AD&D FR-Gold and Glory.pdf

OFFICIAL GAME ACCESSORY

Gold & Glory

by Tim Beach

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................ . .... .2

Color Plates .............................. 33

Chapter 1: Mercenaries in the Realms ........ .3

Chapter 6: Retired Companies .............. 49

Map of Mercenary Activities in the Realms .... .5

Chapter 7: Recruiters ..................... . 52

Chapter 2: Standing Companies .............. 6

Chapter 8: Adventuring Companies ......... . 58

Chapter 3: Nonhuman Companies .......... . 18

Chapter 9: Current Events ................. . 60

Chapter 4: Regional Companies ............ . 23

BATTLESYSTEM Game Statistics ........... 61

Chapter 5: Specialists ..................... . 29

Index of Mercenary Companies by Region .... 64

Credits

Design: Tim Beach

Cartography: John Knecht

Editing: R.U. Steinberg, Karen S. Boomgarden

Typography: Gaye OKeefe

Cover Art and Color Plates: Doug Chaffee

Production: Paul Hanchette

Art Coordinator: Peggy Cooper

Black and White Art: Karl Waller

Special Thanks: Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood, Karen S. Boomgarden, Dave Sutherland,

Rich Baker, James M. Ward, CoastCon, David LaMulle, Douglas Niles, Dave Zenz

Extra Special Thanks: Teeuwynn, Colin McComb, Wolfgang Baur

TSR, Inc.

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ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, SPELLJAMMER, and FORGOTTEN REALMS are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

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ISBN 1-56076-334-5

9373XXX1501

Introduction

When the call to war goes out, many peo-

ple answer. Some are patriots fighting for

a cause; others are professional soldiers

lured by the sound of gold pieces. Wheth-

er they are motivated by avarice or altru-

ism, all these people have a price of some

kind.

Sword for hire. Sellsword. Man at arms.

Myrmidon. Legionnaire. Soldier of for-

tune. Hiresword. Mercenary. All these

termsand several unprintable terms as

wellidentify those men and women who

hire themselves out to fight other peoples

battles. Gold & Glory describes these pro-

fessionals and the groups in which they

operate.

The information provided applies chief-

ly to the FORGOTTEN REALMS® Campaign

Setting, primarily the continent of Faerun,

but the basic information could be used

with most campaigns for the AD&D®

game.

Chapter 1 of Gold & Glory describes

mercenary companies in general terms:

their history, how they are formed, meth-

ods of operation, and so forth.

Later chapters detail many of the better-

known standing mercenary companies in

the Realms.

Chapter 7 offers descriptions of several

Non Player Characters (NPCs) who recruit

mercenaries for specific tasks. A number

of special groups are mentioned in Chap-

ters 8 and 9, which tell how adventuring

companies and other groups sometimes

interact with mercenary companies.

The final few pages of the book offer an

index of mercenary companies and

where in the Realms they might be found,

as well as statistics that can be used in

BATTLESYSTEM scenarios.

How to Use This

Information

There are several ways for a Dungeon Mas-

ter (DM) to use mercenary companies in

the campaign. DMs should feel free to use

any of the ones presented here, to make up

new ones, or to allow player characters

(PCs) to start a company.

The DM could use the provided merce-

nary companies as enemies or allies for

the player characters. The PCs might join

a company for a timemany of the com-

panies herein recruit local talent when

they have a job in a given area. Some re-

cruit through advertisement, others by

coercion.

If the PCs choose to join a mercenary

company, they must follow the orders of

their superiors; this gives a DM a great

mechanism for setting up adventures. A

wise DM will be careful not to force too

much on the player characters, however.

PCs should probably be treated as a

squad of elite troubleshooters. The DM

can offer two or three missions for them

to choose from, but might sometimes in-

sist that the PCs are the only ones who can

handle a specific task.

The PCs may at some time wish to form

their own band as well. They could recruit

soldiers and lead them into large conflicts.

If their fame grows, kingdoms might try

to hire the PCs to lead armies of invasion

or defense.

Mercenary companies might also be

used to inspire small adventures or epic

quests. Perhaps a friend to the PCs has

been forced to join a mercenary group;

maybe a group has been infiltrated by a

spy whom the PCs must capture; the pos-

sibilities are almost endless.

There are also a few ideas hidden in

the following text, such as hooks to space

adventures, the growth of lizard man

power in the south, and so forth.

Chapter 1: Mercenaries in the

Realms

Some professional soldiers are loners,

choosing when and where they fight, ad-

hering to individual codes of honor, and

following whatever clarion draws them to

battle. They might be motivated by blood-

lust, desire for adventure, or a cause.

