Black Company is a LRP group within the Curious Pastimes Game.

We will be attending the 2010 Renewal event as part of the Algaia faction.
"They are vicious & violent bastards... their behavior tempered only by a few decent men."-Algaian High
Command.

The Black Company is a former mercenary unit now in the full service of the Algaian faction. For 400
years the unit has survived alone after the destruction of the Free Companies of Khatovar. It is an
organised military force made up primarily of medium to heavy infantry with a few auxiliaries in support.

Its chief principles are loyalty, strength and the highest belief that they are the most capable troops for the
job. Old habits die hard though and there are frictions as the men and women of the company struggle
withlife as soldiers, not of fortune, but of a nation.

The Black Company (are very far from a parade ground spit and polish brigade. Like the Foreign Legion,
you leave your past behind you when you get accepted into the BC. So it’s no surprise that the rank & file
are a tough, scrappy bunch, always getting drunk (role-play drunk) & starting brawls. It’s the BC officers
who have turned this frightening bunch of criminals, no-hopers and dregs into the disciplined and
respected unit they are today. ‘Pride’ and ‘Loyalty’ are the watchwords, that everyone in the BC hold dear.

What about ‘Honor’? Sod that, Honor is a luxury of the rich, not mercenaries! Kicking your enemy in the
nuts and nicking his provisions is the BC way. See how ready he is to break our shield wall after marching
all day with aching plums and an empty stomach.

The Black Company will next be out in force in August 2010 at Curious Pastimes Renewal Event, where
will be supporting our allies the Algaia faction.

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We are bunch of mature (older) role-players who enjoy playing together as a military group. The group
has been around for about seven years in one form or another and generally tends only to do Renewal,
although ad hoc and spin off events have been known.

Spot on! Glen Cook’s 'Black Company' novels are about a unit of hard-bitten Mercenaries in a gritty
fantasy novel, seemed the perfect inspiration for a LRP group. Cook places his characters not in a world
of good and evil, but in a world where good and evil is not absolute. The perception of good and evil in
many cases depends upon the viewpoint of the observer. Considering the style of role-play the group
wanted to do, this seemed ideal.

The books draw you into a world much like ours, with sorcery added for flavor. The Company, with its
many main characters, serves as the unwilling pawn of the powers that be, trying to "make a living" by
doing what they do best and not "taking sides". In this way, they are portraying the human dilemma of
feeling a part of the world they live in, yet having little control of their ultimate fate. That grim ‘hard done
by’ feeling sums up the Soldiers lot.

It is in fact the very same experience we have when we play at the big LRP events. Shed-loads of plot
going on, that a) we don’t understand b) might get us killed c) ends up with us being ordered into doing
something nasty. This is of course great fun, and playing the ‘third spear carrier on the left’ rather than the
heroes who shape the world, is pleasant change. So if you want to be a hero, Black Company is not for
you. If you want to find out what it is like being the ordinary guy, then this is very much for you.

There is a lot to get involved with and the group is adept at making its own fun. There is plenty of intrigue
and investigation and quite a bit of fighting. Spying, night time raids and other covert ops are certainly
something we do. Guarding and patrolling are duties we excel at and are often filled with sudden
moments of danger and excitement.

We endeavor to stay in character until Time Out and part of the pleasure of role playing in the Company
is just talking about ordinary things from a soldier’s point of view.
When things are getting a little slow, the officers will usual find some duties for us to perform. The
‘Captain’ hates idlers and will have you doing Drill if he sees you sitting around chatting.

You betcha! ‘The Crimson Moon’, the best LRP tavern in the UK, is the unofficial Company HQ. It’s run by
Vollsanger the Bard, an honoree Black Company member. Here we get to have some serious R&R, still
in character of course. Your get to learn the Company toasts, the Company songs (there are a few) and
of course if you’re unlucky get your fortune hilariously read with Black Company’s most dubious magical
item, ‘The Cards of Sexual Destiny’.

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It’s your event; you do what you feel best. If you’re out of character, just move off from the others and do
your thing. If you have an out of character question, feel free to pull someone quietly to one-side and ask
them. Just don’t do it in the middle of scene where everyone is role-playing. There will be times when we
need to be all together or have to undertake a duty. The sergeants will make sure you know when these
times are. Please don’t be late. In between you can go ‘off-duty’ and do your own out of character thing. If
you sneak off ‘In Character’ you’re absent without leave and will get a whole world of pain heaped upon
you.

