The Imperial Legions
The Imperial Legions are the branch of the Realm military under the Empress’ direct authority, without any delegation to the Houses. Although she, naturally, does not actively control every military action, the generals of her forces answer to her and serve at her pleasure.
Structure of the Imperial Legion
The Imperial Legion is composed of: a primary fighting force of legionaries; a small corps of officers; several units of supplemental forces; a train of support staff; and a large number of attached servitors.
The Legionaries
The primary fighting force nominally numbers 5,120 soldiers, although in reality, up to 20% of the Legion’s force might be unavailable at any given time, including soldiers in recovery, soldiers on leave, or soldiers on special duty.
The overall commander of a legion is known as the general or strategos.
The Dragon
The dragon consists of 640 soldiers, and eight dragons compose the legion, numbered, expectedly, First to Eighth. The soldeirs in a dragon share a basic function in war.
The First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Dragons are usually composed of basic infantry. These are your run-of-the-mill legionaries; the First Dragon is the most elite among them.
The Seventh Dragon is composed of quick-riding cavalry. Usually, the Seventh Dragon is mounted on horses, although other animals may be used when they are better suited to the local environment.
The Eighth Dragon is composed of artillerists, combat engineers and scouts.
The commander of a dragon is called the dragonlord and resides in the officer’s camp.
The Talon
A talon consists of 80 soldiers, and eight talons compose each dragon.
Infantry talons usually fight in formation, 10 columns and 8 rows, each row representing a scale of infantry. Talons of the Seventh and Eighth Dragons operate on their own geometries befitting their roles.
The commander of a talon is called a talonlord, and resides with their command, but closest to the officer’s camp.
The Scale
A scale is a unit of 10 soldiers. Eight scales comprise a talon; in an infantry talon, the scales each make up the rows of the formation.
Within the infantry talons, the scales are numbered 1 to 8, with the 1st scale being the most prestigious. In battle, the 8th talon marches at the front of the formation, closest to the enemy; the 8th scale is composed of the greenest and most disposable, while the 1st scale, at the back, is the most veteran. Surviving engagements leads to promotions within the talon.
The commander of a scale is called the scalelord, and, like the corporal of a fang, is primarily an authority in camp, not on the battlefield.
The Fang
The fang is an organizational unit of 5 men, and for infantry, has very little strategic use. Instead, for infantry, the fang is simply a way of demarcating which soldiers share tents. Unsurprisingly, two fangs make up a scale.
Infantry fangs are almost useless as a field unit, but are a helpful way to organize camp tents. Members of the same fang bunk together in the same tents, and the most senior, the corporal, is responsible for camp functions, although she commands no authority on the battlefield.
In the Eighth Dragon, the fang is often a more tactical unit, because several pieces of artillery are operated by five-man teams, or a unit of 5 men can operate as a scouting party. The corporal of an Eighth Dragon fang might actually be able to give orders on the battlefield.
Legionary Equipment
Legionaries either provide their own equipment or purchase equipment from the Legion with an advance on future salary; soldiers with debt to the Legion killed honorably in the line of duty have their remaining debt discharged.
Armor
The unifying under-armor of the legions is a red tunic and white or tan trousers, worn over long-sleeved and long-legged undergarments. The basic layers provide padding which helps prevent irritation and a unified red color to the Realm’s forces.
Infantry are usually kitted with a lamellar plate for the chest, a pair of thigh-guards, and a helmet. The armor is made from laquered leather or, for heavier or wealthier infantry, from steel scales. The helmet is adorned with a simple red plume or not adorned at all.
Cavalry wear body armor and have more elaborate helmets. Specialists of the Eighth Dragon wear lighter armor and hats instead of helmets.
Weaponry
Standard accoutrement for an infantry soldier includes: a crossbow; a spear; a short sword; a shield; and a knife. The focus of infantry combat is on the spear, which allows for formation fighting. The crossbow is used for opening volleys while closing on the enemy, and the sword can be used once spear combat becomes untenable.
The cavalry of the Seventh Dragon are primarily mounted archers, using their high maneuverability and ranged power. They are also equipped with polearms or large swords for melee engagement.
The Eighth Dragon are generally equipped with a crossbow, a sword, and a shield at hand. Legionaries of the Eighth Dragon are drilled in infantry sword training, but their primary function is artillery and scouting – both being occupations where, if you are clashing swords with someone, something has gone horribly wrong. Scouts are lightly armored and forego the use of heavy shields.
