Blackshield Mercenaries

One of the many mercenary companies in Britain, the Blackshields are unique in that they are an official fighting force of a Duke, Claudas de Apres also known as Blacksnake and function as the feudal army of Bowen Castle.

Composition
Claudas de Apres has gathered many mercenary knights and sargeants to his service to form the Blackshields. The company also has a sizable contingent of footmen, all armed and equipped by the duke himself. Numbering around 50 armored horse and 100 footmen, the company is a force to be reckoned with, though rarely hired out in its entirety by any one client.

These men are fiercely loyal to their lord, but their mere existence places a black mark on his reputation, as no TRUE lord would stoop so low as to manage and hire out a band of mercenaries to enrich himself.

Reputation
The Blackshields are so named for the heraldry of Catterick, which they wear openly and proudly. The company has a reputation for effectiveness, but also ruthlessness and unnecessary cruelty, which makes some weary to hire them o use against people they would conquer. However, there are few more suited to make an example of an enemy than the Blackshields, and they are often hired to deal with bandits and Saxons when a lord's own forces are otherwise occupied.

492
Joined the Salisbury forces in battle against the Silver Centurion. Betrayed them at the height of battle.