Background
Heldannic Common Law of Property: Anyone settling and improving land by construction, agriculture, irrigation, clearing, or special preservation, can be said to rightfully claim that land as long as it has not already been rightfully claimed by the settling and improvements by another. Any person or family that settles & claims land must hold it (living on it/using it) for at least 7 years before the claim becomes irrefutable. This must be by improvement/usage, and/or continuous dwelling, but different members of the same family may exchange the "living there" duties. In some cases, a mercenary tennant can be sort of "adopted" into a family to improve & live on the claimed land. Any abandoned land may be reclaimed by another after a further 7 years.
Mercenary Householders
The Householders is an influential--if rather loose--organisation of Heldannic mercenaries. Admittance into this organisation is only for those of strong character, known to be competent and also capable warriors. This is to ensure that the Householders maintain their reputation as safe and steady, so that they will not claim the land as their own, allow it to fall into ruin, nor allow another to take the land by force of arms. One may also join by a claim of legacy: if one of your parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles was a Householder, then your admittance is all but assured.
As the individual members are officially adopted into various Freeholder families (even if the "parents" are younger than the mercenary), they maintain strong ties to most of the influentials in Heldannic society. Most often, the Householders are employed for a sort of garrison duty for an established Freehold if there is no one old enough, or trusted enough, to run things while the authority is away for an extended period. Typically, the Householder is allowed to operate the land/Freehold as though it were his or her own, collecting any profits derived, and often receives a gift when the actual owners return. Should the rightful owners not return, the land remains the property of the Householder. On occasion, a Householder is employed for an initial claim of land. In these cases, the mercenary is expected to clear, build, farm, and defend the land for the required seven years. For this service, the Householder receives start-up supplies and funds, and a regular stipend of some valued good or hacksilver.
All Householder mercenaries must swear an oath of loyalty to the organisation, and to perform their duties respectfully. They must pay annual dues of one pound of silver (even if not currently employed) or the equivalent in useful goods. They must also perform the occasional task for the organisation, such as using one's personal influence in negotiating a new contract. In exchange, the organisation assigns land/missions, performs public relations, and does the occassional personal favour for the members.
This mercenary group has been in operation for over 70 winters, and the founder's son is still in charge, himself now rich, fat, and happy.
Midian needs settings and cultures, both for the Elder Kingdoms area and the Byzant Empire. This need not be original, just something that I can use with permission.
