mercs started when there was an arranged war between elders and rage and at last minute, rage said they weren't ready, or tried to call it off.

Elders ended up FS'ing Rage and it was a pitiful war, so a group of elders created Mercs to fight both warchats to spice things up. One day, mercs would be killing elders, the next, they were killing Rage.

*edited after Derrick's post for correctness.

Derrick might remember more..