by Gav Thorpe
As the empire was established, wary of rebellion, Askhos bought off the legions from their commanders, rewarding the chieftains with the lands they had conquered. The system of governorships was established and the legions were all subsumed into Crown control. All legions swear direct loyalty to the king, and are considered soldiers of the empire rather than any individual prince, governor or general.
In theory, legionnaires are drawn from all across Greater Askhor. In practice, the logistics of raising and recruitment mean that a legion will generally be drawn from the populace of a particular province. Each raising of a legion is given a sequential number; if a legion is destroyed in battle or otherwise disbanded, its number becomes available for the next one created. Certain legions have continued to exist since the time of Askhos through continual replacement of losses, while others had been raised and fallen several times. This means that a legion's number is no sure indication of the length of its current existence, though on principle the First Legion is constantly maintained and so its history is unbroken since it was created by Askhos. Several other legions have earned great distinction in the many campaigns of the empire, either in their current incarnation or in previous raisings.
Each legion bears an icon of Askhos as its army standard. It is on this golden placard that every legionnaire swears his loyalty. It is a matter of pride that no legion icon has ever fallen in battle. Even during the few defeats suffered by a legion, the icon has always been brought back to safety, ready to be raised again at the legion's next founding.
When more than one legion is present, it is termed an army. Command of an army falls to the longest-serving First Captain. This grants the title of First Commander. Above this comes the rank of General. Only the king may appoint the general, and it confers a form of pseudo-Blood status in regards to the law and the command of legions. While a First Commander is subject to the instructions of a governor, a General is not, and can only receive orders from one of the Blood. Generals are usually appointed for a specific campaign of conquest, although its duration is for life unless the rank is later renounced by the king. Like governors, Generals are permitted to raise their own legions at the expense of the Crown, and may even do so at their own expense. By ancient law a General may claim any conquered territories for himself, although to do so he must surrender part of any proceeds from such gains to the Crown. By extension, any lands conquered by a legion must be offered to the soldiers of the legion for lease or purchase, and it is from these rights of conquest that many legionnaires and officers are able to retire after serving their minimum ten years of duty.
At the time of King Lutaar's ascension to the Crown, there were thirty-three legions in existence, though by the end of his reign this had been reduce to twenty. The highest number of legions recorded is forty-eight, during a rapid expansion of the empire that ended about a decade before the start of Lutaar's reign.
Organisation
Askhos's greatest innovation in creating the legions was to approach the formation of the army from a bottom-up approach. Traditionally, tribal chieftains and their nobles each gathered about them a body or retainers who were equipped to fight, supplemented during raids and times of war by armed militia. Therefore the size and quality of troops varied widely depending upon the individual wealth of the nobility and the number of men who were loyal to them.
Askhos established the idea of the company; a set body of men 160-strong that formed the foundation of a legion. The number was chosen in concert with the new concept of the phalanx as a fighting formation. Each company has eight sergeants; in standard phalanx formation they are each responsible for two ranks of troops. There are four Third Captains per company, who are in turn commanded by a single Second Captain. All are numbered within the 160 soldiers and expected to fight in rank.
A minimum of ten companies is required for a force to qualify as a legion, but ideally a new legion will number between twenty and thirty companies, giving a rough manpower of four to five thousand men. Regardless of size, a legion is commanded by its First Captain. A First Captain is supported by a staff of Second and Third Captains, the number dependent on the size of the legion, but typically one Second Captain and two Third Captains for every five companies. The staff officers act as messengers and subordinate battlefield commands, and take on responsibilities for supplies, recruitment, training and the running of the camp.
All legionnaires are required to learn skills necessary for the functioning of the legion. There are no non-combatants in a legion, even engineers, surgeons and armourers must be able to fight. Such men with these prestigious additional duties are usually given the rank of at least Third Captain.
Since the discovery of kolubrids in the grasslands of Maasra, there is an additional cavalry wing to many legions. The size of this varies with the availability of kolubrids, and so is typically larger in legions raised in the hotwards provinces of Nalanor, Okhar and Maasra. Between two hundred and four hundred kolubrid riders is typical, divided into squadrons fifty-strong.
Legionnaire
Any man of the legions may call himself a legionnaire, and it is an honorific kept until death. A legionnaire is a professional soldier, paid from the legion coffers. All training and equipment is also paid for, as is basic accommodation, food and drink whilst in the legion. Some additional benefits can be bought or hired whilst in camp, though their price effectively limits their availability to officers. Food and shelter are often better than that available to labourers and other menial workers, so there is no shortage of able men willing to fight in the legions.
A legionnaire is expected to lay down his life for the empire; in fact if he survives grievous wounds in battle and is unable to fight he will be slain so that he does not become a burden. In return, he receives a salary that can be paid in coin, salt and other produce, or accumulated as an allotment of land available on his retirement. In addition, should a legionnaire be slain whilst on duty, his immediate family may claim his pay as a war pension, extending to sixty years after his death. Such generosity is balanced by the rigorous training, harsh discipline and long campaigns that are the lot of the imperial legionnaire.
