> I suppose.... It does raise the question of who hires these
> mercenary warbands, however. It doesn't seem to be the sort of thing
> clans would do very often, especially for Humakti. Why hire a bunch
> of deadly killers when all you want to do is spank the neighbors? Of
> course, if you want to really kill off the neighbors, that's a
Times have changed from the days of teh Kingdom - more clans are feuding than just raiding. The Heortlings are falling apart with intercine strife (as Fazzur seemes to have hoped).
I think that, had you asked teh question in the 1580's, one would have said, "You're right." But in the 1620's? I think that the country is falling apart. Praxians and Grazers seem to raid with impunity. There are bandits EVERWYERE. A weak clan or one which took a beating in the last rebellion might be very, very interested in hiring on some Humakti - and if you're locked in a blood-feud? So much the better! Now that there's no Confederation/Kingdom/Whatever, we can give those Black Oaks what they truly deserve...!
> different situation, but does that happen often enough to
> support mercenaries? Humakti shrines and temples might be gathering
> places for loose Humakti waiting for a chance to sign on with a
Chief
> or King who needs more weaponthanes, but this isn't the same thing
as
> warbands for hire.
Maybe. Perhaps my vision of the late teens and early twenties is too bloody. But I think its like the Italian Citystates writ small. Or the feuding clans of Ireland or Scotland - lots of work for gallowglasses and connidottri (sp!)
> On top of all this, only about 1% of the population
> (approximately 6 per clan) initiates to Humakt and, since the life
> expectancy of Humakti has to be below that of Barntari, Issariesi,
> etc, the actual population of Humakti might be somewhat lower than
> that. There can't be enough loose Humakti to make too many mercenary
> units....
They tend to survive if they last their first year. Humakti are a hard kill...
... Spinal Tap not withstanding. =)
Jeff
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