Here is a sample mercenary unit from my Ralios game. The year is the 1616.
The Red Band is the only mercenary unit permanently (since 1610) hired by the kingdom of Kustria. They handle the forts on the Holut border and keep a detachment in the city of Kustria as a garrison. The friendship between the Lord Protector and the Captain of the Band, Hugue de Brisse has a lot to do with this continued service.
The Red Band is an all male, strictly rokari group, formed mainly by seshnelan exiles. While serving, they are supposed to be all Knight caste, for religious and legal matters. A sizable group of camp followers accompanies the men.
Although their number varies slightly, they are almost a thousand strong. The settled life, with low booty but low risk, attracts many veterans from other units, and recruiting is seldom a problem. Half the force is made up of heavy crossbowmen, the lower ranking in prestige. However they take pride in their accuracy and magically enhanced quarrels. They wear brigantine or chain shirts, with a round helmet, but keep the limbs free to run or use their crossbows. They wear their favorite weapons for melee, and will use pavises in field battles. When patrolling the streets, only one in four will carry his crossbow.
The second group are the swordsmen, rest of a small mercenary unit absorbed ten years ago. They use two handed swords and are all of them devotees of St. Talor, the laughing warrior. Their insane courage and unnerving laughing bouts keep them apart from the rest of the mercenaries. Besides their big swords they wear heavy armor (scale to chain, depending on the individual), shields to protect against missiles, and hand weapons for restricted fighting. They usually make a big impression on city militias, specially when they begin lopping their spear points off!
The third and smallest group are the Men-at-arms, who consider themselves the only true knights. They are classical knights, more cautious than most, and usually protecting the crossbowmen from enemy cavalry. A few of the leaders sport Loskalmi plate, but many of the officers prefer old style seshnelan lamellar iron armour.
When pursuing or setting ambushes against the raiders from Holut, all the men will be mounted, although the crossbowmen and the swordsmen dismount to fight. Each fort will have about a score crossbows, with flying columns helping attacked forts and making retaliatory raids.
The knights are equivalent in pay to a sergeant in the other two arms, but has to pay all his (and his horse) upkeep expenses. City service is very popular, as it is virtually risk free and brings on a hefty amount of bribes.
A small group of chaplains keep the faith and give magical support. Instruction in battle charms is left to the sergeants. While they remain in Kustria, the support of the rokari bishop means that clerical and magical support is top notch.
In battle the Band deploys in companies, around one hundred strong. The name, the Red Band, comes from the red surcoats, shields and flags they display. Originally they were Remar's Quarrels, half a century ago, but that changed to the Red Quarrels, after Remar's death, and at the close of the century the Red Band, when they added men-at-arms.
Only battle proven veterans or those with friends in the outfit need apply.
Jose
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