Mindulgulph Mercenary Company The Mindulgulph Mercenary Company was a mercenary company based in Mindulgulph Castle outside Priapurl on the Dragon Coast , and operated throughout the Heartlands and the southern lands of Faerûn . It was famous for its many monstrous and otherwise non - humanoid members , and was commanded by Gayrlana , nicknamed " Lady Bloodsword " . History . In the early 1340s DR , an adventuring company including Gayrlana raided Mindulgulph Castle near Priapurl and discovered a number of intelligent , " monstrous " , creatures dwelling inside . However , rather than slaying them as many adventurers would , they instead recruited the majority of them to their side . Gayrlana soon reformed the group into the Mindulgulph Mercenary Company , and they took the castle as their base . The company was fully established and well known by 1356 DR . In the 1360s DR , Gayrlana led much of her company hundreds of miles from home to the Eastern Shaar , where they took an extended contract with the gold dwarves of the Great Rift . Their purpose was to study the chances of war in the local Underdark . They were still here at the end of 1367 DR . The remainder of the company remained in Priapurl and guarded Mindulgulph Castle . They were still active by 1372 DR . Organization . Membership . The Mindulgulph Mercenary Company kept a standing army . As a group noted for its strange membership , the Mindulgulph Company preferentially recruited those who could best interact with human society , with minimum difficulties . However , they did hire a number of specialists who were not so capable . All members were non - evil in alignment and had at least a semblance of intelligence , and were not enslaved or controlled by any means . Nevertheless , some were creatures that were not normally known to be intelligent . All were seasoned fighters . Broadly , they were classified as aberration s , monstrous humanoid s , and magical beast s . At some point or another , the Company ' s members included a beholder , a belabra , blink dog s , cave fisher s , centaur s , a cildabrin , a cloaker , dragonkin , giff , a githzerai , grippli , a hengeyokai , kenku , a loxo , mimic s , a plasmoid , a q ' nidar , a shambling mound , a shocker , a sull , a tabaxi , thri - kreen , treant s , a triton , and wemic s . There was also a 70 – 80 - strong corps of regular human s and humanoid s , mostly former adventurers ( typically warriors ) who were specialists in some area . The exact number of soldiers in the company and the list of species included in their ranks were unknown to outsiders . Furthermore , these numbers were always in flux owing to new recruits , attrition ( including being eaten ) , and retirement . Around 1357 DR , the company had 70 normal humanoids and an estimated 110 monstrous creatures , for a total of about 180 . In the 1360s DR , this swelled to 80 humanoids and 120 monstrous creatures , totaling around 200 . The company also kept rust monster s , golem s , and burbur s , among other non - intelligent creatures , as guardians and pets . Divisions . The human and humanoid members formed a unit of armored , mounted men - at - arms . These were divided into 10 - man squads , each commanded by a sergeant . The blink dogs , centaurs , giff , grippli , kenku , thri - kreen , and wemics were formed into their own squads . The more monstrous creatures in the company were commanded directly by Gayrlana . Tactics . Gayrlana was amazingly charismatic and a tactical genius , so she was able to make full use of the abilities and talents of even her most unusual followers . Her telepathic powers aided her tactical and leadership abilities . The company ' s tactics varied greatly according to which members were available , but ambush and subterfuge were adopted whenever possible . Given the widely varied nature of its members , the company could be capable in any environment and any conditions . The humanoid units tended to be better organized than their more unusual peers . The thri - kreen and wemic units could not form standard formations . Many of its members specialized in a particular task or tactic . For example , the giff members all carried arquebus es and worked with each other to rotate fire , to ensure that one - third of them could continue attacking while the others reloaded . The Mindulgulph Mercenary Company utilized a wide variety of equipment , and in general had no standard weaponry or armor , as befitted the range of membership . Contracts . Contracts with the Mindulgulph Company were worth 500 gold piece s per day of service , but this cost increased if large numbers of its membership were required . The company preferred to take unusual and difficult contracts to make the best use of its unusual membership and special skills . They had a retainer agreement with Ghazzar of Priapurl to act as that town ' s police force . The Mindulgulphs typically operated in the Heartlands and in the lands south of the Inner Sea . In the 1360s DR , the majority of the company was on an extended contract with the gold dwarves of the Great Rift , investigating the possibility of war with the dwarves ' Underdark neighbors . Leadership . The Mindulgulph Company was led by Gayrlana , a woman known more commonly as " Lady Bloodsword " . As a warrior of some repute , many rumors surrounded her , such as that she had some drow blood and that she possessed some psionic abilities . She was highly charismatic and led ably for many years , however , striving to maintain a good reputation . While Gayrlana was advised by a council , she had final say in any decision that needed making . She directly led the more " monstrous " elements of the company . Headquarters . The company was based in a large keep called Mindulgulph Castle in the hills south of Priapurl on the Dragon Coast . It sat atop a pinnacle that overlooked the town . It was well guarded by a number of the company ' s more monstrous members . They also had an office in Priapurl itself , next to the Dark Arch Inn . Relationships . The Mindulgulphs were on the whole quite trustworthy . When problems erupted with individual members of the company , Gayrlana went to great efforts to set things right . They remained on good terms with many other mercenary companies , but regarded the Blacktalons as enemies . They were not alone in this ; the former and still - current bandits attracted the ire of several other companies . The Agency , an adventuring / mercenary company with a similarly exotic membership , often worked with the Mindulgulphs . The famed warlord - for - hire , Brandon , " Battlemaster " , also based in Priapurl , once served alongside Gayrlana in the Mindulgulph Company . While he greatly respected her , he did not enjoy the company of her non - human soldiers .