|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 20:16:51 GMT
NAME: The Duchy of Kavelia
A former provincial duchy of the Mapheri Empire, Kavelia was nearly broken shortly after the collapse by the emergence of a long forgotten evil from the swamps that make up the south of the region. Only a desperate alliance with a demon cult prevented total catastrophe, and only recently have the Kavelians seized back control, by slaughtering most of the cult leadership in a single long bloody night. Duke Vaclan Sarovas 'the Red-Handed' rules with authority but ever bends an ear to listen to the free people of Kavelia.
SIZE AND LOCATION: Medium.
A decent sized region, nestled between the swamp-lake and mountains to the south-west of Pakellan, Kavelia includes high mountains, rolling hills, a small but fertile region of plains, and quite a bit of swampland. There are three major cities, the province capital, Naroja (or Old Naro), the lake city Jezngrad to the south, and the former trade hub of Tjrgova. Naroja sits in roughly the middle of Kavelia, surrounded by fertile farmland with good roads leading to both cities and to the fortified mining town of Uhlenji. The region is divided into twelve provinces, three which extend around the cities and nine others which feature a fortified town as their center.
 Green is Tjrgova, black in middle is Naroja, blue is Uhlenji, red is Vokali Garrison, black on lake is Jezngrad.
WEALTH: Medium.
Kavelia was originally made a duchy to unify two seperate military districts of the Mapheri Empire. The first was essentially a series of mining villages in the mountains and hill, and the second was centered around a wealthy town that commanded the fertile farmlands. In the wake of the Empire's collapse those old trades still remain key. Gold and iron are mined extensively in the mountains and routed through Uhlenji back to the capital, and while most the food is kept other major exports include peat and lumber (from the swamps). Trade with external powers has become infrequent and sparse in Naroja, but Tyrgova still sees relatively brisk business. With all the parts working in concert, the Duchy is able to maintain a decent standard of living.
STABILITY: Medium.
The Cult of Charun is only four years gone, and there is a great deal of suspicion regarding it. Not to mention the enduring presence of the Charunathii demons and ranks of undead. The position of the current Duke, Vaclan Sarovas, is far from secure, but he enjoys a great deal of popular support and has the trust of the Charunathii Harbinger.
DANGER TO TRAVELERS: Low.
In the cities and towns Undead Guards make for really effective watchmen. Medium in the countryside and villages. The threat of the Infernals is still very real, and additionally there are rogue offshoots of the Cult, bandits, and the usual threat of various monsters and beasts. Kavelia is rather densely populated around its cities and very light elsewhere, so the further you get away from an urban center the more likely it is you'll run into something bad.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Late Feudal Monarchy.
The Duke is elected, with the ruler picked (upon death of the current one) from among the roughly thirty families with claims to noble blood (known as the Boyar). The new duke must the be confirmed as ruler by the Kavelian Assembly, which is made up of the Arkon's of the three cities, the seventeen Voivode's of the free towns, and all attending Hejtman's of the hundreds of free villages. The Assembly must be consulted regarding any major matters of state, and they have significant authority in regards to trade and economic concerns. The Boyars and Assembly work together to advise and support the Duke informal counsel in court, and informally as appropriate. By law, any free Kavelian has the right to petition the Duke in person, and he spends most mornings entertaining cases from across the Duchy.
FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION:
Kavelia may have a Duke, but the region has a long tradition of self-governance and independence, which is reflected in their government. In the past this system has been subject to a great deal of internal politicking, dealmaking, and bloodletting, getting so bad at points that Imperial troops from the Vokali Garrison were forced to intervene and restore order. At present the Duke has almost unanimous support from both the Assembly and the Boyars, at least in part because most of his opposition happened to have ties to the Cult during the Red Dawn.
