-reliance, the Ulfen Guard does not act alone; a network of its allies provides the members of the Ulfen Guard with services and information. The Ulfen Guard does not accept anyone into this support network who they do not view as brave and worthy. Members of the network who are ethnically Ulfen are called huscarls and are eligible to join the Ulfen Guard. Those who do not share blood with the Ulfen are called leidangs; although a leidang may work closely with the Ulfen Guard, he may never join them.

尽管组织本身足以自力更生,但乌尔芬卫士并不是独立运作的;与盟友间的关系网会为乌尔芬卫士的成员提供服务和情报。乌尔芬卫士不会允许任何在他们看来不够勇敢或没有价值的家伙进入支援关系网。关系网中属于乌尔芬人的成员称为近卫(Huscarls),并且有权加入乌尔芬卫士。而那些不属于乌尔芬血脉的成员则称为兵士(Leidangs);一名兵士可以与乌尔芬卫士紧密地协作,却永远也不可能加入他们。

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Although the Ulfen Guard are best known as the highly capable and highly visible bodyguards of the grand prince, they also serve at the emperor’s command to protect his interests throughout the Inner Sea region. While they are neither trained in espionage nor naturally inclined to it, Ulfen Guard members can operate in plain sight, seen as merely ignorant foreigners or brutish raiders as they pursue delicate missions on the emperor’s behalf.
虽说乌尔芬卫士通常是由于值得称道的才干和令人瞩目的大亲王保镖身份而广为人知,不过他们也会为保护皇帝在整个内海地区的利益而担任指挥官。尽管他们从未受过间谍训练,也不倾向于进行此类活动,但当乌尔芬卫士在皇帝的授意下执行那些微妙的任务时,往往只是被视作愚昧无知的异乡人或是粗鄙野蛮的入侵者,因而能够在众目睽睽之下展开行动。

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HISTORY
Grand Prince Hyrotte I formed the Ulfen Guard in 3129 ar, mere weeks after he assumed the Lion Throne. Qadiran spies had killed his predecessor, Grand Prince Jalrune, and Grand Prince Hyrotte knew that it would take only one lucky assassin for him to follow Jalrune to the grave. Immediately after taking the throne, Hyrotte began to leverage his most trusted connections for personal protection, including an Ulfen barbarian named Birgitte Redmane.

历史
大亲王海洛特一世(Hyrotte I)于3129AR组建了乌尔芬卫士,此时他才刚刚登上狮王宝座(Lion Throne)数周。卡蒂亚间谍谋杀了前任大亲王贾鲁恩(Jalrune),而大亲王海洛特心里很清楚,只要有一个刺客运气够好,就可以把他跟着贾鲁恩一起送进坟墓。登基之后,海洛特立即着手利用心腹建立起私人防线,其中就包括一位名为博吉特•赤鬃(Birgitte Redmane)的乌尔芬野蛮人。

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Birgitte had been imprisoned in Oppara for many years, freed after information she provided allowed Jalrune to drive off an ice linnorm marauding through communities along the World’s Edge Mountains. Birgitte held no hard feelings about her imprisonment, and in fact she and Hyrotte—who had been the most vocal proponent of her release—became friends. When he became emperor, Hyrotte asked Birgitte to stand by his side as a bodyguard. Birgitte went even further, offering the service of her kin from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Hyrotte was eager to have bodyguards completely unaffiliated with regional politics, and he agreed that the warriors could leave with as much treasure as they could carry from Hyrotte’s vaults when their terms of service were through. The emperor decreed he would accept new Ulfen—and only Ulfen—as his personal bodyguards thereafter, and the Ulfen Guard was born.

博吉特曾经在欧帕拉被囚禁了许多年,直至她向贾鲁恩提供情报后才得以获释,而这份情报令后者得以击退一只在世界之沿山脉(World’s Edge Mountains)附近社区潜伏横行的冰雪蛇龙(Ice Linnorm)。博吉特对加诸于她的监禁并不抱持什么厌恶,事实上,她和海洛特——一位毫不掩饰地支持将她释放的人——建立了友谊。在海洛特登基之后,他要求博吉特担任他的贴身保镖。而博吉特则更进一步,让那些来自于林诺姆诸王国的族人们都一齐为他服务。此时海洛特十分渴望拥有一支完全独立于地区政治的保镖卫队,因此他允许这些武者在任期结束时,从他的宝库中取走任何他们能够携带的宝物。从那以后,这位皇帝便宣布他将会接受新的乌尔芬人——也只有乌尔芬人——担任他的私人保镖,而乌尔芬卫士也就此诞生。

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Originally, only blood relatives of Birgitte Redmane were allowed to serve in the Ulfen Guard, making her home of Vasterborg one of the wealthiest communities in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. However, demand soon outstripped supply; subsequent emperors, wishing to prove themselves better defended than their predecessors, expanded the Ulfen Guard and accepted members from allied clans across the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Although the emperors rarely bothered researching the complex webs of lineage and allegiance that bind Ulfen society, the bodyguards could name their relationship to each of their fellow members, whether bound by blood or clan fealty.

