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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The_Universe" data-source="post: 1832662" data-attributes="member: 8944">"Common Knowledge"Since there is an inevitable gap between what you know as characters and what you know as players, allow me to provide you with what would be a good share of "common knowledge" that your characters probably know, already.   Most of the mercenaries in the kingdom operate in and around Quarion's wall.  There have been precious few internal conflicts since the founding of the Falcon Kigndom some 900 years ago, and as a result, mercenaries have rarely been useful in large numbers in the main part of the kingdom.  Without wars for them to fight in, the business of being a mercenary does not exactly fluorish in the South.   There are a few small companies that operate along major trade routes, and merchants have been known to hire mercenary marines to guard important cargos on the seas before the King's navy and the Shiplord Talon wiped out piracy a hundred years ago.  Thus, most mercenaries operating in the civilized world are loners, operating in groups only when hired as such. At the end of a contract, any association is more than likely ended, and the lone mercenary seeks further work elsewhere.   If one needs a small number of mercenaries, one could more than likely form a small impromptu company (at most 100-200 men in a city of 100,000) in any number of the larger cities of the realm, probably by found in the seedy bars that "adventurers" like yourselves frequent.  That being said, any such company would not be used to working together, and would probably have widely disparate skills, equipment, and capabilites.  In the North, it's an entirely different matter.  It is here that larger mercenary companies have found their most consistent employment in the realm.  The army of the Watch is powerful, but there are a great many miles of the wall that must be patrolled, and any foray into the realm of the Bluestar himself left the walls unmanned.  Thus, mercenaries are often used to achieve the more sensitive missions of the kingdom in the Deathlands.   Here can be found companies of all shapes, sizes, and capabilities.  There are mercenary naval units that patrol the long stretches of the deathward along the sea.  There are units of heavy cavalry, light infantry, and everything in between.  Practically the only unit not found in the North are riflemen, and other steeldrake dependent units.  The stringest laws of the kingdom prevent their use even above the walls, although it is whispered that some units to emply steeldrakes when sufficiently far from the wall.   These larger units can be found along the wall itself, generally along either side.  The ward acts to prevent anything without a soul from passing in or out of the North, so small cities have grown up on both sides of the wall, as Mercenaries maintain their equipment and supplies for operation both above and below the walls.  Since, for example, one cannot pass with a sword and leather armor, living cattle must be driven through the great gates, and there slaughtered to become armor.  Iron must be mined, smelted, and refined in the North if it is to be used there. Hence, the cities on both sides of the wall.      Truly wretched hives of scum and villainy, these places are a haven for every vice known to the sentient beings of the Falcon Kingdom, a place where laws are at best a mere suggestion, and the only loyalty that matters is ones loyalty to his company.   When not fulfilling a contract, most large companies will travel further south, usually to spend their earnings while they await contracts.  Some remain along the walls in their lawless cities, while others seek temporary havens from the cold and bitter north in cities like Sylvanus, Ceridrawn, and Anakim. Few companies of any size travel further south than Talisinna, Sylvanus, or Aesirin, unless called there by business.   As for who...by their nature, there aren't really any famous mercenary bands, at least not in the circles that you have been travelling in.  A couple of names that stick out are Gerritt Jenkins (a man reputed to lead the Band of the Red Banner) and One-eyed Tim (a man reputed to lead the Screaming Blades).  Both are reputed for their cunning and survivability.  Both have spent some time in Sylvanus, which is why the group might know of them.</blockquote>

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