The Duchy is effectively in a state of Martial Law, and raids and incursions by the Infernals are a regular enough occurrence that most people simply accept this. Life has largely normalized, and besides the fact that most young men are either serving in the military or have served, and the undead soldiers everywhere, there is little in the way of active oppression. The Kavelian code of law is bit harsh, but it's been that way for a long time (frontier mentality) and the Duke and courts tend to be scrupulously fair. One must remember that this is a region where serfs and people in a clientage or servant status are the minority rather than the rule.
Unsurprisingly, necromancy and demon-worship is relatively commonplace and accepted, though under certain conditions. Necromancers who are not members of the state-Cult of Charun must register with the (by giving their true name and a vial of blood) or else be proscribed and hunted. Corpses can be purchased from the state or private citizens for use in spells or experimentation, but grave-robbing is strictly forbidden and punishable with death (since after all, bodies are a state asset).
Similarly, the only acceptable branch of demon worship is that of the the State Cult of Charun. Given that the Charunathii tend to not randomly butcher their followers that's probably smart anyway.
Slavery is not explicitly outlawed but is exceedingly uncommon. Most slaves in Kavelia belong to foreigners and merchants, and the Boyars tend to view it as a point of pride to assist runaway slaves or (where it would be an affront to etiquette to actively assist) to otherwise not hinder would-be escapees. Because these are feudal medieval-minded folks, they see absolutely no contradiction here with their owning serfs. For their part, the Charunathii find slavery (and serfdom) to be absolutely absurd.
Due largely to the relative remoteness of the region, a frontier mentality, and the vague nature of the Old Gods, Kavelia is largely egalitarian with regard to gender division. Women serve in the army, work in the government, and so on. However they are not strictly equal under the law (property passes along the male lineage for a married couple) and while the aforementioned instances are not uncommon, they still make up a minority of women. That said, one area women do have almost complete equality is in owning business and economic matters. It is not unusual for Kavelian women to have a small trade on the side.
COMMON SPECIES:
Majority human (roughly 70%), but sizable minority populations of various other races. As a general rule, any groups that have lived in Kavelia for more than a few generationsconsider themselves 'Kavelian' and are accepted as such. All outsiders (human or otherwise) are treated with a sort of rough politeness. Then of course there's the Charunathii and Undead walking about.
MILITARY FOCUS:
Kavelia has a recently created standing army known as the Black Army of Kavelia, named in part for the red and black banner that is its sigil, and for the black iron that is so sought after for armor. Comprised mainly of heavy infantry and medium-armored crossbowmen, the Black Army is bolstered by the Ducal Jendarmerie, a medium cavalry force proficient with lance, bow, and saber. Additionally, all Boyar's are required to maintain a small private warband, and could raise a levy of serfs if necessary. Finally and all the cities and towns have a well trained watch that doubles as a militia, and each province of the duchy maintains a general militia. Armor tends to be towards the heavy side (the Infernal's rip through leather and padding like its paper) and weaponry is generally focused on piercing the thick scaled hides of demons. The Hounds of the Duke can and do act as very effective battle mages, and when backed up by the otherworldly magics of the Charunathii it means Kavelia can field some truly formidable sorcery. Then of course there's the undead legions, who are almost all outfitted as heavy infantry (typically using old or cast off equipment).
EDUCATION:
The Temples of the Old Gods run day schools in all the major cities and towns for children too young to help their families in daily labor. These schools are partially funded by the Duke himself, and provide a very basic education. Most children leave the schools by the time they're 9 or 10, so literacy remains very uncommon. Most towns and all the cities have several larger academies run by merchant guilds for the sake of further education, and villagers will sometimes send their children off to these if they can spare the labor and the cost. The Boyars tend to hire tutors for their education (typically academy educated burghers) but given the martial nature of the nobility, many remain illiterate.
