The Gold Company
With the way that their shite luck had been going, Shade supposed that the Company should have expected the fight. They really should have. In between getting caught in the rain, getting lost because dumb-ass Gavel's maps got drenched in said freezing downpour, and having to blindly trudge through half frozen sludge back to the bum-fuck hovel that could barely be graced with the title of 'town', getting jumped by the bandits that they had been searching for really was just the correct cumulation to the afternoon.
Shade blew out hard, causing her soaked-through hair to flop lazily away from her eyes. She watched as Big Bucket lumbered backward, waiting for an order, sword drawn. She motioned for Gavel to, please, by the Lords of Good, stay in her hiding spot and not try anything stupid. She then immediately had to duck out of the way of a stray arrow that was originally headed for BB. She watched as it embedded itself, deep into the tree behind her, with wide eyes. She blinked, and another one soon joined it. Shade cursed, and crouched lower behind the tenuous cover that was her mossy rock.
Of course.
She would have once considered the obscuring nature of the rain a blessing of Urian. Easier to get away in. Easier to hide in. Fuck. That. Shit. She'd be better sending her prayers to Rontra in order to make her rock bigger. What idiot would be willing to waste arrows to a downpour? A damn dumbass, that is who. Amateurs. The lot of them. Her own Company included. She threw her own bow down to the ground, and pulled out a pair of daggers. They weren't getting paid enough for this horse-crap of a job. She wasn't getting paid enough to go into melee.
King owed her a damn drink. No. Patches owed her a damn drink.
"Help the people. Bring peace to the land, go fuck yourself, Patches! You and your damn soft conscience." She shouted vehemently, trying desperately to see through the near white-out downpour.
"It ain't my fault! Wi--King agreed to it!" The words were shouted as both Patches (Patches-Erdan-Patches, the name changed back and forth constantly depending on how willing the Imp was to put up with King's pouting for the rest of the day) and King went darting out into the muddy street. BB, true a fool as ever, followed after them.
"He'd agree to put on a damn dress if you asked him kindly enough, don't act like this isn't your damn fault!"
Gold eyes glared back at her as King directed his attention toward her. "Patches, scatter them. Shade, get behind BB and start fighting, damn you!" The words were snapped back, Imperial Common with a Cadoran tilt, almost cut off, as King only just managed to block an arrow with the glimmering shields of abjuration magic.
Almost in retribution, Patches grabbed at his necklace, and the earth rumbled beneath their feet. "Shakareth." He breathed, his eyes narrowing, and his hand flicking out. Wreaths of thunderous energy fanned out from the duo, and rushed out toward the other side of the makeshift no-man's land.
Pained and panicked cries (multiple, blessed be Patches with his sharp eyes) rang out in response to the spell. Ah. So they hadn't known they were dealing with mages. Shade couldn't stop her grin at that, even as BB charged forward, shield and sword raised.
Shade flung herself after the three of them, watching as King's hands glowed golden, wreathed in a fire that was too bright to be anything but those granted by the Bright Lord himself. The rain hissed against the licking flames, as King sent out two bolts of flame at the back of a fleeing man. Said man went down with a 'thud' that was echoed by the rumble of thunder in the sky.
BB bounded across the street, not even faltering as an arrow thudded into his shield. He said nothing when a few of the bandit men came out to greet them with weapons drawn. With another resounding 'crack', the men went scattering again thanks to a call of Patches' magic. Those that remained gripped at their heads, shocked at the ringing in their ears. Their defenses were down.
Shade trailed after BB, cutting in the openings that the swings of the other's blade left. Clean up, more than anything.
Or that is should have happened.
"Erdan--" There was only one reason why King would sound panicked like that. Of course the fuckers had decided to target the elf flinging destructive magics in every direction. Kill the mage had been a common enough sentiment during the war for even the stupidest of soldiers to realize their first target. Didn't make it better that their damn doctor was getting stabbed at. Shade turned to see the elf duck out of the way of a sword thrust, only to be caught in the side by his opponent's offhand. Ah. Shit.
King struck out first. Fiery magics twisting around his wrists as his hands shifted through the sharp Imperial casting of a spell. One hand was outreached while the other shoved a staggering Patches behind him. Hungry flames fanned out, hot and bright against the gray, freezing evening air. The targeted man screamed.
