Many Mercenary companies start out as rag tag mobs of the displaced trying to survive in a world gone mad . Most of these don't last to long. A few are exterminated in a single go, wiped out to the last man or maybe a few survivors. More are whittled down by the meat grinder of battle, being unable to replace losses faster than they are incurred until the remainder is absorbed into another company. The most common fate is to fall apart. The death of a company's leader is the most common reason as lieutenants squabble for power and lead off sections of men and others go their own way having little interest in either party in the split. Others succumb to infighting. An unpopular leader who gets too many of his men killed pointlessly, is too stingy with pay and makes enemies with bad decisions is liable to be booted out or suffer an unpleasant accident such as stumbling over onto his dagger six times while in his cot or stimulate a riot among the ranks. If discipline is not maintained drunken fights, brawls, festering grudges, theft of other's stuff and other such things can lead to violence and hemorrhaging members. In any case, most mercenary companies don't last more than a decade and the poor destitute members have to go on to find other lines of work.





A few companies however survive the crucible and do well. They're well led, take the right contracts and they gain members, pay, loot and experience and can lay claim to a positive contribution in various victories. Between their payment and loot taken, they can trade in their old hodgepodge gear and buy proper armor and weapons from armorers. With experience acquired at the level of soldier, sergeant, lieutenant and commander they become more disciplined and more orderly. Usually they'd settle on one or two styles of weapons (in the case of these guys Heavy Halberdiers) and they invest more into proper training and drilling for themselves and those new recruits that come their way. Sometimes they acquire the services of trained arms masters or gain manuals on war to incorporate into their hard won experience. They also might hire or acquire clerks and accountants to track of matters and better use what they gather. The resulting companies are better fighters with a reputation. As such, their services command a higher price. In a fight against a company of Low End mercenaries these more polished companies have a distinct advantage even when outnumbered two or even three to one in a straight up fight.

