Bravo

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When employing soldiers, their possession of good manners is slightly less useful than their ability to regurgitate whole lobsters.

Basidi de Verrario, Private Letters

Introduction

Bravos represent the warriors and soldiers of League society. They are men and women committed to fighting, usually as part of a Free Company.

Military Heritage

Many Bravos start as ruffians, thugs and even petty criminals on the streets of the League cities. They come to the attention of a Free Company or Carta through a combination of bravado and raw talent. Aping the attitudes of the Free Companies, gangs of aspiring Bravos engage in fights and acts of petty vandalism and disobedience. Some end up dead, some end up falling foul of the law and some are lucky enough to attract the attention and patronage of a Carta or Company. Even those who fall afoul of the law may find themselves in a Free Company - it is a common punishment for unruly men and women with some level of chutzpah to be "sentenced" to life as a soldier of the League.

Men and women are known for their swagger. Their behaviour is loud and "laddish" - they drink, carouse and fight among themselves when they are off duty. They are not simply thugs - they are unruly and boisterous, but they reserve their violence for each other and members of rival Free Companies. When they are on the field, an element of this braggadocio remains, but it is tempered by the seriousness of war.

The behaviour of off-duty Bravos is seen as an useful safety valve - an opportunity for fighting men and women to blow off a little steam. They often refer to being "at liscence" - they literally are given permission by their commanding officer to squander their money gambling, drinking and whoring as long as they remember that they are representing the honour of their Free Company. As long as nobody is killed or permanently maimed, and as long as property damage is kept within managable limits, the rest of League society tends to turn a blind eye. This unruly behaviour serves a dual purpose. In addition to relaxing or blowing off steam, it serves as an advertisement for the Free Company. If a drunken brawl results in one Free Company trouncing the bravos of another, the victors are more likely to win lucrative contracts. By the same token, if a Bravo murders someone or shows disrespect for the rules, it reflects badly on the entire Free Company and the likelihood of employment is reduced.

In many cases, the reputation of a band of Bravos is enough to ensure that their employer is untroubled. In part, a Free Company is often paid to be larger than life, and even Bravos stationed in a city to protect the interests of a Merchant Prince are likely to spend some time being seen, and ensuring everyone remembers their reputation and skill with casual violence.

If a band of Bravos - or more than one band - damages property or possessions, it is traditional for their commanding officer to ensure that all losses are covered in cash by the next evening. Provided the payment is forthcoming, Magistrates are generally not involved. If more than one band of bravos is involved, it is traditional for each company to offer full payment, meaning that when two Bravos smash up an inn or brothel, the owner ends up with twice as much money as the damage that has been done, further discouraging the populace from complaining about the behaviour of the bravos.

All of this can occasionally cause problems when a Free Company comes into contact with a military unit from another Nation. Soldiers and warriors from outside the League are often unaware of the unwritten rules of Bravo behaviour and mistake an invitation to a brawl for a serious threat to life and limb.

Creating Bravo Characters

Bravos are fighting men and women, first and foremost. The most common way to play a bravo is to design a Free Company. Free Companies move around, and so Bravos may come from any part of the League, or even beyond. A Bravo is likely to still feel some loyalty to their "home" city however, and balancing loyalty to your city and your Free Company could create interesting tension for your character.

Almost all Bravos fight. Younger Bravos tend to focus on combat skills, while officers and older Bravos may pick up a few other areas of interest.

Free Companies often include members who are not Bravos, especially medical characters, and is likely to have at least one character who handles contracts and money. These characters may or may not buy into the Bravo lifestyle.

It is possible to play a Bravo who is not part of a Free Company. The swagger and bragadoccio of the Bravos is adopted by warriors all ovewr the League, and the personal guards of a Merchant Prince or Bishop, the streetwise protectors of a band of Mountebanks or even the boisterous "stage hands" of a Troupe of magicians can all be interesting options for a Bravo.

Playing Bravos

Bravos are expected to be boastful, larger-than-life characters, who display a cocky and swaggering attitude. They are likely to squander their money gambling and having a good time, and take advantage of the informal attitude of the League to cause a little trouble.

There is a line between having fun and being offensive. The idea that the Bravos are walking advertisements for their Free Companies extends even to those who are part of other group structures - by displaying the right attitude, you drawn attention to your Merchant Prince, Troupe or Bishop. By the same token, if you are a criminal it reflects badly on your companions.

The Bravo rarely passes up an opportunity to show off. They actively challenge other Bravos to contests of physical prowess and combat skill, and they are likely to extend this attitude to warriors from other Nations. If you discover that a certain bunch of Marcher yeomen likes to sit at a certain table in the bar, occupy it with your friends and challenge them to make you move. If you find out that a certain Dawnish knight likes a quiet cup of tea at a Highguard teahouse, become boisterous and see if his companions have the stones to ask you to leave.

When it comes to the battlefield, keep the attitude but remember that at the end of the day you need to survive and defeat your enemies to be taken seriously.