TECHNOLOGY:
Late Medieval, at least as far as armor technology and the like goes. You have reasonably advanced smelting techniques and so on, but a renaissance of arts and the like there ain't. There is a decent amount of centralization, which came about in part due to the Infernal invasion. The Kavelians do have an affinity for artillery, and while there are only perhaps a dozen bombards (all with affectionate nicknames like 'Lazy Ivan') large steel-torsion ballista are relatively commonplace (and quite effective against the Infernals). Smaller 'scorpions' that can be mounted on a cart also exist, and can be deployed in battle as field artillery.
PLAYER CONTROLLED:
Yes, but Duke Sarovas in a NPC. Control will be inferred and implied through events and NPC's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 20:19:11 GMT
Total Size: Approximately 26,000 square miles.
Population Density: Roughly 85 per square mile.
Size Comparison: West Virginia
Total Population: Around 2.2 million ~17 other towns
~220,000 urban population
~350,000 are serfs/non-free serving the temples
Boyar – Noble, one of about forty families (including cadet branches). Totaling around 2400 people. While this small number means that feudalism is not widespread in the Duchy (almost all the noble estates are centered around the capital) it does mean that all forty families are rather wealthy and wield considerable influence with the Duke. Around 300,000 people live as serfs, beholden to the Boyars or the temples. Almost all of these are farm estate tenants centered around the capital. These people feud constantly but are restricted by law and tradition from involving anyone who isn't a part of the two estates feuding. This help limit the amount of damage that can be done while still acknowledging the sovereign rights of the nobility. There is no tradition of addressing nobles as 'Sir,' and no 'knightly' class or ranks of nobility beyond the Duke. A freeman addressing a noble will typically give standard honorific "Milord, your Grace, etc" but is not generally required to. Offering insult to a noble does carry punishments, however.
Arkon – Mayor of one of the three cities. Recently Uhlenji has been petitioning the duke for city status, something fiercely opposed by the leading Burghers of Tjrgova and Jezngrad.
Voivode – Mayor (and typically Sheriff) of one of the 17 towns. The process for a village to attain the rights and status of a town is a lengthy but not terribly complex or needlessly difficult process, and comes with many additional rights but also additional obligations, hence their rarity.
Hejtman – Headman of a village. Some villages are quite large, the the local Hejtman can wield as much power and influence as a Boyar.
Freeman/Burgher – A free peasant or townsman of Kavelia. Freedom implies certain rights and obligations to the Duchy, but\ also a certain liberty in action and thought.
Serf – A person (typically a peasant) bound in servitude to a Boyar (or more rarely to one of the temples of the Old God). Not to be confused with a slave, servitude in a Feudal system implies complex decidedly non-modern notions of obligation and authority under the law.
Kavelian society is generally pragmatic, egalitarian, and rather clannish. Kavelian's tend to be loyal to their clan (extended family), province, and then Kavelia itself, roughly in that order. Marriage exists as an institution but is largely ceremonial, and especially in the towns and cities people marry most often to benefit their clan and for economic opportunities. In the villages one is much more likely to find large marriage ceremonies, officiated by a local priest, where the young couple has married for love with the blessing of both clans.
The Boyars marry almost exclusively for political alliances, of course. Marriage to commoners is not explicitly outlawed by is frowned upon, except in those cases where it provides a significant benefit to the house (a poor noble marrying into a wealthy merchant family, for example).
Divorce is accepted and relatively common, and is typically viewed as a legal rather than a religious matter. Both men and women can initiate proceedings for a variety of reasons (dozens of valid reasons are documented in law, and there are hundreds more of informal reasons depending on the province) and the case is reviewed at the lowest level but can be taken higher. There have been instances of the Duke himself adjudicating on divorce cases!
Serfs are generally forbidden to marry free people, but there are exceptions. A free woman can marry into a serf family, and does not herself become a serf, though her children do. Conversely A serf woman can only marry into a free family with the approval of her lord and the blessing of the Old Gods. Both she and her children subsequently become free, so as one might imagine this is not a common occurrence.
