The Imperial Army

History

Since the earliest days of the Empire, much of its strength lay in its military might. As Medaka unified the various kingdoms and states into the one great Empire, he also saw the need to unify the various fighting forces and armies in to one great army. Advised by Lord Almeida Kassar, formerly of the Tawdonian army, Medaka was shown the three main reasons why this was necessary. First, an army is only as good as its discipline. Without a unified command structure, rigorous training regiments, and a common knowledge of usage of tactics and strategies, the army was little more than a glorified band of ragtag warriors (albeit a very large band). Second, for the various units to work together, there had to be a sense of unity and camaraderie amongst the soldiers. After all, the army was now made up of various troops which not long earlier were serving the Pentaverate states in wars against one another. Thirdly, by unifying the armies into a single body, rather than maintaining the old feudal troops, all authority and command ultimately emanated from the Emperor, not the traditional Lords and nobles the soldiers had followed in the past. In this way, Lord Kassar began the foundations of the great Imperial Legions which would, over centuries, become the vast war machine of the Empire.

In the earliest days of the Imperial Army, there was often a great variance in the weapons and armour used by the Cohorts, as most continued to use what was their traditional regional equipment. Lord Kassar saw this as a possible advantage, and even went so far as to encourage this. He then began to mix the various regional troops, blending artillery, light, and heavy Infantry into the Cohorts. Often, the artillery and light Infantry came from the local tribes and more "savage" cultures, while the heavy Infantry generally came from the larger cities, though this is not always the case. In many cases, large numbers of these troops were organized into several Cohorts, with the Cohorts being spread throughout the Legions. So, for example, you may encounter the Gallinule Lancers, 8th Cohort, in the 4th Legion, and the Gallinule Lancers, 3rd Cohort, in the 7th Legion.

Organization

The basic unit of the Imperial Army is the tent or squad. A tent consists of nine men, who live, eat, slept, and fight together. When in the field, each squad share a tent, a donkey and cooking equipment. Each squad contains eight Legionnaires and one Sergeant. Groups of nine tents are organized into a Column, with the nine Sergeants reporting to one Principle. Six Columns make up each Cohort, led by a Centurion, and nine Cohorts comprised a Legion, commanded by a Legate. So in total, a Legion is made up of just over 4,400 men, including all officers. Attached to the Legion would be several hundred additional men serving as armourers, weaponsmiths, bakers, medics, scribes, and other support staff.

A typical Cohort divided its Columns into three groups. Two Columns would serve as artillery and range fire, typically armed with bows or crossbows, but also trained to act as light infantry should they be overrun or required for reinforcements. The next two Columns would be the light Infantry and skirmish troops. They generally wore light to medium armour, and may, in addition to their melee weapons, carried some thrown weapons as well. They would serve as scouts, advance parties, and reconnaissance troops, focusing on speed and mobility rather than sheer force. The last two Columns would be the heavy Infantry, generally armoured in full plate and often armed with polearms, and equipped with a melee weapon and shield as well. These were the Cohort's shock troops, serving as the heavy might. They were most often the last into battle, more often guarding the Cohort's base camp until the enemy was pinned down and engaged. Their speed and mobility were sacrificed for sheer staying power in battle.

Within each Legion, the first Cohort is made up of specialists including siege-craft engineers, military alchemists, healers and increasingly since The Plague battle mages. Ranks differ in the specialist cohort as does the pay. The other 8 Cohorts are made up of legionaries. When it is neccessary to split up the cohorts, the colums of the 1st Cohort can be assigned to travel where ever needed.

During war, the 486 man Cohort, along with its support staff, would make camp every night while on march. Guards would be posted from each of the six Columns. Each day break, the camp would be broken down and the march resumed. As they neared their objective, semi permanent camp would be made, and light Infantry would begin the search of the area for enemy forces if necessary (in the case of an assault on a known location or settlement, camp would be made just outside the target). At this time, the heavy Infantry and artillery troops would remain in camp until the target was located. Once the target was located, the artillery would be deployed to "soften them up" prior to the full advance of the heavy Infantry, with light Infantry often serving on the flanks to dispatch any enemies who were routed by the main force, or prevent flank attacks from enemy troops. This system could be used with as few as one Cohorts, or several Legions in concert together.