起初只有博吉特•赤鬃的血亲才能够在乌尔芬卫士中任职,这让她的瓦斯特博格家族(Home of Vasterborg)成为了林诺姆诸王国中最富裕的社群之一。然而,对卫士的需求很快超出了供给;之后的历任皇帝都希望自己能够拥有比前任更加优良的防线,继而不断扩充乌尔芬卫士的规模,并开始接受来自分布在林诺姆诸王国内的同盟部族的成员。虽然皇帝们对研究复杂的血系网路和约束乌尔芬社会的忠诚观念这件事很少上心,但这些保镖总是很清楚自己与同伴们之间基于血脉或是部族忠诚的联系。

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Birgitte’s descendants were initially the most prestigious among the Ulfen Guard, but Vasterborg fell in the Winter War of 3313 ar, extinguishing Birgitte’s line and funneling generations of accumulated Taldan treasure to Whitethrone. The commander of the Ulfen Guard at the time, Ingune Five-Embers, was Birgitte’s grandson’s great-granddaughter. She deserted her position in Taldor to march against the winter witches of Irrisen, forsaking her final payment, and was never seen again. The Ulfen Guard is strictly devoted to the current wearer of the Primogen Crown and adapts quickly when the wearer changes.

博吉特的后代过去曾在乌尔芬卫士中极负盛名,但随着瓦斯特博格在3313AR的冬日战争(Winter War)中陨落,博吉特的血系就此断绝,家族数个世代从塔尔多积聚的财富全都汇集到了白王座(Whitethrone)。而此时乌尔芬卫士的指挥官,五重余烬伊格恩(Ingune Five-Embers),正是博吉特孙子的曾孙女。她扔下在塔尔多的职位并放弃了最终的奖赏,启程朝着伊利森的白女巫进军,从此渺无音讯。乌尔芬卫士完全忠于继业冕冠当下的佩戴者,而当王冠易主时也能迅速适应改变。

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The Ulfen Guard fought against Daronlyr the Overthrower in 3564 ar, attempting to protect the grand prince, but as soon as the emperor fell and Daronlyr declared that he would take the throne, the Ulfen Guard swore their allegiance to him.

3564AR,乌尔芬卫士曾试图从倾复者达隆莱尔(Daronlyr the Overthrower)手中保护当时的大亲王,而在皇帝陨落,达隆莱尔公开宣称他已接过了王位时,乌尔芬卫士便立即向后者宣誓效忠。

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Most former members of the Ulfen Guard return to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings—often to the town of Ullerskad—but some choose to stay in Taldor. Few of these former Ulfen Guard members have aspired to aristocracy, but one had a title thrust upon him. Oltar Vinmark (N male human expert 4/ barbarian 4) was a wise and kindly member of the Ulfen Guard who kept a vigilant watch over Grand Prince Stavian III as the distraught emperor buried his only son in 4698 ar. In gratitude, Stavian made Oltar a baron and the mayor of Oppara. Unrefined and blunt, Oltar has few friends in his city’s bloated aristocracy, but his personal friendship with the grand prince made his position unassailable for many years. Upon any change in Taldor’s leadership, however, Oltar’s position will become seriously jeopardized.
大多数前任乌尔芬卫士都返回了林诺姆诸王国——通常是回到乌勒斯卡德(Ullerskad)小镇——但仍有一些人选择留在塔尔多。这些前任成员很少渴望跻身贵族阶级,然而其中一位却有着一项强加于他的头衔。欧塔尔•芬马克(Oltar Vinmark)(中立男性人类,4级专家/4级野蛮人)是一位博学和蔼的乌尔芬卫士,当伤心欲绝的大亲王斯塔维安三世(Stavian III)于4698AR埋葬他唯一的儿子时,他就在皇帝的身边警戒护卫,斯塔维安随后便授予了欧塔尔男爵的头衔以及欧帕拉市长的职位。粗鲁而直率的欧塔尔在欧帕拉臃肿的贵族阶层中少有朋友,但他与大亲王之间的私人友谊使得多年来无人能撼动他的位置。也正因如此,一旦塔尔多统治阶层发生变动,欧塔尔的地位便会陷入严重的危机之中。

CODES AND PHILOSOPHIES

准则与哲学

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The Ulfen Guard protects the body of the wearer of the Primogen Crown, not his companions, his property, or even his family. At least a dozen members guard the grand prince during most public functions and are often near at hand in private. While on duty, a member of the Ulfen Guard is expected to be a silent observer, quick to draw her weapon and willing to die to protect the emperor. To fail to notice a threat is a great disgrace; the Ulfen Guard punishes the unwary and the unworthy, out of sight of the emperor and the public.

乌尔芬卫士保护的乃是继业冕冠佩戴者的本身,而非他的同伴,财产或是家人。在绝大多数公开集会期间,至少有十二位成员参与护卫,而在私人场合他们更是贴身守护著大亲王。执行任务的乌尔芬卫士成员被要求充当一位沉默的观察者,随时能够迅速地拔出武器并且有着为保护皇帝而献身的意志。未能注意到来犯的威胁对乌尔芬卫士来说是重大的失误,卫士组织将会在皇帝和公众视线之外惩罚这些粗心大意而毫无价值的成员。