Many of these lone mercenaries can be

found throughout the Realms.

Some mercenaries band together, form-

ing regular companies and operating

along military or paramilitary lines. It is

these mercenary companies that are the

subject of Gold & Glory.

There are two basic types of mercenary

corps: standing and recruited. Members

of standing companies are are always to-

gether, often have no other occupations,

will do things that wont keep them from

leaving on short notice, and are profes-

sional adventurers on the side.

In the case of recruited companies, an

employer will hire an individual or group

to go and quickly build an army.

Some companies are part standing and

part recruited, such as standing compan-

ies that recruit locals wherever they go.

Other companies are recruited, but al-

ways from the same group of veterans,

sometimes with a few new faces. These

latter groups are essentially standing com-

panies without permanent headquarters.

Within the two basic types of compan-

ies, there are a number of variations.

Some specialize by race, social class, type

of weapon, or type of job; others try to

have members with a variety of abilities.

Some of the more versatile mercenary

companies have wizards, thieves, rangers,

and priests, in addition to fighters.

General History

Mercenaries have existed for a very long

time, from the first time someone asked

What do I get if I fight this war for you?

Military leaders have always had to offer

some kind of pay, with land, gold, glory,

prestige, or power. True mercenaries trav-

el to any place where there is armed con-

flict, often caring little on whose side they

fight. Others have principles or standards,

and will fight only on the correct side.

Mercenary forces have changed the out-

come of many battles. Over the course of

the last century or so, mercenary groups

have become more formal, choosing col-

orful names and advertising their loca-

tions. Like many other institutions, they

have become a normal aspect of life in the

Realms.

Mercenary Companies

Chapters later on in this book offer spe-

cific details on several mercenary com-

panies. It may be useful, however, to

cover some general principles that apply

to all or most mercenary groups.

Formation

Most mercenary groups are formed by

the actions of a single, charismatic leader,

though a group of leaders is also likely.

These people gather veterans of battles,

train likely prospects, and organize the

company. Some corps are formed by or

from adventuring groups.

Recruited companies operate a little dif-

ferently, as they are formed anew each

time one is needed. The employers con-

tact a recruiter or recruiting group, offer-

ing a fee for an army. Word is spread for

interested parties to meet at a certain

place, at which time the recruiter reviews

the applicants and decides who may join

the corps.

The Entries

Leadership and Organization

Most of the following descriptions of mer-

cenary companies are done in a standard

format, using these headers.

Type: A standing company is one that is

together at all times. A recruited company

is built by recruiters when the call goes

out for an army. Standing/recruits indi-

cates a standing company that recruits lo-

cals as well. A company with recruited

veterans is one with consistent and loyal

members, but without a permanent head-

quarters, so the company must be called

together whenever there is a job. A fixed

company has a permanent headquarters.

A company that is roaming has either no

particular headquarters, or has several.

Base: This indicates the place (or region)

that the company calls home.

Current Sphere(s) of Operation: This

lists where the group is currently active.

Leader: This lists the groups leader.

Government: This indicates how the

corps operates internally.

Number of Members: If a range is

given, the lowest number is the number

of people who always serve; the highest

number is the core, plus semi-regulars

who might be called in for specific jobs.

This number does not include any people

who might be recruited locally.

General Alignment: This indicates the

basic morals and ethics of the group; indi-

viduals may vary.

Larger entries have these headings as

well: History describes the groups forma-

tion, composition, and past activities; Strat-

egy and Tactics tells how the company

chooses and completes jobs; Personality de-

tails the groups motivations, code of honor,

and friends and enemies; and Logistics de-

scribes the groups equipment, require-

ments, and price.

Most mercenary corps operate along mili-

tary lines, with leaders and their assistants

taking military titles. Other companies

work more informally, with the leader be-

ing essentially a dictator, perhaps with a

few counselors or assistants. Some com-

panies are democracies in which mem-

bers elect their officers, and still others

are run like a business.

Strategies and Operations

All companies choose which jobs they will

accept based on individual codes and de-

sires. Most are hired for a specific task and

left to their own devices to fulfill their as-

signment. Most companies are responsi-

ble for their own transportation to and

from the job.

Retiring a Company

A mercenary company stops being a mer-

cenary company when certain events oc-

cur. Obviously, the death of all members

would eliminate a group. Other corps

might break up because of age, while

some might achieve the legitimacy of a

permanent job. Several examples of re-

tired companies are offered in Chapter 6.

Other Sources

Several other products in the

FORGOTTEN REALMS® Campaign line of-

fer information on mercenary companies.

An index of sources appears on the last

page of this book.

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