Despite the clannishness there is a great deal of love and appreciate for Kavelia as an independent region, especially in the wake of the Infernal invasion. Duke Sarovas is riding a wave of popular opinion and, more the moment at least, can do no wrong in the eyes of the people.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 20:19:29 GMT
OTHER INSTITUTIONS Temples of the Old Gods
The Old Gods of Kavelia represent a pantheon of five major deities and numerous minor ones who, it is said, watch over the region and its people. Most Kavelian's consider themselves worshipers of the Old Gods, but that worship tends to involve very little ceremony or effort, and typically takes the form of a few feast days and casually muttered oaths. The various temples, having long ago lost most of their prominence, tend to rely on whatever they can get from the lands bequeathed to them by Ducal grant generations ago.
In the wake of the collapse and then the Infernal invasion, the Temples saw a resurgence in faith. They have responded as best they can, and give back as much as they can. Priests of the Old Gods, while relatively rare, can still muster quite a bit of power and were vital in slowing the advance of the Infernals early on. Unsurprisingly, the temples view the Cult as an abomination and they would like nothing better than to finish Sarvoas' purge, but they are unwilling to act against the Duke.
The Hounds of Kavelia
Known as the 'Faceless,' the 'Carrion Birds' and the 'Duke's Dogs,' the history of the Hounds of Kavelia dates back to the founding of Naroja as a miltiary governorship. Nestled in the fertile plains for the sole purpose of growing food to feed the expanding Mapheri Empire, a system was needed to ensure the local farmers were giving what they were supposed to. Thus the Hounds started as grain tax assessors and census takers. As the years passed they found themselves involved in more and more specialized and unusual services, and two needs became evident. The first was more anonymity, to ;protect the agents, and the second was for non-mundane power. The Hounds became a specialized school of mages, spys, agents, and still yet tax assessors. Wearing enchanted iron masks (hence the 'Faceless' term) to protect both their identity and from prying magic, the Hounds became feared as the most brutal agents of the Duke.
After the collapse the Hounds found themselves struggling to maintain their position and the security of Kavelia. Emboldened at first by the merging of the Vokali Garrison Cadre of Taskmages, and then the inclusion of the small Naroja Wizard College, they were all but neutered by the rise of the Cult of Charun. Now practically an independent organization cut adrift, they were key in Sarovas' plan to put down the cult and take power. Following the Red Dawn they moved back into their old position, as the secret police of the Duke, and were granted the Vokali Garrison as their headquarters. They are generally capable battlemages and skilled combatants, and are never seen in public in the garb of a Hound without their distinctive iron masks.
The sigil of the Hounds is that of a snarling black dogs head.
The Cult of Charun
Not all the Cult was wiped out during the Red Dawn, and indeed some few even colluded with Sarovas to make the Red Dawn a reality. Recognizing that the power and knowledge of the Cult could still be of use, Sarovas permitted them to exist, albeit in a changed manner. Devotees of the Cult still worship the Charunathii, but they no longer hold significant influence with them. Instead they are utilized most often to assist in managing the Undead Legions. People are free to join the Cult but a vigorous campaign by the Temples and lingering mistrust means conversions are rare and membership remains low.
The Ducal Jendarmerie
The private army of the Duke also doubles as the national police force, and are responsible for patrolling the roads and enforcing the Duke's Peace in the land. They have authority to investigate and arrest any and all peoples of Kavelia under the authority of the Duke, whether they be a noble or serf. With horses somewhat uncommon they have always been undermanned, despite Duke Sarovas' best efforts, and they often rely on local town watches and village militia for assistance.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 20:19:43 GMT
HISTORY
When the Empire fell, the people of Kavelia thought they were ready. Never the most loyal province anyway, they were confident they could weather the storm and rise from the ashes as a power, and maybe even the core of a new empire. They had no idea what true horror was.