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Although a member of the Ulfen Guard must serve a term of at least 1 year to receive the traditional payment from the imperial vaults, a short term is deemed selfish and, while not exactly dishonorable, a sign of unnecessary greed. Most members of the Ulfen Guard serve at least 5 years; some stay until age dulls their eyes and reflexes. In any case, a member won’t step down until a worthy and honorable replacement is ready to assume her duties. Many members insist on a replacement they personally know, such as a relative or fellow clan member. Members of the Ulfen Guard are diligent and mighty, but they are not infallible. Throughout Taldor’s history, some successful assassins have evaded the Ulfen Guard— usually by poison or magic—or overpowered it by force. Further, members of the Ulfen Guard do not watch over the emperor every minute of the day; they serve at the emperor’s direction, and he usually dismisses them when in secure locations or when a retinue of burly bodyguards would be diplomatically inappropriate. In these cases, the guards are still rarely more distant than an energetic shout, but a skilled assassin could strike without allowing the emperor to make any sound at all. However, most Taldan emperors ultimately died from accidents or old age, which no bodyguard can prevent.
虽然乌尔芬卫士的成员必须为组织效力至少一年才有资格从帝国宝库中取得传统的奖赏,但短期效力完全不会被视作是无耻的行为,而会被当作一种自私和过度贪婪的象征。大多数乌尔芬卫士都为皇帝效力了至少五年;其中一些人直到双眼和反应因衰老而变得迟钝才离开岗位。无论如何,一名乌尔芬卫士只有在一位称职而光荣的继任者准备承担他的职责时才会选择退休。很多卫士成员都坚持选择那些他们熟识的继任者,这些人通常是他们的亲戚或同盟部族的成员。乌尔芬卫士们大都勤勉而勇猛,但他们并不是绝对可靠的。纵观塔尔多的历史,那些成功的刺客都绕开了乌尔芬卫士的防护——通常是借助毒药或魔法——甚至是直接武力制服他们。进一步来说,乌尔芬卫士并不会无时无刻地在皇帝身边守望;他们根据皇帝的指令行事,而后者往往会在安全的地点或是粗鲁的随行保镖不宜出现的社交场合解散他们。即使是在这些情况下,乌尔芬卫士也极少会处在能够听到高声叫喊的范围之外,然而一名有经验的刺客却能够在皇帝完全无法发出任何声响的情况下完成刺杀。总体而言,保镖们同样无力阻止大多数塔尔多皇帝最终因事故或是衰老而死去。

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Unlike the wearer of the Primogen Crown, Ulfen Guard members do not have to be male. Historically, about a third of Ulfen Guard members have been female. Romantic entanglements between the Ulfen Guard and the emperor—or other members of the imperial court—are almost unheard of, as much due to the Ulfen Guard’s honor as to the fact that few Ulfen find soft, weak southerners appealing. Grand Prince Eudariano II, a notorious philanderer, insisted on an all-female Ulfen Guard, but failed to romance any of them during his 4 years of rule. The Ulfen Guard enjoys a broad set of rights beyond those available to most Taldan citizens. Members are immune to arrest or prosecution by any Taldan forces other than the emperor himself, although they mete out severe internal discipline for outrageous or dishonorable behavior.


与继业冕冠的佩戴者不同,乌尔芬卫士的成员并不要求一定为男性。历史上,乌尔芬卫士的成员中有三分之一为女性。在乌尔芬卫士和皇帝或者其他王室成员之间的风流韵事几乎是闻所未闻的,这很大一部分是因为乌尔芬卫士所秉持的荣誉,而另一部分则是因为少有乌尔芬人会对柔弱的南方人产生兴趣。大亲王尤多利亚诺二世(Eudariano II),一位臭名昭著的风流浪子,执着地追求一队全由女性组成的乌尔芬卫队,然而在位四年的他始终没能与其中的任何一人发展出浪漫的关系。乌尔芬卫士拥有不少大部分塔尔多人民无法享有的特权。成员不受除来自皇帝本人之外一切塔尔多官方的拘捕或起诉,尽管他们会对违法或不名誉的行为予以严格的内规惩戒。

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The Ulfen Guard must be provided passage on any Taldan ship, including military ships, and members’ belongings must remain secure and private while they travel. Members of the Ulfen Guard are entitled to room and board at any inn or tavern in Oppara, although most limit themselves to a large, rowdy establishment near the imperial court called the Staggering Skald. Only when a member of the Ulfen Guard leaves service does she claim her pay: as much treasure as she can personally carry away from the imperial vault. A former Ulfen Guard cannot be forced to spend or relinquish this payment while within the borders of Taldor, even by the emperor.


包括军舰在内的任何塔尔多船只都必须允许乌尔芬卫士搭乘,并且在整个旅途中必须保证他们财产的安全和私密。乌尔芬卫士的成员也在欧帕拉的旅店和酒馆中享有食宿权,虽然他们大多自觉居住在一栋坐落在皇宫附近,被称作惊愕言歌(Staggering Skald)的庞大而粗野的设施中。一名乌尔芬卫士的成员只有在从岗位上离职时才能索要她的报酬:任何帝国宝库中她能亲自带走的财宝。即使是皇帝也不能迫使一位前乌尔芬卫士在塔尔多的境内花光或让出她所获得的报酬。

APHORISMS

格言

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Members of the Ulfen Guard use the following phrases often, whether talking among themselves or with outsiders, to reinforce their commitments.
乌尔芬卫士的成员们常常会使用下面这些格言来巩固他们对彼此或外人的承诺。

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Blood Is Our Gold: Although this grim aphorism seems to support the image of a violent barbarian valuing bloodshed over anything else, the actual meaning is much more nuanced. First, it reminds members of the Ulfen Guard that keeping the grand prince in one piece is key to earning the treasure they look forward to one day taking home. More deeply, the phrase also reflects that the Ulfen value their own heritage over any worldly goods, as their honor is tied to their families and their lineage. As their position is open only to those who are Ulfen by blood, it also marks the exclusionary nature of their organization.

