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 Printing
- Bounty Setting
- Adventurer Licensing
The Bannersairs are one of the Three Pillars of Esperanto, consisting of independent 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 fortune seekers 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. It also has little power to sway individual Bannersairs, who are still subject to Armada’s law enforcement.
Marque Badge Rankings
Badge holders are ranked by a five-star system that determines their access to loans and proves their credibility to take on big jobs. While not an official badges also can be presented to many shopkeepers and public amenities for better treatment. :
★ First Star: Basic adventuring license allowing holders to accept official jobs and operate recognized guilds.
★★ Second Star: Granted to bannersairs who show strong combat or technical proficiency. Grants improved contracting rights. Shows you are capable of handling dangerous threats like pirates or managing others who do.
★★★ Third Star: Granted to second stars who have a strong track record. You need to demonstrate a masterful proficiency in some field. The Coven will also sometimes give increased access to their libraries to three-stars.
★★★★ Fourth Star: For exceptionally noteworthy bannersairs. Demonstrating some form of Curl or Magic proficiency is also seen as a must.Grants generous loans and usually more access to public amenities. Many four-star bannersairs are clamoring for five-star status.
★★★★★ Fifth Star: Reserved for Mainseam, the five most powerful Bannersairs who operate with near-complete autonomy. The bank will provide almost any loan they want at almost no interest. Even Armada has little hope of touching them.
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 or even the Marque Board. They are instead 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.