When constructing a fantasy setting for your game, compelling conflicts are a key part of what gets players interested, motivated, and involved in the game. Conflicts, of course, need participants, and while traditional armies, knightly orders, and monstrous hordes are excellent standbys, hired thugs and treasure-motivated soldiers can add a -- well -- mercenary flavor to your game. With that in mind, the Illuminerdy is pleased to present ten mercenary companies for your use. The companies below were designed for use in a relatively traditional quasi-medieval fantasy setting, though of course they could be easily modified for other eras.

The Mercs

Jenkin's Company

Jenkin's company is renowned south of the wall for their cunning, and ability to ensure that almost any mission is accomplished, if not always within the contractually allotted time. Jenkins himself keeps his men disciplined when on a mission, but encourages less-than-savory behaviors when they're not. The captain is, at best, marginally sane, but he commands great loyalty from his troops, who are always paid on time.

Leader: Captain Gerritt Jenkins Organization: Military Contract: Task-based Approximate Number: 250 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 50 Medium Foot: 50 Heavy Foot: 25 Light Mounted: 50 Medium Mounted: 50 Heavy Mounted: 25 Exotic: 0

Timm's Blades

Timm's Blades are a ravening horde of cruel swordsman. As a result, Timm is usually forced to billet his forces above the Wall, even when not on contract. Timm's men can often be found south of the wall in small groups, the only way in which they're not considered a danger to innocent citizenry. One-eyed Timm is careful, cunning, and brave - a set of characteristics not generally found in mercenary leaders. He treats his men fairly, but is not overly kind to them. Strife from one of his chief lieutenants led to the once two-eyed leader earning his current nickname, though the lieutenant is no longer among the living. How a relatively honorable man ended up leading so may ruffians is an enduring mystery in the North.

Leader: One-Eyed Timm Organization: Horde Contract: Time Approximate Number: 300 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 0 Medium Foot: 200 Heavy Foot: 75 Light Mounted: Medium Mounted: Heavy Mounted: Exotic: 25* *Half-tamed ogre axe-fighters

The Steelhelms

The Steelhelms are a group of disgraced former military officers, gathered around a former Army Captain named Alexander Steelhelm. Steelhelm himself is a certified genius, and can accomplish with his 50 men and women what other bands could not do with a thousand. But you get what you pay for. The Steelhelms are expensive, and Alexander is very choosy about jobs.

Leader: Commander Alexander Steelhelm Organization: Military Contract:Task Approximate Number: 50 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 0 Medium Foot: 0 Heavy Foot: 0 Light Mounted: 0 Medium Mounted: 0 Heavy Mounted: 0 Exotic: 50* *Assorted classed/leveled characters of questionable morals.

The Greyshield Battalion

The Greyshield Battalion can be identified by the slate-grey shields that nearly all of its members carry, an emblem that is also emblazoned across the unit's banners. Its members are noted for their discipline, and for refusing to leave any of their fallen on a battlefield, no matter the cost. At the same time, deserters from the Greyshields are mercilessly hunted and killed, assuming they ever make it out of camp.

Leader: Major Maximus Fennig Organization: Military Contract: Time Approximate Number: 500 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 100 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 150 Medium Foot: 150 Heavy Foot: 100 Light Mounted: 0 Medium Mounted: 0 Heavy Mounted: 0 Exotic: 0

The Band of the Red Leaf

A group of High Alder both inspired and shamed by the actions of their race in the last great war, the Band of the Red Leaf is made up primarily of elves who feel that serving in the regular Army is beneath them. The band purposely seeks out dangerous missions, hoping to win glory for their long-lived (and not easily impressed) race one battle at a time. Although not bound by tight discipline, many of the members of the band are veterans, and thus the band has largely conformed to the same organization as the army.

Leader: Commander Nehran Oakbow Organization: Military Contract: Time Approximate Number: 500 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 400* Medium Foot: 0 Heavy Foot: 0 Light Mounted: 100** Medium Mounted: 0 Heavy Mounted: 0 Exotic: 0 *Armed with longbows **Armed with shortbows

The Jade Company

All graduates of the Jade Forest Academy, these highly-trained mercenaries are often in high-demand in the North. Although not all graduates of the Academy join this prestigious company, many of the best do. The company operates primarily in the North, while a sister organization, the Jade Hunters, operates in the South. Discipline is rarely necessary in the company, as its members were practically born into the military life. Most notable, perhaps, is that all of the members of both the Company and the Hunters are women.

Leader: Captain Tarin Bless Organization: Military Contract: Task Approximate Number: 250 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 0 Medium Foot: 150 Heavy Foot: 0 Light Mounted: 0 Medium Mounted: 0 Heavy Mounted: 100 Exotic: 0

The Mountain Legion

The Mountain Legion is a unit of civilized Ogrun. About half are from the South, while the remaining half were born in the Deathlands, and have sought refuge with their better-treated brethren. Named for the mountains that their people often call home, the Mountain Legion pursues its objectives with a single-minded dedication, at least until its contract runs out. Their terms are often simple, and its leadership easy to work with; however, Krug demands that any one wishing to hire the legion must provide the legion's rations. Consequently, the massive cost associated with feeding so many ogres has discouraged some potential clients.

Leader: Warleader Krug Organization: Horde Contract: Time Approximate Number: 1000 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 0 Medium Foot: 0 Heavy Foot: 0 Light Mounted: 0 Medium Mounted: 0 Heavy Mounted: 0 Exotic: 1000* *Ogres

The Brotherhood of Ceridrawn

The Brotherhood is named for the city in which they first gathered. Remnants of hundreds of broken mercenary bands, they came together in partnership to seek contracts and to survive. Since its founding, the Brotherhood has become increasingly dominated by the more savage races, although anyone can seek a partnership in the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood's leaders are elected, and its members share equally in any profits from its exploits. The self-styled "general" Drynn has led the unit for nearly two years, the current record in the fractious brotherhood.

Leader: General Drynn Organization: Horde Contract: Time Approximate Number: 2000 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 250 Medium Foot: 250 Heavy Foot: 250 Light Mounted: 0 Medium Mounted: 250 Heavy Mounted: 0 Exotic: 1000* *Hobgoblins

The Hammer of Moradin

Named after a mythical hammer of one of the patriarchs of the dwarven race, this group of mostly dwarven troops has a reputation for efficiency, and brutality. It's leader, the self-styled General Grut Bonegrinder is primarily responsible for the unit's record on brutality, and his troops responsible for efficiency. Although not a terribly good leader, Grut rules his men with an iron fist, and at least ensures that they are paid on time and often.

Leader: General Grut Bonegrinder Organization: Military Contract: Time Approximate Number: 250 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 0 Light Foot: 0 Medium Foot: 0 Heavy Foot: 250 Light Mounted: 0 Medium Mounted: 0 Heavy Mounted: 0 Exotic: 0

The Bloodborn

The Bloodborn are a relatively old unit, started by the younger sons of a group of Aesirin nobles shortly after the War of the Damned. Still a haven for spoiled nobility, they nonetheless have a fairly successful record.

Leader: Colonel Reshathir Thorasen Organization: Military Contract: Time Approximate Number: 720 Troop types: Foot Skirmishers: 0 Mounted Skirmishers: 120 Light Foot: 0 Medium Foot: 0 Heavy Foot: 0 Light Mounted: 200 Medium Mounted: 200 Heavy Mounted: 200 Exotic: 0