Hammerstadt doesn’t have a standing army, rather it has a number of small and specialised private military groups, each raised in their district and celebrated as part of the culture of that area. Though often in competition with each other for status, this has oddly worked out in their favour as it means they are familiar both with each other’s abilities and a broad range of military styles. While they often don’t fight as one unit, they are very competent at joint tactical operations, though more often than not can be seen splitting up into support units for other armies. For a fee these units can be hired by Syndicates to march and fight in locations of their specific interests.
Originating during the Monarchy, these companies once worked for either the rulers of Hammerplatz or Zweiburg, changing sides several times in the long years of civil war. Since then, over the long periods of peace between conflicts, these mercenary companies have become versed in another form of civil conflict – the national sport of Breakerball.
The five most well-known have become famous in the city, operating as a league of Breakerball teams during peacetime and as some of the most hardened fighters the nation offers in times of war. Hammerstadt specialises in two-handed fighting, be it greatswords, great weapons or crossbows, and the model of Zweihanders started with the practiced fighting style of these units.
The five most notorious are:
The Hammerplatz Harbingers
Once the King’s Royal Arbalists, the Harbingers have perfected the arts of crossbow use, and indeed many of the members started out in Quencher coteries that engineer the weapons. Supposedly they personally arrested the last King of Hammerplatz at the end of the civil war.
The Zweiburg Grass Snakes
Once the Queen’s First Company of Zweiburg during the monarchy, the Grass Snakes specialise in two-handed sword arts, and are the origin of the “zweihanders” that is shorthand for a warrior in Hammerstadt. Some refer to them as their other name, the Chasm-Howlers, due to their post-match habit of letting out aggression into the magical quarantine zone in Zweiburg Castle.
The Klarasburg Haymakers
These fighters originate in the rolling fields of Klarasburg, and train with spears and pikes. They have a storied history of coming to the aid of the city with whatever agricultural tools were to hand, and once broke an attempted siege by an Urdrevan army by setting fire to bales of hay and throwing them on the enemy from the city walls, from which they got their name.
The Corvolis Jackdaws
With talents for being able to get into anywhere, anytime and a willingness to use any means at hand to achieve their ends, the Jackdaws are the hidden threat of Hammerstadt. From scrappers to sappers, these daring rogues were formed as the literal underground during the civil war, smuggling supplies and moving people. Since then they have gained a reputation for versatility, using whatever weapons are needed to get the job done.
The Westwyk Tidebreakers
This Mercenary company prides itself on having well-trained war casters in their ranks, mostly wielding staffs for maximum melee capability in hand to hand combat alongside the mundane Zweihanders they fight alongside. Many of their ranks trained at Vellichor before deciding that a life of scholarship was not for them.
These are by no means the only mercenary companies, nor the only Breakerball teams in the city. Following Breakerball is a national pastime, and there are dozens of smaller teams that represent individual streets or Coteries who sponsor teams to promote their business on the Rispetto Way.