Bandits and Mercenaries

A sealed parchment has been left at the demesne of a mercenary guild captain. On opening, it reads:

Axeknight

Sir,

You carelessly seem to have mislaid two of your companies in the aftermath of our recent meeting.

Much as it offends me to think that i may have to meet them on the field again, I am, however, open to that possibility, should you deem to compensate me for their return.

Therefore i will free your hobilars on payment of 100 gold florins, and your longbowmen on payment of 300 gold florins.

I hope that you will not force me to end their sorry existences.

Guillaume the Colt

Chimpyang, i hate to break this to you, but im not sure how well your "renting" of units is gonna work. for this simple reason... your units, at least some of them, are faction specific... the only way to get around this is to find a second person to command a portion of the army. this A) causes an unfair advantedge, two minds against one you might say. B) makes battles harder to coordinate. hate to rain on your parade https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...c-confused.gif

@Nigel, what is going on with mission 11??? with no merc standing up to the challenge, do i just get the cash... or what, i really want it wrapped up by next payday.

Hell yes I'll take on Chimpyang's offer. :D

Steeleye, I shall pay you the full asking price of 100fl for my horsemen, but I shall not go a florin over 225 for the longbows. Take or leave this offer, I am not open for bargaining with bandit scum.

https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...ons/tongue.gif

In reply to Octavian's comments i will make the following clear..........if you require me to bring my units onto the field myself, i will gladly do so. However, if you wish to command the units themselves, make sure that the units that you hire are available to your faction. Also, if your current army setup is multifaction (highlanders are also available to france) and you wish to borrow my SP or Turcopoles AND take them yourself, then it wouldn't really matter what faction you are.

I will try to find a lietenat on the other side of the atlantic who isnt involved in this gmae already to take my units for me for time zone conveniences. Also, the two minds against one, maybe renting units means that the renter has to pay the food for the units and therefore gets less florins for the mission?


OR
we can have it that I have to take commands from the renter, these commands must be made over the say to all system...I will not use any initiative other than when to chrage and when to withdraw/rout. This makes it fairer cos the other player can hear what is happening?

Ah, then the deal is done Xiaohou? I'll have the 20fl now to cover cost of getting these units to the battlefield. Once there you can tell me what to do.

well, see what Nigel thinks, but i don't think there's any problem in renting out units or having 2 v 1 - i'm sure all battles won't be fair anyway - we will increasingly have the prospect of armies that are much better kitted out on one side than the other anyway.

Axeknight

Bandit scum i may be, but my dear guildsman, you seem to incomprehend that I hold all the cards here - i have no qualms in disposing of your longbowmen down the nearest ravine if that is what you choose.

If the florins are the problem, then maybe you should endeavour to secure a loan from one of your fellow guildsmen?

Guillaume the Colt

Guillaume,
I must feed and pay my men as well as you do. If ye had any honour, ye would show mercy and quarter to a good opponent. I fear ye do not. I am loathe to take a loan and be indebted to any fellow guildsman, I am sure you, as a bandit will understand why. I shall give you 290 florins for my longbowmen. 'Tis all I can afford. I ask thee to show chivalry towards mine horsemen. Keep them your captives 'til I have the means to ransom with you, and I shall give thee 115 florins next month, which be 305 florins in total, 5 more than you ask for.
Consider this generous offer, bandit. It will be my last.
Duke Fitzjohn

Chimpyang and Octavian

I like the idea of hiring out units to other players. It sounds fun and seems a good way of keeping the battles interesting even as the armies of players are of increasingly different strength. As for two minds against one, I dont think that is really unfair gainst the one player (no offence, Chimpyang https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...ons/tongue.gif ). It is 4 eyes on the battlefield all right, but it also means there is the need for communication : time spent typing on the Y-chat and the potential for misunderstandings and bad timing. So while your units should follow the command of their employer, I see no need for demanding to communicate over the T-chat.