鲜血即是财富(Blood Is Our Gold):虽然这句残酷的格言似乎很符合将杀戮置于一切之上的残暴野蛮人形象,但它实际上的寓意要更为微妙。首先,它提醒着乌尔芬卫士的成员,保证大亲王身体健全是赢得他们离职归乡时所期望的财宝的关键。更进一步来说,这句格言也反映着乌尔芬人相较财富更重视传统的价值观,例证就是他们的荣誉总是与族裔和血脉紧密相连。而正如他们的职位只向拥有乌尔芬血脉的人敞开一般,这格言也标志著整个组织的排他性质。

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The Ruler, Not the Throne: The Ulfen Guard is loyal to the person of the grand prince, not to the nation of Taldor or to the complicated hierarchy supporting the emperor. It serves the grand prince at all times, whether he is away on a hunting trip, holding court, or overseas on a diplomatic mission. This aphorism also serves as a warning to members of the Ulfen Guard to not get greedy; being tempted by the golden opulence of the Lion Throne is a distraction from their core duty.

忠于君主而非王座(The Ruler, Not the Throne):乌尔芬卫士效忠的对象只有大亲王本人,而不包括塔尔多帝国或是支撑皇权的繁杂等级制度。不管大亲王是外出打猎,临朝听政,还是出国外交,乌尔芬卫士无时无刻不在为他服务。这句格言意图警醒乌尔芬卫士的成员远离贪婪;被来自狮王宝座的庞大财富所诱惑会让他们忘记自己真正的职责所在。

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Watch for Sharp Blades, Not Sharp Words: Members of the Ulfen Guard think very little of the bickering, name-calling, and veiled threats that constantly swirl about the imperial court; most see it as baseless posturing by those without the mettle to carry through. They know that their role is to protect the emperor, not his feelings, so they won’t intervene against those who shout at, insult, or demean the emperor. However, once a weapon is drawn—or looks likely to be drawn— members of the Ulfen Guard close ranks around the emperor and respond with swift and lethal force. This aphorism serves as a reminder to members of the Ulfen Guard to keep a careful eye on actions, rather than being distracted by hollow threats.

警惕利刃而非中伤(Watch for Sharp Blades, Not Sharp Words):乌尔芬卫士的成员毫不在乎王庭中持续不断的争吵,中伤与隐晦的威胁;他们大多将其视作装腔作势的莫须有言论,而只有不能贯彻如一的懦夫才会喋喋不休。他们很清楚自己的指责是保护皇帝本人而不是他的内心感受,因此他们不会回应那些针对皇帝的叫喊、辱骂和贬抑。而一旦有任何一把武器出鞘——哪怕只是看起来将要出鞘——乌尔芬卫士的成员都会紧密排列在皇帝的周围,以迅速而致命的武力作出回应。这句格言意图提醒乌尔芬卫士的成员在行动中务必保持敏锐的双眼,不要为空洞无力的威胁所分心。

STRUCTURE

组织

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The Ulfen Guard is a close-knit, exclusive organization. All members must be at least half-Ulfen, with at least one parent born in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Not every member of the Ulfen Guard is native to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, but the additional requirement that they must have spent a substantial portion of their lives there ensures in practice that nearly all of them are. Similarly, while Ulfen ethnicity doesn’t preclude halfelves or half-orcs from joining the Ulfen Guard, halfhuman members are rare.

乌尔芬卫士是个紧密而排外的团体。所有的成员都必须至少拥有一半的乌尔芬血统,并且至少有一位双亲出生在林诺姆诸王国。并不是每个乌尔芬卫士的成员都是林诺姆诸王国的本地人,但这些成员必须满足的额外要求是在那个国家度过生命中的大部分时光,而这实际上确保了乌尔芬卫士中鲜少有外地人的存在。同样地,尽管乌尔芬卫士并不会拒绝半精灵或是半兽人的加入,但是半人类成员仍属罕见。

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Since new members of the Ulfen Guard need to be recommended internally, nepotism is endemic to the organization. Nearly all members of the Ulfen Guard are related by blood or adoption to a current or former member. This is seen as beneficial, rather than detrimental, to the organization’s overall goal; Ulfen are generally distrustful of strangers, and they train and fight better when among their kin.