Officer Corps
The senior officers of the legion operate as a semi-detached officer corps, in that they do not occupy a position within the legion proper, but rather attached to it as an executive command structure.
The officer corps of the Imperial Legions are composed in large part of outcastes and foreign Chosen who have taken the coin and accepted a commission. As a result, the officer corps is often filled with a varying array of experiences and backgrounds that offers flexibility and insight.
General
The supreme authority of the legion is the general, who is occasionally called upon to serve as military governor in the interim while regional governments are established. The general makes the highest levels of decisions and directs the legion’s broad engagements. In battle, the general usually delegates authority to the individual dragonlords, unless the whole legion is engaged, in which case she posts a camp at the rear of the battlefield and directs the legion to operate as a whole.
No general of the Imperial Legions has ever been mortal.
Dragonlord
The dragonlord is the commander of an individual dragon, tasked with supervising their units and commanding the dragons in battle. Generals often send dragons to act independently, especially when a distributed presence is required, so dragonlords usually have experience operating solo. When the legion is brought to bear, the dragonlords spend time both at the general’s camp to assist in planning and on the battlefield leading troops.
The dragonlord of the First Dragon is the most senior dragonlord in the legion. Infantry dragonlords have a reputation as gruff and straightforward. The dragonlord of the Seventh Dragon commands the cavalry units, and they have a reputation as being overworked and underappreciated. Lastly, the dragonlord of the Eighth Dragon has a reputation as being eccentric and nonsequitur.
Only a handful of mortal officers have ever risen to the rank of dragonlord.
Talonlord
The talonlord is the commander of the eighty-man talon, with eight talonlords answering to each of the dragonlords. The talonlord is part of their talon, a senior officer in command of the 79 other soldiers in their unit. The talonlord is the highest authority which regular soldiers are expected to deal with on any kind of regular basis – receiving orders and drilling with the talonlord’s command and participation.
Talonlord is the highest command to which mortals can usually aspire, and almost all talonlords are mortal. Princes of the Earth may occasionally serve as talonlord for very specialized talons of auxiliaries in large and well-respected legions.
Scalelord
The scalelord is the officer responsible for administering the 10-man scale, which is both a row in formation and a tent group. The scalelord is responsible for maintaining discipline at camp and ensuring that all nine of the soldiers under her command remain disciplined and focused during combat. By convention, the talonlord is also the scalelord of the first scale.
All scalelords are mortal.
Fanglord
The fanglord has no battlefield authority and is regularly addressed by the humble title of corporal. The fanglord is the most senior soldier in a given tent, responsible for the discipline and upkeep of that single tent. Because of its humility, all fanglords are mortal.
The Officer’s Camp
The officer’s camp is a separate region of the military encampment set aside for the officer’s tents and staff. The general, dragonlords, and officers of the train all make their residence within the officer’s camp.
The general has a large and sprawling tent with several interior rooms, allowing for parallel meetings and coordinating the legion’s strategy. The central room serves as both a meeting hall for the officers and the center of command for the whole legion – it usually has a large central table on which the general and her officers make plans.
Individual dragonlords reside in the officer’s camp in tents smaller than the general’s, arrayed to face the legions. In addition, the officers of the train make their tents on the opposite side of the general’s tent from the fighting officers. Including the slaves and specialists, the officer’s camp often feels like a small elite village within the larger tent-city of the legion’s camp.
The officer’s camp is often used metonymously to refer to the officer’s corps as a whole – “we got new marching orders from the officer’s camp,” etc.
Supplemental Forces
The regular fighting force of eight dragons is supplemented by an array of secondary fighting forces called supplemental forces. Supplemental forces can be divided into two broad categories: special forces and auxiliaries.
Special Forces
The category of special forces describes any unit of supplemental forces which formally integrates with the legion structure and can include citizens among its ranks. Although these forces exist outside of the eight dragons that make up the formal fighting force of a legion, they are still part of the general’s direct command. Special forces generally serve very specialized roles.
There are no formal specifications for the type and number of special forces which can be attached to a legion. The general is free to assemble and dismiss special supplemental forces as she deems necessary. However, most legions include at least some of the special forces listed here.
Many legions have a sorcerer’s attachment, consisting of a sorcerer, her bodyguards, and her servitors. Battle Sorcerers of the Imperial Legions are often trained in a combination of devastating military magic and basic logistic spells for communication and spying. The legion’s sorcerer resides in the officer’s camp and her servitors among the train camp.