There are a few other points, though:

Those units which are hired out are not available to you for your own missions. After their battle they will return to your army, but this will take some time. So if you have your own mission ongoing, they will not be likely to be back for that battle, unless perhaps that mission gets massively delayed without your fault.

There may be occasions when you can only hire out certain units. For example, if someone wants your units on short notice, it can only be cavallery units who can reach the destination in time. Depending on the situation, I may also say that your units join as reinforcements - i.e. you deploy at the back end of your side and have to wait for, say 10 minutes, before you can move into action.

Finally, the overall idea is that players hire out your units to support their army, not to turn a 1v1 into a 2v1. If someone hires your whole army at once, or what I feel to be too many units, I will step in and just say "this and that unit was held up and will not make it in time for the fight".

But all in all I like the idea and I think it should work and make the game more fun.

Liao, you just need to let us know which units you want. And Chimpyang, is it 20 Fl call out fee for each unit ?

Now what about mission #11 ?

It seems the threats of the fameous bandit Octavian have scared the mercenaries from signing up. So I went to the city guards and asked if they would be prepared to lend some men in support. At first they were not too keen, as they still remembered the beating they got from XL. But when I told them it was to ensure their city's beer supply, they promised to volunteer readily. It remains to be seen how many they will eventually send.

So now any Merc who takes up mission #11 can count on the support of the city guard.
And if still no one can be found, I will just set out with the shipment guarded by the militia alone.


(N.B. Octavian, yes I have in the past given out mission rewards for free, if no opponent signed up. But since you are by now clearly the strongest player in the game, I am hanging the bar a bit higher for you. Nonetheless, if noone signs up by the end of this week, you can have an easy battle against the militia before the month is up).

Axeknight

Sir,

I am glad that you have seen reason. Despite my chosen profession, let it not be said that i am without compassion. Your longbowmen will go free on receipt of the 290 florins, your hobilars will stay as my captives until I receive the final payment of 115 florins.

Until we meet again,


Guillaume the Colt.

The alehouse stank. But it was the best place for the meeting, Fitzjohn knew. A dozen of his men were here with him, sitting at tables and carrying concealed weapons in case the bandit tried something stupid.
"Fitzjohn?" the voice behind him inquired
"Duke Fitzjohn to a commoner." he replied acidly. The Colt sat down opposite him.
"Yes, yes. Duke Fitzjohn." he smirked, "But we have matters to discuss."
"Where are my men?"
"Where is the gold?"
"A safe place. I wish to see my men are safe first, bandit."
"Of course."

They were all alive. Just. Fitzjohn counted sixty men, then said,
"Your money is at the guild building. Tell the guildsmaster you have a message from Duke Fitzjohn. When he asks, say 'Wake the children; the fire is spreading'. He will hand the gold over."
"And if he doesn't?"
"You still have my cavalrymen, do you not?"
"Hmm. 'Til we meet again, Duke."
"I look forward to it, bandit."

Ok, Axeknight, the money is handed over, your archers are on the way home. You are left with 521 Florins.

Just one little thing. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/gc-blush.gif
Before this deal, your Support Costs showed 519 Florins. That was because, errrmm..., I had already struck the Longowmen and Hobilars from your payroll ... https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/gc-blush.gif

A bit permaturely, I'm afraid. Sorry about that (must be a bit of a shock for the men to return from captivity and see their names already crossed out). Well, I guess you can blame it on me and let them have a drink at my expenses. Then they may let you give them their pay a few weeks later.

Meanwhile, lets see what is happening to our friend Longshanks.

-------------------------------------------------------------- Mission #14 --------------------------------------------------------------

The raid of his castle has been a nasty shock for Lord Longshanks. But his troubles are not over yet.
After the attack he had sent a messenger with a hastily written note to his army, commanding them back to his aid and protection. This brought a dilemma to his subordinate generals, who were en route to London to deliver their prisoner. What should they do now? Complete their mission, or go straight back North? Well, the decision was made for them, as Duncan McGregor used the confusion and escaped his captors together with 60 of his comrade Highland Clansmen v4. Now he is heading back North towards his home, with Longshanks` men hard on his heels.