How could they know that their domain rested on the ruins of a once great civilization? Once it had spanned the continent, now all that remained was broken down ruins, slowly being eaten away by the swampland that covered them. How could they have possibly prepared for the threat that awaited them? This civilization had torn itself apart from the inside out, turning in its last days to the seductive allure of immortality and unlimited power, promises whispered ever so sweetly by demons from another realm. In the end, as the rulers drunk the blood of their people, rebellion shattered the capital and sealed the demons away.
What exactly it was that broke the seal is unknown. But in the year that followed the devastation of Pakellan the Duchy of Kavelia found itself beset by creatures not of this world. The Imperial Legionnaires of the Vokali Garrison launched an expedition and returned a shattered and broken fragment. Undeterred, the reigning Duke mustered his vassals and raised the militias and set out to do battle.
Much of the strength of Kavelia was lost in that one day, and when the army returned to the capital it did so without the Duke. As the year went on the incursion continued, and foot by foot Kavelia gave up ground to the invaders, known simply as the 'Infernals.' In Naroja, the process to select a new Duke had stalled, with the Assembly turning violent in its debates. Refugees from the southern regions swelled the cities, on all fronts disaster seemed at hand.
Salvation came from an unexpected source. The legacy of demon-worship was strong in Kavelia, though before the collapse it had always been proscribed. Now the ranks of the Cult of Charun swelled, as the promise of mastery over death began to have a very sudden appeal. Emboldened, the leadership of the Cult approached the Boyars and the Assembly and presented an offer.
They claimed to be in contact with a being called the Harbinger, who knew what the Infernals were and was willing to help fight them. In return, it asked that the Cult be allowed to continue its activities openly and that its own people, the Charunathii, be allowed to reside in this realm.
There was much opposition, of course, particularly from religious leaders, but with a demon army literally at the gates, the Assembly agreed.
The Charunathii emerged and set about turning the course of the war. They raised the fallen into undead legions which they used as shocktroops against the Infernals, and gifted Cult acolytes with powerful sorcery to counter the destructive magic of the enemy demons. Slowly but surely the tide turned, and Kavelia retook its lost ground.
But all was not well in the Duchy. The Cult began to run rampant, and rumors persisted of wholesale slaughter of peasant villages and blood rituals enacted in the dark of night. People slept poorly at night as their dead husbands, and sons guarded their walls and marched off to fall and rise again and again. It was almost three and a half years to push the Infernals back into the swamplands and set up a watch. A string of fortified towers stretching across the front acts as the first line of defense, and undead patrol the lands between them day and night.
On the third day of the fifth month of the fourth year since the collapse, the moon rose a brilliant red. All night the sound of horror and screaming and blood echoed from Naroja, and as the dawn finally came all who saw the sun rise swore that it looked as if a field of blood was draped across the sky. That day would become known as the Red Dawn, and the events that
transpired that evening changed the course of Kavelia.
The Cult had all but taken control of the Duchy in the years of war, and its leadership ruled with wanton excess. A group of furious burgomeisters and nobles had formed a conspiracy, and after years of plotting they had finally struck. Led by the 40-year old Vaclan Sarovas, groups of men and women had prowled the citadel of Naroja, slaughtering any cult members they found. At the once-grand Duke's Hall they stormed in and caught the ruling cabal by surprise. In four hours nearly a thousand people had been killed. Amidst the chaos, the Harbinger appeared, and for a moment all seemed lost.
But instead Sarovas and the creature spoke at length, the conversation lasted for nearly forty minutes, and at the end the Harbinger agreed to not interfere and continue the deal as promised. As far as what Sarovas offered in return, it is unknown except that the Charunathii still roam the streets and roads of Kavelia freely.
With the capital secure Sarovas launched on a campaign, ostensibly directed at clearing out the Cult wherever it had taken root. It took nearly three months, and to this day there are whispers that some of those purged by fire and sword were not part of the Cult at all, but simply opponents in Sarovas' path to power.
