Laranian Fighting Orders

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Fighting Orders

Military Organization

Historical and Religious Context:

The Laranian religion is one that fosters a feudal society in its beliefs and organization. HârnMaster Religion has the following to say about the fighting orders of the Goddess Larani:

Fighting orders are organized along the lines of feudal society, symbolizing the chivalric ideal so important to Laranian doctrine. Fighting orders maintain chapter houses as headquarters. Some hold huge estates, including mighty strongholds and have hundreds of members. The chapter houses of the order also serve as a social club for members.

The same document has the following about the mission of the church:

Theological Mission

The modern church of Larani views feudalism as a pact between defender and servitor and strives to maintain its ideal. These include codes of behavior (chivalry) and duty (honor). Prior to feudalism, the religion existed to formalize behavior between warring tribes.

Social Mission

The church offers a source of chivalry, honor and salvation to those whose lives are filled with duties. Laranians have traditionally come from the feudal nobility but muster growing numbers from wealthy freemen, especially Heralds, Ostlers, Weaponcrafters and Yeomen, occupations associated with the nobility and war.

The enmity between Larani and Agrik, the evil god of war, dominates the external relations of the church. Laranians, like Agrikans, view each other as mortal enemies on sight and this is a prejudice difficult to overcome.

The priesthood stands separate from the knights of Laranian fighting orders. Although most clerics have some martial skill, it is the duty of the laity to champion the cause while the priesthood serves as the conscience of the church.

The code by which all true Laranians try to live by:

The Chivalric Code

Victory is secondary to Laranians. It is far more important to behave properly, to contest for the right reasons and to do battle with honor. Those who follow Larani must be brave, compassionate and honorable.

Societal order is an ideal for the chivalric knight. He is the guardian of the culture. He is motivated by duty to his vassals and servants as well as to his lawful superiors and his clan. Laranianism works best in feudal societies, for these are, founded on obligation and privilege.

The code recognizes the possibility of conflicts of right against right. Hence, it is possible for followers of Larani to find themselves on opposite sides in a war. Their duty is to strive for victory in accordance with their feudal (or societal) obligations, but they are ever bound to fight "fairly". In battle, quarter may be offered and accepted with honor. If one's opponent is evil, quarter should be offered to him, but not accepted from him.

Tournaments are occasions for Laranian knights to champion a lady, organization or cause and bring her/it honor by competing. Tournaments may consist of jousting between pairs of knights to determine the most proficient. The oldest tourneys are battles between (often large) teams/orders of knights.

Because of these beliefs and missions belonging to the Laranian church its fighting orders are organized along feudal lines. That is, there are the dominant military arm of the mounted warrior in the form of knights and squires and their supporting infantry recruited from freemen and serf households.

General Tactical Organization:

All Laranian fighting orders have the same basic tactical organization as any feudal kingdom within Hârn. The organization itself stems from those of feudal Trierzon. These are the basic tactical formation found throughout feudal Hârn:

Mounted Units

Squadron

This is the standard unit size for mounted units and ideally consists of 10 cavalrymen. In a Laranian fighting order the squadron would be made up of knights or squires from the nobility or light horsemen from the commonality. In many cases the squadron is split into half squadrons for special duties; however on the battlefield it is more common for them to fight at squadron strength or better. Most orders stress regular training at the squadron level as a means to build cohesion and comradery between its members.

Company (Conroi)

This is the basic tactical component off the battlefield and is commonly composed of two squadrons. Like the squadron above, most order will attempt to have these units train together as a unit once or twice a month.

Centad (Battle)

This is the main strike element on a battlefield and will have five squadrons or more in its formation. Since most orders would be hard pressed to assemble more than this at any one spot it is normally the main attack element in any army consisting of Laranian fighting order troops. The commander of this formation will typically be the order's Chabla or his immediate deputy.

Infantry Units

Manus

The basic infantry mess team of five men. These men will eat, sleep and fight as a group. It is common practice that all these men be equipped similarly.

Company

Unlike the cavalry unit above, this is the basic tactical component on the battlefield and is commonly composed of four mani. The infantry company also forms the foundation upon which the main infantry lines are built. When a task requires infantry support the company is usually the smallest size that will be utilized when contact with a hostile element is expected. At times a company may be composed of mani of various infantry types; a typical composition for a patrol being two mani of bowmen and two of light infantry when in tribal lands or one manus of bowmen, two of light infantry and one of medium infantry when patrolling in gargun regions.

Centad

This is the main formation of infantry found on a battlefield and consist of five companies or more. Like the company, it too can be composed of various infantry types depending on the enemy being faced. Each centad would be commanded by high ranking official of the order and would be placed either in line supporting the cavalry from the rear or front depending the enemy being confronted.

Organization of the Lady of Paladins:

The Lady of Paladins is located in three separate kingdoms. Its mission in each of those kingdoms differs significantly enough that each kingdom has a different organization for its forces. All of Melderyn's forces are located on the Hârnic mainland in the Solora region subjugating the Solori peoples. The Kaldoric forces are spread throughout the kingdom with the mission to protect the main caravan routes coming into the kingdom. The Chybisan forces are quite small and assist in protecting the single trade route that passes through the kingdom.

