In the weeks that followed the compound felt like it was being turned upside down. The new Patron was clearly very wealthy but more importantly some kind of Mage, as were his two apprentices (or assistants – as the Woman “Dark” Odo curtly informed you one time). Fortunately that was your only brush with her. She seemed a touch sadistic and was reprimanded for using her powers to get troopers to perform tasks for her.

Watching your friends and acquaintances suddenly turn into sycophantically waiting on her every whim nearly made you run away. But it soon turned out that such abuse was not going to be allowed. When the other “Assistant” mage Malcianus found out about it the two had a great storming row in the middle of the courtyard. With Dark Odo eventually slinking back to her quarters like a whipped cur. More importantly Malcianus freed her stooges apologised to them and tipped them generously for the indiscretion.

Despite that two of them still quit and left the Mercenary band.

Others were dismissed with pay and a few new faces began to fill out the ranks as well. Nothing greatly unusual in that, except you noticed the once being paid of were all lazy sons of bitches or those that had let their skills get very rusty. Overall the quality of the troops was being improved, even a newcomer such as yourself could see that!

Then about a month after the Mages moved in the new uniforms arrived from the Tanners. Brand new coats of well cured studded leather for each man at arms. Those with officer ranks even had embellishments of brass or even silver! A full Moon on a sable field now rode on the right breast of every member of the Company.

Being one of the newest you got your towards the end of the distribution. But it fit perfectly, almost weirdly so as you never went up for a fitting or anything. “Magic” some whispered, but there was nothing magical about the Hauberk you now wore with unaccustomed pride. If magic had been used to make it, then it had to have been a magic tailor and nothing more.