Because adventuring is hard work, often PCs will hire the brave, strong, and foolhardy to help them on their endeavors. These followers fall into two categories, Retainers and Henchmen.

All followers act on the initiative order of their patron PC.

Retainers are NPCs with stats like monsters who work for coin. PCs may give orders to their retainers in battle. Giving orders counts as a Quick Action if it’s less than a few words. Alternately, a PC commander can spend an Active Action on their turn to roll a Tactics check to have them perform special or more complex maneuvers that round. Retainers behave as the GM sees fit if they are given no orders by their PC commander.

Henchmen on the other hand are NPCs with stats like that of a real PC, and they work to further the mission of the PC. They serve the goals and interests of their patron, and do not require payment. However, they must be recruited to serve the PC and their beliefs and goals must closely match that of the PC. Furthermore, it is expected that any riches from an expedition that goes to the PC's share should be shared equitably with the PC's henchmen.

PCs are powerful leaders, and as such will acquire NPCs in their service. Retainers are controlled by the GM, but given orders by their PC commander. Retainers generally demand 10gp or more per HD per day for service under dangerous conditions and a fraction of that if serving in a less stressful capacity.

A PC can’t command more than their Charisma score in retainers.

Retainers only advance in skill and power under certain circumstances.

A PC may recruit a number of elite followers known as henchmen or “hench.” Hench work for free and have superior morale and check modifiers. Hench are all created from one of the regular PC character classes. If henchman abandoned, abused or mistreated, they immediately leave the service of the PC at the GM's discretion.

Henchmen advance in skill and power just like PCs, except they may only do so by spending the gold given from their patron PC's share of any adventure.

As a general rule, a PC may have no more than one henchman at a time. PCs with an exceptional Charisma score and/or a high level may attempt to recruit more, but retaining the new and previous henchmen in the future will be at a Disadvantage. A PC may never have more extra henchmen at a time than the PC's CHA bonus.

If players want to recruit Retainers or Henchmen, they must spend at least a week of time and money in town. During this time, they are doing their best to find able-bodied free men interested in work.

Retainers are all created from one of the retainer classes and are hired from the retainer deck. If players want to recruit Retainers, spend 1 week (and maintenance) looking. In Kingston, roll 2D6 adding the player's CHA bonus to the roll for the number of retainers drawn from the deck. In smaller towns, roll 1D6 plus CHA bonus. In a village roll 1D4, but only Laborers will be available. Retainers expect 10gp per HD per day and are hired for a single expedition.

Henchmen may be recruited from the hench deck, in which case they usually start around 3rd level or so. Alternatively, they may be rolled by the player just like a new 1st level PC. If players want to recruit Henchmen (and are eligible for such) spend a week in Kingston to attract 1D6+ CHA bonus or 1D4+CHA bonus in a smaller town for candidates. A Charisma check must be passed to recruit a candidate. Henchmen are permanent followers, swearing an oath of homage. While they require no salary, there is a cost of 1gp per HD per day in general living expenses, and only advance in skill if you give them a treasure share.

Hench may be dismissed from service, or they may decide that their patron's treatment is poor or they decide that they have their own agendas so they strike out on their own. In these cases, the Henchmen leaves the PCs service and returns to the hench deck. At the beginning of each session, a quick morale check should be made for all the PC's hench to confirm that they are still dedicated to service. If, however, if the Henchman and the PC both swear oaths of homage, then the association is permanent until both agree otherwise.

Retainers expect to work for one specific expedition. However, if the PC offers 1gp/HD per day in pork-chop money, the retainer will stick around until the next expedition.