Shade's daggers digging into the opponent's back were more a merciful quickening of the man's demise than a legitimate strike.
Once he went down, the others scattered, seeming to understand the ramifications of the very poor decision that their seeming leader had just made in targeting the Company's only physician. BB handled the vast majority of them, though King was apparently still pissed enough to send bolts of flame at the few that he deemed to be running too slowly.
Soon, all that was left was the quartet of the Golden Company's senior members. And the rain. Shade sighed. Gavel came running up, half dragging the group's sodden supplies. Shade quietly busied herself searching through the scorched remains for items of gold or jewelry. She let out a low whistle as she took in the last victim. Crispy and charred. Poor sod. King took after his father in more ways than one when he was pissed.
"You alright, Patches?" BB's deep voice rumbled, and Shade looked up to see one of his large hands covering the vast majority of the elf's left shoulder. Patches only hissed out a gritted breath, upon which King dug into Gavel's packs, and shoved a potion into the physician's hands.
"Drink." The elf did so, without a word to the contrary, which was honestly half-surprising. Ah. Well. Gavel was still green, and probably wouldn't think to hold her tongue if she saw the other using that magic of his to knit wounds back together.
Shade had to wonder just how long the other's hesitation would last this time.
Once King was adequately assuaged that his pet Imp wasn't about to keel over, the group made their way over to the lone building in the area. A ram-shackled old barn that was probably one good storm away from collapsing straight to the ground. As likely a place as any for the bandits to have been weathering the storm, if only because no one in their right damn mind would travel through the shit.
Present company excluded.
Damn Patches. Damn King. They didn't share a brain between them. Shade rung out her hat on the surprisingly dry floor of the barn, only wincing once at the cloying sweetness that signified wet hay. She should have expected what came next. Of course it was another fucking arrow. Directed right at her. From a brat that was frantically rising to his feet from where it looked as though he had been sleeping in the hay. Of. Course. It was only quick movement on King's part that pulled her out of the way. Within a heartbeat's time, both her own and BB's blades were pointed at the boy's neck. His shortbow dropped immediately, and almost on cue, the blubbering started. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I-I didn't know. I was told to watch. I didn't--I wasn't trying--I--"
"Name?" King asked, and his voice was still calm. But that edge was there.
"Luka, sir."
"You with the bandits, Luka?"
The brat was immediately spewing excuses. "B-Bad crop season. Had to feed my sisters--I-I didn't ever--" His voice wavered with each word. Genuine. Panicking. Shade snorted to hide a sigh. "Orders, King?" Shade asked, glancing away from the kid. Barely a teenager. Skinny. Scrapped knees. She knew the type well enough. Shade shook her head. She pricked the point of her blade against the boy's throat, effectively silencing him. She heard Patches' footsteps behind her, before the elf spoke up. "Will--" No. Shade knew that fucking tone. She knew that hesitation too well. She had never known an Imp to be merciful, and then King came about, with this one attached to his heels. "Don't you dare try to adopt another one, Patches. We just finished sending Gavel through her rounds, and she's still not worth the cost it takes to feed her. Talk about redemption one more time and--" "Will, he's just a kid." Morwyn's tits, give her patience to deal with the Captain's living moral compass. BB was already looking away. Probably calculating fucking food costs for a still growing brat. "We were hired to kill bandits, King." She was bitching to bicker at this point, and they all knew it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bucket shake his head in slight humor and exasperation. The road before them was paved with multiple past experiences. "We were hired ta stop the attacks on caravans. Which we have done. What is one kid gonna do? He's tryin' ta look out for his family." Patches' voice had that damn final note to it. Fuck him, but Shade already knew that she had whatever fight they had been having, even before she looked at King's face.
King was silent for a moment. As if he was actually taking the time to decide. Finally, he spoke up. "You are pretty good with that bow, Luka." Shade groaned. Ugh. What was one more whelp to the horde?
