Jürgen Hubert said:
As a continuation from
this thread:
What is the role of adventurers in your campaign world? How do they fit into society? What do the authorities think of them?
IMC, adventurers are formed usually by the children of people with enough funds to train their children but not enough money or power to give them a good position in government, religion, trade, or simply suport them for life.* Most tend to form mercenary groups. They hire out for all sorts of reasons, from easy garrison duty to combat in war. The minority are freelancers who seek their own fortunes by "killing things and taking their stuff".
How they fit into society depends on the society. In the more lawful lands, they hire out for garrison duty, sign on for tournaments to fight under a lord, or wait for the occational war or sanctioned raid if they don't want trouble with the law. They are often hired by lords who want them to go elsewhere and preform functions the lord cannot do himself. In the more chaotic lands, where the lord is simply the most powerful thug in the region, they have more free reign and only have to worry about pissing people off who would challenge them. Alliances are made, people are bought, and power established. Considering that the normal way for getting a title in such lands is riding into one lord's land, forcing him out and claiming ownership, adventurers are both a resource and threat.
How authorities deal with them is greatly dependant on their reputation. A well known adventuring party whose reputation portrays them as no threat to the local lord will usually not be bothered or even courted trying to gain their favor. Especially since most contain people from well to do families and even nobility. An unknown adventuring party is a wild card and will be watched, told to leave, or attacked as the local authorities see fit. Here having a bard in the party or paying one to sing and tell stories about them is a good thing, although a party of any note will have these stories checked up on by those interested in them. References are also a good thing as if you can name drop important people your party has worked for, or better yet have letters from them with their seal, it can work in you favor (or not depending on how those important people are viewed locally).
*Also, IMC, the "party" is a recognised social group. Children of all social groups are often teamed up together and expected to be life long friends whose fortunes are shared. This happens between ages 7 and 14. At 14 they recieve training as suits them and their family, and after training they reunite to continue their carreers. It is primarily of imprtance in the upper classes however. The king's son and heir might have a party formed of himself, the child of the head priest, the court wizard, and even a man of the people (ie rogue, because they recognise the importance of a large skill set) and they will be expected to work together and support eachother even after take up their roles in their parents roles. Some rich nobles might simply bring in children of lower class to be in a party with their child explicity for the purpose of keeping them safe. In return they are given training and a chance to raise their lot by working for the noble. For less well off families, it is just a way to provide them with resources to survive in the world.