A legionnaire is provided with his weapons, kit and armour by the legion, though replacements for breakages outside of battle must be paid for by him. This gear is divided into march kit and camp kit. A legionnaire's march kit is carried at all times, though when in camp or on hard labours outside camp, a legionnaire is permitted to divest himself of his pack and wargear as long as he is never more than ten paces away. March kit consists of a pair of hard-soled sandals, a stiffened leather kilt, water canteen, woollen undershirt, bronze breastplate, single-bladed bronze knife and sheath, whetstone, leather belt, bronze helmet and a spear. In addition, a legionnaire's camp kit includes a bed roll, replacement sandal soles and belt, five replacement spear tips, a wooden cup and bowl, a bundle of wooden faggots for firemaking, a spare undershirt, helmet crest and a money pouch. Often legionnaires treat their money pouch as march kit.
When campaigning in coldwards climes or expected to fight into the winter, legionnaires must also be provided with a hooded woollen cloak, a tarred waterproof sack, two pairs of knee-length stockings and woollen gloves. Though seen as generous by many, these provisions have allowed legions to fight in exceptionally poor weather when other warriors would be forced to remain in camp or even return to their homes.
A legionnaire is also entitled to two meals per day, at breakfast and at night. When supplies allow, both of these meals must contain some form of meat, a rarity for many folk of lower social standing. Standard march fare is a starchy porridge of ground oats or grain, and Second Captains that wish to engender greater loyalty in their troops will often provide sugar, honey or salt at their own expense. The evening meal must also contain some form of vegetable or fruit. Flat loaves of unleavened bread are used as march rations, which can be supplemented with honey, jam or other fillings at the legionnaire's own expense.
Alcohol is
permitted in camp, and each legionnaire has a ration of weak beer every day. Stronger drinks such as wine and mead are often given out as rewards for dutiful service. Legionnaires are permitted to carry additional alcohol in their camp kit, but any drunkenness in camp is punishable by company flogging, while any dereliction of duty is punished by death, so legionnaires are moderate drinkers when on duty.
A legionnaire must serve for at least ten years, at which point he is eligible to leave the military and take his pension. He has the choice of continuing to stay with the legion, signing on for further stints of five years at a time. Officers of Second Captain rank and above may not retire until they have served for fifteen years, and if they choose not to do so at this time, their commitment is for life.
GLOSSARY
People
Aalun – Prince of the Blood, second son of King Lutaar. A patron to Ullsaard, who sponsored his promotion to First Captain and later persuaded King Lutaar to name Ullsaard as a general. It is Aalun's concerns over the health of his older brother, Kalmud, that pitch the empire into a war of succession.
Adral – Governor of Nalanor.
Ahsaam – A revolutionary academic who made fundamental changes to the civil law of the empire, and famous for championing the causes of non-noble families.
Allenya – Eldest of Ullsaard's wives and mother of Jutaar. As matriarch of the family, she is responsible for the running of the household, and tempering the worst excesses of her sisters.
Allon – Governor of Enair. Ullsaard served in Allon's provincial legion before gaining the patronage of Prince Aalun. He later returned for a while as First Captain. Jutaar serves in Allon's legion.
Anasind – First Captain of the Thirteenth Legion.
Anglhan Periusis – A debt guardian of Salphoria and owner of a landship. Ambitious and manipulative, Anglhan is supported by a network of support and favours throughout Salphoria and the Free Country.
Anriit – Eldest of Noran's two wives.
Ariid – Chief servant of Ullsaard's household.
Arnassin – Former king of Salphoria, Aegenuis's great-grandfather.
Aroisius the Free – Former Salphorian chieftain who became a rebel leader after falling foul of Salphoria's strict debt laws.
Askhan – Collective term for both the native people from the tribes of Askhor and those peoples brought into the empire of Greater Askhor.
Askhos – First King of the Askhans, founder of the empire and sire of the Blood. Charismatic and ambitious, Askhos united the tribes of Askhor and subjugated the surrounding peoples to create the fledgling Greater Askhor. Before his death, Askhos laid down his teachings and beliefs in the Book of Askhos, a tome of law, military organisation and customs revered by many people throughout the empire and rigidly adhered to by the Brotherhood.
Asuhas – Governor of Ersua.
Barias – Hillmen chieftain in the pay of Aroisius the Free.
Beruun – visionary architect and engineer commissioned by Askhos to build Askh and the Askhor Wall. He fled the empire and built the city of Magilnada to rival the Askhan capital, in what was then the wild lands of Salphoria. He was eventually captured by agents of Askhos and executed as a traitor by the Brotherhood.
Brotherhood, The – A widespread administrative sect responsible for many of the functions of the empire, including criminal law, taxation, trade, infrastructural organisation and the suppression of pre-empire superstitious beliefs. Proselytisers of the Book of Askhos.
Caelentha – One of the peoples living in Salphoria.
Cannin – One of the peoples living in Salphoria.
Cosuas – A general of the empire of long years and staunch ally of King Lutaar. Son of King Tunaard II and last survivor of the dynasty that ruled Ersua prior to Askhan conquest.
