Mercenaries

Mercenaries fill a broad role in military society. They are usually freemen, although a minority are outcasts from one society or another & wandering the world looking for money & a place to settle. Each is either single figures who hire themselves out to the highest bidder, when war calls. They don't care for the finer points of the conflict, as long as they get paid to fight & kill. A few are small companies or regiments who are remnants of a much larger army. Also, they can hail from a culture where war & battle is seen as an honourable profession, and return home with sacks of plunder when the job is done. Quite a few Vikings & Celts are found carrying out this line of work, both of which belong to societies that value a strong arm, and a love of a good fight. Sometimes small tribal bands will do the same, partly to show their loyalty to one side or another, as well as getting a bit of coin & certain past 'misdeeds' looked over. Many mercenaries are to be found in frontier settlements, allowing access to a good strong arm, and the possibility of them knowing the local lay of the land. Others are found in ports and the largest settlements, where they can get business done with a nations leadership. Most will work out of a specific settlement, at least for a while, or for specific peoples who they trust. If they don't, they will quickly change sides to the nation's competitors. They usually have no standard uniform, and use markings specific to their guild or leader. A few more well established mercenary companies will adopt an informal uniform amongst it's members, and have rigid rules about conduct in business & war. Most mercenaries that belong to larger organisations will not attack others of the same, as obviously this is bad for business & overall morale. If a nation tries to get them to do this, the consequences can be disastrous.

Type

Mercenary