At the end he returned to Naroja and was confirmed as Duke by unanimous decision from both the Boyars and the Assembly. It has been five years since then, and Kavelia has struggled, clawed, and fought its way to a position of relative stability.
And at night the people sleep soundly, knowing that their fallen fathers and husbands stand ever-vigilant on the walls.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 20:27:17 GMT
Naroja
With a population of over 30,000 Naroja (affectionately known as 'Old Naro' by its citizens) is an old city that has been the heart and soul of Kavelia since before it was made a Duchy.
Jezngrad
Pop - 19,000
Tjrgova
Pop - 15,000
Uhlenji
Pop - 9,000
Vokali Garrison
Pop - 3,000
|
|
|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 20:31:17 GMT
The Charuntharii
While not strictly horrifying to look upon, the creatures known as the Charunathii are definitely inhuman and disturbing, and the idea of their permanent residence in the region is still a source of much concern to many people.
The exact number of Charunathii that reside in Kavelia is not known, but it can be no more than a few thousand. Most keep to themselves, and seem utterly alien to the average Kavelian. More than a few have begun to display an odd fascination withthe mortal races though, not dissimilar to the way a man might interact with a clever dog. In Naroja in particular it is not uncommon to see Charunathii frequenting taverns, browsing market stalls, and otherwise seeking to interact with and understand humans (and other races).
The Charunathii keep mostly to the cities and towns, with a few dozen having taken residence in a handful of old, mostly abandoned villages. They appear to live in human structures, but keen-eyed folk point out that they light no fires, bring in no food, and yet said buildings always seem to be lit with a strange reddish glow. Mortal races are almost never allowed inside Charunathii residences, and those that are tend to be either Cult members or agents of the Duke.
The being known only as the Harbringer appears to be the leader of the Charunathii, and lives in a suite of rooms in the palace as a guest of the Duke. For both reasons both ceremonial and practical it is a member of the advising council, and unlike many of its brethren appears to have a solid understanding of how mortal races think, and the particular issues that Kavelia is dealing with. It's motivations, and those of the Charunathii in general, remain a mystery to all save possibly the Duke and some of his aides.
The Charunathii mastery over death and unlife is such that Kavelian undead are a step above your average skeleton. While they appear to retain no personality, Kavelian undead do have some intelligence, even on an individual level, and are capable of following orders, utilizing complex tactics, and operating as individuals. They are employed strictly as soldiers, but are totally capable of constructing fortifications, maintaining roads, and other such tasks. After almost a decade, the average citizen has come to accept their presence as necessary and even welcoming. After all an undead guard will never lapse on watch and can never be bribed, tricked, or lied to. Undead who are assigned as city guards are often festooned with trinkets and offerings from children, and treated like good luck charms or loyal (if ugly) pets. There is a certain amount of tension regarding the standing policy that every fallen soldier owes his or her body for 20 more years of service barring complete bodily annihilation) but the Duke has managed to quell most dissent by insisting that he too (now nearly 50) intends to stand the 'Eternal Watch' when he dies.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jassard Tesarik on Jan 21, 2017 21:00:04 GMT
THE MILITARY OF KAVELIA
GENERAL NOTES
Armor and the like tends to appear patchwork because Kavelia has been at war for a decade straight and new equipment is at a premium. Furthermore one must still equip the Undead Legions (who wear gear similar to the Heavy Infantry pictured below). Make no mistake though, Kavelian arms and armor is quality stuff, and the smiths who forge it have become experts are piecing together a solid suit of field plate from half a dozen patchwork pieces. A material unique to the mountain range in and around Kavelia is super dense metal known as 'Black Iron.' Notoriously hard to shape and work except with magical assistance, it can be forged into almost supernaturally tough armor.
The standard weapon of Kavlia is called a Kavelian Sabre (or just a sabre). It is a medium length, heavy blade with a traditional crossguard and a hand-and-a-half hilt, very effective as either a slashing or stabbing weapon. Cavalry variants tend to be lighter and longer, with shorter hilts, but retain the same basic look.