The books also stress the fellowship between the characters. Just like soldiers in the real world ‘Foreign
Legion’, the Unit is their family and everyone is a brother or sister. It doesn't matter what your character
did before you joined the Company, once you have been initiated you’re one of the family no matter what.
As the years have passed, players have come and gone and so these days not everyone in the group
knows each other. But the Company ethos is such, that once you are in, you as much part of the group as
any of the veterans.

No! The books are a great read but our incarnation of the Black Company starts way after the books end
and on a different plane. In brief, our Black Company knows little of its own origin. Its history, what’s
known is recorded in the Company Annals and tells how ‘The Black Company’ is the last survivor of the
Free Companies of Khatovar (a land on a different world, long lost) and crossed to this world through a
place called the ‘Glittering Plane’ some 10 years ago. The Annals are records that go back centuries,
though the first century of our history has been lost and the last 10 years on this world are very sketchy
indeed. In summary the last ten years are as follows:

 The Company fights its way to a place called the Glittering Plane, escaping through a portal to the
world we now inhabit.
 As mercenaries the surviving BC members found work almost immediately with The Gryphons,
one of the factions of the realm.
 Some seven years ago The Empire invaded Estragles and almost the entire Company was wiped
out defending the castle of Bayonne.....only 26 escaping from 600 troops, as the magic-using
Trolls of The Caladin tribe wreaked havoc.
 Fleeing to the coast under the only officer left, the surgeon Carver, they elected him Captain.
They also elected a cavalryman they had picked up along the way, by the name of Marshal, to be
Lieutenant.
 Reaching the coast they were picked up by Admiral Gunner in the Gryphons flagship The
Vigilant, and sailed to Dover, which the then King of Albion asked them to administer in his name.
 So they set up headquarters in an active Brothel on the water-front and have been hustling to
survive ever since.
 Carver got them some body-guarding work and some assault troop contracts before he fell in
battle defending the Al'gaian king,
 Marshal became captain, we have worked various for The Fir Cruthen, Gryphons, Vipers, The
College, run the Mercenary camp and set up its charter, and we now retain lands in Frankonia as
Al'Gaians.

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No, but great if you are. The highlight of Renewal is the Battle. Unlike other groups we fight as unit. This
means you don’t need to be a sword master to survive as you are not there to go one on one; you’re
there to support your Company comrades. Our heavy infantry is at the front, with sword and shield and
lots of armor, our skirmishers are on our flanks stopping the enemy getting round behind us and our
magical and medical support are in our centre with our Banner. Stick together and you will survive.

If fighting really isn’t your thing, the Company has room for medical and magical specialists. However, we
do encourage you to play Heavy Infantry if you can. We are not sexist and women are welcome to play
any role.

Well first off, only humans are recruited into the Company. That doesn’t mean the Company is
vehemently racist it is just the way it has always been. We encourage everyone who joins Black
Company to play Heavy Infantry. This is the quintessential medieval ‘Men at Arms’. For the lighter of foot,
we have Scouts and Rangers who form our Skirmisher unit. However we do have other roles in the
Company, such as Specialists, which include Mages, Shamans, Alchemists and Corporealists. We don’t
tend to do our own Rituals, so Ritualist characters aren’t really needed. Everyone whatever their role
starts off as a ‘Private’, through play and your actions, you may get promoted.

Well unsurprisingly everyone’s base costume is black. Not yellow, green or purple...black! For preference
a black hood or cloak, or both, black belt with skull buckle, black shirt and trousers (suede or leather is
best). You will be given a Company Badge, it’s yours to keep if you pay £5.00, otherwise return it at the
end. Everyone should bring EATING UTENSILS: - a bowl and a tankard and something to eat with.

Heavy Infantry: - You need shield, one handed weapon (e.g. sword, mace), Helmet and Armor,
more the better.
● Heavy Armor i.e. Chainmail, latex/foam plate or scale mail
● Extra Heavy Armor i.e. Heavy chainmail (metal only), metal or fiberglass plate or heavy
scale mail.

Skirmisher: - Any weapon that will allow you to move swiftly. Projectile Weapons (we have some
crossbows to lend out), are also good but make sure you have a hand to hand weapon as bows
and crossbows are not much good out there in a Battle. Armor should be Light or Medium.
● Light Armor i.e. Light/soft leather, furs, quilted or padded material, but not simple cloth
● Medium Armor i.e. Heavy/rigid leather, studded leather or ring mail.

