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Braganza's Besiegers

The Besiegers.

Braganza's Besiegers are a famous band of Dogs of War mercenaries that hails from the Tilean city-state of Miragliano, trained and maintained as heavily armored Mercnary Crossbowmen. [1a]

Battle Cry

Borgio!. [1a]

Crssowbows for Hire

The Besiegers can be hired by any army except Bretonnia and Skaven. [2a]

History

These veteran crossbowmen are typically equipped with thick plate Armour that protects the Besiegers from most harms, allowing them to fight against their foe's both in range and melee combat. The mercenary company uses a certain type of shield called a Pavise, which acts as a carriable shield either strapped into the Besiegers back, to protect the crossbowen while they reload, or stacked them up in a line to act as a make-shift barricade. The armour they wear is stylized in the exotic Miragliano style, with many wearing red-crested helmets. They have a strong rivalry with the Marksmen of Miragliano, both of whom are veteran crossbowmen mercenaries hailing from the same city.

The ingenious Borgio the Besieger, the Prince of Miragliano, originally employed the famous regiment of Besiegers, as a special siege unit of crossbowmen during times of war. Borgio wanted marksmen who could pick off defenders on the walls at close range in the face incoming enemy missiles, hold ramparts against assaults, provide missile support for their main infantry, sappers, miners, siege towers, and if need be, stand their ground against enemy units sallying out of the besieged fortress. Bragnaza's troops soon proved their worth in Borgio's many sieges and were equally effective as a rearguard in open battle. [1a]

Having stormed, starved out or received the surrender of pretty much every city or fortress that he ever besieged, Borgio was well pleased with Braganaz's Besiegers and offered to find them work in return for a cut of the profits. Braganza accepted Borgio's offer at once, knowing full well that to refuse Borgio's kindness was not only impolite but also a terminal course of action. Soon the besiegers took ships for Tobaro where they took part in the siege of the pirate stronghold on the island of Cera-Scuro. Then they were hired by the Dwarfs to help recapture a very strong Dwarf outpost in the badlands, which has been overrun by Greenskin warbands. [1a]

Braganza's and his men were paid handsomely for their deed with massive chests of jewels and gems, and after finishing their mercenary contracts, the regiment began the long trek back home to Miragliano through hostile territory to deliever Borgio's agreed share of the loot, for no one ever double-crossed Borgio and lived. They battled their way across the Apuccinis Mountains during the dreaded winter, and fought off various dangers that the mountains hold. Such dangers included Bandits, Orcs, Beastmen, Empire Robber Knights, Tilean outlaw bands, renegade Bretonnian commoners who had treacherously slain their lord, starving and extremely desperate Halflings, even more hungry and desperate Ogres, and even the notorious Red Company of Remas, whose Captains had a vendetta against Braganza and his men. However, all of these attacks were stopped by the determined warriors of Braganza's company and their steady resolve during combat. [1a]

On entering Tilea, they heard new's that Borgio had been treacherously assassinated and his mighty Dogs of War army had either disbanded or split into different fractions fighting in the streets of Miragliano. Without Borgio, the company had to seek other princes for employment, less they too disband. The company luckily were hired by Lorenzo Lupo, the prince of Luccini and were sent to Sartosa where a grueling war against the many pirates lords of the islands took place. Since then, the Besiegers have fought for many master's in sieges and open battles, always standing like walls of steel, only adding to their already legendary reputation. [1a]

Motto

Invincibility at no extra charge. [1a]

Weapons and Equipment

  • 5th Edition: Crossbow, Full Plate Armour, Pavise, Sword. includes Luca Braganza, Musician and Standard Bearer. [1a]
  • 6th Edition: Crossbow, Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Pavise, includes Luca Braganza, Musician and Standard Bearer. Luca Braganza: Crossbow, Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Pistol. [2a]

Quotes

As they approached the castle, our hearts sank. Braganza's men never lost of fled and we knw we were doomed. Our captain began to explain how safe we were behind the walls, but a crossbow bolt cut him short. No one wanted to be the next victim

~ Gunter Friesheim reporting on the capture of Schloss Adlerberg.[1a]

Miniatures

Notes

In 5th Edition, they will only turn down offers of work from the Skaven. [1a]

Sources

Dogs of War
Units Dark Emissary - Dogs of War Giant - Duellist - Fenbeast - Halfling Hot Pot - Hireling Wizard - Hireling Wizard Lord - Irongut - Leadbelcher - Manbiter - Maneater - Mercenary Cannon - Mercenary Captain - Mercenary Crossbowman - Mercenary Dwarf - Mercenary Dwarf Sapper - Mercenary General - Mercenary Halfling - Mercenary Heavy Cavalry - Mercenary Light Cavalry - Mercenary Ogre - Mercenary Paymaster - Mercenary Pikeman - Mourngul Renegade - Norse Marauder - Ogre Bull - Paymaster's Bodyguard - Truthsayer
Characters Ahmed Shufti - Alphonso Garracha - Aranessa Saltspite - Asarnil the Dragonlord - Arnulf Schwarz - Beorg Bearstruck - Borgio the Besieger - Bruno Hauptleiter - Deathfang - Bjorn Irongrim - Edvard Van Der Kraal - El Cadavo‎ - Ennio Mordini - Fernando Pirazzo - Fleugweiner Sonderblitz - Ghazak Khan - Golgfag - Golthog - Gossippa Lotta - Hrothyogg - Ignatius - Isrogdal - Jack O'the Sea - Jacopo d'Arezzo - Jaego Roth - Jeremiah Tusk - Lars Mortensen - Lietpold the Black - Long Drong - Louis di Burgundum - Lorenzo Lupo - Lucciano Soprania - Lucrezzia Belladonna - Lucky Levi - Luka Silvaro - Malakai Makaisson - Mann Hirsch - Marco Colombo - Lumpin Croop - Marquand Volker‎‎ - Matthogg - Mengil Manhide - Muhannad Ru'af - Mydas the Mean - Oglah Khan - Otto Steinroth - Rienzi - Roque Santiago Delia Fortuna - Ruglud Bonechewer - Sheerglas - Torgoch - Toxote - Ulli Leitpold - Varis - Willi Ziege - Wolfgang Von Neuwald - Zara Bok
Notable Mercenary Companies Al Muktar's Desert Dogs - Alcatani Fellowship - Anakonda's Amazons - Bearmen of Urslo - Birdmen of Catrazza - Bloodaxe Alliance - Blue Herons - Braganza's Besiegers - Bronzino's Galloper Guns - Cursed Company - Giants of Albion - Golgfag's Maneaters - Grevenfeld Company - Gorskull's War Trolls - Grudgebringers - Leopold's Leopard Company - Long Drong's Slayer Pirates - Lumpin Croop's Fighting Cocks - Manann's Blades - Marksmen of Miragliano - Matthogg's Payswords - Mauls of Morr - Oglah Khan's Wolfboyz - Pirazzo's Lost Legion - Red Talons - Reivers - Ricco's Republican Guard - Ruglud's Armoured Orcs - Schmidt's Renegades - Star of Victory - Tichi-Huichi's Raiders - Toxote's Hellmounts - Torston Treehaka's Sea Axes - Van Klumpf's Buccaneers - Vespero's Vendetta - Voland's Venators - Von Kragsburg Guard - Wythel Warriors
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