由于乌尔芬卫士的新成员必须经由内部举荐加入,因此裙带关系成了组织的特有问题。几乎所有的乌尔芬卫士成员都是某位现任或前任成员的血亲或养子。不过这似乎对组织的目标有益无害;乌尔芬人通常并不信任陌生人,身处同族之中能让他们的训练和战斗发挥出更好的效果。

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The Ulfen Guard has virtually no hierarchy beyond its commander, a post usually filled by its most respected and longest-serving member. The current commander of the Ulfen Guard is Kol Kodranson (N male human barbarian 10), who succeeded his father, Kodran Kullirson. Despite their close relation, the two leaders have very different personalities. Kodran worried constantly about the soft Taldan ways dulling the guards’ honor and prowess, so he insisted on speaking Skald and adhering closely to Ulfen traditions. Under Kodran’s leadership, leidangs, the non-Ulfen allies of the Ulfen Guard, were rarely utilized and never fully trusted. Kol, on the other hand, sees value in Taldan skills and customs; he insists that the Ulfen Guard be fluent in Common and knowledgeable about basic courtly manners. Kol prioritizes deploying the right person for any necessary support function, whether Ulfen, leidang, or hired outsider. Traditionalists among the Ulfen Guard—a group dominated by close friends of Kol’s father—worry that Kol’s style opens the Ulfen Guard to interference by foreign spies.

除了指挥官之外,乌尔芬卫士没有实质上的等级制度,一个岗位通常由最受尊敬和服务最久的成员充任。现任的乌尔芬卫士指挥官是科尔•科德兰森(Kol Kodranson)(中立男性人类,10级野蛮人),他继承了父亲科德兰•寇勒森(Kodran Kullirson)的职位。尽管关系亲密,这两位领导者却有着截然不同的个性。科德兰时常担忧软弱的塔尔多式处事方法会让卫士们的荣耀和英勇失去光芒,所以他坚持说乌尔芬语,严格遵循乌尔芬人的传统。在科德兰的领导下,作为乌尔芬卫士的非乌尔芬人盟友,兵士很少被重用也得不到信任。而科尔则相反,他看得到塔尔多技艺和风俗的价值;他坚持要求乌尔芬卫士掌握流利的通用语并充分了解基本的宫廷礼仪。科尔优先考虑为任何有必要的支援活动部署最合适的人选,而不在乎这位人选是乌尔芬人,兵士还是受雇佣的外人。乌尔芬卫士中的保守派——一群为科尔父亲的亲密朋友所主导的人——担心科尔的行事风格会给外国间谍干涉乌尔芬卫士的可乘之机。

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The Ulfen Guard punishes dishonorable behavior by its members, such as shirking responsibilities or drunkenness on duty, with beatings. In extreme cases, the Ulfen Guard has dismissed members while performing a ritual similar to that used for ceremonial exile from an Ulfen clan. To avoid further trouble after dismissal, it’s typical to beat the offender unconscious and put him on a vessel headed back north, leaving him to awaken, ashamed and exiled, hundreds of miles away from Taldor.

乌尔芬卫士会用殴打的方式惩罚成员犯下的可耻行为,例如推卸责任或在当值时喝醉。在极端的情况下,乌尔芬卫士会举行一场类似于乌尔芬部族正式流放仪式的活动,此后将他们的成员驱逐出组织。为了避免驱逐成员带来的后续问题,典型的做法是将受罚者击打至失去意识,然后把他放上一艘驶向北地的船只,在距离塔尔多几百英里的地方将他唤醒,让他在耻辱和羞愧之中遭受流放。

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HEADQUARTERS
Although the Ulfen Guard has private rooms in the Imperial Palace and quarters alongside the emperor’s retinue wherever he travels, their hearth and home is the Staggering Skald. This Ulfen tavern is only two blocks from the Imperial Palace, and its sturdy wood construction is reminiscent of an Ulfen longhouse. Its current proprietor, Gunri Oathkeeper (LN female venerable human fighter 6/Ulfen Guard 4; Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Combat 34), served Emperor Stavian II until his death and then used her payment to purchase and renovate the inn. Now almost 90 years old and still a hard drinker, the indomitable Gunri enjoys shepherding the younger members of the Ulfen Guard.

总部
虽然乌尔芬卫士在皇宫中有自己的私人房间,而在皇帝外出旅行时也有为随行人员准备的住处,但他们真正的居所还是惊愕言歌。这间乌尔芬客栈距离皇宫只有两个街区,它坚固的木造结构总是让人想起乌尔芬长屋。它目前的所有者,甘那利•守誓者(LN 女性 暮年人类 6级战士/4级乌尔芬卫士;探索者战役设定:内海战斗34页),她一直为斯塔维安二世服务,直到这位皇帝去世,她才用获得的报酬购买并修缮了这间旅馆。如今将近90岁高龄的她仍然有相当好的酒量,而这位绝不服输的甘那利也十分乐于教导乌尔芬卫士的年轻成员。

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Only current or former members of the Ulfen Guard and their trusted friends are permitted entrance to the Staggering Skald; leidangs on formal Ulfen Guard business can enter as needed for their task, but usually not to drink or socialize. The Staggering Skald doesn’t have dedicated sleeping chambers, but Gunri keeps several piles of sleeping furs at the ready, should any patrons wish to claim a corner of the common room for the evening. Rowdy at nearly every hour, the Staggering Skald boasts the finest Ulfen drinks, shanks of meat cooked and seasoned in the Ulfen manner, and regular competitions of boasting and physical strength.
只有现任或前任乌尔芬卫士成员以及他们信任的朋友才有权进入惊愕言歌;根据任务需要,与正式的乌尔芬卫士有业务往来的兵士也能进入这里,但通常不允许在这里吃喝或交际。惊愕言歌里并没有可供睡觉的套房,但甘那利保留了几批随时可以使用的睡袋,以便应付那些希望占用公共房间的一个角落来睡觉以度过夜晚的顾客。喧嚣不已的惊愕言歌因为能够提供最棒的乌尔芬饮品,以乌尔芬风格烹调的大腿肉,还有定期举办的吹牛和肉搏大赛而感到无比的骄傲。

