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MILITARY: Arms of Safe-Haven

Started by Dray, March 02, 2008, 09:07:12 PM

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Dray

MILITARY ARMS OF SAFE-HAVEN

    * Kingdom Elite Guard
    * Outer Rim Defense
    * Heartland Protectorate
    * Capital City Guard
    * Warden Council of the Old Order
    * House Guard of Kaine

Kingdom Elite Guard[/u]

This first line of defense stands at the very edge of the holy flame barrier which is the demarcation line between the Outlands and Safe-Haven. Under command by the very Church of Kaine itself, this unit does not answer to the government, but the standing high priest. This doesn't seem to bother anyone since the high priest is always on the Council of 5 which leads all the other troops anyway. Note; another council member leads another elite force named the Warden Council of the Old Order (see below).

The Kingdom Elite Guard, or K.E.G., is an armed force that is highly regarded by the general public. Rumored to be about 3 brigades in size (the equivalent of 1056 personnel) these men and women are zealots in their dedication at guarding every square inch of the outer rim. In cooperation with their fellow guardians in the Outer-Rim Defense, the K.E.G. uses hundreds of trained dogs positioned around the perimeter (which freak out if they see a KT until one of two events occur, the KT kills the dog or a patrol commands the dog to stop). The K.E.G. also patrols on horseback watching for any incursions. Every incursion is typically accompanied with the violation of a Holy Torch falling or being destroyed, and these torches always need to be relit as soon as possible.

And this is the main reason an Armed Force of the church is used as the first line of defense. For only one of the 10 female High Deacons from the Circle of Flame, a special sect of women from the church, are allowed to handle the holy flame. And it is up to the K.E.G. to escort an ordained deacon to any breech for her protection until the task is done. These two factions within the church have worked together for over two-thousand years.

The standard equipment for a K.E.G. soldier is far grander than for a soldier in any other military unit. Each of the soldiers wears chain shirt but has an open-faced plate helm, plate gauntlets and boots. Their longswords are fine masterworks of art that are slim, but incredibly strong. They also bear a light steel shield with the insignia of Kaine, an insignia mirrored on their long, flowing white tabards. A large portion of this armed force if Cavalry with over 400 soldiers having a light warhorse as personal property awarded to him or her from the church at indoctrination. As one goes up in rank in this division, one has even finer equipment, with sergeants, lieutenants and corporals having full plate mail armor sets and heavy warhorses instead of light.

The K.E.G. shouldn't be confused with the House Guard of Kaine (see below) who although are also under the command of the Church, are a separate force within the walls of Our-Commons.

The insignia of the Elite is the holy symbol of Kaine.

Soldier total = 3 brigades, 1333 soldiers.

*****

Outer Rim Defense

After the first mile of cleared land around the entire perimeter is the Kingdom's second line of combatants, the Outer-Rim Defense.

15 military companies (for unit structure see  this link ) are positioned in each of the 8 major compass points (N, NE, E, SE...) protecting the land from a 1 mile to 5 mile zone in from the Outer Rim. There are 5745 soldiers in the Outer-Rim Defense. This seems like a lot until you realize that 49 miles out from the center of Our-Commons is the first line of defense (when the holy flame is breached). This border is about 314 miles, or 1.65 million feet. If the entire armed force was spread in a single line around this perimeter, 1 man could be spaced out every 288 feet.

What's wrong with that?

    each soldier, would all have to be awake 24 hours (they aren't),
    * Karh'Thul would only come out in the day time (they don't),
    * weather and terrain would have to always be perfect (Karh'Thul don't seem to mind sledding on the big slopes), etc.
    * they would have to be able to move ten-thousand miles an hour to gather for any large incursion (they can't).

So the fact that the Outer Rim Defense, since it's inception over a thousand years ago, has kept the kingdom from genocide is a remarkable one. Using carefully coordinated and complex strategies, this arm of the military has stopped hundreds of incursions over the years, some as little as one Karh'Thul, others as large as a full scale attack.

Standard equipment for the O.R.D. consists of a suit of Scale Mail, a light or heavy steel shield, a longsword and a light or heavy crossbow. Many soldiers have saved coin over their school and military careers and have special equipment (plate mail, guns, composite long bows, etc.).

Heavy military equipment is also positioned with these men. They have many entrenched positions throughout the landscape that are ready for immediate defense meant to slow if not stop any sudden attack.

The insignia of a "Defender" (worn on the cloak clasp, the shield and the hilt of the sword) is of a tall torch burning brightly.

Soldier total = 15 brigades, 5745 soldiers.

*****

Heartland Protectorate[/u]

Stationed everywhere else, with a good portion being centralized in Our-Commons, 15 more brigades are positioned throughout the kingdom. They are the first-responders to any alarm from the Outer Rim Defense, but also serve as the government's general army. Should the enemy attack in great number from any position along the border the various units within these forces are trained and coordinated for any contingency.

