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[[File:Paymaster's Bodyguard.jpg|left|thumb|A Paymaster retinue, composed by him a bodyguard and a money lender]] |
[[File:Paymaster's Bodyguard.jpg|left|thumb|A Paymaster retinue, composed by him a bodyguard and a money lender]] |
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| ā | '''[[Paymaster's Bodyguards]]''' are often employed by the Paymaster |
+ | '''[[Paymaster's Bodyguards]]''' are often employed by the Paymaster's of [[Dogs of War|Mercenary]] armies. Paymaster's Bodyguards are extraordinarily burly individuals with flattened noses, huge fists, and sour expressions. They are hand-picked for their lack of mental agility and are therefore likely to stand their ground and fight where other, more imaginative folk might choose to run away.{{fn|1a}} |
Even a ''Money Lender'' can accompany a Paymaster, just to be sure that the men will follow the orders.{{fn|1a}} |
Even a ''Money Lender'' can accompany a Paymaster, just to be sure that the men will follow the orders.{{fn|1a}} |
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Revision as of 08:33, 4 July 2021
The Paymaster amongst his bodyguards.
The Paymaster is perhaps as important as the army's general, as he is responsible for all the cash which mercenaries are frightfully keen on.
Overview
A Paymaster guards currency with his life ā literally so because he carries the army's pay chest with him at all times. The pay chest is a heavy, iron-bound, secure-looking affair that the Paymaster brings to battle on a cart. This is pulled by a sturdy, non-excitable beast, such as a donkey, mule or compliant Tilean grandmother.[1a]
So that the troops can see exactly where the Paymaster is at all times, something they find reassuring, the cart is provided with a suitably impressive flag that also serves as the army's standard.[1a]
A Paymaster retinue, composed by him a bodyguard and a money lender
Paymaster's Bodyguards are often employed by the Paymaster's of Mercenary armies. Paymaster's Bodyguards are extraordinarily burly individuals with flattened noses, huge fists, and sour expressions. They are hand-picked for their lack of mental agility and are therefore likely to stand their ground and fight where other, more imaginative folk might choose to run away.[1a]
Even a Money Lender can accompany a Paymaster, just to be sure that the men will follow the orders.[1a]
The Legend of the Paychest
Several historians record the origins of the mercenary general's custom of taking the paychest into battle. This account was made by Kurt Breizenhof of Nuln. [1b]
As everyone knows, it is the custom in a mercenary army to put the paychest on a wagon in the midst of the troops. The chest, which is invariably very strong and bound with bands of iron and bronze, contains all the treasure and gold with which the employer or the general intends to pay the soldiers after victory is won. [1b]
Furthermore, any booty in the form of gold or silver which is captured by the soldiers in the course of the campaign is added to the treasure in the paychest, to be shared out among the army before it is disbanded. Since the amount of treasure in the paychest is usually very great, only a small proportion of it will be used up in paying for supplies for the army while the campaign is being fought, leaving the greater part to reward the soldiers. [1b]
The paychest has come to be a symbol of the great faith of the army in their commander and the cause for which they fight, and also of the good faith of the commander and the state he represents towards those who are prepared to shed their blood in his service. [1b]
Although the arrogant generals of other armies may mock this custom, the battle standards of their armies are merely relics or tokens inspiring loyalty by honour and pride alone. If such a standard is lost, they simply find or weave another one! Furthermore, their warriors are still paid and supplied, even though they allowed the standard to be lost! However, if the paychest is captured it is not merely a matter of honour, it can mean the complete ruination of the mercenary general in charge! Also, none of the soldiers will be paid or supplied! For this reason the presence of the paychest on the field of battle, within sight of the enemy, is a sign to friend and foe alike that the army and its commander will fight with the utmost determination! [1b]
The origins of this excellent custom go back to the most distant times. It is said that the first general to bring a paychest into battle was Justintine of Varenna in the days when Orcs and Goblins prowled the lands. Hearing that there was much treasure in the city of Varenna, and that the walls of the city had tumbled down in an earthquake, the greedy Orcs gathered together into an army to attack the city. Justintine knew that Varenna could not be held and resolved that the treasure should not fall into the hands of the Orcs. Justintine led the entire population, accompanied by a wagon bearing a great treasure chest, out of Varenna to found a new city elsewhere. [1b]
A captain of fortune arguing with a paymaster about his share of the loot.
Unfortunately, the greed of the Orcs and Goblins was so great that they followed Justintine's army wherever it went. Justintine marched his army fast, crossing many rivers and successfully evading the Orcs for many months. Meanwhile the Orc horde grew larger and larger and would not give up the pursuit. Soon all the scattered Orc and Goblin warbands within a hundred leagues had joined those following the treasure chest, and they had proclaimed a certain Warlord Ugwarg as their leader. [1b]
Thus throughout the land there came a respite from Orc and Goblin attacks as all of them gathered in pursuit of Justintine. At long last Justintine and his army, found themselves near the sea. They were tired of forced marching and decided to turn and fight to the death, even though the odds were against them. While the Orcs approached, Justintine sent out word that he would share out the great treasure among any who would come to his aid, rather than let the Orcs have it. [1b]
As soon as this news spread throughout the Old World, adventurous and impoverished warriors began arriving at Justintine's camp. Some came by sea, others marched by night and day over land. [1b]
When the Orc horde drew up for battle, Ugwarg was amazed at the size of the army opposite him and his dark heart grew faint. Seeing the masts of a few ships upon the shore, his chiefs urged their warlord to lead the attack, desiring to capture the treasure before the enemy made away with it across the sea. They did not know that their enemy had no intention of retreating! [1b]
The Orcs and Goblins surged onwards, driven by greed and the warlike instincts of their race. They were soon impaled upon the long spears of the troops arrayed like a solid wall on the shores of the sea. In the midst of the battle line was the treasure chest. Standing upon the chest was Hurcio, a giant of a man, armed with nothing but a club and wearing only the pelt of a lion. Although the Orcs and Goblins surged around him, not one reached the treasure chest and lived. [1b]
It is said that the slaughter of Orcs and Goblins on that day was so great that the land was free from marauders for ten years afterwards. So great were the number of fallen that when Justintine shared out the treasure among the survivors every soldier had so much gold that he could buy land and build himself a mansion. Indeed many Old Worlder nobles claim descent from the victors of the battle! [1b]
All the heroes who fought that day took up the custom of taking their treasure chests into battle and were always victorious in their fights against the Orcs, sea raiders or each other! Thus did the custom become established. As to where exactly the great battle was fought, no one knows for sure. The Luccinians say it was fought near to their own city while the citizens of Remas claim that it was fought not far south of that city. The battle does not have a proper name and is known simply as the 'Victory of Justintine' in all the tales. Nor can the city be found which Justintine is said to have established on the seashore for the survivors of his people. As to the ruins of Varenna, they do exist. They lie not far from Trantio and they are very old indeed. [1b]