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Members of the Ulfen Guard also gather in the homes and estates of Ulfen residents of Oppara, many of whom came to Taldor to join the Ulfen Guard but didn’t meet the organization’s exacting criteria. Some, entranced by the opulence and easy living Oppara had to offer, chose to stay and make a name and fortune independent of the Ulfen Guard, even owning manors that rival those of the merchant lords and lesser aristocracy. Acknowledging the Ulfen Guards as exemplars of honor and might— and, as soon as their service ends, holders of fabulous riches—these wealthy northerners keep their doors open to Ulfen Guard members who prefer to relax away from the oppressive grandeur of the Imperial Palace or the raucous Staggering Skald.

乌尔芬卫士的成员也会聚集到欧帕拉的乌尔芬居民名下的屋子和房产中,这些居民中很多是为了成为乌尔芬卫士才来到塔尔多的,但他们没能满足组织严苛的入伍标准。还有一些人是被欧帕拉便利而富裕的生活所吸引,选择留在这里赚取不受乌尔芬卫士支配的名誉和财富,有的人甚至拥有足以媲美大商人和某些贵族的领地。乌尔芬卫士确实是荣耀与力量的典范——而在他们任期结束后,同样是巨额财富的持有者——这些富裕的北方人向乌尔芬卫士的成员敞开大门,为想要逃离庄严得令人窒息的皇宫和吵闹非凡的惊愕言歌的成员提供片刻休憩。

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OPERATIONS
Although the members of the Ulfen Guard serve most visibly as the grand prince’s bodyguards, they are deployed wherever the emperor commands. These operations might take the Ulfen Guard far from Oppara’s gilded halls. The following examples illustrate the breadth of the Ulfen Guard’s operations inside and outside of Taldor. The specific area tied to each Ulfen Guard operation is listed in parentheses.


组织运作

虽然乌尔芬卫士的成员最显眼的身份是作为大亲王的保镖,但他们也会根据皇帝的命令部署到任何地点。这些组织可能会让乌尔芬卫士远离欧帕拉的镀金宫殿。下述范例列举了塔尔多内外广泛的乌尔芬卫士组织。与每个乌尔芬卫士组织相关联的特殊地区被列出在括号中。

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The Blade Breaker (Maheto): As the premier provider of weapons to the Taldan military, the city of Maheto is always under many watchful government eyes. Representatives of several agencies in the imperial bureaucracy constantly measure weapon quality and monitor all weapon shipments to any customers unaffiliated with the crown. The Ulfen Guard is the most public and most recently appointed of these oversight groups. When a young and headstrong member of the Ulfen Guard, Thrasvald Iron-Handed (N male human barbarian 4/fighter 4), boasted publicly of the superiority of Ulfen weapons to Taldan ones, Grand Prince Stavian was equally amused and indignant. Rather than discharge the boastful warrior, Stavian sent Thrasvald to Maheto as a “weapons tester” for the Ulfen Guard. Any smithy that makes a blade that the powerful Thrasvald cannot sunder in three blows will earn Thrasvald’s personal apology and a contract to arm the Ulfen Guard for a year. Since none of the Ulfen Guard want to use Mahetomade weapons over their personal arms, they all secretly support Thrasvald in his public— and increasingly well‑attended—displays of weapon shattering.

破刃者(The Blade Breaker)(马希托):作为塔尔多军队武器的首要提供者,马希托城总是处在政府众多警觉耳目的监控之下。官僚机构中由数位代表组成的众议院不断地测度武器的质量并监控经由贸易流向任何独立于皇权政府的顾客的武器。在这些监视团体中,乌尔芬卫士是最近才被任命并且公开程度也是最高的组织。当乌尔芬卫士一名年轻而顽固的成员,斯拉斯瓦尔德•铁腕(Thrasvald Iron-Handed)(N 男性人类 4级野蛮人/4级战士),公开宣称乌尔芬武器相对塔尔多武器的优越性时,大亲王斯塔维安感到好笑却又气恼。不过斯塔维安并没有就此解雇这名自负的战士,而是将斯拉斯瓦尔德送到马希托的乌尔芬卫士中担任“武器测试官”。任何铁匠只要锻造出强大的斯拉斯瓦尔德没法在三次撞击中折断的武器,他就能够赢得斯拉斯瓦尔德的个人致歉,以及与乌尔芬卫士为期一年的武装合约。由于乌尔芬卫士中没人希望用马希托生产的武器代替他们自己的武装,因此他们全都在斯拉斯瓦尔德公开的——而且有越来越多人出席的——摧毁武器的展示中,秘密地为他提供支持。

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Connection to Home (Absalom): The City at the Center of the World boasts envoys from nearly every nation in Avistan, and the Lands of the Linnorm Kings are no exception. The envoys from the north often share information with Ulfen Guard members in Oppara, usually through intermediaries or when the Ulfen Guard’s duties take members to Absalom. Although Ulfen Guards are supposed to remain entirely focused on their duties and eschew involvement with their homeland while they serve, every member values news from home, especially if it concerns the fate of their loved ones or the status of clan feuds. Absalom is also normally the last stop departing Ulfen Guards make in the Inner Sea, as the envoys arrange for a departing guard’s transit in exchange for some of the loot carried out of Taldor.