Joining the Imperial Army
There are two main methods through which men join the army. A small group volunteer. The volunteers are mostly men who currently have their citizenship but can not afford to renew it. They view joining the army as preferable to becoming a slave up for claim. The majority joins through the levy. New solders are levied from the rich as part of their taxes.

A new recruit with in his first year joining is called a Tyro. Tyros receive no pay beyond the food and board. Once this training period is over they become full Legionnaires.

Legionnaires are expected to provide their own armor. All tyros are provided with a sword but these are of very poor quality and most will save money to replace them if they desire to survive battle. The poor qualities of these weapons are so legendary that the term "Tyro sword" is used as a general way to insult the quality of someones weapons.

Leaving the Imperial Army
Once in the army there are only two ways to get out.
1) Citizenship: If at any time, a soldier raises enough money to buy his citizenship, he is free to leave. However, many stay. For most of the soldiers the army has become home and Citizenship is seen as a way to become a commissioned officer.
2) Time Served: Those solders who serve 25 years are allowed to go. They are given special papers making them a citizen for the rest of their lives.

The Legions

At its height (prior to the Plague) the Imperial Army had 11 legions. There are currently 5 but they are all at full strength.

• 1st Legion: The Legion of the Emperor - Guards the Imperial City and other important centers
• 2nd Legion: The Legion of the Sun - Guards the Southern borders
• 3rd Legion: The Legion of the Sand - Guards the border with the Wastelands
• 4th Legion: The Legion of the Snow - Guards the Northern and Northeastern borders
• 5th Legion: The Legion of the Eagle - Guards the south-eastern borders
• 6th Legion: The Legion of the Bear - Currently Defunct
• 7th Legion: The Legion of the Great Tower - Currently Defunct
• 8th Legion: The Legion of the Flame - Currently Defunct
• 9th Legion: The Legion of the Owl - Currently Defunct
• 10th Legion: The Legion of the Forest - Currently Defunct
• 11th Legion: The Legion of the Plains - Currently Defunct

The Imperial Navy is called either The Twelfth Legion or The Legion of the Shining Sea.

Famous Cohorts

Over the centuries, there have been many notable Cohorts, such as the following:

Forest Watch-Artillery
Hailing from the woods at the mouth of the Menhaden River, near the coast of the Northern Sea, the Watch are generally armoured in leathers and hides, armed with short bows, dagger, and hand axe. Most members are excellent trackers and scouts, specializing in woodland skirmishes.

White Wolves-Light Infantry
Originally from the areas in the Northern Wilds and south of the Frozen Marsh, the Wolves are skirmish fighters and raiders. Armoured in studded leathers and ring mail, adorned with furs (most often wolf pelts), they are trained in battle axe and throwing axe. Standard tactic is to launch several volleys of throwing axe before charging with the battle axe. Formation is very loose, and these troops serve best in light woods conditions.

Gallinule Lancers-Light Infantry
The city guard and army of old Gallinule traditionally consisted of light to medium infantry, armoured in chain mail and shield, and armed with long sword and short spear. These troops were very well trained in tight formation battles as well as loose formation skirmishes. They serve equally well in open plains and light woods, since Gallinule did once have large tracts of woodlands prior to the advance of the Great Waste.

Jungle Cats-Light Infantry
Although the appearance of the Kaern has prompted many to suggest that this unit be re-named, the Cats date back to far before the Plague. Made up originally of warriors from tribes around the borders of the Southern Forest, they specialize in scout and skirmish maneuvers. Often totally unarmoured, they generally are armed with javelins and short sword. This unit is renowned for its ability to move quickly and silently through even the thickest forest, and is very often used for night maneuvers. They are also experts at living off the land, and not a few are well versed in the uses of Alchemy for healing and poison.