Lord Longshanks, after recovering from a fit of rage, is now offering a reward of 1000 Florins to any mercenary, who can intercept McGregor and capture him - dead or alive. Should the bandit himself escape, he will still pay 10 Florins for the head of each of his men.

The McGregor family, however, is pleading to the local bandit gangs for help and will offer 600 Florins from their savings for any bandit willing to escort their leader back home. Duncan McGregor himself will add another 600 Florins to that from his hidden treasure – provided he makes it back alive.

Signed up as Mercenary : Sociopsychoactive
Signed up as Bandit : Shaka

Socio recieves 2 units of chiv knights v2 from Lord Longshanks in support for this mission.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------

Map details :
1v1, hillyinland05.
Summer, Western European, 60 min, Mercenaries = defenders.

Turcopoles

still going strong I see, have more fun guys :D

Sulla

In reply to Nigel........those rules seem fair enough to me.......Xiaohou, the costs wil be 20fl each to call them out and when the battle is won, the total cost will be an extra 120 fl which gives the round total of 200fl.


I plan not to hire my WHOLE army out, who knows, Bandits (cough Octavian cough) may plan a surprise attack on my headquarters whilst my men are gone and steal all of my treasury. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...icons/wink.gif

You really don't like my HA do you?

Hi Nigel,

I took the liberty of advertising on the other forums for bandits https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no.../gc-gossip.gif

We've got a guy called ConstableBrew interested - but is only junior patron so can't post here yet - maybe you could contact him in the entrance hall?

Steeleye.

I and my (soon to be hired) band of rabid english mercenaries will happily take on the task of delivering this foul scots head to lord longshanks

Been reading all through this thread all day and it looks great fun, I have messenger and always signed in if online (email address is in my profile) and am on GMT, and usually available in the daytime between about 12 and 5, or in the evening between about 7 and 10 on weekdays, not so much at weekends.

Will get back to you with my army, 3500 florins should buy me some decent mercs...

If, as I suspect there arnt actually any positions for mercs open I would be willing to try my hand at baditry, but would prefer the solid pay of mercenary work.

well my army, assuming I'm in that is, is as follows.

1 V1 hobilar,
3 V0 hobilars
4 V0 longbows
4 V0 Fuedal MAA
2 V0 spearmen

Money left over, 512 florins.

My gamespy ID is unhder the name Nighty13.

I will make some space then. I'll change alliegance to Bandit as it's seems more profitable, also, it goes well with my "swords for hire" scheme.


I've already drafted a letter to the guild.

To whome it may concern,

I refuse to pay the annual membership fee How can you expect me to hand over 1/3 of all my income every time so that it can be kept safe for "the good of the guild". I am sure that this clause wasn't in the initial contract that WE signed. En plus, in it you promised me the free house extension which i have not yet recieved, even after various messengers to remind you at great cost to me (all of 5 fl) you still have not sent anyone over to do the work. I will exact my revenge for this pack of lies fed to me and my band of loyal men, who were promised free beer in participating alehouses, however some were arresdted when they tried to get some drinks at the local Red Lion.

Adieu and watch your backs, you never know what may happen to your men one dark and stormy night mwhahahahahahahah

Chimpyang (formerly Mercenary Captain of the Guild of Respectabel mercenaries)


How will that do as a resignation letter?

glad to have you on board Ang https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/bigthumb.gif

Good to be aboard, i lok fwd to fighting alongside you instead of against you. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...icons/wink.gif

P.S. Any unit's that catch your fancy from my group.....enquire about prices today

Nigel and his friend Richard de Beauchamp, the Master of the Mercenaries Guild, were sitting over glasses of fine brandy in the back room of one of the more distinguised taverns and discussing the latest developments. Nigel was shaking his head over a letter, Richard had shown him. "1/3 of all income ? Really, Richard, how could you?". "Well", Richard replied, "those were chaotic times. Everyone was desperately looking for employment and willing to sign almost every contract. And the Guild needed money, then". "And this free house extension? Come on, I mean, that was a promise you knew you could not keep". The Guildmaster was looking more and more embarrassed. Nigel sighed. "What's done is done. But it is things like these, which are driving good men away from the side of the law".