Specialist: - Well you are probably a medical orderly or a magic user, so it’s really up to you. Try
and incorporate black into your costume, especially if you are wearing robes. Mages don’t wear
metal armor.

If you haven’t got any of the above you can buy most of it there at the event. Alternatively, ask to borrow
some off your friends or from others going to the event. Usually there is discussion thread going on the
Black Company Face book Group where you can make a borrow request or ask for tips on where and
what to buy.

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Not at all, it’s very much shades of grey and at the end of the day we do what we are ordered. Following
orders is very important; it keeps us working together as a unit and ruthlessly effective. Individually the
Company members can recognize true evil when they see it, and often they try to manipulate the situation
and interpret their orders to mitigate the worst outcomes.

So that sort of makes us Lawful Neutral as a group. However as most of the rank and file are pretty much
scum anyway, the Company is only really held from becoming evil by the few good men who currently
lead the Unit. Personal morality often conflicts with the Company’s 'honor' system of ALWAYS holding
true to their employer. Unless of course the Employer:
1. Breaks the contract
2. Fails to pay us
3. Tries to stab us in the back
Any of the above, means there will be hell to pay. Our current Employer is the rather goody two shoes
Algaia faction.

We have signed a contract with the Algaia– as such Company members are exempt from Algaian law &
answer only to the Company Officer Commanding – Company punishments are more severe than
Algaian and usually start at flogging with summary execution depending on the Officers discretion. The
Officer Commanding answers to the Algaia’s ruler, Lord Hart for Company crimes (this is deadly serious –
Lord Hart is no pussy cat) however it means that the commanding officer present’s head is in the noose
for any funny business. So although the Algaia’s laws don’t apply to us individually, these are the set of
laws that if broken can give our commanding officers a headache.

● No Algaian may harm another, unless that other is, or allied with, a declared enemy of the Algaia
● Reasonable action in defence of one’s self and allies is permitted
● No person may take possession of the mind of another
● No person is the possession of another
● Everyone is entitled to the freedom of their own action, insofar as it does not impinge upon the
freedoms of others, these laws or the good of the Algaia
● No one shall take without permission that which belongs to another except in circumstances
where to not do so would cause serious harm or danger to Algaians or their allies
● Those welcomed within the boundaries of our lands will be afforded the protection of our people,
and are bound by our laws whilst within said lands
● The land and those upon it must be afforded respect. Willful damage beyond that which needs to
be done is forbidden. Anything taken from the land should be renewed
● Undead are an abomination and every measure must be taken to lay their souls to rest
● Public highways must be kept clear of obstruction and free passage preserved
● No one may hinder or fail to aid an official of the Algaia when carrying out their duties
● No one may plot or act against the best interests of the Algaia or their allies. To do so is treason
● No disrespect may be shown towards the name of the Gryphons or the Algaians past or present
● The leader of the Algaia bears responsibility for all the peoples and lands of the Algaia and as
such all Algaia are duty bound to accept the authority of their decrees
● All Algaia have the right to petition their leader, and have the right to challenge them for
leadership of the Algaia

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Our group has a hierarchy and if you don’t enjoy playing characters that have to do what they are told
then role-playing in a military unit is not for you. Bear in mind, there is an immense amount of fun to be
had in interpreting orders. One thing you will never be asked to do is role-play an order that will put you
into real danger of committing a real world criminal offense or put you at real world risk of harm or abuse.

As this is a military unit there will be shouting and some swearing however we try to keep it all very much
in the milieu and the Corporals and Sergeants will appreciate being told out of character in advance if you
have any health issues that will prevent them ‘Beasting’ you (Beasting is where a Corporal or Sergeant
will shout a lot in your face and make you do physical exercise-very funny to watch and great fun to role-
play for both participants)

In rank Order the officers of The Black Company are:-

Captain Marshall- Overall leader, voted in democratically Played by

for life, until incapable, or resigns. Unquestionable brave, Erol Kentli
definitely cunning and would be followed into the jaws of
hell and back by the men. A harsh disciplinarian, but his
leadership has got the Company through the past 7 years.

Lieutenant Crow- second in command and also the Played by

Company Annalist. He is in charge of recording the unit’s Mark Dollar
exploits in the Annals. Years of hard campaigning &
exposure to vicious magic’s, has left the Lt with few friends
except the bottle of hard liquor that he keeps never too far
from hand.
Mister Ward (Richard) 2nd Lieutenant and Medical Officer. Played by
He is the Company Physician well Surgeon really and if he Paul Turner
gets out his gloves and asks you to stand in a line and
cough, don’t be surprised. He is unlikely to give a battle
order but on matters of fitness, health and cleanliness his
word is final.

