Retainers & Hirelings

Purpose:

Hirelings and retainers accompany adventurers on expeditions, carry supplies, guard strongholds, fight, and more. They are valuable allies—but unreliable if abused, neglected, or terrified.

How to Hire

• Recruitment takes 1d6 days in a settlement.
• Cost: Spend 5–10gp/day advertising, drinking with locals, posting notices.
• The GM rolls 2d6:
  • 2–3: No suitable candidates found.
  • 4–5: One low-quality hireling (cowardly, greedy, or untrustworthy).
  • 6–8: One normal hireling.
  • 9–11: Two normal hirelings.
  • 12: One skilled hireling (has a special ability).

Pay & Loyalty

• Base Pay: Based on Type of Retainer, see below
• Hazard Bonus: +50% daily pay while dungeon-delving, monster hunting, or during battles.
• Refusing Pay: Retainers automatically desert (reaction roll to stay if threatened or magically controlled).

Loyalty Check:

• Roll 2d6 when:
  • Facing overwhelming danger
  • Witnessing employer cruelty
  • Not paid or mistreated
• Base Target: 7+ to stay loyal. Modify by:
  • +1 if well-treated (bonuses, gifts, respect)
  • –2 if poorly treated (abuse, danger without reward)
  • –1 if first real danger faced
• Results:
  • 12+: Retainer becomes devoted and fiercely loyal.
  • 9–11: Retainer stays.
  • 6–8: Retainer hesitates, demands more pay or favor.
  • 5 or less: Retainer flees, deserts, or betrays.

Types of Retainers

Risk of Death or Desertion

• Retainers who fall to 0 HP must make a Save vs Death (or Constitution Save) to survive (DC 8+damage source modifier).
• Retainers without hazard pay or healing become Disloyal and roll a Morale Check after any dangerous encounter.
• Deaths of fellow hirelings may cause Loyalty Checks in remaining ones.

Special Retainers

(Optional rule for advanced play.)

Sometimes, the GM may allow recruiting Named Retainers:

• Unique personality traits (e.g., cowardly but greedy; fearless but vengeful).
• Special skills (lockpicking, wilderness magic, demolitions, etc.).
• May become followers or key NPCs in larger campaigns.

Named retainers cost ×3 normal pay.

Quick Hireling Flaws Table (d6)

Quick Hireling Quirks Table (d6)