Cults and Brotherhoods - The Brotherhood of Steel

 The Situation

Ann Marie is looking to run a Mythras game, but she is a bit concerned that it will be a bit much for her players. They are used to playing games with more defined archetypes (aka classes) and is not exactly sure how to approach it. It's kind of a lot to take in, to be honest. She hopped on the Mythras Discord and expressed her concerns, asked some questions, and got a lot of help.

Joe is a player in her game. He's what we call a "beer and pretzels" gamer. He works a long day, he's looking to relax. He's not a huge role player when it comes to the social stuff, though he does contribute in his own way. He likes fighters, because fighters smash. He's been a bit leery of Ann Marie's crazy plan to get him to play Mythras, but he looks at the fact that he can use two shields at the same time as a big win. So he makes up Jack, a fighter with two shields. 

Ann Marie says Jack should belong to a brotherhood. Joe whines a bit, but when she mentions training in his shield skill and new techniques, he is won over. She says it's called the Brotherhood of Steel, and he likes the sound of that - obviously a good set of fighters.

The Organization

The Brotherhood of Steel is a pretty motley outfit. Ultimately, they are a mercenary company, but at the lower levels, they offer training to warrior types around the world. They are loosely organized, and members at the Associate level (called an Iron Brother) just has to pay some dues and they can get training from the Brotherhood's fine set of warriors. In addition to helping pay for some facilities, this allows the Brotherhood to scout for potential talent to recruit into the higher ranks.

Iron Brothers

Requirements

Just about anyone who is a professional warrior can be an Iron Brother. It has requirements, of course, as the training the Brotherhood gives is intense. It requires you to be a professional warrior (50% in any combat style), as well as show good physical prowess (50% in endurance and brawn), have some ability to tend to the wounds you receive (50% in first aid), and then show that you are competent in some portion of the mercenary life (50% in your choice of Lore (Alcoholic Beverages), Lore (Strategy and Tactics), Gambling, Engineering, Healing, Survival, or Commerce). Ann Marie went deliberately very open with the skill selection, in part because she knows her players, but also because she doesn't know exactly where they are going to go with their skills first. 

By demonstrating these skills (the application process takes an hour or so) and paying 5 silver pieces, you gain membership and even get a little plaque, about the size of a palm, made of a grey iron. It is stamped with a particular set of glyphs denoting your entry date, and that membership is good for 1 year. Each year, if you wish to maintain your membership, you pay your 5 silver pieces and keep in good standing

Benefits

Joe doesn't like Ann Marie making him spend money, and he complains (loudly) that he wants to know what he gets for his 5sp. She says that the Brotherhood has trainers all over the world, and showing this card entitles him to use their members-only services. He says "Like what?", squinting at her with suspicion. She says they can train him up in his combat style, as well as the other skills that he used to join, for a moderate fee. She's quick to point out this is a privilege because he showed himself to be a competent warrior and able to handle their techniques. She also mentioned that if he ever gets tired of using two shields (he scoffs), they can teach him how to use other weapons for a mere 3xp (and a moderate fee) per weapon and add it right into his style! Not only that, they can teach him combat style traits like the Two Shield Smash and Shield Toss, for a mere 3xp (and a moderate fee) per trait. He thinks maybe that is ok because Two Shield Smash sounds pretty awesome, but he wants to know why he didn't get that first.

The Iron Brothers also have access to the weapons and armor shop ("Fantasy Costco!", yells Joe) at each office of the Brotherhood. These are well stocked, and the prices are good, and generally immune to markups from supply chain issues. 

Restrictions

There aren't many on Iron Brothers. The big one is an Oath not to let others use your membership plaque. There are even some very small runes on the back saying that the bearer of this agrees that it is his and that the Brotherhood is not responsible for injuries that result from training with them.

The Oath gets a score equal to 30%+POW+INT.

Steel Brothers

Joe has been playing a while now in Ann Marie's crazy Mythras game, and he hates to admit that he likes it quite a bit. His two shield warrior has been great, and he did eventually learn Two Shield Smash and Shield Toss. As a whole, he has liked being an Iron Brother, and is especially fond of his membership plaque.

Ann Marie has some plans though. This free-floating adventurer style is likely to come to an end, as Big Plot is happening, and the Brotherhood of Steel is getting hired.

Requirements

Ann Marie has Alice (an NPC member of the Brotherhood, specializing in the dagger) approach Joe's character Jack and mention that the Brotherhood might be interested in having him join at a higher level of benefit. Joe is, of course, suspicious of what Ann Marie is trying to rope him into, and Ann Marie explains that Joe pretty much already meets the requirements - he has 70% in his two shields style, Endurance, Brawn, and Lore (Alcoholic Beverages) and it should be a pretty minor thing for him as a whole.

Benefits

"But what do I get out of it?" he complains. She rolls her eyes at him and says "Well, for starters, when this war comes, they will be paying you to fight for them!" This calms him down a bit, and he says, "and then?" She explains that by becoming a Steel Brother (the Apprentice level), he has the potential to gain rank, and they will provide him with some equipment. Additional purchases can be made at their quartermaster, and "at cost", meaning no markup at all. He really likes the sound of that, and thinks it's a pretty good benefit. He's been eyeing some heavy armor, and it is so expensive.

He also gets the benefit of no-cost training, and when they are on active duty, he gets paid a solid rate - 10 silver pieces a week, free food in camp, and he can stay in the barracks. Reasonable logistical equipment is also available, though personal use is limited to business that is not in conflict with the Brotherhood's business, and must be returned in good working order. This includes mounts, which Joe likes, as they are very expensive.

Jack would also get an upgrade to his grey plaque to a shiny steel plaque. It's easily seen by those around, and gives him some prestige with those who have a Passion (Love Brotherhood of Steel), and some bad reputation with those who have a Passion (Hatred Brotherhood of Steel).

Restrictions

She does mention that he needs to take another Oath, though, but this one is to not betray the organization, follow the chain of command while on duty, and when called up for mercenary duty, report in. It doesn't mean he always has to go, especially if he is on some other more important task, but they are a mercenary outfit. There is also a Taboo about murdering members of the Brotherhood outside of a sanctioned duel when you both are on active duty, but that doesn't seem too bad to Joe, as he's really not that kind of player. He isn't happy that his membership fees go up to 10 silver pieces a year though.

In my next blog post, I will discuss the higher ranks of the Brotherhood of Steel