As a sell-sword who fought battles for coin, you're well acquainted with risking life and limb for a chance at a share of treasure. Now, you look forward to fighting foes and reaping even greater rewards as an adventurer. Your experience makes you familiar with the ins and outs of mercenary life, and you likely have harrowing stories of events on the battlefield. You might have served with a large outfit or a smaller band of sell-swords, maybe even more than one.
Now you're looking for something else, perhaps greater reward for the risks you take, or the freedom to choose your own activities. For whatever reason, you're leaving behind the life of a soldier for hire, but your skills are undeniably suited for battle, so now you fight on in a different way.
Mercenaries of Elaris
Countles mercenary companies operate throughout Elaris. Most are small-scale operations that employ a dozen to ahundred folk who offer security services, hunt monsters and brigands, or go to war in exchange for gold. Some organizations have hundreds or thousands of members and can provide private armies to those with enough funds. A few mercenary organizations are described below, alongside the primary country they operate in.
The Iron Tide (Cetandar)
A legion of professional soldiers-for-hire, the Iron Tide operates from Western Cetandar. This group is largely made up of
dwarves and is known for their relentless discipline and brutal battlefield tactics. Their ranks swells with former knights, disgraced nobles, and hardened veterans looking for purpose.
The Ashen Vultures (Lungao)
Operating on the fringes of
The Ash Plains, the Ashen Vultures are a mercenary company that thrives in the lawless and chaotic regions in their area. They are experts in warfare that makes use of the already inhospitable plains, ambush tactics, and asymmetric engagements, often taking contracts to protect caravans or engage in high-risk retrieval missions from the plains.
The Stormborn Blades (Cetandar)
A fleet-based mercenary company, the Stormborn Blades operate primarily along the coast of Cetandar, specializing in naval warfare, ship protection, and coastal raiding. Originally formed from an adventuring company led by
Xeal Stormborn, the now High Mage of Avissa, the group has kept the name but become a less moral group known for storm-gray cloaks and serrated cutlasses.
The Bloodsworn (Cetandar)
A secretive band of mercenaries based out of
Tokalos, The Bloodsworn operate under an oath-bount hierarchy, with every member pledging loyalty to the company through an ancient ritual. Their true origins are unknown, but rumors suggest a link to a forgotten noble house. The Bloodsworn excel in targeted assassinations, espionage, and precise military interventions, favoring subtlety over brute force. Their services do not come cheap, but they are known to honor their contracts with fanatical dedication.
The Guilded Gauntlet (The Kuneirmeru)
A company of highly trained warrior-philosophers operating out of the Kuneirmeru desert, the Gilded Gauntlet believes that warfare is both an art and a science best left to the living. They only take contracts from those they deem “worthy,” refusing work that would bring dishonor upon their name. Known for their golden-plated armor and strict codes of conduct, the Gilded Gauntlet serves as a respected but costly mercenary force, sought after by kings and warlords alike.
The Thunderborn Legion (The Kuneirmeru)
Founded by a band of exiled Blue
Dragonborn warriors, the Thunderborn Legion now serves as one of the most elite mercenary companies in the Eastern Kuneirmeru. Renowned for their use of their breath weapons to split up foes and decimate them, battlefield magic, and relentless coordination, the Thunderborn Legion takes contracts that allow them to test their strength and prove their worth.
Suggested Characteristics
Personality Traits
| d8 |
Personality Trait |
| 1 |
I'm always polite and respectful. |
| 2 |
I'm haunted by memories of war. I can't get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 3 |
I've lost too many friends, and I'm slow to make new ones. |
| 4 |
I'm full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation. |
| 5 |
I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 |
I enjoy being strong and like breaking things. |
| 7 |
I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 |
I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
Ideals
| d6 |
Ideal |
| 1 |
Greater Good. Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) |
| 2 |
Responsibility. I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 |
Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 |
Might. In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil) |
| 5 |
Live and Let Live. Ideals aren't worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral) |
| 6 |
Nation. My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any) |
Bonds
| d6 |
Bond |
| 1 |
I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. |
| 2 |
Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 3 |
My honor is my life. |
| 4 |
I'll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 5 |
Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 6 |
I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
Flaws
| d6 |
Flaw |
| 1 |
The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear. |
| 2 |
I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior. |
| 3 |
I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives – and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. |
| 4 |
My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 |
I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 |
I'd rather eat my armor than admit when I'm wrong. |
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