Infobox
Bannersairs
“Adventure Awaits!”
Stats
Type Licensed Adventuring Organization Established Mid-500s AW (Post-Incursion) Headquarters Hejmen Leadership Marque Board
- Ministries
- Standards Ministry
- Bounty Ministry
- Union Bank
- Mainseam (5-Star)
- 5 Supreme Bannersairs
- Authority
- Currency Control
- Bounty Setting
- Adventurer Licensing
The Bannersairs are one of the Three Pillars of Esperanto, consisting of licensed adventurers and trade guilds operating under the Marque Board. Individual Bannersairs are identified by their Marque Badges, which display their crew emblem and official star ranking. Established immediately following The Incursion as a response to Armada’s demonstration of overwhelming military supremacy to serve as a check on the institution, and a pathway for strong independent individuals to serve the Union’s interests.
Organization
The Marque Board on Hejmen oversees the Bannersairs through three ministries:
- Standards Ministry maintains the registry of Marque Badge holders and reviews advancement applications
- Bounty Ministry coordinates with Armada to set bounties on criminals and pirates, with Armada determining targets while the Marque Board evaluates appropriate compensation based on operational difficulty
- Union Bank manages currency printing for the entire Esperanto economy and provides loans to other institutions, including Armada
Due to communication limitations across Hanaq, most day-to-day operations are managed locally by kingdoms and republics. The Marque Board relies on courier networks and sending beacons for loan requests and badge applications, though the latter is limited by the Coven’s oversight of magical communication.
Marque Badge Rankings
Badge holders are ranked by a five-star system that determines their authority and privileges:
★ First Star: Basic adventuring license allowing holders to accept official jobs and operate under existing guilds
★★ Second Star: Grants improved contracting rights
★★★ Third Star: Permits establishment of guild chapters and regional authority, typically held by regional guild leadership
★★★★ Fourth Star: Allows creation of new guilds and grants multi-regional authority, rarely awarded
★★★★★ Fifth Star: Reserved for Mainseam, the five most powerful Bannersairs who operate with near-complete autonomy
Mainseam
Mainseam consists of five Fifth Star badge holders who have virtually no interference unless they are directly harming the Esperanto government. Most Mainseams seem to have no interest in governance an are focused on their own operations.
Operations
Local governments maintain considerable control over Bannersair activities within their territories, posting jobs and regulating trade through local guilds. Adventuring guilds often establish their own membership requirements and testing procedures while operating under Marque Board guidelines.
The Bannersairs’ influence varies significantly by region. In established territories, they typically operate as legitimate businesses and adventuring guilds. In frontier regions, they may function more as traditional adventuring companies or privateers.
While Bannersairs typically enjoy some amount of legal leeway, especially when they hold a higher level badge, they are still technically subject to Armada’s law enforcement.