While Torvaldsland is defined by the soil and the fjord, the Gorean Mercenary is defined by the contract and the sword. To understand the mercenary (or "Soldier of Fortune") is to understand the shifting geopolitical landscape of Gor, where city-states are in constant flux and the "Home Stone" of a warrior is often the gold in his pouch.
This 3,000-word lecture expansion covers the history, codes, and lifestyle of the professional Gorean sell-sword.
The Steel for Hire: The Gorean Mercenary
1. The Origin of the Professional Blade
In the early history of Gor, wars were fought by citizen-militias—farmers and smiths who took up arms to defend their own Home Stone. However, as cities like Ar, Cos, and Tyros grew into empires, the need for a standing, professional military force became apparent. Not every city had the population to support a permanent army, and thus, the Mercenary Companies were born.
A Gorean mercenary is rarely a "brigand" or an outlaw. Most are high-caste Warriors who have lost their city, found themselves on the wrong side of a political purge, or simply realized that their sword-arm could fetch a higher price on the open market than in the service of a stagnant bureaucracy. They are the "Caste-less Warriors," men whose loyalty is temporary but whose professionalism is absolute.
2. The Mercenary Code: "Gold for Blood"
The most common misconception about Gorean mercenaries is that they are treacherous. In reality, a mercenary who gains a reputation for breaking contracts is a dead man; no one will hire him, and his own company will likely execute him for devaluing their "brand."
The Contract (The Bond of Steel)
Before a single sword is drawn, a contract is drafted, often by a specialized Scribe. These contracts are incredibly detailed, specifying:
The Duration: Usually measured in moons or until a specific objective (like the fall of a city) is met.
The Pay: Divided into "Signing Gold," "Maintenance" (food and gear), and the "Blood-Price" (bonuses for successful battles).
The Loot Rights: The percentage of captured slaves and treasure the company is allowed to keep.
The "Escape Clause": Mercenaries are rarely expected to fight to the last man in a hopeless cause unless specifically paid a "Suicide Premium."
3. Organization: The Free Companies
Mercenaries rarely work alone. They organize into Free Companies, ranging in size from a "Lance" (ten men) to a "Tarn-Flight" or a "Legion" (thousands of men).
The Captain: The absolute dictator of the company. His word is law. He is responsible for negotiating contracts and ensuring the men are fed.
The Paymaster: Often a Scribe who has left his caste. He manages the treasury. In a mercenary company, the Paymaster is often more guarded than the Captain, for if the gold is lost, the company dissolves.
The Sergeant-at-Arms: Responsible for the grueling daily training. Mercenary companies often train harder than city militias because their lives depend entirely on their collective skill, not the walls of a city.
4. Specialized Mercenary Types
On Gor, geography dictates the type of mercenary available for hire.
The Tarn-Slayers (High-Altitude Mercenaries)
These are elite warriors specialized in fighting against—or while riding—Tarns. They are often hired by cities that lack a natural Tarn-mountain. They are the "Air Force" of the mercenary world, and they command the highest prices.
The Sea-Sleeens (Naval Mercenaries)
Hired primarily in the regions around Cos and Tyros, these men are experts in galley warfare. They are masters of the "grapple and board" tactic. Many are former pirates who have decided that a legal contract is more profitable than a life on the run.
The Desert Vultures (Tahari Mercenaries)
Specialized in camel-warfare and survival in the wastes. They are often hired by merchants to protect caravans through the salt territories of the Tahari.
5. The Mercenary and the Slave
In the life of a mercenary, slaves are both a luxury and a currency.
The "Followers": Most Free Companies are followed by a "tail" of camp followers, including slave-girls captured in previous campaigns. These girls perform the domestic labor of the camp—cooking, cleaning, and tending wounds.
The Prize: Capturing high-caste women during a siege is the quickest way for a mercenary to strike it rich. A single "High-Caste" slave sold at the markets of Ar can provide enough gold for a mercenary to retire.
6. The "Invisible" Home Stone
The primary psychological difference between a City Warrior and a Mercenary is the concept of the Home Stone. A City Warrior fights for a place; a Mercenary fights for his Company.
The Company’s banner is their Home Stone. To let the banner fall is the ultimate shame. This creates an intense, brotherhood-like bond that is often tighter than blood. They eat together, bleed together, and if the contract is fulfilled, they feast together.
7. The End of the Road: Retirement or the Crow
Most mercenaries dream of "The Big Score"—one contract that provides enough gold to buy a small estate or a tavern in a neutral city like Port Kar. However, the reality is often different. Many mercenaries die in nameless skirmishes, their bodies left for the crows, their names forgotten.
For those who survive into old age, they often become trainers for the next generation, passing on the "Dirty Tricks" of the trade that aren't taught in the honorable academies of the High Castes.
Lecture Summary for Students
When roleplaying a mercenary, emphasize pragmatism. You aren't a hero, and you aren't a villain; you are a professional. Your equipment is well-maintained but functional, not decorative. You don't take risks for "glory," only for "profit" or "contractual obligation." This distinction will make your mercenary characters feel grounded and authentic to the Gorean world.
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