Things were not looking all too good for the Guild indeed. The armies of the bandits had grown stronger and stronger, while many of the guildsmen were struggling to pay their troops at the end of each month. And now another veteran was changeing sides. "If it goes on like this, you will have to set aside a fund to support the members of your guild with finances". Richard de Beauchamp frowned. He had hoped that the Guild would quickly grow strong and powerful (and profitable as well) but it seemed that Nigel was right. There might well come a time when measures like these might be called for.

Yes, very very soon https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...ns/biggrin.gif https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...ns/biggrin.gif

Nigel, any chance of a small loan (50fl should clear it), to pay my longbows? I hadn't bargained on the support cost markup, sorry https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...cons/frown.gif

I need money...soon...so whenever whoever I have to go against, wants to go. I'm ready. Except for later tonight, I'm goin' car shoppin' :D

OK, XL, what Time Zone are you in? https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no.../ceasaryes.gif

EST GMT(-5:00)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Xiahou Liao @ July 22 2004,16:52)]EST GMT(-5:00)

---

perfect, im gone friday and saturday, but sometime Sunday should work for me https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/bigthumb.gif

Xia,

I'm away Friday and Saturday, but will be back Sunday - I'm GMT, so can you make 8.00pm my time, 3.00pm your time?

Chimpyang, why not make your first act as a bandit the protection of the scottish traitor? This could be good...

- Thinks to himself... -

Why can't people spell my name? ;x

Oh, guys, you know...

Xiahou Liao is really Liao Xiahou right?

Jus' call me Liao. :p

I'll make 8pm easily, just tell me what day it is.

I can do 8pm GMT tonight, othetr than that it would have to at least wait till monday. Are you signing up for mission 14 then chimpyang?

unfortunately for you i'm not....I need to be there to command my cavalry at Mission 11 (methinks) as Liao has hired my men to take part in the raid (which Kaiodai knows NOTHING about).

if chimpyang doesnt take the mission #14, then i would like to... https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/handball.gif

shaka

ok Liao would 1530 hours on Sunday work for you? Ang, i dont know if you are part of Liao and my battle or not, but if so, would 2030 hours your time work for you as well. if that works for one... or both of you. that means that this battle would happen right after the XL, Ang and Kyo battle.

1530hrs sound good for me. so does 2030hrs. I don't know which I could take. It all depends if I work, or if I'm going to another city to pick up the car I'm going to buy or not, you know? But I might go tomorrow to get the car and work tomorrow, so I may have the day off.

Liao, 2030 hours was for Ang, Ang is in GMT. i really dont think he would be willing to stay up till 1:00 in the morning just to help fight our battle. perhaps i didn't make that clear in my post https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/confused.gif

Sure 8:30 pm sounds good......hey....why ahve you got your sigas Clan FEX? Have you suddenly departed LORE?

yea. see my post in the {LORE} thread. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/bigthumb.gif


i hope to see you and XL there then https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...ns/biggrin.gif

Unfortunately due to unforseen circumstances i cant really get online till 9:30, my dad's expecting a very important call soon and wont let me on...i've snuck online to type this out. if it isnt possible i give permission for Liao to take my troops in battle.

