Stonefast Company

In the absence of a standing army, police force or even professional constabulary outside of the capital city, Westlo has regrettably lived in peace and harmony for a long time. Thankfully, out of a sense of community and noblesse oblige, Jeanne Stonefast has formed the Stonefast Company. .
A band of highly-trained mercenaries, the Stonefast Company recruit broadly from the human community of Westlo. They believe in law and order, and making a modest profit, much of which is donated to community-based organisations.

Composition

Weaponry

The Stonefast Company prefers to recruit versatile fighters who are proficient in medium-range and melee combat. Officers will be equipped with high-powered composite bows, while the rank and file will carry a short bow, a scimitar and a bludgeon of some kind.

Structure

Jeanne Stonefast is the Commander of the Company, but has gradually appeared less and less often on the battlefield. Below her, each formation of the Company has an Officer, called a Boss, who receives orders directly from Stonefast herself or, through intermediaries, their current client. This modular approach to the chain of command allows a flexibility and agility of deployment, and each Boss has a chance to stamp his or her own personality on his group. It is up to a Boss whether or not a lieutenant is appointed in the group.

Tactics

The Company are comfortably the best-trained force in the whole region, and will easily out-maneuver any group or gang arrayed against them.
Each Group is able to function either as a medium-range (or basic siege) unit through use of bows, or as a skirmish unit in hand-to-hand situations. In a pitched battle, they would use hit-and-run tactics, aiming to engage heavy infantry and then withdraw, allowing archers to take over the assault from range. The skirmishers would then engage the enemy from the flank.
These tactics are largely theoretical, as the Company are mostly employed in police duties and shaking down gangsters for money. That said, Jeanne Stonefast's book The Tactics of the Company is a best-seller in Duntown.

Training

While the practice of assigning groups of the Company to individual Bosses with individual control allows for great diversity in how missions are carried out, the character of the Stonefast Company is stamped on recruits during training.
Training is focussed initially on strengthening specialities, with rangers concentrating on scouting and archery, for example, and fighters working on their melee abilities. There is then a period of classroom learning when all recruits come together to learn the history of humanfolk in Westlo and the theory of tactics in battle. During the classroom learning, there are three afternoons a week where the recruits work on their weaker skills, rangers learning to fence and fighters learning to shoot. Crucially, these skills are taught them by their peers, promoting friendly rivalries and a strong sense of community. Experienced recruiters will watch closely to spot those with the potential to become Bosses at this time.
Once the recruit graduates, there are two mandatory training weeks a year, for which they are paid as if on a mission.

Logistics

Recruitment

There are two main recruiting routes into the Company. One is called the Recidivist Education route, which aims at giving violent criminals and brawlers a second chance by offering a respectable career. It was this community-spirited project that first attracted Malmeck the Warlock as an investor.
The second route is from the recently created Malmeck's School for Adventurers. Rangers and Fighters graduating from the Schools are offered opportunities in the Company by recruiters.
At present, only humanfolk are recruited into the Company.

Type

Paramilitary

Overall training Level

Elite

Assumed Veterancy

Trained

Used by

• Malmeck Industries