[x] [x] [x] [x]
THE BLACK ARMY OF KAVELIA
Kavelia maintains a standing army of around 18,000 soldiers. 2,400 of them are the Ducal Jendarmarie, with around 9,000 Heavy Infantry and 5,000 Light Infantry divided into twelve regiments (approximately 1,200 troops per regiment). Three regiments are deployed on the Southern Watch at any given time, with one more to patrol the territory immediately to the north. Additionally there is a regiment on guard at each city and the rest split between the towns, various garrison's and castles. A special unit, known as the Iron Brigade, is made up of nearly 1,600 very heavily armored infantry (and another 1,600 pages who typically act as skirmishers and auxiliaries in battle) divided into a number of smaller units that are deployed as necessary.
The standing army, properly known as the Black Army of Kavelia, is a relatively recent formation, created by largely by Duke Sarovas several years before the Red Dawn. Prior to the collapse it consisted only of a standing 'guard' force of about 3000, used mostly to complement the Jendarmarie. Developed out of necessity from an old system of regional militias, the Black Army builds upon old existing structures. Regiments are named after their province of origin rather then numbered, and are typically recruited from their home province. This allows the units to take advantage of the older system (still largely in place) and gives them a sizable pool of drilled recruits to draw from. Soldiers are paid a regular wage (Kavelia uses much of its precious metal supply to mint coins) and the current system allows for retirement at 20 years of service with a plot of land or credit payout. Thus far there have been no retirements, of course.
Duke Sarovas remains a dedicated participant in the training, organization, and deployment of the army. He also hold the position of Marshal of Kavelia, commander of all its military. The daily running of the army is led by the Commandant, a position currently filled by a Boyar from Jezngrad. Each regiment is led by a Colonel (appointed by the Commandant and approved by the Assembly) each who has the authority to appoint and pay for a number of junior officers.
Szedak - Translates to 'saber wielder' in common Mapheri. In the Black Army, this is used as a rank for the average soldier. Also used as a general term throughout Kavelia for soldiers and warriors.
Tziedez - Translates to 'Commander of 12.' The basic non-commissioned officer rank who is in charge of a block of soldiers (typically seven other heavy infantry and five light). Only used in the Black Army.
Szedakaris - Translates to 'Commander of a Squadron [of sabres].' Equivalent to a medieval sergeant, or a Roman Centurion. Used throughout Kavelia for a commander of a small or medium sized troop. Often abbreviated to just 'Karis.'
Ormeszder - 'Old Sabre.' A senior soldier, entitled to more pay and less extra duties. Also used for any old veteran.
Kaptain - A Mapheri word for a commander of troops.
Ezredes - Commander of a Regiment. In spite of the name these are actually not the senior rank, but usually the 2nd in command.
Colonel - A Mapheri word, traditionally used for commanders of a Legion. This is the commander of one of the Black Army Regiments.
A fully manned regiment is 1,200 soldiers with roughly 80 Tziedez, 10 Szedakaris, 4-6 Kaptain's and Ezredes, and a Colonel. On average, less than 100 of the troops would be Ormezder.
The Jendarmerie uses Ezredes instead of Colonel as its senior rank (a source of much debate and argument between the branches) but otherwise follow a similar system. As a general rule, all Jendarmerie are considered to be one rank higher when dealing with regular army (the basic szedak is paid double, too). By tradition (but not law) most of the Jendarmerie officers are Boyars.
The Landed Army tends to only have Karis' and Kaptain's as appointed ranks (typically filled by Boyar or wealthy townsman). Given that they are raised only as necessary and not subject to a standard wage, further distinction is typically necessary.
