The Hellebore Mercenary Corps
The Hellebore Mercenary Corps was the prison service of the Dominions, consisting of hardened criminals given the choice of service or death. With the end of the Dominions, the Hellebore Mercenary Corps established a stronghold in Windway, in the Donweyr Wastes of Geronfrey, and worked as a ruling military elite. After it was clear that the Cognoterre had lost the Domination War, the Hellebore swore allegiance to the Iron Autocracy on the grounds that they could keep their own customs. The satamharanthu agreed. Since the Theophany and the collapse of the satamharanthu's power, the Hellebore have been masterless again—and more dangerous than ever.
The Hellebore still accept criminals and rogues, and despite the Shattering Wars it maintains its old tradition of the Pleabond: Any Hellebore mercenary who is called on for aid in the Dominarch's name—by anybody—must do all possible to aid that person. It is one of the few codes the Hellebore still respect. The Corps is often a last refuge for criminals and the desperate, allowing the new entrant to take a new name and forget an unpleasant past.
Despite it's wicked history, the Hellebore Mercenary Corps has a measure of reknown among the people for carrying out its missions despite the odds. Hellebore mercenaries often appear in popular stories and songs as disreputable, conniving and charming rascals who go to any lengths to save their skins, but never break the code of the Corps. When Hellebore mercenaries gather, they spend their free time brawling, stealing, drinking and partying; thus, most towns are relieved to see them go. Hellebore mercenaries can be recognized by their infamous "flying finger" badge.
For related information, see Military Rank and Military Benefits Plan