联络之家(Connection to Home)(艾巴萨罗姆):这座位于世界中心的城市以拥有来自阿维斯坦地区每个国家的使者而骄傲,而林诺姆诸王国自然也在其中。来自北地的使者常常与欧帕拉的乌尔芬卫士成员分享情报,这些情报通常是借由中介机构传递或是在乌尔芬卫士因公派遣成员来到艾巴萨罗姆时当面传达。虽然大家认为乌尔芬卫士完全专注于他们的职责,在他们服役期间避免与他们的故土产生接触,但实际上每一位成员都很重视来自于故乡的消息,尤其渴望知道他们爱人的命运或是部族纠纷的状况。艾巴萨罗姆通常也是离职的乌尔芬卫士前往内海的最后一站,因为这些使者会给离职的卫士解决交通问题以换取一些从塔尔多带出的战利品。

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Good Stock (Lastwall): Dortrot Ranch in eastern Lastwall is well known as one of that nation’s premier horse breeders. The Taldor jennets raised at Dortrot Ranch come from a stock that belonged to Grand Prince Bedlam I, given to the ranch generations ago in lieu of monetary payments to aid in Lastwall’s vigilant defenses. At the time, the offer seemed like an acceptable way to maintain good relations with Lastwall while keeping a tight fist on Taldor’s purse. Stavian III has heard rumors that Dortrot Ranch improved upon the Taldor jennets, and he wants several breeding horses back; rather than pay for them, he’s sent several members of the Ulfen Guard to make the request, by intimidation if necessary. This operation is headed for a showdown between two strong-willed sides, as the ranchers consider the carefully bred stock to be theirs by right and the Ulfen Guard are unwilling to take no for an answer. As both sides are honorable, the odds of trickery or theft are low, but careful and clever negotiators might defuse a situation that could otherwise erupt into a bloody confrontation.


良驹(Good Stock)(终焉之墙):多托特牧场(Dortrot Ranch)作为这个国家最初的马匹饲养场之一而广为人知。多托特牧场抚育出的塔尔多小马驹(The Taldor Jennets)来自于一支属于大亲王贝德兰一世(Bedlam I,疑似贝尔丹一世Beldam I)的马匹品种,它们在许多个世代以前当作资金援助的代替品而被送来支援终焉之墙的警戒防线。在当时看来,正值塔尔多国库资金紧张之时,这个提议似乎是用以维持与终焉之墙的良好关系的一个可接受的方案。斯塔维安三世听到多托特牧场正在改进塔尔多小马驹的谣传后,便希望要回几只正在繁育中的马匹;但他并不愿为这些马匹付费,于是就将几位乌尔芬卫士送去提出这个要求,并且在必要的时刻进行威胁。这次行动在两个固执的组织之间引发了对抗,因为牧场主们认为他们对自己精心培养的牲畜保有权利,而乌尔芬卫士也不愿意得到一个拒绝的回应。由于两方都尊重荣誉,因此欺诈和盗窃之举不太可能发生,但除非有一个细心而机智的谈判专家从中斡旋,否则这一情况可能酿成一起流血冲突。

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Kintargo Raiders (Cheliax): Ulfen raiders sail far down the coast seeking plunder; their longships are known even as far south as Cheliax. Disguised as common raiders from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, a crew of Ulfen Guard has been active around the port city of Kintargo. The detachment is providing cover to seasoned diplomats that the grand prince sent to Kintargo to discuss its rebellion against House Thrune. While Chelish warships keep a close eye on all Taldan ships that pass by their coasts, they are less inclined to search out spies on Ulfen longships. The Ulfen Guard detachment has seen fit to “improve” its cover by actually sporadically raiding along the Hellcoast, though the grand prince has not officially sanctioned this activity.


金塔格掠夺者(Kintargo Raiders)(切利亚斯):乌尔芬掠夺者沿着海岸远航,寻求掠夺的机会;他们的长船甚至在切利亚斯南部也广为人知。伪装成林诺姆诸王国普通掠夺者的乌尔芬卫士船员们长期活跃在港口城市金塔格附近。这支分队正在为经验丰富的外交官们提供掩护,这些外交官由大亲王送到金塔格来商讨发生于此地的针对特鲁恩家族的叛乱。虽然切利亚斯的战舰密切关注著通过其海岸的任何塔尔多船只,但他们很少会愿意踏上乌尔芬长船去搜寻间谍。尽管没有得到大亲王的正式批准,但乌尔芬卫士分队为了“改善”他们的掩护,实际上会针对地狱海岸(The Hellcoast)发起零星的掠夺行动。

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Missing Giant Killers (Fog Peaks): Although members of the Ulfen Guard never cease to serve the grand prince, some still become restless after months of inaction in the imperial court. To give these barbarians an outlet and help protect Taldor’s northern border, the Ulfen Guard occasionally dispatches some of its members on giant-hunting expeditions into the Fog Peaks. Frost giants are a regular hazard in those rugged mountains, and the Taldan settlements there suffer from their depredations during the deep winters that blanket the region. Many Ulfen barbarians are highly skilled at hunting and fighting frost giants, and a winter spent in the Fog Peaks allows them to apply these skills for the benefit of Taldor. Although these expeditions are nominally only allowed at the grand prince’s direction, few emperors have ever forbidden these seasonal excursions so long as most members of the Ulfen Guard remained at their side. The most recent group—four seasoned barbarians led by Graudil Groundshaker (CN male human skald 8/ Ulfen Guard 2; Inner Sea Combat 34)—hasn’t returned. Divinations are inconclusive; all Kol Kodranson knows is that the barbarians aren’t dead, and he seeks explorers to uncover the fate of his missing kin before the grand prince disallows these excursions as too dangerous. Graudil was a close friend of Kol’s father, Kodran, and Kol worries that treachery is afoot.