Sergeant Major Dread- Has responsibility for the security Played by

of the Pay-chest and other Company Treasures. He is also Lee
the Standard Bearer and takes a very dim view if Company Maxwell
traditions aren’t followed. As Sergeant Major the Sergeants
report to him directly.

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And the Veterans attending Renewal 2010 are...

‘Specialist’ officers, such as M’Lady, sit outside the chain of Played by

command and unless you are a magic user you are unlikely Shaunee
to be issued with an order from her. Dollar

Sergeant Snatch- like the officers above him is a veteran Played by

of the Company and after a career of avoiding responsibility Adrian
and shirking any duties he has somehow ended up a Davis
Sergeant. Probably because he knows every dodge there
is. Snatch also holds the honor of holding one of the
Company’s more dubious magical items ‘The Cards Of
Sexual Destiny’.
Corporal Jack- Corporals are the backbone of the Played by
command structure and are expected to show independent James
thought, running their section efficiently. Corporal Jack is a ‘Bear’
Padget
no nonsense soldier and if you listen to him and do what he
says he will keep you alive.

Private Swift – a fleet footed little bastard, who likes Played by

nothing better than breaking the knee caps of those who Daniel
reckon a little lad with a mace ain’t any threat. An expert ‘Krash’
Doherty
skirmisher.

Private Branch- a scout with a mean eye for spotting a Played by

good place to lay an ambush. Not a troublemaker by Simon Batt
nature, but trouble has a way of finding him.

Your choice, but as a rule no. We will arrange a Company tent, open to all Company members, with
seating etc. We will provide The Black Company Standard and the Lance it is mounted on.

No-one uses their character’s real name in The Black Company. Company superstition has that names
have power and if an enemy magic user knows your name then they can curse you or worse.

Therefore you either arrive with a nick name that’s fitting, or you get given one. To give you some idea of
the intellectual level involved, the previous surgeons name was Carver! If we give you a nickname that
you really don't like, tell us Out of Character quickly, and we will find another but try and play along if
possible; Merc outfits are tough, rough and ready, and names don't hurt as much as arrows.

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You should however, have given some thought to what led to your character joining The Black Company.
Common reasons are:-
 Running from the law
 Defeated soldier with nowhere left to serve
 Running from family
 Escaping prostitution
 Psychological issues i.e. don’t fit in anywhere else.
 Rebelling against class, station or gender rules of own society.
 Addiction i.e. Drink, Gambling.
 War junky
 Too stupid and violent to be anywhere else.
 Lost love

That’s just a selection, try and come up with a story for your character. You may never share it with
anyone but it makes it more fun when you are role-playing your character. Bear in mind, that the only way
out of the Company is death, or too buy your way out (very rare). Retirement is only an option for the
disabled, mad or those too old to do anything but rot.

These are sort of a short hand role-playing really. They are there to helps us feel more like a unit that has
lived and trained together for years, when of course in a lot of circumstances we have only just met in real
life.

 Never call a Sergeant or Corporal, Sir. They are NOT officers, they work for a living.

 Always salute the Officers and stand to attention when they enter.

 The Black Company toasts are as follows ;

o "The Black Company", to which you should immediately stand and shout ‘The Black
Company’ at the top of your voice.
o "To The Regiment", for which the reply is "I wish I was there!”
o "Gallipoli", for which the reply is "Lovely Beach!”

 Sayings (which tend to be when we are marching or about to engage);

o "What don't we like?" to which the shouted response is "Wrong-uns!"
o "How are we tooled?" to which the shouted response is "To the Nines!”

 The Company are soldiers remember, and all soldiers are grumblers and complainers. Here are a
few common complaints.
o Poor Rations
o Standard issue kit never fits/works/arrives on time (hence why most of us are wearing
mismatched stuff looted from the battle field or stolen).
o Pay is late.
o Long marches, pointless drill, the dreaded medical!

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  The Company has its own card game, it’s a bit like Poker and it’s called ‘Tonk’. Playing Tonk in
moments when it’s quiet is encouraged. It’s common to gamble for money, rations, duties etc.
Knife fights or brawls add a nice touch. The ‘simple’ rules to Tonk can be found at
http://www.gamecabinet.com/rules/Tonk.html.

