The alliance between House Tharashk and Droaam is one of the more colorful aspects of the house, and an aspect Tharashk continues to expand. Monsters attached to the house are evaluated, licensed, and monitored by the Dragonne’s Roar. Monsters working for the house are all capable of having basic interactions with humans without resorting to violence. Gnolls, ogres, and minotaurs work as mercenaries or laborers, while gargoyles and harpies make useful couriers, scouts, and messengers. As a rule, Tharashk sells monstrous services only to established clients with good credentials, including house heirs. A person cannot simply walk in off the street and hire an ogre as a houseboy.
The cost to employ a monster is based on its Challenge Rating. Mercenaries are more expensive than laborers, who fight only when their lives are threatened (and only for themselves). Services are often limited to a particular area; ogres in Sharn work in Sharn, and cannot be taken on the road. Double the indicated cost to employ a flying creature. Monstrous mercenaries are hard to come by except in large communities, and most monster types cannot be hired. The DM should create a short list when player characters are seeking these services.
Tharashk’s fi nancial success with its monstrous mercenaries is largely dependent on volume. Though the services of a smaller band of mercenaries can be obtained by special favor (see House Tharashk Benefi ts on page 77), the Dragonne’s Roar normally will not hire out groups of fewer than twenty monsters, even to house heirs. The house also does not contract mercenary bands for less than one month’s full service, paid in advance. Monstrous mercenaries and laborers must be paid full rate for travel time to and from an assignment. Obviously, dangerous assignments demand double the standard fees or higher, and illegal assignments from non-Tharashk are not accepted.