OK, gamespy isn't letting me on either... so that will be better as it is. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/bigthumb.gif hope to c u there m8 https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...ns/biggrin.gif

It aint letting me on either...looks like we need to rearragne it ???

https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...cons/frown.gif that may be... im gonna see if it clears up with time... what is the latest you can come on Ang? https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...s/confused.gif

They rode into the mercenaries’ camp in full gallop - two units of feudal knights in full armour, their v1 banners flying in the wind. Before Socio’s tent they halted abruptly. Their captain dismounted and stepped inside. “Sir John Fitzneale, captain of Lord Longshanks’ vanguard, sent in advance of his army with urgent message to the commander of the mercenary band under contract to capture the bandit McGregor. You are the man in charge, I presume” he addressed Socio. “We have information that the fugitive has reached the area nearby and is currently in the company of one of the local bandits, known by the name of Shaka. Be warned, Sir, that this man Shaka is a skilled general, who has gained much reputation in the times of the great war. His group of fighters is said to be well equipped, too. A direct confrontation is therefore hardly deemed advisable and careful tactic and skilful manoeuvring will be required to apprehend or otherwise render harmless the fugitive villain. However, Lord Longshanks expresses his confidence and trust in your courage and will be expecting the report of the battle with eager anticipation. As for myself and the 80 knights waiting outside, it would be our honour to ride under your command for this mission. “ Sir Fitzneale stood, resting his hands on the hilt of his sword and patiently awaited Socio’s answer.


Edit:
......hmmm, after some testing I figured this needs some readjusting and changed it to Feudal Knights v1. Still not claiming this is a perfectly balanced battle, but should be better now than before... https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...nquisitive.gif

Sociopsychoactive looked up from a scroll hje was inspecting, then nodded curtly at the captasin before walking out the tent to inspect the knights who had ridden with him. 'Well you seem a fine body of men, and I would be proud to have you serving under me to aid in the capture, or the death of this traitorus rebel. I will do my utmost to please Lord Longshanks after his recent troubles. We shall set out at first light to intercept them and do away with any that would seek to protect him. Hear this men We march at dawn to kill the traitor, every man here will share in the bounty'

He returned to his tent to pack up his things and smiled that Lord Longshaks would trust him with some of his finest troops. This would be a deciding battle indeed. If all went well his career as a mercenary would be off to a well founded start, if not he would struggle to even pay his men...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Axeknight @ July 22 2004,15:13)]Nigel, any chance of a small loan (50fl should clear it), to pay my longbows? I hadn't bargained on the support cost markup, sorry.

---

Well, Axe, I guess 50 Fl will be ok. Especially since I am thnking of allowing loans a bit more generously this month, what with the trouble on GS and players not beeing able to do their battles without fault of their own.


And Octavian, it appears that there is really no one interested in mission #11. Well, I may be able to hire the city guards for this one again - say Friday 21:00 GMT ? Would that work for you ?

Oh, and Socio, I've been rebalancing the support for you in you mission a bit.
I think it was needed. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/no...nquisitive.gif

Xiao - in case you didn't get my email - i can be on on weds or fri evenings my time - so from 3pm onwards your time - not sure about sat and sun yet.

Steeleye.

whoohoo! we're back.

Xiahou - give me some times that you can make for this battle, dude - my man is sure to have retreived the stuff from the mill if you don't hurry up.

~:)

Yes, it seems we are back.

The beatiful medieval look is still missing, and so is my favourite avatar, but I am sure that will come with time. Most imporant is that we call all log back in. This may require a reset of password. But it can be changed back to the original one. Well at least it worked for me. Lets hope that all players will be able to make it to this place.

:knight:

Righty. So the game's back in session :knight:

Has payday happened yet?

Yes, payday has happened. I have just updated page 1.
It still needs to be tidied up a bit as formatting on this forums seems to be different from the old one. The links to the missions are currently not working eigther. Well, we will get there eventually.

bit quiet in here...

:scastle:

i'm waiting for a new mission to pop up.