Damn Patches. Damn King. They didn't share a brain between them. Shade rung out her hat on the surprisingly dry floor of the barn, only wincing once at the cloying sweetness that signified wet hay. She should have expected what came next. Of course it was another fucking arrow. Directed right at her. From a brat that was frantically rising to his feet from where it looked as though he had been sleeping in the hay. Of. Course. It was only quick movement on King's part that pulled her out of the way. Within a heartbeat's time, both her own and BB's blades were pointed at the boy's neck. His shortbow dropped immediately, and almost on cue, the blubbering started. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I-I didn't know. I was told to watch. I didn't--I wasn't trying--I--"
"Name?" King asked, and his voice was still calm. But that edge was there.
"Luka, sir."
"You with the bandits, Luka?"
The brat was immediately spewing excuses. "B-Bad crop season. Had to feed my sisters--I-I didn't ever--" His voice wavered with each word. Genuine. Panicking. Shade snorted to hide a sigh. "Orders, King?" Shade asked, glancing away from the kid. Barely a teenager. Skinny. Scrapped knees. She knew the type well enough. Shade shook her head. She pricked the point of her blade against the boy's throat, effectively silencing him. She heard Patches' footsteps behind her, before the elf spoke up. "Will--" No. Shade knew that fucking tone. She knew that hesitation too well. She had never known an Imp to be merciful, and then King came about, with this one attached to his heels. "Don't you dare try to adopt another one, Patches. We just finished sending Gavel through her rounds, and she's still not worth the cost it takes to feed her. Talk about redemption one more time and--" "Will, he's just a kid." Morwyn's tits, give her patience to deal with the Captain's living moral compass. BB was already looking away. Probably calculating fucking food costs for a still growing brat. "We were hired to kill bandits, King." She was bitching to bicker at this point, and they all knew it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bucket shake his head in slight humor and exasperation. The road before them was paved with multiple past experiences. "We were hired ta stop the attacks on caravans. Which we have done. What is one kid gonna do? He's tryin' ta look out for his family." Patches' voice had that damn final note to it. Fuck him, but Shade already knew that she had whatever fight they had been having, even before she looked at King's face.
King was silent for a moment. As if he was actually taking the time to decide. Finally, he spoke up. "You are pretty good with that bow, Luka." Shade groaned. Ugh. What was one more whelp to the horde?
Structure
The Gold Company was created and led by William the Bright of Ravenfall, who acts as a the Company's sole Captain. Beneath William, or 'King' as he is called, there is the Lieutenant position, which has been held by three people since the Company's conception. After the Lieutenant position, Sergeants issue orders down to the soldiers of smaller groups, or branches, which are divided by skill, style, or profession.
Outside of the normal division in rank, there are also four special titles, each carrying unique duties: physician, records-keeper, mage, and quartermaster. While one person can undertake the duties of multiple titles, a soft limit is placed on only taking one additional role, due to previous experiences.
The physician is typically in charge of multiple groups worth of men's health, and their word can supersede that of even the Captain, should they believe that the breech is warranted. Typically, there is one Records-Keeper with each branch, with each being in close contact with the others, and with the Captain's own Records-Keeper. They are the main source of communication between the branches and groups, which can be relatively disconnected from each other, unless fighting in a major battle. Mages most often act as the Records-Keepers, and often travel between branches, if only due to rarity. Mages are granted a great deal of fluidity with their placement, have higher standings, and preferred divisions. They typically work closely with William the Bright, and generally only have to report to him, rivaling the rank of Sergeants. Finally, quartermasters are also assigned a single branch, and often work closely with the Records-Keeper in order to ensure that no financial strains are being placed unduly on a singular group.
Succession has never been considered a true issue for the Gold Company. In the two times that the Company has faced substantial losses, William the Bright was dealt only minor injuries. A plan is in place, however, that should he be killing in battle, or should he step down, the next Captain would be chosen by the senior members of the Company, through vote.
Culture
Names and appearances are very important to the Company as a whole. The Company is stringently respectful and generally tight-lipped about each other's pasts, especially if members know of each other's burdens. Most members, including William himself, tend to go by monikers, rather than their real names. Many of those higher in the ranks tend to forgo their names, as a sign of loyalty or respect toward tradition. Typically, these nicknames are seen as a matter of acceptance into the band as a whole, and the few that do not take them or accept them are often seen as relative outsiders, even if deemed worthy of respect. The usage of a person's genuine name is treated as a matter of closeness, and its inappropriate use is one of the more likely ways to start a fight.