Melderyni Contingent:

The Melderyni contingent of the order is headed by the order's Chabla headquartered at Caer Cundras. In addition to Cundras the order has a second keep under the command of a senior Reblena. Each caer has a number of manors under its control that provide them with supplies and additional men in time of need. The Melderyni contingent is organized as follows:

Caer Garrisons: (2 keeps, each with 30 men)

1 Squadron of knights (10 men)

½ Company of medium foot (10 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

Commanderies: (8 Chapter Houses, each with 15 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

½ Company of light infantry (10 men)

(Each house also has a Melana, a squire/light horse and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Manor Chapters: (12 manors, each with 8 men)

2 knights (one a retired Melana)

2 squires/light horse

4 Light Infantrymen

(Each house also has a Melana, a squire/light horse and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Serekela and Primate Shield Chapters: (2 detachments, each with 40 men)

1 Squadron of knights (10 men)

1 Squadron of squires/light horse (10 men)

1 Company of light foot (20 men)

Rekelas' Shield Chapters: (2 detachments, each with 20 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

½ Squadron of squires/light horse (5 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

Overall strength of the Melderyni contingent: (180 men)

Knights: 60 men

Medium Foot: 20 men

Light Foot: 100 men

Prelate Bodyguards (Shield Chapters): 30 knights, 30 squires/light horse and 60 infantry (120 men)

Reserve Force (Manor Chapters): 24 knights, 24 squires/light horse and 48 infantry (96 men)

Strategic Reserve (Retired and/or Pensioned members): 20 knights, 20 squires/light horse and 40 infantry (80 men)

Lands For: 30 knights and 120 light infantry

Chybisan Contingent:

The Chybisan contingent of the order is headed by a senior Reblena at Ulmstane. Ulmstane is the only manor the order controls within Chybisa. In addition to Ulmstane the order also maintains a contingent at the Laranian temple in Burzyn to protect the bishop there. The Chybisan contingent is organized as follows:

Ulmstane: (35 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

1 Company of light foot (20 men)

½ Company of light infantry bowmen (10 men)

(Each house also has a Melana, a squire/light horse and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Burzyn Temple Guard (Rekela of Chybisa): (15 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

Overall strength of the Chybisan contingent: (35 men)

Knights: 5 men

Light Foot: 20 men

Bowmen: 10 men

Prelate Bodyguards (Shield Chapters): 5 knights, 10 infantry (15 men)

Strategic Reserve (Retired and/or Pensioned members): 1 knights, 1 squires/light horse and 2 infantry (4 men)

Lands For: 1 knight and 5 light infantry

Kaldoric Contingent:

The Kaldoric contingent of the order is headed by a senior Reblena at Whyce. The order has no castles or keeps in its possession and its manors are divided among the lands of the Serekela and Rekelas of Kaldor. The Kaldoric contingent is organized as follows:

Sword Chapters: (5 chapter houses, each with 66 men)

1 Squadron of knights (11 men)

1 Squadron of squires/light horse (11 men)

1 Company of medium foot (22 men) (four of the chapter houses)

1 Company of light foot (22 men) (one chapter house)

(Each house also has a Melana, a squire/light horse and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Serekela's Shield Chapter: (1 detachment, each with 40 men)

1 Squadron of knights (10 men)

1 Squadron of squires/light horse (10 men)

1 Company of light foot (20 men)

Rekelas' Shield Chapters: (4 detachments, each with 20 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

½ Squadron of squires/light horse (5 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

Manor Chapters: (20, each with 8 men)

2 knights (one a retired Melana)

2 squires/light horse

4 Light Infantrymen

(Each house also has a Melana, a squire/light horse and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Overall strength of the Kaldoric contingent: (320 men)

Knights: 55 men

Squires/Light Horse: 55 men

Medium Foot: 110 men

Light Foot: 110 men

Prelate Bodyguards (Shield Chapters): 30 knights, 30 squires/light horse and 60 infantry (120 men)

Reserve Forces (Manor Chapters): 40 knights, 40 squires/light horse and 80 infantry (160 men)

Strategic Reserve (Retired and/or Pensioned members): 25 knights, 25 squires/light horse and 50 infantry (100 men)

Lands For: 44 knights and 177 light infantry

Organization of the Checkered Shield:

The Checkered Shield is located predominantly in Kanday; although it does have some members in the Thardic Republic. All of Kanday's forces are located on the border with Rethem and act as a blocking force should Rethem attack and also protect the border from periodic incursions.

Kandian Contingent:

The Kandian contingent of the order is headed by the order's Chabla headquartered at Caer Menekod. The caer has a number of manors under its control that provide it with supplies and additional men in time of need. Additional manors held by the order are scattered about the border with Rethem. The Kandian contingent is organized as follows:

Caer Garrison: (1 castle, with 80 men)

2 Squadron of knights (20 men)

1 Company of medium foot (20 men)

2 Companies of light foot (40 men)

Preceptories: (8 Chapter Houses, each with 30 men)

1 Squadron of knights (10 men)

½ Company of medium foot (10 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

(Each house also has a Melana and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Commanderies: (25 Chapter Houses (one has double the men), each with 15 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

(Each house also has a Melana and 2 Meken (often retired or pensioned) to run things when the garrison is away)

Granges: (29 manors, each 3 men (often retired or pensioned))

1 retired Melana or senior Meken unfit for active duty

2 retired Meken to act as guards and assist in running the grange

Serekela's Shield Chapters: (1 detachment, each with 30 men)

1 Squadron of knights (10 men)

1 Company of light foot (20 men)

Rekelas' Shield Chapters: (3 detachments, each with 15 men)

½ Squadron of knights (5 men)

½ Company of light foot (10 men)

Overall strength of the Kandian contingent: (710 men)

Knights: 230 men

Medium Foot: 100 men

Light Foot: 380 men

Prelate Bodyguards (Shield Chapters): 25 knights, 50 infantry (75 men)

Strategic Reserve (Retired and/or Pensioned members): 62 knights and 124 infantry (186 men)

Lands For: 127 knights and 510 light infantry

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Updated September 15, 2010. For suggestions and/or problems contact the web manager.