 Songs, the Company has its own songs, don’t worry about learning them in advance, Volsanger
the bard will teach you at Company HQ. Just be prepared to join in. Enthusiasm is valued more
than holding a note.

 Beastings- The soldiers who general end up in the BC are usually scum and as a consequence
insubordination is not unfamiliar. Therefore the Corporals and the Sergeants WILL come down
hard on anyone who disobeys an order or acts un-soldierly. Now the BC is not a parade ground
unit so the NCO’s are fairly pragmatic but there are standards. It is great fun for at least one
Private to be the cheeky one who always gets into trouble, just so the Corporals and Sergeants
can ‘Beast’ them. A ‘Beasting’ usually involves a lot of shouting and something physical. If you
have any real life conditions that would prohibit being shouted at or some physical condition, just
let us know in advance and we will role-play around it. At no point should a Beasting be mistaken
for anything but role-play.

1. The Company will fight your battles, police the lands granted us, enforce your laws, guard your
war-camps & train your forces in the arts of organised warfare.

2. The Company will draw pay at the standard daily rates, based on the number & rank of troops we
field for you, this money will be raised in the form of taxes from the lands that we police in your name.

3. The Company Commander will hold the title of a lesser noble within your kingdom.

4. The men of Company will be treated with equal respect & urgency when it comes to the healing
of the wounded - we cannot fight for you if we are dead & my men are not expendable.

5. The Company has always dealt with its own; any matters of discipline involving serving members
will be handled by the Company. They may be bastards, but they are our bastards & believe me when I
say our punishments are far harsher than anything meted out by you.

6. The Company Commander shall also hold a seat on your war council.

Well we aren’t really in it for the money (we are with the Algaia after all) and not really into gathering up
uber Magic items either. So you won’t get rich and you won’t get powerful in the BC that’s for sure. The
treasures we hold dear are actually of little use to anyone else but ourselves. But these things we would
ALL fight to the last for.

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The Annals;-They are a written history of The Company, its exploits, the members, their lives and deaths.
It is the ONLY epitaph most of them / us are likely to have as characters, so Company members treat the
Annals with almost religious awe and deference. Given that most soldiers can't read, never mind write,
the Annalist is held in similar awe. The books written by Glen Cook are in the form of the early Annals.

Black Company Standard; - The Black Company Standard has two parts;

The Death's Head Banner: The Banner is the adopted Company symbol, formerly that of a very
powerful Sorceress called Soulcatcher, one of an evil group of warlocks called ‘The Ten Who
Were Taken’. Soul Catcher employed the Company several centuries ago. It was then that her
symbol was adopted, and the banner reflects the fear The Black Company instilled when it
worked for her. It has never been lost in Battle.

The Lance of Passion: It is the oldest surviving Company Artifact, believed to have been with
The Company when it marched from Khatovar. It was almost destroyed when it was involved in
destroying a 'Goddess' called Kina some centuries ago, according to the Annals. Its magic, allows
access to the plain of Glittering Stones and in days gone by was deadly against sorcerers. The
Annals say, one hit would magically poison them and lead to an almost inevitable hideous
prolonged agonizing death. The secret of releasing this power has been unfortunately lost.

Black Company Badge: The Black Company Badge is a grim piece of jewelry indeed. It is a 4 inch wide
embroidered disc, bearing the Company symbol, a circle of gold surrounding a silver human skull with
large canine teeth and no lower jaw. Gold and bronze "flames" come down from the mouth. The eyes are
an evil red. All this is set on sable cloth. Only veterans have these expensive baubles. Newer brothers
have to earn them.

Knights of Dorn –Nearly all former BC members. They are good lads who found religion, (bloody
pansies) nice to have on your flank. Algaia faction
The Eored - Hard as you like skirmishers. Algaia Faction
The Crimson Moon Tavern.-No fighting, robbing or killing in there lads it’ll get you barred!
Brother Joseph an Arch mage of The Hia Ravni (high elves). Turn you into a frog soon as look
at you. Lucky he likes us.
Lions Azure- Always up for a pint. Mercenaries.

Players who can’t make an event are deemed to be on patrol or on maneuvers. The rest of the Company
is therefore, always too far away to be reached during the course of the event. As it stands there are
approximately 100 serving Company soldiers.

The End

Hope you have enjoyed this brief, any inaccuracies are mine alone.

Adrian Davis aka Sergeant Snatch.

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