A low but still substantial number of the Company tend to either mask themselves, or utilize illusory magics in order to disguise themselves, when divisions go into towns. Such is most commonly seen in the ranks of the Mages, though some senior members of the Company have taken to the trend as well.
As for matters of religion and belief, the Gold Company is an odd mix. There is no adherence toward one belief sect, and there is no patron deity of the Company. Many of the men worship the Lords of Good, with a few praying to the Sisters, or even the vanished Architects of Man. An abnormally large sect of the Company also reveres the Old God, Rontra, though such worship is done in a quieter, more reserved manner than that with which they would approach the Lords of Good.
Public Agenda
A majority of the men and women under the Gold Company's Banner were, or are, Ashworthian loyalists. While such sentiments are not typically shared openly, especially on the western side of the Zau'berian Empire, these biases are an open secret to most of the Company's employers. Even so, they are not stated to be anti-Dolcaster. No one of the Company has risen arms up against any Cadoran causes, despite at least one instance of an interested Florin party reaching out with such a request.
As a whole, the Gold Company is a mercenary company. Their main objective and goal was to gain wealth and acclaim throughout the Imperial Region. For close to a ten year period in the early 1690's, the group focused more on stabilizing the Imperial lands, taking what jobs and gold that they could while helping the still war-torn region attempt to recover. As the years have past, however, the Gold Company has begun to grow and gain further acclaim, taking larger jobs. They have stepped away from taking smaller, lower-paying appointments, and have instead begun to work under the contracts of wealthier employers or even rulers.
Assets
Most often, the Company searches for employment in regions plagued by conflict, or areas that have been disrupted by wars or attacks. As such, wealth is typically not an issue for the Gold Company, even in the relative peace of the current Golden Age. All men are generally well-armed and each of the branches are well-stocked with food and supplies. Quartermasters generally keep a small supply of consumable magic items on hand, such as Paper Birds, that can be utilized as barter material, should the need ever arise. Each of the groups also tends to have a small stock of gold currency that can be utilized as funds in case of emergency. Such funds are discouraged from being utilized.
The Gold Company, as a whole, also has a collective bank account in Edelstein. This vault can be accessed by all Quartermasters of the Company, however the amount that each can withdraw is limited to their branch's overall size and standing. In total, the company has amassed a sizable amount of gold in bullion, and more in other forms of goods and valuables. Such among the Company has been "King's Horde", though such words are often spoken in jest or fondness.
Finally, the Gold Company is known to utilize and have a small collection of decently-prided, true bred warhorses. These horses, of the Ravenfall Courser stock, are trained and raised for battle. The breed was utilized by many noble families during both the Long War and the War of the Crown, but fell out of favor in Cador with the fall of the Ashworth line, as the King had taken to utilizing them in the Long War. It is reported that the small group of studs and mares came from William the Bright's family's farm.
History
The Gold Company was initially founded in 1688, by William of Ravenwall, at the age of 23. William and four others, Harold, Henrik, Leopold, and Helga from the Ravenfall area had trained under the tutelage of Garret Monnet, a retired soldier of the Imperial Army's 28th Division. Initially, the Company started off as a close knit band, and the group mainly stayed in the eastern Imperial lands. During this time, the majority of their work centered around small jobs, and rooting out bandits that had settled in the region after the end of the Long War.
William the Bright, Captain of the Gold Company
Eventually, the band traveled southward, gaining minor acclaim from their successes. In the fall of 1690, one of the men, Harold, suggesting that they take to the caverns in the beaches, having heard of potential monster attacks in the region. What they came across during this excursion, however, proved too much of a challenge for the small band. All except for William were slaughtered by the aberrant creature they had been tasked to kill. He was only saved from the same fate by a traveling pair of Wood Elves.
Taken in by this familial pair, William traveled with them back to the Wagner Estate, to rest and heal. Once he recovered, he took to traveling with the younger of the duo, Erdan Wagner. The pair were a good match, and reestablished the Golden Company under a novel banner, as a mercenary company. William established himself as the Captain of the Company, with Erdan acting as his Lieutenant and the Company's primary physician.
