Mercenary Guilds

Mercenary groups abound in Adria, just as they did in the middle ages. Paid fighters have always been used to supplement armies at war. If you are interested in purely mercenary, paid fighters, consider contacting these guilds. But be prepared to pay their price, which could range from a bottle of homemade cordial, to a deed for Adrian lands (not valid in the real world, of course)! Many of these guilds are not formal, but rather informal groups.

Imperial Guilds and Groups

Great Company de Mortis

"Journey with us to strange and exotic lands, meet the fascinating natives, 'kill them' and be 'paid' to do it! Enlist today with the Company de Mortis.” (T-shirts available);
Founded--1992 Vega (ECS), recognized in Adria--1997 Aragon, 2004 Albion, 1998 Umbria, 2004 Isle de Mort (now Cypress), 2006 Somerset;
Awarded the Imperial Crown Seal of Excellence 2006 by TIMs' Ashlinn and Pavo;
Founding members of the Imperial Brotherhood of Mercenaries Domain 2005, recognized by TIMs Aislynn and Wright; consisting of the Companies de Mortis--Albion, Aurochsfyord, Umbria, Cypress, and Somerset.
Device: sable, a Skull de Mortis, argent. Badge: fieldless, the Skull de Mortis, argent. Founder's Badge: fieldless, the Skull de Mortis, or (reserved for Sir William); gules (reserved for Sir Arthur) . All members are granted the right to incorporate the Skull de Mortis in their arms.

Articles of the Companies:

Article I- Name
The name of this Imperially recognized Guild is the Great Company de Mortis.

Article II- Authority and Structure
The Company was formally established in October, 1992 by the unanimous consent of the founders and upon recognition by the Crown of Galandor (ECS) of which Vega was a March. Formal recognition of the Company in Adria occurred in the Duchy of Aragon, in 1997. Each chapter and canton of the Empire may have its own company provided it has at least 5 members and if it is recognized by the Great Company and the Crown of the named Chapter.

Article III- Membership
Any member of the Adrian Empire may join who will not cost the company members. One may not join if two members swear they would rather quit than serve with the candidate. The candidate is welcome to apply to any other company or reapply in the future. A member must fulfill any contract he has personally accepted, he cannot merely return any consideration he has accepted. A member may resign at any time, but may not rejoin if he has an unfulfilled contract. A member may be expelled by a Court Martial.

Article IV- Officers, Selection, and Duties
Each Company may select or replace its own Captain at any time, by a simple majority of its members. A fair attempt must be made to notify all members of the company and each may vote in person or by proxy. The Captain General of the Great Company serves at the pleasure of the Council of Captains which consists of all such Captains. Each Captain shall perform such duties as needed by the company and may appoint lesser officers as needed and delegate duties to them.

Article V - Council of Captains
The Council of Captains consists of the Captains of each company; may make decisions on behalf of the Great Company by a simple majority; and, may select the Captain General at its pleasure by a simple majority.

Article VI - Court Martial
A Court Martial consisting of the three most senior members willing to serve who are not directly involved in the issue, may be convened by the Captain to interpret the articles, arbitrate disputes, or discipline members. Decisions shall be made by a majority and punishments may include expulsion. A Court Martial of the Great Company may be convened by the Captain-General.

Article VII - Enactment
These articles were adopted by the unanimous consent of the founders, and may be amended as needed by a majority of the members.

Imperial Brotherhood of Mercenaries


Regional Guilds and Groups

Bentwood Raiders

Know this, ye. We are the Bentwood Raiders. Ours is a life of other people's mischief, politics, and revenge! We work for the highest bidder. We serve King and pauper alike, if they can pay us a sufficient wage. Our services include much more than just warfare and battle, though that is our favorite type of work. Our band of mercs maintain skills in arts, politics (ministries) as well as all forms of combat. Few are we that call ourselves Bentwood Raiders, but many are those who have secretly joined our ranks. So, beware all ye who think yourselves safe in your numbers, because those who live among you may very well be our brothers! [taken from the Wharf]

Esperance HMS Hedgehog

We are part of the Nautical Liberation Army. We are Pro-active Maritime Salvage Consultants. We are Redistribution Economists. We are many things, but we are NOT Pirates. Today, anyway. [taken from the Hedgehog home page] Not a formal guild by any means, and pretty lax about their mercenary tendencies, they still enjoy the occasional contract.

Terre Neuve Black Company

Mercenary life was harsh and often terminal for the average soldier. The strange fact is that many men found it attractive. This was because their life as a peasant was even more harsh! Adventure in foreign lands, loot and a regular meal were more attactive than working a field. Leaders of mercenary companies were often from the noble houses second and third sons who did not stand to inherit and so choose a life of adventure rather than being a third wheel in their home land. So how does the Black Company fit into all this? Simple. We are people who want to learn the way of the sword and the axe. We are modern men and women who seek the adventure of old, clash of sword, bash of shield and the thrill of the fight. We are brothers of the old mind, born out of place and time. [taken from the Black Company home page]