Player: Paul Norris

Piers commands The Company of the Black Boar. About 30 years of age, he is the son of the Company's founder, Henry Audeley from whom he took over on Henry's death in a fighting retreat against Gasharim forces in Italija. Piers is related through his mother (Henry's wife was of House Hulce) and grandmother (from House Karlennon) to many of the noble lines of Albion. From his time in Italija he is also acquainted with the Houses of Sicilija and Helvetia.

Piers is fairly new to command. While more than competent with crossbow and mace, he is a little unsure of his own abilities as leader and as military tactician. He relies heavily on Captain Cooper, the companion of his early boyhood, for tactical advice, but is increasingly confident to set the objectives himself. Generally he is trusted with the company finances and so far has managed to keep his gambling to his personal funds.

• "Sergeant! I want that hill. See to it."
• "Tanner, Bowen, Hobbes. My cousin Benedict has just wagered two bottles of port that you won't sing in front of the Lord Protector."

Player: Dave Young

Aaron was born to Katharin Jacobs, a maidservant in the employ of Henry Audeley's wife. Aaron took the surname Cooper after a professional soldier by the name of Richard Cooper who was known to be visiting Katharin around the time of his conception. Aaron was brought up within the household of House Audeley, and when Henry Audeley moved his entire household to Italia, Aaron went well. Henry Audeley never openly showed any approval of Aaron, and regularly complained that he was a bad influence on his sons.

As soon as he was old enough to beat a drum, Aaron was taken on campaign with Captain Audeley, he was granted no favour, rather it was thought that it was better to take him away from the household. Aaron was in the first group of people allowed to swear the oath to The Company, although he was only fourteen at the time. Captain Audeley had fallen, and a mercenary on the other side was about to gut him with his axe when Aaron thrust the Company Colours through the neck of the axe man.

Aaron was flogged and fined three months wages for the disrespect to The Company Colours, although he won the respect of his fellows and Aaron earnt his first promotion when Sergeant Hawkins fell in Italija, and Aaron took his place, leading a spearhead that broke the opposing line. This was the say day when Henry Audeley fell, and Aaron regrets this day more than any.

Aaron has held the position of High Ranger of Albion, and when the Company left the service of the Albion Military, Aaron led them as Captain of the Condotieri unit. Now back in Albion, Aaron leads the Company since the Baron of Norholt is not allowed to excerpt any official control over them.

NOTE: Piers is virtually the only person who calls Aaron by his first name - and even then only in private. In public he will refer to him as "Captain", or "Mr Cooper". The members of the unit tend to call him "Captain", or more commonly, "Coop".

• "Tanner, if you don't bloody work I'll take more than your hand!"
• "BOWYN! Stop winging them and send them to their ancestors."
• "Shut your filthy mouth Hobbes! I'm sure the ancestors will protect us without you shouting their names every thirty seconds and giving our position away!"
• "What, was it dinner time again?"

Player: Mark Fitt

Not originally oathsworn to the company but a Scicilijan alchemist who chose to travel as an associate. Whilst at first he did not perhaps enjoy the same trust that The Company extended to Donna Lucianna, as the months passed the bond between him and the soldiery became progressively stronger and stronger. Don Marcellus was the only man in the regiment's history to be granted ownership of a Company dagger without first swearing the oath, and few were in much doubt that he would as willing die for his comrades as any sworn Company member.

The relationship between the Don and The Company was finalised in the summer of 1103 when he finally took the oath and was inducted at the rank of Lieutenant - a role many felt that he'd been fulfilling for some time anyway.

• A cure for insomnia? I think I might be able to find something which does the trick.
• I think I've got maps of Estragoles here somewhere. Did you want one to show natural resources or is it just military installations you're interested in?

Player: James "Jimfer" Stuart

Hugh Thurstan is a young nobleman who left his familial home and became an adventurer, taking with him some of what little remained of the family fortune. Spending his way south Hugh lived the life of Riley until his cash ran out, at which point he began looking for some other way to earn his living. At this point he hooked up with, and eventually joined a company of crossbowmen archers hailing from the West Country, The Company of the Black Boar.

Although a Northerner, and a nobleman, by birth he integrated well into the unit, using his skill as an appraiser of goods to assist the unit members divide and sell booty taken in battle. He usually dresses in a manner that befits his social status but is quite content to be 'one of the men' as Piers sometimes calls his troops. He is committed to the unit and is a firm believer in the ancestors. He strives to be a good man, and a loyal soldier but can be coldly ruthless in battle.

NOTES: His wardrobe is not limited to finery, and he's just as comfortable in 'common' clothing as in doublets and fine breeches. He avoids dealing with the people that the unit sells it's booty on to, or who offer the less moral goods for sale. It's almost as if he is a little afraid of the more 'criminal element' in the world, members of the Retinue aside.

REPUTATION: Although he acts with generally good intentions, certain members of the Retinue can tell that there is a coldness about him with regards to certain things. They can see a conflict within him, a distaste and sorrow at having to kill versus a ruthlessness that will easily shoot a man in the back.

• "Erm ... Sgt Cooper, that gold ring you have there, you know it's not real gold don't you sir?"
• "How much? Tell him it's worth at least double that, and if he doesn't agree, ask Hobbes to have a word"

Player: Mike Horril

Henry Audeley's second son. Although as devoted to The Company as any other sworn member John is not a born soldier and prefers instead to dedicate most of his time to the restoration of the family's estates.

Player: Emma Jones

Previously "Lady Lucianna Romana Di Gracia", and "Lady Lucianna Di Brevarri Di Molinari"

Not oathsworn to the company but a Scicilijan lady who chooses to travel as an associate, under General Audeley's protection. Lady Lucianna is a highly accomplished ritualist and her has been vital to both the company and Albion on a number of occassions. Perhaps more impressive however is the way in which a well educated, Scicilijan lady has earnt the respect and admiration of the common soldiery.

• A cure for insomnia? I think I might be able to find something which does the trick.
• I think I've got maps of Estragoles here somewhere. Did you want one to show natural resources or is it just military installations you're interested in?

Player: Rich

Seneschal of the Molinari family and a cousin of Donna Lucianna, Don Adamari is also a member of the College of Surgeons and the Sicijan Society of Fine Arts. In the wake of the earthquakes and tidal waves which shook the south west of Albion in 1103, Don Adamari's galleon - Spirito de Palerma - was amongst the first to bring aid to the disaster-stricken regions and the Don has placed himself at Donna Lucianna's disposal indefinately.

Player: Matthew Harman Smith

Former chaplain of the Norhaul batallion which was decimated in 1102 by the death knight, King Mark. Brewer was initiated as a probationer to the Company of the Black Boar after Mark's defeat in the spring of 1103.

Player: John Shockley

Biography to follow

Non-combat prop

The elderly and lethargic black and white mouser which guards the company tent. Bought in from Italia by Henry Audeley shortly before his death, after the almost complete destruction by mice of a particularly fine stilton which he had just imported from home at great expense. Fletch outlived his master and, like the rest of the company, now serve's Henry's son. Although rarely seen to move much everyone assumes Fletch must be good at his job since no ones ever spotted any mice around.