I'd acquired a bunch of modern police / detective-type figures, and thought a Lawman faction would be fun to build. Somewhere along the line the "namesake" idea occured to me; hence the story that explains why the ancestors / descendants all show up in Valhalla. As always, these cards haven't been tested yet, so everything's subject to change and open to suggestion. As currently priced, the heroes will make a 500 unit army.
Some (Carr, Maverick, Woo) are directly inspired by their namesakes. Lt. Murphy & Sgt. McCreech have coordination, initiative & bonding leadership powers. The "Law & Order" power common to several units serves two functions: it gives them +1 in melee (since the figure is engaged with a Lawman), and also +1 on ranged attacks if the defender is engaged with a different Lawman. Woo's version ("Backup") only works with non-adjacent figures, since he already has the auto-skull on melee attacks. "Way of Win Chiu" is directly lifted from C3G's "Close Combat Expert".
I've taken many liberties with the story, which is set after Vydar's betrayal. Apologies for stuff that's non-canon, and to
@
wriggz
for using Flettu as I needed an Aquilla Kyrie to show up.
Here are all the units together, if you don't feel like reading the story:
The Kyrie met on the shore of the Sigling Sea at the appointed hour.
Raelin looked up and down the beach. She did not like the thick morning fog that rolled off the water. Too many possible surprises. Especially when meeting with a traitor. She beat her silver wings with impatience, causing interesting vortices in the air.
Saylind's eyes were scanning the line of trees that paralleled the shore, trying to read the movement of leaves. In the fog, the trees looked like looming figures, waiting to charge. His spear glimmered slightly. If an attack did come, he was ready to get as many to safety as he could.
Flettu had been sent as Aquilla's Herald. The other Kyrie did not know her, as the Moon Tribe mostly kept to themselves. Her bright wings were folded back like a butterfly at rest, and she gazed out at the point where the water disappeared into the fog.
The Empress Kiova spread her feathered wings regally, unperturbed. Whatever his military prowess, Vydar was, still, only a General. She was an Empress. And besides, her loyal Imperium were on patrol. What was there to fear?
The sun shone weakly through the fog as they waited, along with the humans who had been requested to attend this unusual meeting.
A horn sounded, three notes in succession -- the Imperium had spotted Vydar's party. Kiova nodded to the other Kyrie. That particular horn call meant that the approaching General was not arrayed for battle, but also not alone. Yet Raelin and Saylind did not relax. Flettu arranged her scroll and spread her iridescent wings. The Empress assumed a station of honor before the others.
And then General Vydar himself stepped from out of the fog, walking as casually and confidently as if he were entering his own palace. Flanking him were Agent Carr and James Murphy, bearing the Vydar standard and the Herald's flag. And behind them, other heroes that none recognized. A large enough party, in fact, to evenly match their own, should things go that way.
None of the Kyrie present had seen Vydar since he had broken with the Alliance. Hands went toward weapons instinctively, but the clatter of weapons silenced as the Empress held up her hand.
"General Vydar. We welcome you here, as you have requested, under the Herald's banner of truce. By the terms of the Wellspring Compact, none may offer violence at this conference. Yet I see you have not come alone."
Vydar bowed to the Empress -- he knew his protocol still -- and acknowledged the other Kyrie. "And I see that my fellow generals have sent yourselves instead of coming personally. Well, no matter. You will hear my story, which touches on all of us, and especially on these humans here. We are here to talk, not to fight. Not today, at least." With that, Vydar drew his guns -- and offered them, with the barrels pointing at his own breast, to the Empress. Protocol. In response she unbuckled her sword, still sheathed, and plunged it into the sand. The general holstered his guns. Raelin had not realized she had been holding her breath.
"We shall relay your message to General Einar, as will Raelin to Jandar, Saylind to Ullar, and Flettu to Aquilla. What is it you wish to tell us? Your request to meet with us, and with specific warriors in our armies, has been a source of great curiosity since we received your scroll a fortnight past."
"It is a curious matter I wish to relay. As do your commanding generals, I am ever attentive to the timestream, looking for those heroes I might bring under Vydar's banner. You know Agent Carr, of course. He told me of an ancestor of his, a Lawman of Earth in their 20th Century. Cut down in the line of duty as he confronted a gang of criminals in his city. I thought this human might join us, and so I opened a portal at the place and time that Agent Carr told me of. My fellow Kyrie, allow me to present Agent Carr's great-grandfather, Detective Addison Carr.
The detective stepped forward next to his descendant. Both were about the same age here in Valhalla, although more than a century separated them. The resemblance was clear, as much in their attitude than anything.
"As has happened before, more than one hero was worthy enough to step through the portal I had opened. The leader of their Lawman group, Lieutenant Jane Murphy, has also joined our ranks." A woman came forward, her overcoat billowing in the sea breeze, matching the duster of the cowboy next to her.