"Sire..."
Sociopsychoactives aid cowered visably before his master.
"Sire I have some good news."
"Well, spit it out man!" Socio snapped back at him.
"Our messenger has finally returned, though we have lost almost all our messengers in the past week, this one has finally brought word that replacements have been found and communication with Lord Longshanks is finally working again!"
"About damn time aswell!" The mercenary leader snarled before storming out of his tent to find the messenger.
The small, skinny man was badly wounded, three arrows protruded from his body, but he was alive and Socio's surgeons were about to begin work.
"Sire..." The man began. "We suspect it was McGregors men, picking off every messenger sent out and even those coming in. I barely made it myself, but Lord Longshanks has promiced a dozen new messengers, and the remaining knights from the battle with McGregor are requested to escort them, we shouldn't have much trouble getting messages back and forth now, but unfotunately there is little news to report. No new raids have been heard of, or attacks on bandits schedualed."

At this Socio snarled and left the man to the healers. FOr a full week they had been cut off from the rest of the world. While having his base of operations in the middle of marshlands had seemed a great idea at the time, and the defensive value was not to be scoffed at, it made messengers vulnerable to ambush, as they had found out. At least now they would hopefully recive word of a new assignment before long, the men were becoming restless.

((My computer died last week, hence the story, but I seem to have it back up and running, ish. If I can't be found for a few days you know it's died again and McGregors men are once again praying on our messengers. It should be fine though.))

Sir Nigel just barely manages to stick his head out of huge piles of paper on his desk (and that is my Real Life desk as well. Work has been crazy over the last 2 weeks, sorry everyone) In his hand he has a couple of letters from his business partners, asking when his next shipments are moving off. "send a quick pidgeon to these gentlemen", he says to his secretary, " tell them how busy I have been with these annoying burocrats, but that I intend to assign new shipments this very evening. My, I really need a holiday".

I really do ~D
And will be going for the next 2 weeks too, leaving this Saturday. I may haev occasional internet access during that time but I promise I will knock up a few more missions before I go. Hopefully that will keep you guys going and help everyone over the next payday. This seems to be a crazy month.

I'm going away as well, not coming back til September. Which means i can't play a game this month. Damn. ~:(

BTW, wasn't the game supposed to end on the release of RTW? Cause that's the 17th of next month. I don't know whether to be delighted about RTW, or sad for the loss of B+M (though it doesn't look like I'd survive much longer). I can't see many people wanting to keep playing MTW when we have RTW. Maybe we could start something like this again? B+M has been great fun.

Quote:

---

wasn't the game supposed to end on the release of RTW? Cause that's the 17th of next month.

---

Really, that soon ~:eek: Time flies.....
Still, although I am still full of ideas for this I think I should stick to the timeline and call out winners and wrap up when RTW comes out. I am also looking forward to some good after-game-discussions and perhaps some cool ideas of what could be done with RTW ~:)


But meanwhile, there is still some time to go and (when everyone is back from holidays) a few good battles still to fight. So for now, I present some more missions (and other stuff).

-------------------------------------------------------------- Mission #15 --------------------------------------------

Well, first on my list of waiting shipments are 100 boxes of honey. The Duchess of York is waiting for them for the wedding celebration of her son. The honey is worth 1500 Florins. The Duchess, however will pay well for timely delivery and a mercenary guarding the shipment will recieve 1000 Florins plus an additional 600 upon save delivery.

Signed up as Mercenary : no opponent found, mission closed
Signed up as Bandit : Chimpyang

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Map details :
1v1, hillyinland02.
Summer, Southern European, 60 min, Mercenaries = Attackers

-------------------------------------------------------------- Mission #16 -----------------------------------------------------

The next mission is a shipment of dried fish, 200 boxes to go from the hanseatic city of Hamburg to Berlin.
The boxes are worth 8 Florins each. I am paying a sign up fee of 800 Florins and 400 Florins on delivery.
As I am worried that the fish, although salted and dried, might go bad, I will add another 400 Florins if the mission is completed before 25th August.

Signed up as Mercenary : Hamburg militia
Signed up as Bandit : Octavian

Mission completed
Octavian wins against militia and sailor men

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------

Map details :
1v1, hillyinland06.
Summer, Southern European, 60 min, Mercenaries = Defenders

-------------------------------------------------------------- Mission #17 -----------------------------------------------

And then there is a load of 100 boxes of white lace, to go from Brussels to Paris.
The hand fashioned lace is worth 16 Florins per box and I will pay a sign up fee of 900 Florins and a delivery bonus of 500 Florins.