Once the Gold Company grew large enough to be split into its divided form, Erdan stepped down from the Lieutenant position, continuing instead to act as the Company's physician, in a less combative role. In his place, a woman by the moniker of Shade rose to prominence. However, it should be noted that during his travels with the Gold Company, Erdan Wagner continued to have a very influential sway in the Company's major decisions. Such has been noted to be due to William the Bright's fondness for the Elven man, and Erdan's reported skill at healing what would otherwise be life-threatening injuries. It was reported that he often swayed the more senior members in the jobs that they took, erring them towards softer or more lenient courses of action.
In more recent years, Erdan Wagner has since left the band. Shade was transferred to lead one of the major branches stationed in Edelstein after an argument with William the Bright following a bloody skirmish with a band of Dar. A young Florin woman by the moniker of Spring has risen to take her place as Lieutenant. While a few of the smaller branches have remained in Imperial lands, at or around Edelstein, the majority of the company has since traveled south to Aljahim. There, they have aligned themselves with the Grand Caliph's forces, and are taking on the barbarians that fight against his regime.Demography and Population
The Company numbers close to 800 men, with relatively consistent numbers. Most of the Gold Company are humans that hail from Imperial lands, however, there are other notable groups and demographics contained within the diverse band.
There is a significant portion of Cadorans and Ashworthian Loyalists in the martial ranks of the Company. These former Cadorans are said to have been drawn to the Gold Company by William the Bright, who is reported to be a descendant of those blessed by the Bright Lord. If such statements are true, that would make the mercenary Captain the rightful heir of Cador, in accordance to Ashworthian tradition. However, at present, such claims have not been pressed, nor substantiated by anyone in the Gold Company itself.
While there are multiple Imperial patrons and employers of the Company, there have been very few Imperial or elven members of the Golden Company. Such could be attributed to the majority of the High Elves staying within the Jeweled City. While their full-blooded kinsmen are not common in the ranks, half elves do have a noticeable presence under the Company's banner.
Company is reported to have taken in a handful of Florin swordsmen two years ago, having traveled into, and then away from the Florin Capital, after wooing said martial masters away from their respective posts. On this same expedition, the Company went to the ruins of the city of Téméraire, and returned to Edelstein with a reported Bard of the Winding Way in tow. Said human bard goes by the name of Melody, and acts as one of the Company's main mages.
Finally, most recently, a small band of gnomes gathered and are protected within the Company. After traveling to Zeefin close to three years ago, the Company returned to Imperial lands with a nominally high number of gnomish students and researchers. They were contracted to protect these inventors during the gnomes' study abroad period. Despite most gnomish abroad program's stipends ending out after three years, a surprisingly large portion of the gnomish inventors and apprentices decided to stay with the band, offering a partnership. This has led to the Company gaining rapid technological advancements, at least with regard to magical items and weaponry.
Territories
The Gold Company is most typically known in the western region of the Zau'ber Empire, where the Company originated. However, recent years have seen their influence grow. In the past years, a smaller section of the Company has settled in the region near the Jeweled City, in Central Zau'ber, under the employ of one of the Princes. Meanwhile, a larger portion of the company, led by William the Bright, traveled down to the Brass City of Aljahim. While in the Brass City, they have gained the employment and favor of The Grand Caliph.
Military
The Gold Company is primarily an infantry and skirmishing force. They are mainly comprised of pikemen and bowmen, who are supported by swordsmen and a select few mages.
The Company also has a small cavalry based unit, that utilizes Ravenfall Coursers. They have also established a novel partnership with a small group of gnomish interns and engineers from a university in Keefan. The Gnomish innovators are reported to have been working on designs for siege engines, with several members being proficient engineers.
Finally, the Company has four or five arcane casters in its ranks. One of these is a Cadoran mage, Libris, who trained at Garland University. Another is Melody, who was originally found in Florin Territory. The remaining three, William, Fideles, and Erdan were all Imperially trained. While only Libris and William are actually experienced in warfare, the remaining mages' utility and abilities cannot be overlooked.
Gold in Peace, Steel in War.
Founding Date
1688
Type
Guild, Fighter / Mercenary
Alternative Names
The Golds, The Bright Whelp's Horde
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Imperial
Leader
Leader Title
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
The Gold Company accepts pay in loot and gold, silver, and copper pieces.
Location
Official Languages
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