迷失巨人杀手(Missing Giant Killers)(云雾峰):尽管乌尔芬卫士从未终止为大亲王服务,但其中一些成员仍然因为皇室数个月来的无所作为而变得焦躁不安。为了给这些野蛮人提供一个发泄方式并协助保护塔尔多的北部边境,乌尔芬卫士偶尔会派遣一些成员进入云雾峰,参加狩猎巨人的探险。冰霜巨人是这些崎岖山脉中的常见威胁,那里的塔尔多聚居地在侵袭整个地区的严冬中遭受他们的掠夺。许多乌尔芬野蛮人都非常擅长狩猎和对抗冰霜巨人,而选择在云雾峰消磨冬天的时光能够让他们的技艺运用在对塔尔多有益的地方。虽然这些探险名义上只允许在大亲王的指导下进行,但只要大部分乌尔芬卫士留在他们身边,很少有皇帝会禁止这些季节性的游览。而最近一组探险队——由格劳迪尔•撼地者(Graudil Groundshaker)(CN 男性人类 8级歌者 / 2级乌尔芬卫士;内海战斗34)领导的四队经验丰富的野蛮人——没有返回。预言术没有得到结果;科尔•科德雷森只知道知道野蛮人们并没有死去,他要做的就是在大亲王禁止这些过于危险的探险之前,寻找探险队去揭露他失踪亲人的命运。格劳迪尔是科尔的父亲科德雷的密友,这让科尔担心某种叛乱之举已然迫近。

剧透 -   :
Zimar Longships (Zimar): As part of the tenuous peace between Taldor and Qadira, both nations have agreed not to sail military ships on the Jalrune River. To discreetly maintain its military superiority, the Taldan government secretly supports a fleet of “independent” river privateers called the Zimar Corsairs. While the Zimar Corsairs theoretically prey upon all river traffic, ships flying the Taldan flag are raided less often and less heavily than other ships on the river. Under the grand prince’s direction, the Zimar Corsairs include two longships operated by the Ulfen Guard: the Sharptooth and the Storm Drake. As well as joining in attacks on river traffic, these longships target other Zimar Corsairs who become too heavy handed in their raids against Taldan ships. The longships’ cover fools few people, least of all the Qadirans; after all, the only significant Ulfen presence within 200 miles of the Jalrune River is in Stavian’s court. But the raiders are too canny to be caught, and Stavian maintains plausible deniability, so many Qadirans are desperate for independent agents to expose the longships’ Ulfen Guard affiliation.

兹伊玛长船(兹伊玛):作为塔尔多和卡蒂亚之间脆弱和平的一部分,两国都同意不在贾伦河(Jalrune River)上航行军舰。为了谨慎地保持自己的军事优势,塔尔多政府暗中支持着一支名为兹伊玛河盗(Zimar Corsairs)的“独立”河流私人船队。虽然兹伊玛河盗理论上会掠夺所有进行河流贸易的船只,但是飘扬著塔尔多旗帜的船只比河上的其他船只遭到的袭击次数更少,而且损失程度也更轻。在大亲王的指示下,兹伊玛河盗内包含了由乌尔芬卫士掌控的两艘长船:利齿号(Sharptooth)和暴风龙兽号(Storm Drake)。除了参与对河流贸易船只的袭击之外,这些长船还将矛头指向其他对塔尔多船只出手过重的兹伊玛河盗船队。这些长船的外表并不具备什么欺骗性,尤其是针对卡蒂亚人;毕竟,在亚伦河200英里范围内唯一值得注意的乌尔芬组织就位于斯塔维安的宫廷中。但袭击者十分难以捕捉,而斯塔维安对此始终保持合理的否认,因此许多卡蒂亚人迫切希望独立特工揭露这些长船与乌尔芬卫士的隶属关系。

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Re: 乌尔芬卫士
« 回帖 #1 于: 2019-02-22, 周五 14:32:33 »
哇,是乌尔芬卫士的故事!

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Re: 乌尔芬卫士
« 回帖 #2 于: 2019-02-22, 周五 15:08:57 »
哇,是乌尔芬卫士的故事!
原来某位前守卫是被揍晕然后被流放的吗!

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Re: 乌尔芬卫士
« 回帖 #3 于: 2019-02-22, 周五 15:45:31 »
哇,是乌尔芬卫士的故事!
原来某位前守卫是被揍晕然后被流放的吗!
我什么都不知道 :em006

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Re: 乌尔芬卫士
« 回帖 #4 于: 2019-02-23, 周六 01:17:37 »
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