Influence and authority in Loksenta is diffused between many factions. Keeping order amidst that many power centers requires the funds and organization that no single faction can muster. The monarchy receives most of its funding from taxing trade, which the merchants actively seek to minimize. Those funds support both the Queen’s Guard and the Crimson Brigade. The Guard keeps crime to a reasonable level throughout much of Freyk’s Wall. The Brigade can wield enough military strength to forestall or to respond to a major conflict. Some of the wealthier nobles have their own troops to protect their lands.
This hodgepodge leaves many gaps. Several powerful criminal organizations operate in Freyk’s Wall. Many of the wealthy do not feel that the Guard can provide them adequate protection. Bandits raid towns and villages. Monstrosities emerge from Borsen’s Gap to terrorize the countryside. Into these gaps step the mercenary companies, either to close them or to exploit them.
The mercenary companies are quasi-legal groups of soldiers. Most factions tolerate them because they can be useful and because no faction has the strength to do anything about them. About the only decree that all of the companies even pretend to obey is one that prevents their members from bearing arms within Freyk’s Wall unless they are actively engaged in a contracted job. Of course, any mercenary wanting to wear his sword wherever he goes would not have any difficulty securing a forged contract.
The size, organization, and quality of mercenary companies vary greatly. One of the smaller companies may be a former Crimson Brigade squad. Or it might be a rowdy group of hands from a failed ranch that would be as likely to rustle a few sheep as to protect a herd from rustlers. The largest companies employ a few hundred, clerks and quartermasters as well as fighting men and women. Most of the companies of this size mimic a military unit in structure, training, and discipline. The larger the company, the larger variety of services it can offer.
Below are some of the notable companies, along with their specializations.
The d’Ameston Agency - This company was founded by Tasra d’Ameston, formerly a Major in the Queen’s Military Intelligence Service and leader of the Adventurers of the Green Flame. The Agency is one of the larger companies, with somewhat over two hundred employees at any point in time. It is organized into platoons, although most contracts are carried out by individual teams or squads. The Green Flame are mostly retired from adventuring but serve as advisors and a special operations force when necessary. The Agency specializes in bodyguard detail, event security, anti-banditry operations, and monster hunting. Its headquarters is in Midtown East in Freyk’s Wall. Its barracks and training ground are in the Fan.
McArneson’s Swords - This company was founded by Kendall McArneson. Its couple of dozen employees are managed directly by McArneson. Most are elite fighters, with a few trained in investigation and security measures. The Swords provide protection for Cliffside. No one outside the company knows exactly how many burglars and other thieves the Swords catch. It is rumored that some of them end up accidentally falling over the cliff.
The Rail Riders - This company specializes in railway security. For the most part, the company protects individual trains for the rail companies that hire them. Occasionally, they do address sabotage of the rails and railway equipment. The Rail Riders are generally viewed as honest and effective.
Jeremiah’s Roughnecks - Jeremiah Franklin and the half dozen scoundrels that follow him get rid of bandits harassing small towns and villages. For a fee, of course. They are always successful. Hard not to be, when they themselves are the bandits.
The Silver Company - The Silver Company is the largest mercenary company in Loksenta, the size of a Crimson Brigade battalion. It originated as the private army of Margrave Ederith, the father of Rosynwen, the current Margrave of Ebby. It is now a semi-independent organization. It provides protection for all three Marks and would serve as the first line of defense in case of a Starntor invasion. They would also be the first forces across the border in an invasion of the Ghanate. There have been several “inadvertent” incursions into the Ghanate in recent years.
The Sea Beggars - The Sea Beggars are privateers that operate a small fleet of ships that can operate jointly or independently. They take contracts to hunt down pirates in the Sea of Perryn. In addition to their fees, the Sea Beggars receive a portion of the goods they recover. Often, the value of those goods is suspiciously less than expected.
Den of the Red Wolf 