Mercenaries offering services
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Several groups so far have gathered in the palace looking to present their services and our costs. At the time I write this, we have Sembians, Locals, and some Banites. We should be hearing from them soon.
Polk
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Because of the hard work of Dawnknight Nicholas Alwin Appleberry, we have a rough idea of what each one is seeking. I’m enclosing his letters here so we may all have the same page of information to work from.
A fourth company, Gerhalt’s Company, has caught my interest with their offer to train the group I am building and so I may be personally looking into funding such ventures on that front, but that is only tangentially related to the bigger picture we must contend with. Otherwise I have no personal knowledge, bias or investment for or against these companies, I am more curious to hear what you all have to say than anything I could say myself.
Your thoughts are welcomed, one and all. Mercenaries may win us battles and augment our forces, but the cost borne to replenish the state treasury to pay them will not be something we can extract from their spoils or the land they work after the wars have been won- these are not soldiers of the nation who trade their swords in for plow shears when the fighting is done.
We must weigh these pros and cons at length in our deliberations.
Respectfully,
Holy Strategist Keline Hallenthen
Commander Keline,
I've information, some of which is far too vital to the cause to add to a bold letter. We must meet. Find me, or Dawnknight Aritian as soon as possible.
Additionally, I would like to discuss these mercenaries which aim to present themselves to the Council of Twelve. I have convinced the Rabble Rousers to allow me to speak for them at Council, and I have an interesting proposition for you - and the council, in this regard.
I've gathered some information regarding three of the four groups:
The Unbroken, Banite radicals - soldiers one and all, who wish not for coin, but something more tangible. It is my belief they aim to ask for some kind of shrine. Likely, a shrine to the dead god, Bane.
The Gilded Legion, Sembian mercenaries - Arabel has a troubled past with Sembia. Yes, they are our ally now.. But an ally does not demand gold for aid. They want our coin. All of it. This could risk putting us at a further debt and our people already suffer the burden of poverty.
The Rabble Rousers, Children of Gondegal - these men and women are locals who took up the fight during the revolution. I don't have much information on them. They something of a disjointed band of "loyal" thieves. They believe in the Free City, what it stands for, and most importantly, they live here. None that I see are trained very well, nor are they armed, but they have a fighting instinct, and a willingness to protect Arabel for something other than coin.
There is word of a fourth group of mercenaries. I've not had the pleasure yet. I will send more information as it becomes available.
May the Light shine on you,
Dawnknight Nicholas Alwin Appleberry.
Commander Keline,
I have spoken to Captain Brackenbrook, the leader of Gerhalt's Company. It would seem Captain Gerhalt fell in battle. I can tell you this; he is a straight cut warrior who spoke honestly about his offer and appeared the most receptive of Arabels needs. the Cost was much lower than that of the Gilded Legion, AND he agreed to assist in training the Rabble Rousers for your Irregular Force.
The cost of this is still a weight of coin, 175,000, and the lessons as well as the specifics would be hashed out by the council of twelve.
This accomplishes what you desire, as well as gives Arabel her needed protection.
-Dawnknight Nicholas Alwin Appleberry. -
If their leader died, are they still Gerhalt's Company? Or will they change their name now?
If there's one thing I know about contracts, it's that you never go with the lowest bidder. As with all things in life, you get what you pay for. You pay shoddy prices, you get shoddy products.
I understand not wanting to over-pay, too, because I am, after all, a merchant at heart. Thus, the only compromise is to pick someone in the middle with a reasonable rate who offers us what we are seeking from them.
Osco -
You know the more I think about this, the more interesting- if fanciful- the ideas my mind concocts on to why their leader might be dead.
Like, for example, if their leader was assassinated and then this person took over attempting to get access to our plans or defenses. Of course, I don't know what size their company is, so they might be a handfull of people trying to make an honest living in a crappy situation.
With that being said, I think we might expose their truer intentions if we asked for their leader to bring himself and a member of the company chosen at random by us to the meeting; I will offer to raise their commander and we can see what kind of reaction we get from them.
-Keline
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Keline,
With all due respect, I think you missed my very important point!! And that is, you never go with the lowest bidder. I know you have a mind for war and not one for finances or purchasing in large quantities so leave that kind of thinking to me!
Osco -
Your point is taken, Osco, I understand where you're coming from on this. Maybe my mind has turned to thoughts of subterfuge in light of the multiple attempts on my life-- I want to know why they bid so low, if for no other reason than to sate my quiet paranoia.
-Keline
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Moved from Plot Faction: Council of Twelve Peers by S Swifty Willownall
