Road of the Mercenary

By ShadowWalkyr (shadowwalkyr@hotmail.com) for the Black Company.

Description

Unlike today, in the Dark Ages the mercenary was a respected (if also feared) profession. Nobles and other rulers had no qualms about hiring mercs to fight their wars for them. Indeed, some armies were formed entirely of hired soldiers, and many knight-errants were able to support themselves for years as hired swords. Assuming they weren't killed first, of course.

However, not all mercenaries followed the Via Mercenarius (Road of the Mercenary). Those "career mercs" who did were the true mercenaries. In the twentieth century we have a better term for these people. We call them "Soldiers of Fortune." They were also the most likely to join (or form) a mercenary Company. If they did not, they tended to think of whatever group they are a part (i.e. a Coterie) of as their Company.

The Road of the Mercenary teaches a balance between the Human and the Beast. Mercenaries will gladly frenzy when the time is appropriate (in battle, surrounded by enemies, with no allies in view is a staggeringly appropriate time), but will avoid it at all costs at inappropriate times (intending to give the love of your life the ecstasy of the Kiss when the Beast tells you to drain her dry is a truly inappropriate time). Beast or no Beast, however, no mercenary will Rotschreck without a fight.

The Road of the Mercenary teaches the Virtues of Conviction and Self-Control.

Ethics of Via Mercenarius

You keep yourself in top fighting shape at all times.

You hate cowards.

You never betray a contract -- or a Company.

You show respect to those who meet your standards (yes, this means competitors, too!).

Hierarchy of Sins

Road Rating	Sin
10	Not accepting a fair contract.
9	Backing down from a challenge (except to show contempt for the challenger).
8	Frenzying at an inappropriate time.
7	Placing personal desires above loyalty to your Company.
6	Fleeing combat (does not include ordered retreats or strategic withdrawals); succumbing to Rotschreck.
5	Disobeying an order from your Captain; Killing with no reason.
4	Abandoning your Company; failing on a contract (entire Company).
3	Causing your Company to fail on a contract; Betraying an ally; not Frenzying at an appropriate time.
2	Betraying your Company (includes not killing a traitor to your Company if the opportunity presents itself); Attacking an ally.
1	Breaking a contract.