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As far as mercenaries, the skill range IS a major problem. The solution that developed right along with the mercenary profession is reputation.
Because skill levels are hard to truly measure outside of actual combat, as someone who could drill particularly well might crumble when there is a second weapon there and coming at them.
Reliability is also a key part of rep. The new guy is not going to be assigned to keep an eye on a VIP, besides skill level there is also the obvious trust issues.
Someone without a rep is going to be doing grunt work for peanuts (remember in my story Janine started out a handmaiden who joined because she had no where else to go). The better money and better jobs only come after time served, and a merc isn't going to risk that rep.
I did play with that concept a bit when I talked about her being employed to guard young women's virtue, but she was hired to keep them away from men and she would have died to do so… she just found a more pleasant alternative.
Theoretically a merc COULD betray an employer, but only three circumstances would reasonably cause that.
-Betrayal from an employer. While it's one thing to not know everything about a situation you would be sending a hired solider into if you would deliberately hide information they NEED they would feel well within their rights to abandon the job (and come for you in most cases).
-Offered enough money to retire. The more honorable ones wouldn't take this one even then, but rep is a mercs bread and butter, and for those who COULD be paid to betray an employer (and destroy their rep) would want an amount that would ensure they won't have to worry about money ever again.
-Personal, this is sort of a catch all for say if one of Zierst's faithful infiltrated a merc company. It's unlikely, it rarely happens, but a sufficient personal motivation COULD lead a merc to betray an employer, but they WOULD be committing career suicide.
As far as the cult I was seeing them as out to kill an entire city. It could be a sacrifice to Zeirst, or it could be to bring Zeirst's master to manifestation, but I liked the idea of them ironically having a unity of purpose that the fractious city does not, even though that purpose is wholeheartedly evil.
Individuals might see themselves as able to acquire wealth or power in the aftermath, whether it be rewards for service or just looting afterwards, but I liked them being united so we would have to unite to battle them.
Actually Hentai that's exactly why we figured the contests would be the way they are.
As far as pay, there are a great deal of factors. Yes, duties are a big part, skill level is another, reputation, but also simply supply and demand. Like any commodity lack of supply will increase it's price.
While I already noted there are plenty willing to swing a weapon for pay those who understand it takes skills beyond that possess a whole other skill set, and can demand a much higher pay rate.
Which also leaves good old fashioned negotiation.
Time we take to pick out what we want to wear.