Blackrune Mercenary Companies in Fax

Lt. Spears while doing early investigations, learned there are four mercenary companies currently holding key positions in Fax:

 

1. The Gilded Phalanx (North Wall)

Located at the North Wall, and inside areas of the city, this company bears the brunt of the "looming tide" of thousands of undead pressing against the city defenses.

Leader: Captain Valerius "The Sun-King" Thorne | human, male | A man who refuses to let the apocalypse ruin his aesthetic, Valerius wears gold-lacquered plate armor and a cape rumoured to be made of displacer beast hide.

Units mainly human, orcish and hobbits:

• 2 cavalry (20-30; medium armour mix of melee weapons, shield and spear)
• 2 Crossbow units (30-40; light armour, heavy crossbows, daggers)
• 1 Slingers unit (10-20 hobbits; light/no armour; light melee weapons)
• 2 heavy infantry [note: 1 was formally cavalry but no longer have mounts (40-50; medium armour, mixture of weapons)
• Rumoured to have an ankheg with handlers. They were tasks to build the canal for the moat - that was not finished.

Condition: Starving. They have been eating their horses for a week. Troop numbers are at 30% of original strength.

 

2. The Red Harbor Irregulars (Dockside/East)

Holding the East Docks, this company controls the narrow strip of safety near the water where Lady Tessa Blackthorn recently fled.

Leader: Captain "Bilge" Barnaby dwarf | male. A cynical, salt-crusted dwarf who smells of cheap ale and wet wool

NOTE: The Redwater Fellowship’s hideout as well as Floodlick’s HQ are in this area. The mercenary group are noted for wearing a red sash

Units: Irregulars. Mixture of all races:

• 3-4 units (70-80 troops; mixture of all types of weapons and armour)

Condition: Moderate supplies (due to fishing), but troop numbers are decimated by internal "Fistful of Dollars"

 

3. The Crimson Corsairs (South wall and Inlet)

Stationed at the South Inlet/South Gate, this company prevents the undead from wading through the shallows.

Leader: Baroness Elara "The Red Rose" Elf | female. A self-styled aristocrat who treats the war like a theatrical performance. She wears a voluminous red silk coat over her studded leather and insists on a "violently crimson" banner being flown at all times so the undead "know who is killing them."

Units: Irregulars. Mixture of all races: rumoured to be mostly pirates, privateers and press-ganged fishermen.

• 2-3 units (50-60 troops; mixture of weapons, flintlocks, crossbow, cutlass and other melee. Armour: mixture of medium to none
• Supposedly have a galleon and a sloop

Condition: High fatigue. They have had no sleep for three days due to constant skirmishing in the South Inlet.

 

4. The Hell Furnace Hounds (West Gate & Merchant District)

Stationed near the West Wall, this group was once a prestigious outfit. They currently guard the West walls as well as protecting the few remaining granaries.

Leader: Commander Hrolf Ironheart. A grim, no-nonsense veteran

Units mixture of all races:

• 1 cavalry (30-40 troopers; medium armour, lance and shield and flintlock pistol)
• 2 musketeers (25-35 troopers; muskets and shortsword, light armour)
• 2 pike (10-15 troopers; pike, dagger and medium armour
• Rumoured to have troll - tamed. Not sure how he/she is kept "tame"

Condition: Critically low on ammunition and medicinal supplies.