The Last Man Standing at the Battle of Kerath's Crossing
Painted by Sir Urist Louen 1332
Oil on Canvass

This painting hanging in the Royal Galleries, by the late Master Louen depicts the decisive moment of the Battle of Kerath's Crossing. In the center, one can see the Old Man of The Company of the Last Man Standing (14th Founding) prepares to sound the charge that would shatter the Imperial Pikemen and win the day. The Last Man Standing was an infamous company of 300 elite light sword infantry. They were known for a unique tradition of the mercenary companies of the era. The soldiers of the company did not take wages and any wealth earned through pay or plunder was instead deposited by the Old Man in the Company Chest (seen here at the bottom) upon which every man signed onto the Company during the Founding. After the Company was founded, no new soldiers were allowed into the Last Man Standing (though at times, soldiers might be recruited for support units). Through battle and attrition, the company would dwindle from its full complement of 300, to a mere handful of men. At this point, the surviving soldiers would duel each other, until only one was left. This Last Man Standing would go to the Old Man and the two would at last open the chest. The Old Man would take have of the accumulated wealth and retire, while the Last Man would take his share and use the money to raise and equip a new Company, becoming the new Old Man. Through its long and storied history, the Company was founded again and again. It was known for seeking out the fiercest fighting and the bloodiest battles, little caring for the casualties the company took, for each saw every casualty as one fewer man standing between him and the Company Chest...    

(Last minute entry for 's Contest of the Forgotten Lands (fav.me/d9ku915). I had some trouble deciding what would be the subject for my entry. Eventually I came up with this idea for an interesting mercenary company. Hope you like it!)