Deaghra – One of the peoples living in Salphoria.
Debt Guardian – In Salphorian law, a man who pays another's debts gains ownership of that man until he has paid off what he owes. Such debts are stamped into tin lozenges and are often used as coinage. Most debtors end up as farm serfs, miners or galley slaves, while some are used by merchants to pull hand carts in their caravans, or act as turncranks of the landships.
Demeetris – A pre-imperial tribe of Askhor living in the foothills of the mountains. They refused the rule of Askhos and every man, woman and child was slain by the First Legion and their villages razed.
Donar – First Captain of the Fifth Legion.
Enairians – Native peoples of Enair. Considered dour, headstrong, sometimes rebellious. Enairians are typically of larger build than the other peoples of Greater Askhor and are valued as soldiers in the legions.
Erlaan – Prince of the Blood, son of Prince Kalmud, grandson of King Lutaar. A youth still in his late teenage years, Erlaan is second in line to inherit the Crown of the Blood.
Ersuans – The peoples native to Ersua. In recent generations, Ersuan tribes have interbred with Nalanorians, Anrairians and hillmen from the Altes Hills and so are considered something of a swarthy, mongrel people in other parts of the empire.
Freyna – Loremother of Ullsaard's home village, Stykhaag.
Furlthia Miadnas – First mate of Anglhan's landship, Furlthia fears Askhan expansion into Salphoria and though he remains loyal to his master for as long as he can stomach it, he eventually cannot abide the Askhan domination of his homelands and leaves to foment opposition to Ullsaard and Anglhan.
Gelthius – A former fisherman, farmer and bandit of the Linghan people in Salphoria, Gelthius has served as a debtor on Anglhan's landship, joined Salphorian rebels, been involved in the fall of Magilnada to the Askhans, was drafted into the Thirteenth Legion and fought in the overthrow of King Lutaar. He longs for a return to a quiet life.
Gerlhan – Salphorian chieftain, ruler of Magilnada.
Griglhan – Salphorian brigand and rebel chieftain.
Hadril – One of the peoples living in Salphoria.
Hannaghian – One of the peoples living in Salphoria.
Heriot – A master of law and philosophy who oversaw the transition of the rights of conquests and control of the legions from King Askhos's warlords to the Crown.
Hillmen – Catch-all term for various tribes found in the Ersuan Highlands and, more numerously, the Altes Hills. The hillmen come from a mix of Ersuan and Salphorian stock and are known for their fierce territorialism and banditry.
Huuril – Third Captain in the Thirteenth Legion.
Huurit – A lightweight champion wrestler of Maarmes, purchased by Ullsaard for Luia.
Jutaar – Son of Allenya, second eldest of Ullsaard. A diligent if dull captain in the legions, eager to follow in his father's military footsteps.
Jutiil – First Captain of the Twelfth Legion.
Kalmud – Prince of the Blood, eldest son of King Lutaar, father of Erlaan. Infected by a devastating lung disease whilst campaigning along the Greenwater River, Kalmud's disability precipitates a crisis of succession in the empire.
Karuu – A young captain of the Thirteenth Legion, personalmessenger to Ullsaard.
Kulrua – Governor of Maasra.
Leerunin – Treasurer to Ullsaard's household.
Lenorin – Chancellor of Magilnada, aide to Anglhan, with antiAskhan sympathies.
Lepiris – Salphorian, former debtor on Anghlhan's landship, recruited into the Fifteenth Company of the Thirteenth Legion.
Linghar – One of the peoples living in Salphoria.
Luamid – First Captain of the Sixteenth Legion.
Lubrianati – Hillmen chieftain, one of Aroisius's lieutenants.
Luia – Second eldest of Ullsaard's wives and mother of Urikh. Wayward, headstrong and adulterous, Luia tests the patience of her husband constantly and owes her continued prosperity, perhaps even her life, to the intervention and protection of her older sister.
Luisaa – An infant, daughter of Urikh, grand-daughter of Ullsaard.
Luriun – One of Askhos's warlords, later governor of Nalanor. R
umoured to have killed his brother and raped his widow due to his own wife being barren.
Luuarit – Second Captain and surgeon in the Thirteenth Legion.
Maasrites – Natives of Maasra, of normally tanned skin due to the sunny climate of their homeland. Many undertake the Oath of Service and have their tongues removed so that they may not speak out of turn to their masters. This has led to the rise of a secret sign language unknown to other peoples.
Meaghran – Salphorian chieftain, ruler of Carlangh.
Medorian – Son of King Aegenuis.
Mekhani – Savage desert-dwelling tribes of Near- and DeepMekha, with distinctive dark red skin. Dispersed huntergatherers that utilise stone weapons and tools. Led by shamanic tribal chieftains.
Meliu – Youngest wife of Ullsaard and mother to Ullnaar. In her early thirties, Meliu is utterly devoted to her husband, son and eldest sister.
Murian – Governor of Anrair.
Muuril – Sergeant in the Thirteenth Legion, Gelthius's leader.
Muuris – One of Askhos's warlords, later governor of Okhar. The most successful general of Askhos's reign (after the king).
