Quote Originally Posted by Douglas View Post
A unit acquired in such a way would likely have very low loyalty, and the side doing it would be committing to paying this low-loyalty unit's upkeep indefinitely, without necessarily having regularly occurring use for it to get their money's worth. Also, the casters that are in such a situation are likely among the lowest level and least skilled/useful, because if they weren't they'd likely be finding enough jobs to easily support themselves. So, a hypothetical side recruiting permanent members that way would be putting a lot of money in recurring payments to acquire incompetent likely turncoats without knowing or planning for their specialties in advance.

But the real reason is probably more "It Just Isn't Done!"

That wouldn't stop Parson, of course, but I'd guess no one's mentioned anything about it to him so he doesn't know it's an option.
Even a high value caster would be a dubious proposition. Having a powerful caster with low loyalty in your capitol is a risky proposition. What happens when in the middle of a fight, someone gives a better offer. Maybe like a chance at revenge for their fallen side or a chance to attack an old enemy of their former side. Something that could appeal to their loyalty to the fallen side.

You also don't know if the caster in question had a part in the fall of their former side. Why are they safe in the MK instead of disbanding/croaking with the rest of their side?