# Fantasy Mercenary Companies This document provides two semi-premade mercenary companies / adventuring parties for you to slot into your games as either allies or antagonists! The following entries are flavoured for D&D5e in mind, but can be reworked for other games or even non-fantasy genres. ### The Ravens A small mercenary company mostly operating in or around their "home" country, comprised of skilled warriors who have all in some way been touched by the Shadowfell. They specialise in clandestine operations where their employers require discretion or at least deniability. While their numbers are sizable, their key members number among the following: #### Sevika (she/her) *Shadar-kai champion fighter* Youthful for an elf at "only" 160 years, it surprises new recruits to learn that Sevika is one of the Ravens' founding members, having grown up in the Shadowfell and spent thirty-or-so years as a successful adventurer before forming the mercenary company with her party members Corvus and Grelka. Despite her skill, Sevika has something of a chip on her shoulder, always looking to prove that she's tough enough to take on any challenge without anyone's help, even her partner's. #### Grelka (she/her) *Orc ancestral guardian barbarian* An older woman with plenty of fight left in her, Grelka gained her necromantic abilities after dying and being brought back by Corvus and her girlfriend, Sevika. She often takes something of a mentor role in the company, training and organising new recruits and the younger members, but her desire to protect everyone around her puts a strain on her relationship with the already cantankerous Sevika. #### Gum (they/them) *Goblin shadow sorcerer* A recent addition to the company but already making a larger-than-life impression, Gum claims to be "the heir to the Dark Powers", whatever that means. They don't seem to have any concept of the full scope or source of their magical abilities, they're just here to have a good time and cause a bit of chaos. #### Corvus (he/him) *Human battlemaster fighter* An older man showing none of the frailties of his age, Corvus once travelled with Sevika to the Shadowfell in an effort to recover the soul of their fellow adventurer, Grelka, and was never quite the same after returning. His gruff exterior is matched only by his gruff interior; he has no time for games or fools, only the next job. #### Croak (he/him) *Kenku necromancer wizard* Croak studied forbidden lore in the darkest libraries of the Shadowfell to attain the knowledge to commune with the dead, and even command them... or at least, that's what they claim. He likes to act tough to fit in with the rest of the grim mercenaries, but really he has a heart of gold and a fondness for sweet snacks. #### Mordecai (he/they) *Shadar-kai gloomstalker ranger* Mordecai is great with a bow, and an even greater singer, which has kept their fellow Ravens entertained on even the most soul crushing of assignments. He rose to prominence within the company by standing alone to provide Sevika with covering fire; a feat Grelka and Corvus appreciated even if she didn't. ### The Winter Wolves An elite squad of soldiers in service to the Unseelie Court, the Winter Wolves travel from plane to plane, raiding settlements and assassinating the enemies of the Queen of Air and Darkness. A small strike force, but individually powerful, the Wolves consist only of the following soldiers: #### Caridin Venathras (he/him) *Winter eladrin paladin of conquest* The captain of the Winter Wolves rules through a mixture of fear and inspiration, wielding arms and armour granted to him by the Queen of Air and Darkness herself. A fearsome warrior, he is characterised by his brutality and brooks no insubordination, conscripting anyone he believes could be of use and banishing or slaying those he has no time for, like gnomes and simpletons. #### Sarator Wintersbreath (he/him) *White dragonborn phantom rogue* If a job goes wrong, or Caridin goes too far in his "interrogations", Sarator would still glean some information from the death, through dark magics taught to him by the Queen. His laid-back demeanour belies a ruthless efficiency once set to the task at hand. #### Ruidis (he/they) *Firbolg swarmkeeper ranger* The Wolves' lookout and Caridin's right-hand-soldier. Ruidis' ravens see all, darken the skies, and can even amass to drag targets screaming into the darkness. A somber man of few words, they have begun to question the necessity of the deeds the Winter Wolves have committed, but is unwilling to openly defy Caridin. <div class='footnote'>Design by Lexi Abbey | Made with GM Binder</div> \pagebreak #### Grimn (he/him) *An actual **winter wolf*** Despite being a fully sentient individual, Grimn holds a running joke with Ashana to pretend to be "just a good boy!" in company, and is very fond of belly rubs. His adorable demeanour should not fool anyone however, as in battle he is the Winter Wolves' fiercest warrior. Outside of combat, he is the party's tracker, locating targets and hunting down escapees. #### Ashana Imleryth (she/her) *Winter eladrin twilight cleric* Treated as the junior member of the Winter Wolves despite her several centuries of age, Ashana has known no other family or purpose than that which the Queen has assigned her. Acting as the Wolves' navigator and medic, she has transported them across almost every plane of existence in service to the Unseelie, and kept them (and their prisoners) patched up throughout, but she often wonders what her life may be like away from Caridin's cruelty. <div class='footnote'>Design by Lexi Abbey | Made with GM Binder</div>