02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

138 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
their Crimes. this is the fate that befell the offiCers of the
talon Company in reCent history. their old man Was killed
by then-Colonel helstrom, but a dozen of their offiCers Were
tried and ConviCted for their Crimes, and they are rotting in
a Caspian donjon. it is said that some of the old members of
talon Company evaded Capture and have reneWed business as
organized Criminals.
Major Tenets of the Charter
A mercenary company is founded by a charter
between a sponsoring governing authority and the
mercenary commander. Ownership of this charter
represents ownership of the company and can be
passed down to successors. When the charter is burned
or otherwise destroyed, the company is disbanded.
Mercenary companies are hired to conduct
honorable contracted combat against enemy soldiers,
mercenaries, bandits, criminals, or others who pose a
threat. Unarmed or defenseless communities are not
eligible objectives regardless of pay.
A company contracted to fight a skirmish is
obligated to stay the course. Switching sides on offer
of better pay is against the Charter. Once a contracted
fight is finished the company is free to depart, or it
may negotiate further skirmishes for additional pay.
Companies hired by one authority may not accept
contracts against that authority for a period of at least
one year after fulfilling their obligations, nor may a
company take action against the authority that approved
their founding Charter. This prohibition expires with
the death of that authority if the company outlasts him,
and it does not apply to heirs or usurpers.
All mercenaries must obey their company
superiors during the time of their service and can be
arrested, disciplined, or executed for insubordination
or desertion.
Company leaders are responsible for the behavior
of their men. Mercenaries are expected to behave with
honor. Looting, rape, torture, and the execution of
prisoners or children are disallowed.
Most old companies have outlasted the original
authority that signed their Charter and feel justified in
serving any kingdom indiscriminately. More honorable
companies follow the old rule and refuse contracts
against their sponsoring nobles or kingdom.
In addition, each company charter often details
its day-to-day rules of operation including such
important things as pay-shares, ranks, recruitment
policies (usually voluntary, but not always), and
terms of obligatory service. Mercenaries who sign on
are expected to stay at least a single term which is
usually defined as two years although some of the less
scrupulous companies never allow anyone to leave—at
least not alive. Most companies also have a number
of unwritten rules and expectations that can only be
learned from experience and are sometimes simply
excuses to haze new recruits for vague violations.
lone Wolves
most merCenaries are simple soldiers Who find Work and a
sense of brotherhood through serviCe in a larger Company,
and Companies of merCenaries have proven themselves useful
for adding strength to an army or stranded unit. they are
also useful as additional taCtiCal groups that alloW a field
Commander more options in battle; hoWever, oCCasionally
a Commander needs a taCtiCal strike forCe rather than an
entire Company of soldiers. this is Where the “lone Wolves”
shine. these individuals or small groups of merCenaries
bring With them very speCialized skills and talents. many
of them folloW Charters similar to those used by merCenary
Companies, but they are their oWn Commanders and make
deCisions for themselves. sometimes they are individuals Who
found their skills Were undervalued in a larger merCenary
Company While others, like the mage hunters of ios, have
talents all their oWn that they are more than Willing to sell
to the armies of Western immoren. in any Case, inexperienCed
Commanders may find that negotiating With these individuals
is just as diffiCult and Costly as hiring an entire Company.
notable lone Wolves inClude the iosan mage hunter eiryss,
the trollkin troop of greygore boomhoWler & Company,
herne stoneground & arquebus jonne, and asheth “the
traitor” magnus, to name just a feW.
Notable Mercenary Companies
Blackshields
The Blackshields originally formed from two
distinct groups: the local militia of Rynyr and a
company of Cygnaran freelances who came together
to oppose Khadoran aggression during the Second
Expansion Wars in the 460s AR. Now the Blackshields
target Khadoran soldiers in Llael to disrupt troop
movements, sack baggage trains, and burn any of
seized or occupied holdings to the ground.
The Blackshields are most noteworthy for their
urban tactics. Their ranks are filled with peasants