Thanes - The "Vassal's Vassal"

[NS]

-What is a Thane?
A Thane is one 'rank' below vassal, as a Thane you are oath-bound to serve your Jarl, Count, Noyan or whatever just like that Jarl, Count etc is bound to serve his king / khan. A Thane could be another (skipable) step to go through before vassalship.

-What is a Thane's duties?
A Thane, as said is oath-bound to serve his Liege as good as he can, assisting in raids, defending from threats, etc. Most, if not all actions carried out by a Thane will be considered as the will of that Thane's Liege. Which means that a Thane could raid a (friendly) village, attack a (friendly) lord or cause similar mayhem at the Liege's cost. (you will not be held responsible, at all, no minuses or bonuses such as honour, relation changes or similar.) Of course, the lord can dismiss, capture or even banish a Thane on behalf of the faction if caught doing such. At that point, you will suffer losses of relationships, honour and similar. Not good.

-Can I have my own Thane as a lord?
Yes, you can always promote of your companions to your own personal Thane, noble companions are unlikely to accept this offer, as their ambitions aim higher. After a long service as a Thane, promoting that (unnoble) companion to a lord will not be considered inappropriate among other lords.
You can find disbanded Thanes at taverns too, looking for a new lord. This is rare, however. They can be expensive, and judging from that individual Thane, not consider you worthy of his service. Depends on renown and honour. You can have a maximum of 3 Thanes in your service. You must have status as a lord or higher in order to have any Thanes.

-How will my Thanes behave?
Your Thane will not stay in you party anymore, and will upon recruitment/promotion leave you and set out to recruit troops, faction type depends according to your fancy. A Thane will hire between 20 and 50 troops. When finished, you will receive word about it, and your Thane will now always accompany you, assist you in battles (no matter the odds), and take general orders such as raiding villages. A Thane does not mind following you around, no matter how long you keep them doing it. A Thane will always have 0.1 faster travelling speed than you have.
Thanes demands payment depending on how many troops they have and what they have done for you this week.

[Broga]

I kind of like that idea, there could be set Thanes (title differing by kingdom) for each lord (like 3 for each) that would roam the land acting as their assistants. Sort of like extra parties that would do the lord's bidding, with each thing they capture working for their sworn lord. Besides promoting companions you could convince them to join you like anyone else. An option to promote Thanes and demote Lords might be interesting.

[Roran 13]

I think a Thane is a Nordic title, correct me if wrong, but maybe give that rank another name in the different nations?

Nord Thane

Swadian Knight (actual nobility, not the troop type)

Rhodok (Italian I guess) Condottieri

Sarranid ???

Vaegir Druhzina?

Khergit ???


Nice ideas. It's too easy to become a lord right now, from noble birth or not.

[NS]

I think a Thane is a Nordic title, correct me if wrong, but maybe give that rank another name in the different nations?

Nord Thane

Swadian Knight (actual nobility, not the troop type)

Rhodok (Italian I guess) Condottieri

Sarranid ???

Vaegir Druhzina?

Khergit ???


Nice ideas. It's too easy to become a lord right now, from noble birth or not.

You're probably right, I picked up 'Thane' from Skyrim. :3

If the Swadian 'Thane' would be called a knight, the troop type should be renamed to something else.

[Winterwolf00]

Here's a question. How many thanes should a single lord be able to have?

[Roran 13]

Historically, a count for example had a range of just a few to entire units of knights.
And a condottieri is actually a mercenary captain in Italian, but many leaders of armed men were called like that anyways.
I don't know about the rest infact.

[KuroiNekouPL]

I like this suggestion, because it's way too easy to become a lord/boyar etc. It should take much longer and much more effort, class between regular soldier and lord is needed.

[NS]

Here's a question. How many thanes should a single lord be able to have?

I was thinkin' 3, as mentioned in the post. :3

[Winterwolf00]

Here's a question. How many thanes should a single lord be able to have?

I was thinkin' 3, as mentioned in the post. :3

Oh. 
Another question. Will thanes act as your 'agents' who go off and do their own things with their own party?
Or are they a bodyguard/adviser in your own party.

[Roran 13]

I'd rather say independant, but they HAVE to obey your call. They are free to do as they like, but when you summon them, give them a task or another resposibility, he is to obey.

You'd have to make sure he won't get killed or captured though, since your task is too protect him, so he can serve you.

[NS]

A Thane will have it's own party, and follow you around by basic.
You can give him/her simple orders, as mentioned in OP.

Can also be told to roam around, of course, but if he/she doesn't show up when summoned it would be wise to fear the worst...
Having your 'thane' killed would result in a loss of honor, I suppose.

[Roran 13]

Depends how, if he disobeys and gets killed, you lose no honour, but if he dies while under your command you lose some honour.

[NS]

Yeah.
The chance of him disobeying you is small though, and companion-thanes will never do so.

[KuroiNekouPL]

I see no reason, why would I lose honor because of death of one of my subordinates. It's like loosing honor with every lost knight. It makes no sense.

[Roran 13]

I meant, if you practically send him to his death.