Mercenary Veteran

As a sell-sword who fought battles for coin, you're well acquainted with risking life and limb for a chance at a share of treasure. Now, you look forward to fighting foes and reaping even greater rewards as an adventurer. Your experience makes you familiar with the ins and outs of mercenary life, and you likely have harrowing stories of events on the battlefield. You might have served with a large outfit such as the Fighters Guild or the mercenaries of the East Empire Company, or a smaller band of sell-swords, maybe even more than one. See the "Mercenaries of the North" section below for a collection of possibilities. Now you're looking for something else, perhaps greater reward for the risks you take, or the freedom to choose your own activities. For whatever reason, you're leaving behind the life of a soldier for hire, but your skills are undeniably suited for battle, so now you fight on in a different way.

Features

Mercenaries of the North Countless mercenary companies operate across Tamriel and throughout Skyrim. Most are small-scale operations that employ a dozen to a hundred folk who offer security services, hunt monsters and brigands, or go to war in exchange for gold. Some organizations, such as the Fighters Guild and the Mercanaries of the East Empire Company have hundreds or thousands of members and can provide private armies to those with enough funds. A few organizations operating in the North are described below.   The Fighters Guild The guild is a professional organization chartered by the Emperor to regulate the hiring and training of mercenaries, protect commerce, capture or drive away beasts, and similar security duties. Guild halls can take on a contract from any citizen, provided it does not conflict with the laws or customs of the region. The Fighters Guild most prominent and is highly organized in Cyrodiil. They have had numerous rivals over the years, including the dubious Blackwood Company, and outmaneuvering them has kept the Guild performing at its best.   The East Empire Mercanaries The East Empire Company is a monopolistic merchantile enterprise charted by the Emperor and managed by a board of directors appointed by the Emperor. The Company has sole authority to trade in certain goods, like flin, raw ebony, raw glass, and Dwemer artifacts, and it also enjoys favorable tariffs and regulations for import and export of other common and exotic goods. Such trade makes them a prime target for bandits, pirates and thieves, as such they employ a vast army of mercenaries to protect thier investments. Also using them to aid in "negotiation" to expand thier recources and stifle competition.   The Black-Briar Mercanaries One of the most famous and infamous names in Skyrim is that of the Black-Briars, an immensely powerful family in Riften who own the Black-Briar meadery along with having a stake in many other business ventures in the province. They have a reputation for ruthlessness when it comes to competition, with strong ties to the thieves guild and a private company of mercanaries under the direct control of the family matriarch Jarl Maven Black-Briar.   The Blackwood Company A minor mercenary faction that began to operate in the Imperial province of Cyrodiil, out of the city of Leyawiin and the Blackwood Forest, during the latter days of the Third Era, and simultaneous to the Oblivion Crisis. Initially comprised of former soldiers who failed to reclaim territory in Black Marsh for the Emperor, and comprised almost exclusively of Beastfolk, the Blackwood Company emerged as a notorious yet effective rival and threat to the Cyrodilic chapter of the Fighters Guild. Unlike the Fighters Guild, the Blackwood Company has no objection to completing less scrupulous jobs and seems to operate without moral qualms. Further, unlike the Fighters Guild, there are no limitations as to who can join; even individuals of questionable moral integrity and those with a criminal record can join the group providing that they have combat prowess.   The Silver-Blood Mercanaries The Silver-Bloods are a family of wealthy silver miners located in Markarth. They own most of the city and use prisoners to mine silver in Cidhna Mine, the prison of Markarth. They own and preside over the Silver-Blood Inn. The family clashes repeatedly with the growing faction of Forsworn in the Reach, being involved in a protracted gureilla war over the Reach to protect thier interests. As such they employ a large company of private mercenaries to keep the Forsworn at bay, also using them to deal with any other threats or competition to the family and its bussiness.   The Morag Tong An ancient guild of assassins headquartered in Morrowind, celebrating murder in the name of Mephala. They have been active since at least the First Era, and their targets have included multiple rulers of Tamriel, high-ranking Dunmer nobility, and countless others. Despite nominally being assassins the Morag Tong is unique in its sanctioned status under the Morrowind government to perform legal executions, bound under contracts called 'writs'. Because of its official sanction, the guild has the authority to print legal bills known as Honorable Writs of Execution, which excuse a Tong agent of all legal misgiving associated with any Tong related business. As such, Morag Tong executioners are expected to give themselves up immediately following an execution even if the death itself would have remained a mystery, in order to legally absolve themselves and avert any possible long-term ramifications. Tong executioners who fail to do so are considered suspect by their order and may be subject to major internal investigations, as the Tong does not harbor criminals. This legal protection does not however, exist beyond the bounds of Morrowind where they are seen as an entirely criminal organisation.  

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Mercenary Life You know the mercenary life as only someone who has experienced it can. You are able to identify mercenary companies by their emblems, and you know a little about any such company, including the names and reputations of its commanders and leaders, and who has hired them recently. You can find the taverns and festhalls where mercenaries abide in any area, as long as you speak the language. You can find mercenary work between adventures sufficient to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.