Guilds of Shakandara

League of Free Mercenaries

Type of Establishment: Guildhouse

Guildhouse Colors: Crimson and ivory.

Description of Establishment: The Bluffside chapter of the League of Free Mercenaries is housed within a large stone hall located in the Military District of the city. Appearing more like a fortified manor house than a guild, it is one of the better-protected structures within the city, both in construction and the people likely to be found within. The facility is complete with a training yard and stables in the rear. The first floor is comprised of a great hall for meetings and job postings in the front and a mess hall towards the rear. The second floor has basic sleeping accommodations for members passing through on the front side and quarters for the trainers in the rear.

For potential employers, the League is known throughout Bluffside as a place to locate competent help of specific skills for a structured price. For members, it is a place to join with others of similar training and get reliable payment for work.

Owner/Prominent Resident: Kher "Widowmaker" Ondar

Description of Owner/Prominent Resident: Kher Ondar came to Bluffside in the times following the discovery of Crimsonian ore beneath the city and was employed primarily as a captian of security for various mining operations and ore shipments until the creation of the CSC. With his services no longer necessary, he began adventuring, traveling the lands and amassing a small fortune in magic items and material wealth. After the culmination of the recent crymorian war, he returned to Bluffside. Recognizing the opportunity to open a Hall for the rapidly growing League of Free Mercenaries in Bluffside, he contacted the Temple of Gaelic in the city and obtained their approval. He purchased an old fortified manor in the Military District and began recruiting staff and new members. The free trade environment of the city sparked instantaneous growth, and the Bluffside chapter of the League is one of the largest in Shakandara.

Kher leaves the majority of the day-to-day work of running the League Hall to his secretary, Miransa, and his able-bodied staff. Callani, Tarmeon, Irrai, and Arangel handle the testing for all members except those desiring to enter the Mithral order; these Kher tests himself.

Regulars
Miransa, Callani, Tarmeon, Irrai, and Arangel
Various League members and potential employers

Guild Stats
Guild Purpose: Economic
Guild Membership: Profession (adventurer/mercenary)
Joining the Guild: Application
Membership Criteria: Test/Examination
Guild Size: Grand (101-500 members)
Guild Structure/Advancement: Graded (Merit)
Benefits: Income, Healing, Shelter, Patronage
Disadvantages: Fees (initial plus yearly, based on grade), Recognition

Guild Advancement:
Grade Min Level Fees Income Benefits Gained
Neophyte (1) 1st 75gp/year 5gp/day 1-1st Healing/day, Shelter
Novice (2) 3rd 25gp+75gp/year 10gp/day 1-3rd Healing/day, Patronage
Silver Order (3) 7th 50gp+150gp/year 25gp/day 2-3rd or 1-4th Healing/day
Gold Order (4) 11th 100gp+300gp/year 100gp/day 2-4th or 1-5th Healing/day
Mithral Order (5) 15th 500gp+1000gp/year 500gp/day 1-6th Healing/day


Income: As a Free Mercenary rises in rank within the organization they are guaranteed a minimum rate of pay for their services, as shown on the chart above. They may also negotiate contracts that provide better or additional compensation in addition to this pay scale, but will never receive less than this. The only exception is if an employer requests Free Mercenaries of a particular grade, and the candidate chooses to apply for a position for which they are overqualified.

Healing: During any period when a Free Mercenary is under contract with an employer, they are eligible to receive a limited amount of healing from a participating local temple free of charge. Such spells will only ever be Healing spells (or those that cure afflictions such as disease, blindness, or remove curses), and never include spells such as Raise Dead, Resurrection, Reincarnation, or True Resurrection. Further, such spells can only be cast for the Free Mercenary, not any non-member companions or allies. If there is no participating temple to call upon, this benefit is lost. A Temple of Gaelic will always honor such services (as they are indirectly responsible for the creation of the League), even in a region where there is no League Hall.

Shelter: Free Mercenaries can call upon any local Hall (simply by identifying themselves as members according to their pin) for food, drink, and basic shelter. It will always be granted except in extreme circumstances, and even then every effort will be made to provide some sort of assistance. This benefit offers little luxury; the food is often a simple meal of bread and stew, drink is most often water or weak ale, and the shelter may amount to no more than a spot on the floor to open a bedroll. Some League Halls have better fare available for a small charge; these rates are usually half what a normal inn of similar quality would charge.

Patronage: As Free Mercenaries, there is a certain amount of respect given by others within the same organization, particularly when dealing with members of the same rank or lower. All members of Novice level or higher are considered to have a +2 circumstance bonus to Charisma checks when dealing with other Free Mercenaries of an equal or lesser grade to themselves.

Fees: When a candidate chooses to join the League at any level above Neophyte (Neophytes may simply join the guild for the 75gp yearly dues), they must first pay to take a test based on the level at which they wish to enter the guild. A candidate may choose to attempt to enter at any rank, but if they fail to meet the requirements of the test, the money spent is lost. If they pass the test, they must then pay a yearly membership dues based upon their rank. If the member advances to a new rank within the same year, they must pay the difference in cost between the two ranks; the amount is not prorated. The chart above illustrates the fees and dues for each rank; they are non-cumulative. Therefore, a member advancing from the rank of Neophyte to Novice would have to pay 25gp for the test, but no additional costs for yearly dues. A Novice rising to Silver Order would pay 25gp for the test and 75gp in additional yearly dues.

Recognition: Because the League is so widespread and well-known, people more easily recall information regarding League members that they've met or dealt with. All Gather Information checks are made at a -2 to the DC. Further, all League members have a -2 circumstance penalty on all Disguise checks with regards to persons that have seen them before, sans disguise.

bar.jpg

Another fine creation of: Silvereyes Hawk Creations, LTD©.
Changes last made on: Saturday, September 25, 2004 14:55:28
URL="http://www.shakandara.com/shak/theland/league.html"

Dungeons & Dragons and D&D are trademarks of Hasborg, WotC, and TSR Inc.
All material provide herein is done so without consent of this organization, written or otherwise.
The purpose of this material is to promote interest in the D&D game.