During combat situations, these men are also responsible for keeping supply chains open to the front lines, transporting the wounded back to the Church, protecting the citizens (including evacuating them into the capital if needed) and communication to central command.

Standard equipment for the "Protector" is the same as the defenders above, half of the contingent though are also have light warhorses, making it easier to respond. The insignia of the Protector is the silhouette of a man, with a lit torch held aloft, charging on a horse.

Soldier total = 15 brigades, 5745 soldiers.

*****

Capital City Guard[/u]

Handling just the day to day responsibilities of the law and justice is the Capital City Guard. These two brigades are specifically stationed in Our-Commons permanently. Even though their command structure (see below) stays true to the rest of military, there are many departments that handle different responsibilities for the city and the kingdom at large. They are the police force, the truancy officers, the investigators, the escorts, etc. Although during combat situations they are just as well trained in securing the city alongside the Protectors.

Standard equipment is the same for the "Guardian" as it is the other branches. The insignia of the Guardian is the silhouette of a flame behind the Spire.

Soldier total = 4 brigades, 1532 soldiers.

*****

Warden Council of the Old Order

This Council dates back to ancient history. It is well documented in historical texts and also known from the 'Scripture of Kaine' that a group of elite warriors came to this land with Kaine, assigned to protect the royal blood running in his veins. For Kaine was the last in a long line of Emperors of the Ancient Human Empire.

Some romanticists believe that the first members of this group of Kaine protectors established "The Order" so as to pass on knowledge and experiences of their own ancestors. Ancestors who lived within the very same fallen civilization, the empire that existed before mankind was to know of the Karh'Thul.

In the current day however, not much is known about this mysterious Order, only that they are a special force of hunters trained to track and eliminate Karh'Thul. If a sighting of a KT is ever reported to the public, the next weekly paper always has the return story of this elite group having destroyed it.

Shadow Keep, a small structure 15 miles southwest of the capital is the training area of this elite group. No one is allowed in without special permission. The leader, Cyric Windbow, of the Council of Five, and a 20 year veteran of the Outer Rim Defense is the leader of the division, which although part of the overall military, is ultimately under his sole command.

Not many citizens encounter members of this group on even an irregular basis. Some hunters and soldiers on patrol encounter the soldiers of "The Order" in the remote reaches of the Wildlands, but even this is uncommon.

Soldier quantity unknown.

*****

House Guard of Kaine[/u]

To put the House Guard of Kaine in perspective against the other armed forces, let's review.

    The aforementioned K.E.G. is the kingdom's zealot marine core.
    * The Outer-Rim Defense the Standing Army and true line of Defense.
    * The Heartland Protectorate is the National Guard.
    * The Capital City Guard is the Kingdom's police force.
    * The Warden Council of the Old Order a mysterious group akin to the C.I.A.

Finally we have the House Guard of Kaine, which I can only compare to the F.B.I. But while our F.B.I. in America is run by a questionably honest government. The House Guard is run by a very morally questionable Church that strong-arms its own goverment.

The House Guard consists of a special investigation force, a legislative branch, and all act as final guardians and police force for the Church of Kaine.

Within this house, a very intimidating and Holy branch exists, the 8 men within it are only known as the "Judges". Powerful male warriors promoted from within the ranks of the two Armed Forces controlled by the Church, these men are the Law incarnate of the land. Their word is final, they have the right to judge, sentence and perform punishment as they see fit.

The uniform of the House Guard is a masterwork suit of black plate mail that has beautiful platinum edging and covers almost the entire body. Each suit is hand-crafted to form the specific wearer and therefore appears to be very light and unencumbersome. The suit includes a full-faced plate mail helm which is adorned with metallic horns that curve forward and have sharp platinum tips. The weapon of the House Guard is a masterwork morning star with it's shaft roughly hewn to look like a torch and it's spiked head the shape of a torch flame. In battle the House Guards are adorned with heavy steel shields.

The Judges uniform is similar, but their armor is etched with gold instead of platinum and their helmets are even more flamboyant and intimidating. Each of the 8 judges having a slightly different shaped helm. They also do not use shields, instead wielding a double-scimitar, a holy weapon once used by Kaine in ancient times.

Soldier total = 2 brigades, 674 soldiers.

*   *   *

Total "active" soldier count = 15,029 + Warden Council Soldiers.

Also note: most of the public of the kingdom can be called on to fight, they are all trained from their many years at schooling and 6-years mandatory service.

Dray

Ok.

I am feeling a bit more at ease now. I had confused some names and put things a bit out of place on my first attempt at Armed Force Organization. Now, the 6 divisions of the Military are outlined correctly.

Those of you following along in class will note that I split the Church's Armed Force into two separate divisions. The Kingdom Elite Guards is the church's border patrol, and the House Guard is their Strong Arm in the city.

Enjoy!