The Queens' Men

Leadership

• ser Beckett Queensmen^400-442KS
  • ser Alrah Queensmen^409-443KS
    • ser Blythe Queensmen^394-453KS

Composition

Manpower

The Queens' Men is made up of several different units, as detailed below:
2 x Phalanx

Unit Captain:

Each unit is led by a Queensmen Captain

Experience Level:

2 (Irregular)

Leadership:

2

Equipment:

Heavy Armour (+d to Defence checks)
Polearms (Reach; +d to Attacks against non-reach enemies; +d to Defence checks against non-reach enemies; +dd to Defence checks against Cavalry Charge attacks)

2 x Shieldwall

Unit Captain:

Each unit is led by a Queensmen Captain

Experience Level:

3 (Regular)

Leadership:

2

Equipment:

Heavy Armour (+d to Defence checks)
Shield (+d to Defence checks)
Hand Weapons (no effect)

2 x Crossbows

Unit Captain:

Each unit is led by a Queensmen Captain

Experience Level:

2 (Irregular)

Leadership:

2

Equipment:

Heavy Armour (+d to Defence checks)
Crossbows (makes Ranged Attacks)
Pavise (+f to Defence checks against Ranged Attacks)

The Queensbloods

Unit Captain:

Alrah Queensmen

Experience Level:

4 (Veteran)

Leadership:

3

Equipment:

Plate Armour (+f to all Defense checks)
Shields (+d to all Defence checks)
Barding (+f to all Defense checks)
Lances (+s to all Charge Attacks)
Cavalry (+dd to all Attack checks against non-reach Infantry)

Additionally, they are sometimes joined by the crew of The Queens' Wrath, as detailed below:
4 x Deckhands

Unit Captain:

None

Experience Level:

2 (Irregular)

Leadership:

1

Equipment:

No Armour (+d to Defence checks)
Polearms (Reach; +d to Attacks against non-reach enemies; +d to Defence checks against non-reach enemies; +dd to Defence checks against Cavalry Charge attacks)

2 x Deckhand Crossbows

Unit Captain:

None

Experience Level:

2 (Irregular)

Leadership:

1

Equipment:

No Armour (+d to Defence checks)
Crossbows (makes Ranged Attacks)

Structure

Each member of The Queens' Men is drawn from one of the great families in The Kingdom of Hillhurst. The Captains who lead them, and the members of The Queensbloods who form their elite, are drawn exclusively from the sons and daughters of The Merchant Queens themselves. All members of the company take the surname Queensmen with the expectation that they will put aside their family's politics and pursue only the interests of the company.

Election

The Commander of The Queens' Men is chosen by election following the death of the previous commander. Any member of the company is eligible to vote, with their vote wieghted by the number of years of service with the company. Candidates are drawn from amongst the Queensbloods.
Election occurs when one candidate achieves a greater majority, that is when once candidate scores more than one-half of the total available votes. This often means that elections are made up of multiple rounds, wherein lower-scoring candidates are encouraged to withdraw their candidacy and advise their own voters to vote for one of the higher-scoring candidates. This 'encouragement' will inevitably involve promises of positions and rewards such as Captaincy.
An individual round of the election may be called by any candidate any time after the previous count has been announced, though it must allow for all members of the company to cast their vote, so cannot be called in the midst of battle or while members are recovering from injuries. It is usual though for several days to pass between rounds so that arrangements to withdraw can be made between candidates.

History

In April of 443KS, while employed by House Darklyn of Darklyn Point at The Battle of Eastcross the Queens' Men were routed by forces led by the lowborn Shela Blackwood, resulting in the capture of many of the Queensbloods and ser Alrah Queensmen herself. This shameful defeat has affected their reputation.
Ser Alrah and the other Queensbloods were ransomed to ser Cody Karro to be immediately returned to The Kingdom of Hillhurst.
Later, in September of that year, ser Alrah was invited to ride in Tourney at Southbay 443KS. She was also invited to accompany Marielyn Hewlett and ser Cody Karro in negotiating for the ransom of Boris from Laina Falcin, then the Squire of ser Allon Southbay.
After the Tourney ser Alrah went missing. She was succeeded by ser Blythe Queensmen.

Current Status

Unemployed

Type

Mercenary

Rank

6 5