![[The Armcloaks.png|300]] > [!quote] Motto > Steel in hand, gold in heart. ### **Overview** The **Armcloaks** are a notorious mercenary guild known for their skill in combat and their signature attire — distinctive arm-length cloaks that give them their name. While their methods are often pragmatic and ruthless, their reputation for efficiency makes them a popular choice for protection, enforcement, and high-risk assignments — provided their employer can pay their price. ### Motto The phrase reflects their mercenary nature — skilled in combat yet ultimately loyal to the highest bidder. It also carries an undertone of calculated pragmatism, reminding members that their strength is both a weapon and a means of earning wealth. ### **Structure and Ranks** The Armcloaks are structured using a floral emblem system, where each member’s rank is represented by a unique brooch pinned to the left shoulder of their cloak. While the cloaks themselves vary in color and design, these brooches remain consistent and symbolize the wearer's standing within the guild. - **The Lotus** The leaders of the Armcloaks bear an ornate golden lotus brooch, symbolizing their authority and mastery. Lotuses are often revered as tacticians and strategists within the guild, trusted to manage high-stakes operations and negotiations. - **The Roses** Full members of the guild wear a striking ruby-red rose emblem. Known for their prowess in combat, Roses are the core of the Armcloaks’ force and are often deployed for security, ambushes, or precision strikes. - **The Clovers** Initiates wear a humble clover-shaped brooch of soft jade-green petals. These newcomers are still proving their worth and often serve as scouts, runners, or backup forces until they earn the trust to become a Rose. ### **Guild Practices** The Armcloaks are infamous for their specialized combat maneuvers, a series of finely tuned tactics unique to their guild. These techniques, combined with their reputation for unwavering loyalty to the highest bidder, make them highly sought after — and feared. While the Armcloaks rarely take part in political power struggles directly, they are frequently involved in enforcing debts, guarding valuable assets, and executing precision strikes for clients across the realm.