"In speaking with her, a curious fact came to light -- she is the great-granddaughter of my Lawman, James Murphy."
"But the odds of that happening are --"
"Yes, Saylind, they are astronomically small. But smaller still were the chances of the next hero to appear. Did Deadeye Dan accompany you, as I requested?" Ullar's sharpshooter stepped forward, rifle slung over his shoulder. "Dan, I would like you to meet your great-grandson and namesake, Officer Daniel Maverick. I believe he takes after you in certain respects." The cowboy and the SWAT sniper clasped hands, and began quietly conversing about rangefinders.
Vydar motioned to Jandar's Lawman. "Mr. Sullivan! My I present your great-granddaughter, Detective Joan Sullivan?"
A number of uniformed policemen were behind her. In the fog, it was difficult to tell exactly how many. This was a common occurence in Valhalla. "Raelin, along with these brave heroes a number of police officers came through the portal. I believe that they are eager to join your ranks."
"Guilty McCreech, your great-grandson, Sergeant Al McCreech."
"And finally, for Aquilla. Flettu, there are no Lawmen in your ranks. But in that same shootout that brought these others to Valhalla was Detective James Woo -- your great-grandson, Master Woo." The detective bowed to his ancestor, whose martial arts had been handed down through the family.
"I am still confounded, General. How can these disparate heroes here in Valhalla all have relations with one group of lawmen in the same time? This cannot be a matter of coincidence."
"No, Raelin, I think not. It is beyond my ability to explain."
Flettu spoke for the first time. "Perhaps, General, it is like this. I stand here in Ostrivick and throw this stone into the Sigling Sea." She picked up a pebble and did so. "My brother Saylind stands in Ekstrom at the same time, and does the same, while my sister Raelin throws her stone in Nastralund and my sister -- er, Her Majesty throws a stone into the same sea from the shores of Laur. Each stone makes a ripple in the water. And as those ripples spread out --"
"Yes, it is possible, they could converge at a single point. Well spoken. The opening of portals could cause fluctuations in the timestream. And if those fluctuations meet, the point of convergence could result in an historical aberration."
Of the Lawmen new to Valhalla, it was Lt. Murphy who spoke first. "I don't pretend to know just what is going on here, and why. But now that we're here, what is to become of us? I understand from James that you all are fighting each other. And against some 'nasty critters of ill repute,' as he put it." Her great-grandfather gave a toothy grin. "But I won't let your conflict split us apart."
"In other words," the sergeant cut in, "whatever beef you all got, we won't fight each other, that's for damn sure."
"And we won't fight against our own kin," said Detective Woo, stepping closer to his ancestor.
Maverick continued. "I'm glad that we're still on the job here in the afterlife, or wherever we are. We can keep on doing what's right. Protect and serve.
"We're cops, not soldiers," said Detective Sullivan. "Maybe that difference doesn't mean much to you. But it means everything to us. We will fight if we have to, kill if we must. But it's to keep the peace, not to win any wars."
"Well spoken, all. Although I have brought you all here, it is clear that you will not all serve under my banner. Blood calls to blood. And it is also clear that you will not be separated. So your question remains, Lieutenant. What will become of you?"
"A solution has occurred to us, General. To the west of our palace lies Crumland, and beyond that Athenoek. There is a town, Farsund, on the western coast. It is a haven for those Kyrie who do not wish to take part in our wars, for refugees of Valhalla displaced by the fighting, and for deserters from all of the Seven Armies. It is growing fast. The Master of Farsund, Arlend, has appealed to us and to General Einar for troops to maintain law and order. But we have none to spare."
"It sounds like our kind of beat, your Majesty."
"We do not know what this 'beat' is of which you speak, sergeant. But if you will all accept this commission, we will send word to Master Arlend in advance of your arrival."
There was a short conference among the police.
"Your Majesty, we accept your offer."
"Now just hold your horses!" "Shotgun" Sullivan addressed the four Kyrie. "We've served you folk faithfully, and fought hard. But we can't just meet our kin one minute and send them off into danger the next. They don't know Valhalla or what they're up against. They don't know the territory. It ain't right. If Detective Joan here is gonna wear the badge, then I'm gonna stand with her."
And so it was that the Lawmen of Valhalla all elected to go and keep the peace in Farsund. Agent Carr elected to stay with Vydar's troops; Master Woo needed to assist the Shaolin Monks, but promised to make the journey to the coast of Athenoek to visit his descendant and continue his training.
Saylind turned to the other Kyrie. "I can send them, but for a group of this size I shall need your assistance." And so five Kyrie grasped the Spear of Summoning. Saylind warned all present to close their eyes, and at a word the spear grew bright enough to burn off all the morning fog.
When they opened their eyes, Saylind and the Lawmen were gone. Without a word the others parted ways, to face each other as enemies or fight as allies another day.
Soon the tide had washed away all evidence of the meeting -- save for a single ripple that was still spreading toward the far shores of the Sigling Sea.