Signed up as Mercenary : Guy
Signed up as Bandit : no opponent found, mission closed

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Map details :
1v1, hillyinland11.
Summer, Southern European, 60 min, Mercenaries = Defenders

Finally I have an announcement from the Guildmaster of the Mercenaries Guild.
I will pin it up here for everyone to see.


-------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement----------------------------------------------------

Hear ye, Hear ye,

The most honourable guildmaster of the Mercenaries Guild let it be known that the Mercenaries Guild is setting aside funds to instituate grants of money for their members in need of such. The fund is created to aid the forces of law and order and to counter the growing threat of increasingly powerful gangs of bandits roaming the lands.

Any member of the Mercenary Guild is elegible to apply for grant money of up to 3000 Florins .
The sole condition is that the money be used for the purpose of increasing the numbers and improving the equippment of the mercenary armies. The money shall not be used to finance castle enlargements or pay for personal luxury items of festivities.


The money shall be given as a grant, not as a loan, and hence no formal return of the money is required other than the faithful sevice to the Guild and the law of the land. Beneficients of the grant scheme will be listed in the Guilds records and, given a suitable period of time and given a successful development of their carrers, may be invited to make donations to the Guild in support of the Guilds junior members and to increase the glory and splendour of the Guild.

May the glory of the Guild be unsurpassed and know no equal,

Richard de Beauchamp, Master of the Mercenaries Guild


P.S. To supply the funds for the grant scheme, plans to extend and redecorate the Senior Member's Commonroom have been scrapped for the time beeing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

I'll yttake Mission 15 Bandit

"What? AGAIN???!" Screamed Sociopsychoactive on hearing that another messenger had been killed and the body discovered this morning. "Why there must be a pack of bandits preying on them, but untill we get our messengers running safely again we can't do anything about it! Curse those lawless dogs!"

((As you guessed already, my comp went pop again. It is in the process of being repaired, but this may take some time. Untill further notice I am opting out of any missions.))

Too bad, Socio, to be cut off from all messengers. Well, at least the occasional pidgeon message is getting through, But that is hardly enough to sign up for an escort contract. So I guess, I'll have to wait until you manage to set up camp outside of McGregor's bow-range ~D


Chimyang, I've put you down for mission #15. Good luck without your Turcopoles.


Oh, and Guy emailed me. He is still having problems to login and post here. But told me he wants to sign up for mission #17.

ok, I'll be of on holidays tomorrow (excited.... :jumping: )

Feel free, over the next two weeks to sign up and arrange battles by yourselves if you want to - I guess you will all know how teh game works by now. Post the result here and I will go and sort out the payments when I get back.

Good Luck and have fun (I know I will ~D )

have a good holiday, mate. :scastle:

Greetings bandits and mercenaries,

I just returned from my holiday. Great time. I enjoyed it a lot.
But it is also good to be back to the Guild. ~:)

I see that, while I was away, the demo for RTW came out. Whow, the Colosseum is overflowing with activity.


Here, at B&M, things seem to have been more quiet. Well, I guess everyone is busy playing the demo. Still, some players signed up for missions and if noone opposed them, they shall get their due reward.


Octavian has long been waiting for the shipment of beer. Well, as I could not find a Mercenary to guard it, I wanted to ask the City Guards. But even with them I had no luck. So the brave peasants set off on their own and, not surprisingly, fell easy pray to Octavians men. They saved their lives by handig over the shipment without a fight. 100 barrels of beer go right into Octavian's camp.

Pretty much the same is true for Chimpyang. 100 boxes of honey, worth 1500 Florins, are easily his.

But at least my 100 boxes of white lace went safely from Brussels to Paris. Guy met no opposition and brough the shipment through without a scratch. The promised reward of 1400 Florins shall be his.


