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Braganza's Besiegers

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"As they approached the castle our hearts sank. Braganza's men never lost or fled and we knew we were doomed. Our captians began to explain how safe we were behind the walls, but a crossbow bolt cut him short. No one wanted to be the next victim."

—The mercenary Gunter Friesheim, in his report on the capture of the "impregnable" fortress of Schloss Adlerberg.[1a]

Braganza's Besiegers are heavily armoured Tilean Crossbowmen skilled in the use of pavises. They are one of the best mercenary comapanies ever to come out of Tilea.[3a]

Commanded by Luka Braganza, also spelled Luca Braganza,[2a] the Braganza's Besiegers are a famous band of Dogs of War that hails from the Tilean city-state of Miragliano, trained and maintained as heavily armored crossbowmen. These veteran crossbowmen are typically equipped with thick plate armour that protects the Besiegers from most harms, allowing them to fight against their foe's both in range and melee combat.[1a]

The mercenary company uses a certain type of very large shield called a pavise, which acts as a carriable shield either strapped onto the Besieger's back to protect the crossbowen while they reload, or stacked up in a line in front of them while they shoot to act as a make-shift barricade. The plate armour they wear is stylised in the exotic Miragliano style, with many wearing red-crested helmets. The besiegers maintain a strong rivalry with the Marksmen of Miragliano, both of whom are veteran mercenary companies of crossbowmen hailing from the same city-state.[1a]

History[]

"INVINCIBILITY AT NO EXTRA COST!...Braganza's Besiegers...Late of the service of the prince Borgio. Besiegers now seek the patronage of a noble lord or famed adventurer...They are Veterans of a THOUSAND BATTLES...Their EXPERIENCE in siege warfare is UNSURPASSED...Accept no substitute!"

—Recruitment Poster of Braganza's Besiegers[1a]
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A crossbowman of Braganza's Besiegers

During his campaign of conquest Borgio the Besieger desired a new model for a mercenary regiment. He demanded marksmen that could pick off defenders from rampart walls whilst withstanding missile fire aimed in their direction. He wanted the same troops to be able to hold castle ramparts in defence of an attack, provide covering fire for sappers and miners, man siege towers, and prove hardy melee fighters in the event of an enemy sally. Braganza's crossbowmen, equipped with heavy plate armour and pavises, proved fit for the task -- though their extensive expertise is reflected in their expensive rates.[1a][5a]

Having stormed, starved out or received the surrender of pretty much every city or fortress that he ever besieged, Borgio was well pleased with Braganza's Besiegers and offered to find them work in return for a cut of the profits. Braganza accepted Borgio's offer at once, knowing full well that to refuse Borgio's kindness was not only impolite but also a terminal course of action.[1a]

Soon the besiegers took ship for Tobaro where they took part in the siege of the pirate stronghold on the island of Cera-Scuro. Then they were hired by the Dwarfs to help recapture a very strong Dwarf outpost in the Badlands, which has been overrun by Orcs.[1a]

Braganza's Besiegers WD132 SPA

Braganza's Besiegers at war.

Braganza and his troops were paid handsomely for their deed with massive chests of jewels and gems, and after finishing their mercenary contracts, the regiment began the long trek back home to Miragliano through hostile territory to deliver Borgio's agreed share of the loot, for no one ever double-crossed Borgio and lived.[1a]

They battled their way across the Apuccini Mountains during the dreaded winter, and fought off various dangers that the mountains hold. Such dangers included bandits, Orcs, Beastmen, Imperial robber knights, Tilean outlaw bands, renegade Bretonnian commoners who had treacherously slain their lord, starving and extremely desperate Halflings, even more hungry and desperate Ogres, and even the notorious Red Company of Remas, whose captain had a vendetta against Braganza. However, all of these attacks were ultimately defeated by the determined warriors of Braganza's company and their steady resolve during combat.[1a]

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Manifests concerning the exploits of Braganza's Besiegers[1a]

On entering Tilea, they heard news that Borgio had been treacherously assassinated and his mighty Dogs of War army had either disbanded or split into different factions that were now fighting in the streets of Miragliano. Without Borgio, the company had to seek other princes for employment, less they too disband.[1a]

The company luckily was soon hired by the Prince of Luccini and was sent to Sartosa where a grueling war against the many pirates lords of the islands took place. Since then, the Besiegers have fought for many masters in sieges and open battles, always standing like walls of steel, only adding to their already legendary reputation.[1a][Note 1]

Emmelbad's Liberation[]

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Manifests about the Braganza's Besiegers[1a]

Prince Harald Stigvasson was ruler of the city of Emmelbad, until his overthrow by the hand of Count Ziminski with the support of Braganza's Besiegers. During the victory celebrations that followed, they formed the count's guard of honor.[1a]

During his exile, Stigvasson put a bounty on Luka Braganza and every member of the Besiegers. But before he could set up a new mercenary army he was murdered during the festival of St. Munccia.[Note 2] It was never clarified whether Stigvasson was killed by an assassin of the Skaven, due to some cheese found all around his body, or rather by an agent of Count Ziminski.[1a]

Appearance[]

Braganza's Besiegers wear full plate armour in the exotic Miragliano style and carry a large pavise on a back-strap adorned with various snakes and daggers.[1a]

Miniatures[]

Notes[]

  • Note 2: "St. Munccia" is likely a typo, as a double "C" cannot follow a consonant in Italian. The Italian version of the armybook corrects this by naming the festival "di Santa Muncia," which provides the correct spelling and gender of the saint.[1b]

Trivia[]

The Braganza's Besiegers are a reference to the real-world mercenary regiments of Balestrieri Genovesi, particularly renowned for their skill and the use of pavises sustained by the crossbowman's servant during the weapon's reload time.

The name of the company could be a reference to Operation BRAGANZA, a military battle won in Deir el Munassib by the Italian army against the British during the Second World War.

The insignias depicted on the Besiegers' pavises bear a resemblance to the emblem of House Visconti, once the rulers of Milan. This emblem features a serpentine dragon known as Tarantasio, which was believed to destroy boats and poison the air with its pestilential breath, causing a strange illness called febbre gialla. This Yellow Ague is described as one of the plagues that significantly reduced Miragliano's population in the present day.

Sources[]

Gallery[]

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