Free Companies of Cinelli

The Free Companies are large organisations of brigands, mercenaries, bandits, and other soldiers-of-fortune, originating in the region of Cinelli, in northwest Juhnvechteya. Primarily operating in Cinelli, they have historically been hired to fill the ranks of the armies of others at times, such as the Free Lords and Lemqin. Various Free Companies have different specialties, ranging from strong infantry to bombardiers, and reputations, from chivalrous to little more than bandits. During times of peace, Free Companies will often turn to banditry to continue their way of life, and return to their normal military service during war. 
Following the Lemqin conquest of Cinelli, the Free Companies would disperse throughout northern Juhnvechteya.
== History ==
The first ancestors of the modern free company probably originated in the county soon after the Fall of Grander Joraje, a time of general chaos throughout northeastern Juhnvechteya. Small bands of brigands would hire themselves to various lords and cities in the region in their little wars for dominance over each other, and these bands would gradually increase from a few dozen to a few hundred by about 230 of the Joran Calendar. 
The Free Companies would play a large role in the Conquest of the Count, when most of Cinelli was incorporated into the County. Following this, many of the Free Companies would sign on to become the standing army of the realm, though many would grow bored, and would desert. During much of the reign of the Counts in Cinelli, these Free Companies would be contracted by the cities of the region in their feuds with the rural nobility, which would often escalate to small-scale conflicts. Also during this time, the Free Companies would be hired out by foreign lands, such as Joraje and Tanderland for their various wars and conflicts with each other. 
in 610 of the Joran Calendar, when the moles of Lemqin crossed the Sea of Storms, they hired many of the Free Companies, and would use the combined hosts to conquer most of Cinelli. Following this, these companies would be forcibly exiled, for fear that they would "disrupt the peace" of Fengdao, which would prove correct, as many, such as the Scudnero Free Host, would become bandits shortly after the conquest, and would ravage the cpuntryside, disrupting trade and the movement of people. Those companies which followed the exile orders would find work further south, with many being hired by the Jorans during the Raven's Revolt, such as the Mylant Company and the Early-Comers.
Category:Lore