The Mercenary
A Brief Character Study of Legion
By Katrina Slater

Age: 29
Appearance: Legion is the dark, quiet type who would do anything for the right fee. He makes anyone near him uneasy with his brooding silence and still face. He has black hair, gray eyes and appears hostile because he is hostile. But Legion is not all bulging muscles, sharp blades, and bowel moving glares; he has a curious mind and cheekbones to die for as well.

Role: The mayor, in an effort to not pay the Piper in coin, has offered his daughter in marriage instead to the Piper. The Piper rejects the offer, and demands an even greater sum to be paid for getting rid of its rodent menace. Legion appears in Hamelin a few days before the Piper, as if sensing the towns need of him. After a few odd jobs, the soldier is hired by the Mayor himself, to dispose of the Piper.

Legion hears through rumor that the Piper is staying at the inn. On his way to the inn, Legion is way laid by the mayors daughter. She is in love with the Piper, and knows of her fathers plot to have him killed. She tries to seduce Legion, but after seduction fails miserably, the woman offers a rather substantial amount of coin in return for the safety of the Piper, who she claims is packing his bags and setting off for home.

Legion takes the womans money, but also wishing to collect her fathers reward for getting rid of the Piper, sets off to threaten the Piper and scare him away from Hamelin forever. After tracking his mark to the mountains and getting thoroughly lost in the caves, Legion is aided by a disfigured man and learns more about the dishonest mayor. Whether the mercenary ever finds the Piper is unknown, but later, the villagers say Legion may have had a hand in the disappearance of the children.

Questions/Activity for Reflection
Can you write Legions story? Where does he come from? What are his motives?

Can you research the role of mercenary soldiers in the 1284 time frame? Does the researched information you find help you to understand Legions character?

Katrina is suggesting that the mayors daughter is in love with the Piper. When and how did this happen? Can you write a story of this love? When did they meet? Why doesnt the Piper want to marry the Mayors daughter? Was it the Mayors daughter who suggested the marriage instead of payment??? What prompted her actions?

Can you describe the landscape of the caves, and explain why Legion may have gotten lost? Are there any caves for real in the area of Hamelin?

What do you think happens to Legion? He is obviously greedy, and dishonest. And who is the disfigured man he comes across in the caves? Can you write that characters story?

Art Note: The image of Legion was executed by Katrina. She owns the image, and it cannot be copied without her permission.