Hireling - Revision history

Bennettj: /* Duties */

2026-05-12T13:33:49Z

Duties

Tao alexis: /* Loyalty */

2025-03-06T15:55:39Z

Loyalty

Tao alexis at 15:55, 6 March 2025

2025-03-06T15:55:09Z

Tao alexis at 15:49, 6 March 2025

2025-03-06T15:49:54Z

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Tao alexis at 21:46, 1 November 2023

2023-11-01T21:46:29Z

Tao alexis at 23:52, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T23:52:40Z

Tao alexis at 16:19, 13 August 2022

2022-08-13T16:19:50Z

Tao alexis at 23:25, 31 December 2021

2021-12-31T23:25:56Z

Tao alexis at 23:49, 1 October 2021

2021-10-01T23:49:47Z

Tao alexis at 16:25, 2 September 2020

2020-09-02T16:25:10Z

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 Despite the long hours, hirelings manage to pace themselves throughout the day, idly pottering at their tasks where possible, careful not to be caught loafing or neglecting duties. Their life is not an easy one — yet paradoxically, if an employer fails to demand a full day's labour, they may find themselves dealing with skulking, mooching, idleness or even outright defiance. A worker who is not kept busy will become restless, leading to dissatisfaction or worse. The best way to ensure consistent diligence is through steady work, fair treatment and visible leadership — a master or mistress who is equally engrossed in their own tasks will find their hirelings more willing to stay occupied.
-Hirelings expect to perform the work they were hired for and nothing more. While it may be tempting for an adventuring party to assume that a hired guard or soldier-at-arms is willing to follow them into danger, this is a misconception. Guards are paid to stand watch, defend property and maintain order — they do not consider themselves warriors-for-hire, nor do they seek out conflict. Most will refuse outright if asked to take part in personal risks, and many will quit their employment immediately if pressured into perilous situations.
+Hirelings expect to perform the work they were hired for and nothing more. While it may be tempting for an [[Adventuring Party|adventuring party]] to assume that a hired guard or soldier-at-arms is willing to follow them into danger, this is a misconception. Guards are paid to stand watch, defend property and maintain order — they do not consider themselves warriors-for-hire, nor do they seek out conflict. Most will refuse outright if asked to take part in personal risks, and many will quit their employment immediately if pressured into perilous situations.
 Some hirelings, such as porters, may accompany a party to the outskirts of danger, carrying gear to a dungeon entrance before turning back. A muleskinner or soldier-at-arms might be convinced to remain behind and guard a camp or watch over horses, but they will not venture into the unknown without compelling reasons. A personal servant may be willing to cook for a party or hold a lantern while fearfully following behind, but at the first sign of true danger, they will flee without hesitation.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 6 March 2025
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	[[Player Characters]]<br>		[[Player Characters]]<br>
	[[The Adventure]]		[[The Adventure]]
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		+	[[Category: Reviewed]]

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-[[File:Hireling.1.jpg|right|525px]]
+[[File:Hireling.jpg|right|525px|thumb]]
 '''Hirelings''' are non-player characters (NPCs) employed by adventurers for ongoing or contractual work in exchange for payment. The prices for their services establish a minimum wage, though employers may choose to offer higher pay as an incentive. A hireling's willingness to accept work depends on personal circumstances, reputation and treatment, and they may refuse tasks they find too dangerous, unethical or degrading. The availability of specific professions varies by region and social environment, though unskilled labourers, porters and menials are generally easy to find in any town or city.
 __TOC__

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:46, 1 November 2023
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−	Although the price of hirelings may be located alongside other goods and services, hirelings must be '''sought out'''. There are four methods of doing so: frequenting inns and taverns, hiring a crier, posting notices in public and hiring agents to seek prospects. The best candidates are found through the more expensive methods, but often quality isn't the goal. However, accepting anyone who applies may lead to hiring disreputable persons of low character; persons hired may be spies or outright villains. Most, however, will be responsible persons who recognize the security of having work, with a good healthy fear of poverty. Nevertheless, employers who hire NPCs have reason to be cautious.	+	Although the price of hirelings may be located alongside other goods and services, hirelings must be '''sought out'''. There are four methods of doing so: frequenting inns and taverns, hiring a crier, posting [[Advertising\|notices]] in public and hiring agents to seek prospects. The best candidates are found through the more expensive methods, but often quality isn't the goal. However, accepting anyone who applies may lead to hiring disreputable persons of low character; persons hired may be spies or outright villains. Most, however, will be responsible persons who recognize the security of having work, with a good healthy fear of poverty. Nevertheless, employers who hire NPCs have reason to be cautious.

