Free Company

The Free Company are an organisation of private military contractors operating in the Erdannian Empire. Despite their mercenary status, they are entirely loyal to Erdannia, though they may be hired by a variety of rival individuals and organisations within the Empire.
The Free Company contains some of Erdannia's most elite military forces, and are equipped with some of the most advanced equipment the Empire produces.
Free Company Mercenaries are recognisable by their black-and-gold uniforms.
As soldiers of fortune operating outside of Erdannian military law, they have a wide reputation as being greedy thugs, and are known to sometimes resort to banditry and intimidation of locals in areas they are supposed to be protecting.
== Structure ==
=== Operations ===
Though originally founded to serve as the bulk of Erdannia's militaristic force, the nation has since then expanded its standing army to the extent that it no longer needs the Free Company to fight its wars. Instead, the Free Company nowadays is primarily hired by private individuals and companies, for the purposes of security and expanding their operations into dangerous territories. For instance, during the early colonisation efforts of the Frontier and the Shattered Sea, Free Company Mercenaries were hired extensively by settlers, prospectors, and trade companies.
To maintain their reputation of being elite soldiers, the Free Company mainly recruits people who have served for a few years in the Erdannian Military. Since the job is usually less dangerous and better paid, a lot of former soldiers take this offer.
=== Headquarters ===
The official headquarters of the Free Company is located on the Kraken's Isle, in a castle called The Crag. This allows them to operate without too much oversight from Erradan itself.
They also maintain a prominent guildhouse in Erradan, in the Mercenary Ward borough.
=== Hierarchy ===
The Free Company hierarchy is similar to the standard Erdannian military hierarchy, but has its own unique titles. "Lancer", "Footman", "Musketeer", "Venture Captain", "Contractor", "Man-at-arms", "Soldier of Fortune", "Fortunesman", "Routier"
The Free Company is commanded by the Executor-General, who is the supreme leader of the organisation, in both a military and administrative sense. They hold the rank of Captain-General on the field, and thus have authority over most Erdannian generals. Currently the Executor-General is Martha Maulier-Shaw, nicknamed "The Mauler" behind her back, for her reputation of (alleged) war crimes.
Below her, the Free Company is arranged in the following ranks, in descending order:
Vice-Executor - second-in-command to the Executor-General, with the power to act with her authority. Holds the rank of General on the field. Currently Bryce Thorn.
Chief Contract Officer - Organises operations within a certain area. Has the power to make contracts. Tells Venture-Captains where to take their troops. Holds the rank of Brigadier on the field.
Venture-Captain - Leads a Free Company Venture.
Venture-Lieutenant - Serves below a Captain of a Free Company Venture.
Sergeant - Leads a Squadron of Contractors
Corporal - Higher rank than Contractors.
Contractor - Standard Soldiers (outranks typical Infantrymen).
== History ==
==== Original Founding ====
The Free Company are one of the oldest organisations in Tyrrus, having been originally formed in the 14th century during the reign of King Varren Dragoncrest, the first of the Dragoncrest dynasty. As Erradan didn't have much of its own standing army, King Varren hired mercenaries from the Skolmorgen Isles, the Valarr regions, Bordellyon, and Haven, to protect the city in case of invasion from the neighbouring Kingdom of Whytehold. Though no battle actually occurred at this time, the idea of a unified mercenary force that utilised the strengths of different cultural groups, and which could be controlled by Erdannians, was popular with the king and the merchant houses. They created a contract for the mercenaries, promising outrageous wealth in exchange for only serving their interests.
==== Time in Exile ====
During the period of time when Erradan was conquered by the Great Sturvanian Empire, the Free Company shrunk significantly, their last remnant operating out of Krakensfort alongside the Kings-in-Exile. During this time, they established their organisation's headquarters; a fortress called The Crag.
==== Hundred Kingdoms Period ====
After the collapse of the Sturvanian Empire, and the ensuing chaotic power struggle in Tyrrus, the Free Company were leased out by Erradan as mercenaries for hire, and fought wars across the whole of Tyrrus for various fledgeling nations. Most famously, they were hired by the Kingdom of Alderick to unify the Valarr region, which was later absorbed into Erdannia.
The Free Company thrived during this time, returning to its strength before exile, and perhaps even greater.
However, it is also known for engaging in rampant banditry, and being loose with contracts. Much of the Tyrranean countryside was ravaged by Free Company mercenaries who were being contracted by the local rulers. They would explain their actions as a "tax" on the nation, for their services, especially when they pay they were receiving was less than satisfactory.
==== White Bay War ====
In 19.40, when Erdannia was invaded by the Whytehold Commonwealth, the Queen realised that she needed to modernise the army, and needed more defenses than the Free Company mercenaries could reasonably provide. She recruited large amounts of conscripts and gave them the newly invented long-range arquebuses from Varawyn, then requested that Free Company Mercenaries train these conscripts, and command them in battle. This was a new strategy for Erradan, which had previously never relied so much on conscript soldiers. It proved to be exceptionally effective; the Whyteholders were not expecting the numbers they came up against, and were unprepared for the long-range of the Erdannian arquebusiers.
After this success, the haphazardly formed military hierarchy and training regimen reformed itself in a more official capacity, and became the House of War.
Many Free Company Officers saw this as a threat, and considered that the Free Company would become redundant if Erradan gained a standing military force. Fortunately for them, the Tyrranean Coalition which was formed a few decades later prevented members from maintaining a standing army above a certain size.
==== Founding of the Empire ====
In the 20.20s, Erradan went through a rapid period of expansion, and massively reformed their military, to create a more reliable force. The Free Company, however, had already found an alternate source of revenue; working for merchants, aristocrats and organisations, who often needed protection and/or a force to project strength. Over the course of the next few decades, the Free Company's primary function slowly shifted, from being a national army, to a private military.
== Ventures ==
The Free Company are divided into smaller companies called "Ventures". Some of the most notable are listed below;
The Skolmorgen Elite Company - based in the Skolmorgen Isles, this company produces powerful warriors, often used for vicious raids.
The Swordfish - a Venture contracted by the House of Fish.
The Crimson Moor Watch - a Venture contracted by the Greerleigh family who currently control the House of Wine.
The Troubadours - a Venture contracted by the House of Music.
The Gemcutters - a Venture which accompanied prospectors into the Frontier, particularly the Kimberley family, and are now contracted by that family and therefore the House of Gold.
The New Town Militia - a group of Ventures contracted by the businesses of New Town to protect their interests, outside of police jurisdiction.
== Notable Members ==
General Martha Maulier-Shaw - Executor-General of the Free Company.
General Bryce Thorn - Vice-Executor of the Free Company.
Merrick Falconer - Chief Contract Officer presiding over the Guildhouse in Erradan.
Captain Marlin - Venture-Captain of the Swordfish.