Originally a rugged and scarred band of sell-swords, often hired by petty lordlings at the northern fringes of the empire to clear out Gor-infested woods or bandit strongholds. The Banner eventually became sick of the megre pay turned to bloodbowl, applying their skill for skull bashing and occasionally running away to a more potentially profitable trade. Finding blood-bowl inside the Empire to steeped in 'honor' and 'rules', a generally a bit soft, they chose to search elsewhere.
After hearing rumors they 'appropriated' a long-ship from a neighboring Norse tribe and sailed, wrecking their boat on the rocky coast of Southern Wastes. Little did they realize that that the SWL leagues would be more harsh and unforgiving than the most suicidal of contracts from their mercenary days...