THE LANDED ARMY
In a crisis Kavelia can muster a much larger force. All three cities and most of the towns maintain a watch and have an active militia. In addition most Boyar's have a household troop (banner) of medium cavalry (armed with lances, javelins, and hand weapons) and archers (by law, one per every 20 serfs), and if absolutely necessary a general levy can be raised from the various villages. The Boyar's themselves tend to equip as heavy cavalry in the manner of the Jendarmerie. Prior to the collapse this was the Duchy's main military force, and was known as the 'Landed Army.' Now with the stabilization of the border and establishment of the Black Army it has been three years since the Landed Army was mustered. Raising all these forces takes a considerable amount of time of course, up to several weeks to prepare the Duchy for a total war.
The total number is hard to estimate, but is generally figured at around 4,000 cavalry from the banners, 20,000 serf archers, and a militia force of around 40,000-50,000. The militia in particular is limited more by the amount of proper equipment, and the logistics of fielding the entire army would likely bankrupt the Duchy.
Of course there are the Undead Legions, which at estimated to number around 50,000 at present. They are primarily used to patrol the Southern Watch, guard urban environments, and to patrol the roads. A sizable garrison is also posted at Tjrgova to act as a first (very unnerving) line of defense for the Duchy.
MILITARY UNITS
BLACK ARMY HEAVY INFANTRY
These are very heavily armored infantry, armed with either Halberds or shields and armor-piercing hand weapons (Axes, Maces, Warhammers, etc.). Most also carry a classic Kavelian Sabre for backup. Trained primarily for defensive tactics, they are excepted to hold the line at any cost, even until the last man falls. However one should not confuse for them for part-time men-at-arms, unable to maintain a formation on the attack. These troops can make lethal sudden shock assaults that split shatter an enemy army.
THE IRON BRIGADE
Formed from the remnants of the Imperial Vokali Garrison and the Ducal Guard shattered in the first battle with the Infernals, the Iron Brigade is the elite assault infantry of Kavelia. Wearing plate armor forged from the rare and extremely tough 'Black Iron,' they are employed as line breakers and a reserve force to where the enemy is fiercest or the situation most dire, these men and women command respect and are among the most capable heavy infantry on the continent. And yes, sometimes they even dual-wield.
BLACK ARMY LIGHT INFANTRY
Typically armed with crossbows and a standard Kavelian sabre. They wear significantly less armor than the standard infantry (but still more than your average archer). Deployed behind the heavy infantry, they often act as a harassing force in battle, skirting the edge of enemy formations and disrupting their cohesion in order to allow the heavy troops to stage an assault. These guys are also your artillierists and other support troops when a whole army gets deployed.
DUCAL JENDARMARIE
Armed with Lance, Bow, and Saber (or other hand weapon). A capable psuedo-heavy-cavalry force, though constantly undermanned. As usual, quite heavily armored. When working with the Black Army they tend to act as a harassing force and raiding force, but they can also be used to deliver a final punch or spearhead an assault.
FACELESS AGENT
Besides their sorcery, most are capable hand-to-hand fighters. Generally equipped with medium armor and specializing in support magic, their assistance and training in working with military forces is a significant factor in the success of Kavelia against the Infernal hordes. Despite all this, most are not classic 'battlemages.' After all that's why there's crossbows. Some few have begun to learn under the tutelage of the Charunathii.
CULT ASCENDANT
Those members of the former leadership that sided with Duke Savoras are incredibly powerful necromancers and wield demonic energy. There are maybe a dozen of these guys. Besides their mastery of death magic they have powers granted to them by the Charunathii, sorcery alien to the world that is both hard to counter and incredibly destructive.
CULT BLOODLETTER
The militant arm of the cult, demon-touched warriors who's very bones have been enchanted by strange magic. Also quite rare, and more unsettling to fight alongside than the Undead. Initially it was the use of these warriors that turned back the tide of the Infernals, but their use has begun to fade with the establishment of the Black Army and the diminished of the Cult. Little is known how they come to be, but they are all devotees of the Cult who have been changed in some way by the Charunathii.
[/spoiler][/font][/font]
|
|
