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--- organisation:the_golden_billet [2023/12/26 11:56] – johnb
+++ organisation:the_golden_billet [2025/06/20 09:26] (current) – johnb
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 ====== The Order of the Golden Billet ======
-The Order of the Golden Billet are an unusual mercenary group founded in Urgon, to help provide defence and security to local landowners, rather than to fight wars for clients. Most are followers of Abadar, St Cuthbert or Yarma, but a few follow Iomedae, or other Lawful military deities, as well. The deities’ motives may be different, and the members aren’t always the most religious, but they can all get behind the organization’s main philosophy - a secure life, with laws applied consistently. They are prepared to extend their influence deep into new colonies - for a small fee.
+The Order of the Golden Billet are secular Military Order, founded in Urgon, to help provide defence and security to local landowners.  Most members are followers of Abadar, St Cuthbert or Yarma, but a few follow Iomedae, or other Lawful deities, as well. The deities’ motives may be different, and the members aren’t always the most religious, but they can all get behind the organization’s main philosophy - a secure life, with laws applied consistently.
-Players may come across a Chapter House in a town or city, that acts as a regional headquarters for the order.  This will house a few members and be run by a Knight and a couple of Officers.  It is similar to a small monastery.
+Their philosophies are based around protection of a site, rather than looking for conflict, so they do not provide soldiers, caravan guards or marine guards – just static guards who will defend a town or settlement, from behind its walls.  They will, however, provide basic military training to local residents, so long as the trainee will sign up to their basic principles.
-A Local House, is a small house, normally overseen by an Officer, that can normally be found in frontier areas.  They house a few members who test and train new recruits, until a landowner finds a more permanent solution.  Many a new holding has been built around a Golden Billet House.
+They are prepared to offer their services, just about anywhere, for a small fee.   The normal arrangement is that a landowner, gifts the order with a small tower for their guards, and a residential property, that the order can rent out to provide an income to support their operation.  They will then provide guards for the settlement.   In established towns they will supplement the local guards, although they will also take on the complete guard responsibilities for a burgeoning settlement.  This is always a contractually permanent arrangement, with options for The Golden Billet, or the landowner, to buy the other side out.
+A Local House, normally consists of a small tower that can accommodate five guards, overseen by a sergeant, supported by a small tenement building or a row of cottages.
-Think of the Order as a cross between a secular Military Order and a modern security agency -  with a variety of membership levels.
+Players may come across a Chapter in a town or city, that acts as a regional headquarters for the order.  This consists of a number of Local Houses  (ie towers supported by income generating accommodation, and a  Knight Lieutenant  (who lives in a normal house) to take command.  Think of the order as a cross between a secular Military Order and a modern security agency - with a variety of membership levels.
+  * **Associate** - generally means a character who has agreed help defend their settlement, if required.  They are expected to arm themselves with padded and spear,  and form a local defensive militia.  Once trained, they are generally mustered once every few months, as a precaution.
+  * **Guard** - Warrior-1, who provides basic policing and security functions.  They are identified by Studded Leather Armour, Bracer, Light Mace and Light Crossbow.  They live in their local tower and provide a basic policing function in towns and cities.
+  * **Scout** - Expert-1, trained for the outdoors, who provide 'eyes around the frontier' and village policing.  While they can fight, their main role is intelligence gathering. They are identified by Leather Armour, Sickle and Light Crossbow.
+  * **Sergeant** - warrior-3, identified by Studded Leather Armour, Bracer and Short Sword, they live in a tower with their unit.
+  * **Skirmisher** Expert1/Warrior2, who act as sergeant in frontier locations.
+  * **Knight Lieutenant** - generally referred to as Sir, who is L4 (or higher) in a PC combat class.  They generally live in a house, somewhere in the town.
+There are other, more senior officers, but PCs aren't liable to come across them.
-  * **Associate Member** - generally means a L1 warrior who has agreed to uphold the standards of the Golden Billet and has put at one point into the Profession:Soldier skill.  However, it could (exceptionally) be an Expert, or a PC class with suitable military skills.  (Light armour, LXB & Spear are considered acceptable)
+----
-  * **Member** - an experienced member of the Order, who has reached L3 and upholds the standards of the order.
+Example Towers \\
-  * **Officer** - generally referred to as Lieutenant who is probably L3 (or higher) in a PC combat class.
+|{{:organisation:golden_billet_tower.png?200 |}} | {{:the_old_frontier:lone_tower.png?200|}}| {{:organisation:square_tower.png?200|}}| \\
-  * **Knight** - generally referred to as Sir, who is L4 (or higher) in a PC combat class.
+While a Golden Billet Tower is intended for a unit of five guards and a sergeant, it can accommodate ten people at a push.  It costs 1500gp to build and equip.
-There are other, more senior officers, but PCs aren't liable to come across them.