(Ryuuji): Within the various kingdoms and empires throughout the world lie settlements. Towns, cities and villages that set up within the territory of the kingdom or empire. By paying taxes, these settlements fall under the protection of the kingdom or empire they’re paying. Which means that kingdom or empire has the responsibility of protecting them from Eclipses or bandits. However, a settlement has the option to deny the protection of a kingdom or empire if they choose. It’s not recommended but it does happen more often than you think. Sometimes settlements find the prices too unfair, other times the settlement is too far for knights to be deployed. So what does a settlement do to protect themselves from threats? They hire mercenaries. Mercenaries are skilled fighters who come from various kingdoms or empires. Rather than choosing to become a knight, they decided to become a mercenary who works outside of the kingdoms and empires and accepts jobs from all over the world. These jobs can range from eliminating Eclipses, treasure hunting, bounty hunting, escorting a merchant who is traveling, or even protecting a mob boss. As long as you got the money a mercenary will pretty much accept any job. Mercenary guilds keep mercenaries in order and serve as the middlemen between them and clients to make sure everything is on the up and up and to verify when a request has been completed. There’s both advantages and disadvantages to being a mercenary. On the one hand you get to pick your clients, negotiate prices, see the great outdoors, not be tied down by too many rules, get familiar with the land and create a network from various places and people, becoming one is a lot easier than becoming a knight and you get to keep treasures for yourselves whenever you come across them. On the other hand, the requests are a lot more dangerous as there are times when clients will leave out vital information and as opposed to knights who assist their fellow knights should a request become too dangerous for them, mercenaries unfortunately do not have that. It is not uncommon for mercenaries to go off on requests and never be heard from again because they had no backup, and the guild will not waste time and money looking for them unless paid to. Even then it all depends on if anyone wants to risk looking for them. Knights and mercenaries have a bit of rivalry going on between them but there have been times when they’ve teamed up together on requests and their skill levels are on par with a knight. Personally, I respect mercenaries. While I am a proud knight even I have to respect the bravery and strength of a mercenary.