Many legions have a chaplaincy consisting of a dedicated monk, her bodyguards, and her servitors. The chaplaincy serves not only to provide for the legion’s pastoral needs, but also as spirit-speakers and qualified specialists in the supernatural. The chaplaincy also helps to track down and address heresy and foreign influence among the legion’s practice.
The train guard is commanded by the quartermaster, and is tasked primarily with defending the legion’s supply train. It is usually composed of respected veteran soldiers who can be trusted with such an important task. The train guard also act as a sort of police force for the train, ensuring that legion followers do not cause trouble or disrupt the legion’s function.
Many other categories of special forces can be found in various legions, as befit that legion’s specific needs.
Auxiliaries
The category of auxiliary describes any unit of supplemental forces made up of local satrapial subjects or impressed peasantry.
Most auxiliaries are not professional soldiers, but rather are levied and released as the legion requires. As a result, auxiliaries are often poorly trained compared to the legionaries and rely on local tradition for their skills. The most common unit of this kind of auxiliary is the skirmisher. A unit of skirmishers is often simply a group of locals given spears and pointed at the enemy. Their job is to provide bodies, do their best, and augment the strength of the legion as required.
Many regions have strong traditions of useful skills such as archery, riding, or swordsmanship. When able, auxiliaries may be raised as units with more purpose than skirmisher units, such as archery units, backup cavalry, and so forth.
Mercenaries, when they are used, are also considered auxiliaries.
Janissaries
Janissaries are made up through the satrapial system of tribute, by which prime satrapial subjects are taken from their homelands, converted to Immaculacy if they are not already, and incorporated as professional soldiers into the Realm’s military. They are famed for their discipline and order. Unlike other auxiliaries, the janissary units are paid regular salaries, forbidden to marry or conduct trade, and are expected to show complete loyalty to the legion and to the Empress.
Janissary units are deliberately deployed far away from their homelands, to make sure that they have no loyalties other than to the Realm. They serve for 20 years and, should they survive their term, are returned to their homeland with celebration and severance. A satrapy which regularly tributes janissary forces grows more cosmopolitan as its wayward children return home with new foreign ideas. Such a satrapy also grows more respected, as the janissary corps of its subjects gain fame and respect among the legions.
Many satrapies select their eventual janissary tribute as children and send them to be raised in special martial orders. Janissaries embody their culture’s traditions in far corners of the world that would otherwise never see them.
Famous janissary corps include Medoan heavy cavalry, Tu’uri desert warriors with their eerie face paint, Delzahn lancers, Jiaran sword-dancers, Varangian engineers, Baihu amphibious assault marines, Zebremani battle alchemists, D’deshi poison-swallowers, fearless leiomano wielders from Utahi, Pneuman mandala soldiers, and dozens of other famed peoples with strange – and useful – local warrior traditions.
The Train
The Thousand Correct Actions of the Upright Soldier says,
While spears may win battles, it is carts that win wars.
A legion marches on its stomach. It marches on boots. It wages war with spears and sleeps on bedrolls. Each of those things, and many more, must be acquired from somewhere and hauled with the legion. Every sip of stew, every scrap of tent cloth, and every wheel on every cart comes from somewhere.
The train is the most important part of the legion. It is the long line of baggage and supplies that carries the legion’s food, water, ammunition, and other gear. It is populated by animals, drovers, and craftsmen of all kinds: wainwrights and wheelwrights to keep the carts in good repair, smiths to fix the weapons, farriers for the horses, bowyers and fletchers for ammunition, and more.
The Quartermaster and Her Staff
The quartermaster is the second highest-ranking individual in the legion, answering only and directly to the general. The quartermaster’s primary responsibility is running the legion’s support staff and supply train. She is equal parts commander and accountant.
The quartermaster is supported by her staff, a talon’s worth of logistics specialists that handle the tasks of arranging food, water, pay, and other necessities for the legion. A major part of their duties is coordinating the roughly seven talon’s worth of personnel who make up the rest of the train.
The quartermaster is always Dragon-Blooded; no one else can be trusted with such responsibility. Her staff are career legionaries and paid extra rate for their work.
Craftsmen
The legion employs many craftsman of many different crafts. Carpenters and masons are valued for siegeworks and establishing camps. Wainwrights and wheelwrights are necessary for keeping the legion’s wagons in good repair. Naturally, smiths are in high demand for repairs to weaponry and armor that cannot be performed by the individual. Farriers are important for keeping the horses, donkeys, and other draft animals on their feet.