Aer'Tor-Heavy Infantry
The old House Guard of Tor'Jadin centuries before the Plague, the unit survived only because so many were stationed elsewhere when the great city fell during the Plague. These soldiers were some of the most elite fighting men in the Imperial Legions. Traditionally armoured in plate on chain, they fought with halberds or poleaxes. Although only suitable for large open battle areas, their courage in battle is second to none in the Legions. The Aer'Tor have the distinct honour of saying that never in their history have they retreated from a fight.

Hammer of Fairlock-Heavy Infantry
Originally an ancient order of knights from Fairlock, the unit now is made up of common soldiers as well as a few remaining knights. This unit is not known for its tight formations, fighting with two handed sword as the weapon of choice, but their ferocity in battle is legendary. Generally armoured in plate on leather, they are known for charging opponents of much greater size. Although honourable warriors, they are not afraid to retreat, and often charge, inflict massive damage on larger forces, then retreat under the cover of artillery to regroup, and prepare another charge.

Although by far not all of the legions units, these are some of the ones which have risen to notoriety over the centuries. It may be of interest to note that none of the units hail from Tawdic, and the reason for that is simple. Tawdonians do not serve in the Imperial Army, but in the Tawdic Guard.

The Effects of The Plague

The Plague had a devastating effect on the Empire, and naturally, on the Legions. Since living conditions in military camps were never great at the best of times, the Plague had no problem spreading rapidly through the ranks. As was the case in the larger cities, entire Columns and Legions were wiped out by the fast spreading illness. However, three things happened to help restore the Legions to a semblance of their once greatness. The first was the continual infighting in the Senate, both before and after the Plague. With heavy fighting and fears amongst the Senators, Councilors, and even Emperors, it was seen that the best way to settle some fears was to build a bigger, stronger army. The Army was immense prior to the Plague, and even after the heavy losses they sustained, a sizable fighting force was still left behind. Continual effort to grow the Army again following the Plague helped to bring them back to the once mighty military machine they were. Also, problems of succession in places such as Menhaden and Thulud led to drafts and more growth in the fighting forces. And as these cities were brought back under Imperial control, so too were their armies and soldiers.

The second event to aid the re-growth of the Legions was the child birth programs established by Sidram III. During the years of 357-364, under his reign, the Empire grew, and with it so did the Legions. Under Emperor Dante, the Empire again saw a growth spurt, and again, so did the Legions. Even during their greatest crisis, the desertion problems of 380, the Army maintained its order. Through combined programs of harsh penalties for desertion, and propaganda campaigns aimed at reasserting that the growth and survival of the Empire and the Legions were codependent on one another, the Army held together, and somehow, against odds, continued to grow.

The third element to the growth of the Army was the appearance of the Fey. From the Imperial General on downwards, propaganda and misinformation, often aided by the Church, was used to instill a sense of necessity to maintain the strength of the Legions as the last defense against the encroaching Fey. By using the Fey to take the place the Confederates once held as the great enemy of the civilized Empire, the Emperor managed to hold the Army together (though this garnered no small amount of opposition, particularly from Tor'Jadin and those who supported the Fey there). Although this stance was short lived, it did assist in reducing the desertion rate and encouraged many young candidates (particularly from rural areas) to enlist. By 397, Emperor Zuffrin denounced this position, risking the wrath of the Church, and formally apologized to Tor'Jadin, going so far as to invite the forces of Tor'Jadin to join with the Imperial Legions, to serve as Auxiliaries under the command of the Governor of Tor'Jadin.

Today, the Imperial Legions are alive and well. With Supreme Grand Commander, General Torvald Isenulf, at their head, the Army is once again the armed, armoured backbone of the Empire. Working together with the Tawdic Guard, the Imperial Auxiliary Forces, and the various Orders of the Church, the Imperial Legions once again march out across the world, for the glory of the Empire.

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