	== Duties ==		== Duties ==

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 Work by hirelings is performed between 14 and 18 hours a day, with times to eat, and if a servant or worker is called out of sleep by the master or mistress out of need, that is occasionally expected and acceptable.  Very rarely, a hireling is asked to do work outside of their station, for a few hours at most, which is also the standard.  Hirelings make do with occasionally pottering at their work, whiling away a part of their day, intensely careful not to be caught loafing or to leave work undone.  The hireling's life is not an easy one — and yet employers risk skulking, mooching, outright laziness and disobedience if attempts are made to ask less than a full day's work from a hireling.  The best medicine for weariness is busyness, though it is best if duties are directed with good humour, respect and through evidence that the master or mistress are also engrossed in work.
-Hirelings do expect to do the work they are paid to do, and for which they have a talent or energy.  Contrary to popular belief, hired [[Guard (profession)|guards]] and [[Soldier-at-Arms|soldiers-at-arms]] expect to guard and defend; they are highly resistant to putting their lives at stake for adventure or risk, and will rarely agree to head off on frivolous escapades.  If asked to do so, hirelings most likely to quit their post or duties at once.  Porters may willingly carry gear out to a dungeon; a soldier-at-arms or muleskinner might agree to stand guard over a [[Camp|camp]] or manage the horses and other animals.  A personal servant might venture to cook for such a party, and may even be willing to carry a lantern while fearfully following a party into the [[Subterranean (range)|underground]].  But that servant would almost certainly flee at the first sign of trouble.  Hirelings make very poor adventurers.  Parties must recognize that hirelings make good support staff, but should not be expected to stand side-by-side with other party members with which they have little or no relation.
+Hirelings do expect to do the work they are paid to do, and for which they have a talent or energy.  Contrary to popular belief, hired [[Guard (profession)|guards]] and [[Soldier-at-Arms (profession)|soldiers-at-arms]] expect to guard and defend; they are highly resistant to putting their lives at stake for adventure or risk, and will rarely agree to head off on frivolous escapades.  If asked to do so, hirelings most likely to quit their post or duties at once.  Porters may willingly carry gear out to a dungeon; a soldier-at-arms or muleskinner might agree to stand guard over a [[Camp|camp]] or manage the horses and other animals.  A personal servant might venture to cook for such a party, and may even be willing to carry a lantern while fearfully following a party into the [[Subterranean (range)|underground]].  But that servant would almost certainly flee at the first sign of trouble.  Hirelings make very poor adventurers.  Parties must recognize that hirelings make good support staff, but should not be expected to stand side-by-side with other party members with which they have little or no relation.
 In time, if treated well, a hireling might develop into a [[Follower|follower]].  In which case, what they are willing to do might better fit a party's expectations.

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 == Indenture ==
-An '''indenture''' is a legal contract between employers, or bond holders, and hirelings, with whom an agreement is made that the hireling will remain employed for periods of a year or more, while the employer pledges to ensure the hireling's well-being.  The hireling is promised good shelter, ample food, protection and a covenant to provide not only for the hireling's welfare but for that of the hireling's family as well.  Therefore, if the hireling were to be injured or killed, then a small stipend would be agreed upon, that the hireling's family or children would receive, so that they may continue to thrive.
+An '''indenture''' is a legal contract between employers, or bond holders, and hirelings, with whom an agreement is made that the hireling will remain employed for periods of a year or more, while the employer pledges to ensure the hireling's well-being.  The hireling is promised good shelter, ample [[Food|food]], protection and a covenant to provide not only for the hireling's welfare but for that of the hireling's family as well.  Therefore, if the hireling were to be injured or killed, then a small stipend would be agreed upon, that the hireling's family or children would receive, so that they may continue to thrive.
 [[File:Hireling.2.jpg|left|420px]]