Well, a few more missions are open, and a couple more weeks to go.
Mercenaries, don't be shy to take up the grant from the Guildmaster. Any money you recieve from the guild will not be counted as yours when I work out the score in the end, but it should help you to give Octavian and the other bandits a few good battles. Just enjoy the game and have fun.

Sorry about my absence guys. I've had work and other things taking over me. o.o; So I'm back now...school starts tomorrow for me by the way.

Wellcome back Liao,

good to see you return. I can see you are in need for money. Well, we need to support the mercenaries, or else law and order will fall to pieces and those bandits take over the land. I will see if I can get the Guildmaster to help you (and other Mercs) out with a loan to get you over the upcoming payday. And you still got some nice missions lined up, too. ~:)

hey Liao... i think i will be able to play you tomorrow evening. Ang, would you be able to make it online at around 8 GMT -5?

i would also be willing to take a hold of that fish... beer is good, but day after day of beer and deer and more beer, its just too much. ~:)

ok, Octavian, glad you are taking care of this delivery.


hey, wait a minute....

NOOO, it's that bandit again. Looking for some good food to go with that beer he has already stolen from me. Grrrrrr ~:angry:


Well, then, I need a very brave mercenary to take on this mission.
And I recommend accepting the Guildmasters money - you may need it against Octavian's army.

Could I take a grant to the sum of 650 fl please? Not sure if I can play before Sept 17th, so 650fl would keep me out of the dungeon if I can't.

Sure, Axeknight, the Guild is happy to support its members in these times of hardship.


Times are hard indeed for the Mercenaries. But it seems the Bandits have been doing quite well. At this pay day, Shaka and Chimpyang are easily able to pay their men, with money to spare. Octavian still had his store full of beer and his soldiers are happy to accept that in lieu of money (no point selling the beer, giving the money to the troops who then go out and buy the beer again ~;) ). Only Steeleye is short of a few florins, leaving his highlanders somewhat disappointed.

~:cheers: ~:cheers: :tomato: ~:cheers:


In the mercenaries camp, only Guy has managed to earn enough money to pay his troops. Well done Guy ~:cool: . Axeknight will get his grant, but what about the others? Socio is still stuck in the marshlands, cut off from communication (computer probs), Liao has just returned, full of energy, but with empty coffers, and Amatzu too is short of some Florins.

Well, I had a word with the Guildmaster of the Mercenary Guild and we decided to give grants to cover the missing money for all the mercenaries. With the bandits so strong, we just need every lawful fighter in the field, not in the dungeon. And the offer for the bigger grants is still there. Lets hope we can still put an army together to stand up to those bandits.

:knight: :knight: :knight:

Meanwhile, I got note of a mission which could interest bandits and mercenaries on either side.



-------------------------------------------------------------- Mission #18 -----------------------------------------------------

Their dispute goes back a long way. The rich merchant cities Arlington and Bramston have been arguing over the toll rights of the bridge between them for many years. Recently however, the King has issued a new law, which effectively means a very significant increase in the profit, which is gained from toll bridges. So all of a sudden there is a lot of money at stake now, and the moderate dispute has grown into a full out conflict. Both cities are now seeking the help of armed fighers to secure the bridge for themselves.

Yes, this is about a lot of money, and in their greed, the two cities care little about where the help comes from that secures their advantage. Each of them is willing to sign up mercenaries or bandits alike. 1200 Florins on sign up and 1000 Florins of victory bonus are offered by Arlington. Bramston offers only 600 Florins on sign up but 1000 Florins for victory. Ownership of the bridge will be granted to the side, whose men hold both sides of the bridge by the end of the day. No money at all will be payed out to anyone whose men are seen merely camping on their side without making any attempt to cross the river.

Signed up for Arlington : Steeleye
Signed up for Bramston : Octavian

Mission completed.
There is a nice writeup here

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Map details :
1v1, flatcoastalriver01.
Summer, Southern European, 35 min, Arlington = attackers side