Craftsmen require raw materials, so the legion also travels with sawyers and skinners who can produce the raw materials required for the legion. Craftsmen also need workers, who may or may not be slaves depending on the craftsman.
Drivers
All the legion’s carts need someone to drive them and tend to the animals. On the march, drivers ensure that the working animals of the legion pull the carts and drive the livestock. In sedentary periods, the drivers are tasked with supervising and caring for the legion’s livestock. Work animals make poor eating, so the drivers focus mostly on keeping their animals alive and in good working condition for the march ahead.
Medical Staff
Legions keep a chief physician to command the recovery of the legion’s valuable members. The chief physician also keeps a staff of a handful of orderlies to assist in keeping the legion up to snuff. In addition to providing medical services, the medical staff also offer services as barbers and veterinarians. Usually the chief physician resides in the officer’s camp and the rest of the orderlies in the train camp.
The effective number of medical staff fluctuates wildly based on the legion’s actual circumstances.
Other Train Professions
Buglers, messengers, and bannermakers are a small but important part of the train, who ensure that communication across the legion is maintained even in times of battle. A small group of professional hunters work with talented legionaries to find food for the legions as such things become necessary. Many other specialized support staff can be found throughout the train, with the leadership acquiring more as the situation demands.
Servitors
Servitors make up a huge portion of the legion’s actual count, although they, like the train staff, do not count as combatants in an official tally. The servitors are tasked with the day-to-day labor of camp and legion life, allowing the soldiers to focus on their duties and drills. Servitors come mostly from two primary sources: impressment of peasantry and the Imperial slaves.
Conscription
Many of the legion’s train and servants are conscripted troops from the local population, either satrapial subjects or individuals willing to work for the legion which have accumulated along the road. The legions only take unwilling warriors in the most extreme cases – soldiers have to want to fight for the cause in order to fight most effectively.
Peasant levies are the most common form of enrollment from local populations. Local nobles and minor nobility sometimes choose to serve in order to boost their standing. Such individuals are suited for service in the officer’s camp, or as skilled workers among the train.
Slaves
The legions are also staffed by “slaves in the Imperial Service,” who are held in bondage. Slaves in the Imperial Service are the Empress’ direct property and marked with her symbol on their shoulder; this symbol includes their year of joining the legion. After twenty-five years of service, a slave in the Imperial Service is manumitted, offered a small backpay, and becomes a Realm citizen.
Slaves in the Imperial Service have a number of protections which common slaves lack. They are guaranteed bedrolls and meals, may only be punished by officers, and are considered the Empress’ property, making harassing or murdering them a serious offense. Although they are still property and subject to the humiliation and degradation of slavery, many slaves join the legions for the chance at manumittance and the higher minimum standard they can expect.
Distribution of Servitors
Every five-man fang has a servitor assigned to them, to handle the cooking and low-level maintenance of the tent. These servitors are the responsibility of the fang, and corporals and scalelords use them as a lesson on resource management. Make your servant do all the work, and you lose both discipline and a perfectly useful servant. Have your fang look after their own kit and maintain their own standards, and the servant is more productive and the fang is more disciplined.
Each scalelord has a second servant in their tent, and each talonlord has a separate tent with a staff of three servants. Officers in the officer’s camp have several servants each, and the general usually has a staff of twenty to tend to her big tent.
The train has numerous servants that assist the craftsmen in their work. Auxiliaries and special forces generally do not have their own servants.
Final Accounting
A full legion on paper thus consists of:
- 5,120 soldiers arranged in eight dragons of eight talons of eight scales of ten men apiece;
- A train of roughly a dragon of extra craftsmen, support specialists, and other essentials;
- About half a dragon’s worth of attached auxiliaries and specialists;
- A corps of officers to supervise the legion;
- Almost 2000 servants, about 25 each in each of the 64 talons, plus a couple hundred more distributed among the officer’s camp and the train.
A full legion then numbers about 6000 soldiers, a handful of officers, and a couple thousand servitors. This number does not account for the large band of following sutlers, husbands, entertainers, laborers, prostitutes, and others that form the civilian camp followers.
Dragon-Blooded
A legion usually mans about a dozen or so Dragon-Blooded: the general, each of the eight dragonlords, the quartermaster, the sorcerer, the monk, and one or two among the special forces.