Mercenaries

Quality: Exceptional (Combination)

Type: Mercenary High upkeep, often slightly reduced morale and discipline

Soldiers:

Melee: 9

Missile: 18

Charge: 3

Weapon Type: Missile

Defense: 13

Armour: 4

Defense Skill: 9

Shield: 0

Hit Points: 1

Recruitment Cost: 680

Upkeep: 620

Fired at close range by this company of elite mercenaries, this noisy, Smokey and lethal weapon causes morale damage as well as physical hurt.
The Black Bands (Italian: Bande Nere), sometimes referred to as the Black Bands of Giovanni, was a company of Italian mercenaries formed and commanded by Giovanni de' Medici during the Italian Wars; their name came from their black mourning colors for the death of Pope Leo X. Composed primarily of arquebusiers the company was, by the Italian War of 1521, considered to be the finest Italian troops available.

Avaialble after 1510.