Another specialized type of cult, the Mercenary Company is a quasi-military unit consisting of soldiers-for-hire and support staff that signs contracts with individuals, religious organizations, and even nations, locking the Company into a position of becoming effectively a hired army. Once a contract is signed, a Mercenary Company honors the arrangement for as long as their contractor follows the letter and spirit of the contract, and for as long as coin continues to flow into the Company’s coffers. It is not at all unusual for a Company to sign a new contract that puts them in direct conflict with a previous employer.
Sample Mercenary Company: Soldiers of the Coin
The Soldiers of the Coin is one of the world’s most prestigious Mercenary Companies, known primarily for their steadfast determination to follow their contract and for their astounding and devastating combat abilities. Over the past two centuries, since the Soldiers of the Coin was formed, the Mercenary Company has lost only a handful of conflicts, the most notable failure being their defeat by the demonic forces of Ebazeer the Malevolent at the Battle of Devil’s Rift. The Company has never broken a contract.
The Company, while not possessing any written laws against the inclusion of spellcasters in their ranks, rarely takes on those with any strong connection to magical forces. This is not to say that none of their numbers possess integrated runes, but merely to suggest that the Company has a tendency and history of pushing away those that rely heavily on magic.
Members: Mercenaries, support and administrative staff, members’ dependents
Member Skills: Athletics, Lore (Military Tactics), Lore (World), Resilience, Riding, Unarmed, any close combat or ranged weapon skill
Member Duties: To follow the Company commander, follow the current contract, and uphold the Company’s honor and reputation
Member Spells: None
Special Benefits: Company members can receive assistance from fellow Company members with a +10% Influence test. Higher-ranking Company members get a further +10% on this test against lower-ranking members for every degree of difference between them.
Company members proudly wear the symbol of their Company, either painted on the gear or in the form of an amulet or charm, and wear their Company rank where it can be clearly seen by all allies and opponents. These two displayed symbols, combined with the Soldiers of the Coin’s reputation as honorable and trustworthy, grant Company members a reputation bonus (see Reputation & Renown in the Companion) equal to one-half of their Company commander’s current reputation plus 1 for each degree of rank they possess in the Company. The Soldiers of the Coin’s current commander, Halfaar Regaltha, possesses a reputation of 28.
Sample Mercenary Company: Soldiers of the Coin
The Soldiers of the Coin is one of the world’s most prestigious Mercenary Companies, known primarily for their steadfast determination to follow their contract and for their astounding and devastating combat abilities. Over the past two centuries, since the Soldiers of the Coin was formed, the Mercenary Company has lost only a handful of conflicts, the most notable failure being their defeat by the demonic forces of Ebazeer the Malevolent at the Battle of Devil’s Rift. The Company has never broken a contract.
The Company, while not possessing any written laws against the inclusion of spellcasters in their ranks, rarely takes on those with any strong connection to magical forces. This is not to say that none of their numbers possess integrated runes, but merely to suggest that the Company has a tendency and history of pushing away those that rely heavily on magic.
Members: Mercenaries, support and administrative staff, members’ dependents
Member Skills: Athletics, Lore (Military Tactics), Lore (World), Resilience, Riding, Unarmed, any close combat or ranged weapon skill
Member Duties: To follow the Company commander, follow the current contract, and uphold the Company’s honor and reputation
Member Spells: None
Special Benefits: Company members can receive assistance from fellow Company members with a +10% Influence test. Higher-ranking Company members get a further +10% on this test against lower-ranking members for every degree of difference between them.
Company members proudly wear the symbol of their Company, either painted on the gear or in the form of an amulet or charm, and wear their Company rank where it can be clearly seen by all allies and opponents. These two displayed symbols, combined with the Soldiers of the Coin’s reputation as honorable and trustworthy, grant Company members a reputation bonus (see Reputation & Renown in the Companion) equal to one-half of their Company commander’s current reputation plus 1 for each degree of rank they possess in the Company. The Soldiers of the Coin’s current commander, Halfaar Regaltha, possesses a reputation of 28.