The Musketeers

[ethan10000llahd]

From southern winds, a new mercenary company is born.

Following a small period of stagnation in The Kingdom of Fortune, and the unraveling of Ogre Time/Monolith, Princess Emmeline Emeraldi sought to sponsor a new mercenary group. Such was made with the intention of following virtues of fairness (for coin), duty (for coin), and honor (of contracts for coin).

With such in mind, the company has pledged to be of service of any and all parties seeking their services, and offering fair bidding for any battles or pre-meditated engagements.
The culture of Fortune and similar southern seas nations would have most of the mercenaries bearing rifles or similar weaponry, though the higher ranked or more powerful magi are much more loose with this.

TERMS OF SERVICE : 

NATIONAL CONTRACTS = WHOLE COMPANY OF MERCENARIES
INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS = INDIVIDUAL/SMALL GROUP MERCENAR(Y)IES

• Payment must be paid upfront for service, though 'potential bonuses' can be later discussed.
  
• Upon a mercenary's capture of an enemy, they will be traded for another captive, or ransomed back with the hiring nation or individual receiving half of the ransom. Executions are off the table, as to ensure an open environment for all to seek services, and no long-lasting organizational grudges. (This clause is null if not honored similarly by the opposing side)
  
• In the moment dealings are welcome of any degree, but for grander engagements such as battles, both sides must be given the opportunity to bid. There should be no national-level underhanded dealings.
  
• The Musketeers cannot be hired to attack Fortune, due to the arrangements of the Princess's sponsorship.
  
• Non combative work is acceptable, on a case by case basis per mercenary.
  
• Objects of interest will be accepted as payment, though will firstly be appraised by either the captain or current sponsor.
  
• Hirer's secrecy will be an optional clause for individual contracts, but subject to denial depending on the contract in question.
  
• The company may only be hired per battle, not for a longstanding war of years.
  
• National contracts will be signed and stored as documents kept within reach of only the Captain and Sponsor. A copy may also be provided upon request.
  
• The Musketeers, and any individual musketeer reserves the right to decline any contract for any reason, though such will be rare, or simply due to an undesirable payment.
  

Each nation will be attributed purchasing power amongst the organization as a whole. The higher number is better, for example, a nation with 1.05x purchasing power would hold the worth of 1,050 coins from a 1,000 coin bid. These modifiers are variable, though mostly associated with factors of risk, grand external pressure, longtime patronage, or spontaneous aid/hindrance to the company. In a battle that includes multiple nations, the mean of modifiers will be taken for each side.

A rate is not -inherently- reflective of the company's stance towards a nation.

CURRENT NATIONAL RATES / PURCHASING POWER : 

• Arcanum - x1.20
  
• The Republic - x1.10
  -House Valkynia - x1.15
  
• The Realm of Delphina - x1.05
  
• Crownforge - x1.00
  
• Enos - x1.00
  
• Caethir - x1.00
  
• Aetius - x1.00
  
• Altharim - x1.00
  
• Unaffiliated - x1.00
  
• Viritas -  x0.00/Null.  
  Neatly organized into traditional ranks, the Musketeers have an easy to understand and clear structure.
  

1. Cadet - The lowest rank, a musketeer in training. For those recently joining, or perhaps dealing with a punishment of demotion.
   
2. Musketeer - The rank and file, the mercenary musketeer. Of many different backgrounds, and of many different roles... Though traditionally, the non-magi of which are armed with magitech muskets.
   
3. Sergeant - Perhaps a step to leadership, or a rank awarded out of merit for successful contracts, the sergeant is a cut above the rest of the musketeers. All sergeants are at least lesser magi, even those in command of groups of non-magi musketeers.
   
4. Lieutenant - Now truly in leadership, lieutenants are essentially the hands of the captain, assisting in any organizational or leadership needs necessary.
   
5. Oversight - Specially appointed to observe and oversee the company, by the sponsor.
   
6. Captain - The leader of the Musketeers.
   Current : Troy
   
7. Sponsor - The sponsor of the Musketeers, providing financial and administrative aid.
   Current : Emmeline M. Emeraldi
   

Guidelines for members:

• You are free to take any individual contracts, as long as they do not violate the law of the land you perform such in, or the terms of service. You are entirely obligated to whatever payment you receive.
  
• In non-company-wide collaborative contracts, members will take an even split.
  
• You may not pursue necromancy or witchcraft.
  
• Your payment in a national/company matter or battle is tied to your participation. The bidding pot is split, after ransoming back any captured Musketeers, 40% to company fund, and 60% among fighting Musketeers. If you hold a capture and ransom an individual, you are entitled to 80% of the coin from the ransom.
  
• You will be provided for by the company, up to a discussable point or value.
  
• If found to break terms/guidelines egregiously, or betray the company or within-terms clients, you will be fined or fired, or both.
  

Contracting and recruitment begins... Now!

Send a letter to Captain Troy or Emmeline M. Emeraldi to discuss your needs, or approach anyone with a 'Musketeer' pin for individual contracts!

[Monsoon]

The Musketeers, which has laid paralyzed ever since the disasterous outcome of the War on Altharim, have finally released a public statement regarding their status, especially the question of their continued existence.

However, the source of the statement was not either of whom would be expected to make it, not Emmeline nor Troy, rather... a seemingly fresh face to the public stage of the group.

Distributed via flyers to all known settlements excluding Viritas, it reads as such:

"Greetings,

My name is Henriette Desrosiers, a long-time friend of Lady Emmeline, our former sponsor, and I'm pleased to announce that I'll be taking full control over the Musketeers for the foreseeable future, effective immediately.

It's with the heaviest of hearts that I bear this responsibility, but it's something that must be done; Emmeline has ceased all activity with the Musketeers since The Incident, and Troy is completely incapable of executing his duties as Captain due to some unfortunate circumstances.

Therefore, a forceful continuation of the Musketeers was necessary to set the record straight and offer our services once more, unburdened by the past. Likewise, both contracting and recruitment have resumed.

~ Henriette Desrosiers"

---

Send a letter to Henriette Desrosiers to discuss your needs, or approach anyone with a 'Musketeer' pin for individual contracts!

[GoobySoup]

A loving couple can be seen snuggling on a local bench, reading a newspaper together..
News spreads of a new sponsor taking over the Musketeers, a dear friend of the group; Henriette [i]Desrosiers [/i]
[i]Slight worry is presented to Hako-Neko but a welcoming is given.[/i]

"As a long time friend of Emmeline, it worries and concerns for her health as she falls back from our sponsor of this long time project, but having Henry as our new 'caretaker' is welcomed.

I, Hako-Neko, Oversight of The Musketeers.. thank you with opened arms for being kind enough to care for our cause. May you guide us into a new future of light and will seek you to discuss plans as my work is placed in your hands as Emme's 'Attack Dog' May my strength be yours to use.."