The Braided Band

A famous Mercenary Company, founded by deserters and run on fiercely democratic and egalitarian principles – much like old pirate bands (or at least, an idealised version of them).

Members and associates:

• Mosslow: initially voted treasurer, the nearest thing to a constant leader the group has for its first years
• Gawmin, The feather-caster: donates his own feathers to "immaterial" wings that can grant others flying - feathers fall away, limiting how long flight works for. Their feathers grow back pretty quickly however
• A captain to counter Mosslow, to ensure balance – unless this just changes a lot over time?
• A contract-maker, lawyer or similar
• Lebayel and The Cloudskirter(late joiner)
• Cusisme (late joiner).
• The Silversmith
• combat Steam-shaper from Delunustri peaks (late-joiner).
• Patchwork mimic/tailor/surgeon?
• Mirrored individual whose twin has died - originally in Hahemir's Fabulists and Wits.

Miscellaneous:

• Canteen swill - a common term for cheap, low-quality booze.
• rival group of mercenaries from Edesenkol? in general, contrast with the wrack and ruin caused by other mercenary companies.

Structure

• No permanent leaders – officers are selected, by-vote and per-mission - & non-urgent/non-combat decisions are made democratically.
• Earnings (plunder, salary, bounties etc) are divided equally among the group, with small bonuses for certain roles or if voted for by colleagues for exceptional action. This pay can be regularly collected, or held by the Treasurer until needed – that is the individual soldier's choice. A certain amount (fluctuating over time) is held in common to enable group bargaining for supplies, and to serve as a widows/orphans/injuries fund. The balance of the treasury is kept in triplicate, held by different people, and can be checked at any time.
• punishments are made based on group votes – it pays to stay popular!
• All joiners sign the Braid accord and get tattooed (if biologically able to be tattooed).
• The Braided Band is ethical within their group, however up for all sort of mercenary hijinks (extorting, turning on their employers, engaging in banditry and looting [though generally not against the impoverished]) outside the group. Need to maintain their reputation though, so not excessively unreliable. They will often carry out "distribution of justice" in territories they defeat - freeing serfs, holding trials for corrupt politicians and the like - which does not endear them to their employers!
• Hated (and attempted to be made an example of) by their erstwhile employers, they find their reputation (not high to start with) smeared, so even though they are driven and effective, they find work hard to come by – at least initially.
• They use the classic mixed-archer-and-shield model of the Giterikin for the most part, including the iconic short-spear – 2-4ft shaft with a fat spade-like spearhead on it, capable of thrusting like a spear or swinging like an axe.

History

Origins:

the original members of the Braided Band once served in a military unit near Rhythonze, in The Giteri. Their Kinma, of the Aliti domain, would switch sides in the conflict whenever it was politically expedient. Sick of fighting wars for causes they didn't care about, for generals who did not care for them, they deserted.
Battle at a burning bridge is a significant episode in their history (though exactly when is unclear). Perhaps they were left on the far side as their commanders set fire to the bridge behind them, left against overwhelming odds. Also took place in the chaotic time during and after the season of snakes.

Timeline:

• Creation – near/in rythonze, initially deserters.
• Lots of storied campaigns, during which they recruited new members and worked with others (e.g Cusisme) but are often on the receiving end of bad luck & malice, and times can be tough.
• One particular: time spent as bandits/blockaders in Kerrid. Pewter Prince story takes place
• Become extremely famous – semi-independent sub-factions are formed and imitators arise. HQ(s) founded. Political (state) power and land begins to be acquired, and attempted to be applied along the same lines.
• Splinter groups move away from founding principles over subsequent centuries. - "auxiliaries" not protected by the accords being among them.
• "three gears" splinter group - based on the idea that 3 cogs can't work together - chaos/anarchy/revolutionary faction.

What is the conclusion?

Demography and Population

Initially, the Band is mostly Giterikin, with a sizable contingent of Southern sphinxes and a handful of Sigmenodans. over time, this makeup becomes more cosmopolitan.

Founding Date

3 Less Foreseen

Type

Military, Mercenary Group

Leader

Mosslow Banetail

Location

The Giteri

Organization Vehicles

• The Cloudskirter

Notable Members

• Lebayel the Lifter
• Mosslow Banetail
• The Silversmith