Military History of the Selkie in the Dark Ages (826 - 1459)

The **Military History of the Selkie in the Dark Ages**, from 826 to 1459, can be split into different periods,

This article is mostly about their tactics, organization, logistics, troop types (including the militias), deeds and misdeeds. Their weapons and armour is spoken of elsewhere.

## Organization and Logistics

### Cavalry: The Lance

The Lance was the tactical and logistical main unit of the Cavalry, composed of six horsemen. They were, in and of themselves, one unit of horsemen, which moved, operated and lived together. The first Lances were organized by the Lancemaidens, hence their name (even mounted archer formations are called Lances), appear around the year 1000, as the Order organized their forces in preparation for their entry into the War of the Great Woods.

Their superordinate unit was the Banner, usually composed of six Lances. Support personell, like carters, field doctors and other such people, were usually either not attached to the Lance itself but its army, or integrated into the Banner as fighters (for instance, Eoin Carrha of the Tribe of Galway, one of the followers of Gwen Lách of the Tribe of Galway, was a blacksmith and shoed the horses). In an ideal structure, it would mean 36 people:

* Banner Captain
	+ five horsemen, usually the first lance
* Banner Leftenant Commander
	+ five horsemen, usually the second lance
* four Lances
	+ Lance-Sergeant
	+ five horsemen

Even in the modern day, support personell like veterinarians, are shared between the Lances of a Banner.

### Infantry: Dornán

The Dornán (bunch, plural Dornáni) was the informal main formation of less organized militias of villages and farmsteads. An ideal structure is hard to define.

This formation was in use since the Age of the High Kings and, with the militias growing more and more professional over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Dornán vanished.

While the units of the Gíománra were called Dornán as well, they are not related to the Dornán described here.

### Infantry: Drongi

The Drongi (herd, singular Drong) was the main unit of infantry organization from around the Late Age of the High Kings to around the year 1000. They were subordinate to the Musters. Usually, a Drongi was made up of around twenty men.

### Infantry: Céadi

The Céadi (group of 100, singular Céad) was the main unit of infantry organization between ca. 1000 and 1450, with the Scata replacing it starting around 1400. As the name suggests, the Céadi was composed of around a hundred men, of which ninety were combat troops. The Younger Militias organized their infantry in these formations, starting with their inception in 889.

In an ideal structure, it would look like this:

* Captain
	+ Quartermaster
	+ Ensign with two men flag escort
	+ Priest (usually a Servant)
	+ Two musicians (usually drummers)
	+ 2 Runners
* 6 ealtai/flocks (singular ealta) -10
	+ Sergeant
	+ 9 Pikemen
* 3 ealtai/flocks (singular ealta) -10
	+ Sergeant
	+ 9 Swordsmen

### Infantry: Scata

Around 1400, the organization of the Infantry formed something, that would become known as the Scata, usually translated as Regiment (plural Scatai). It was a powerful combination of Pikemen, Swordsmen and Archers. For nearly three centuries, this type of formation was the mainstay of Selkie-Infantry, slowly being replaced by the Criúli (singular Criú) starting around 1660.

In an ideal structure, this would mean 285 men and women:

* Captain
	+ Lifeguard of five (also serve as disciplinary force)
	+ Priest
	+ Ensign plus flag-guard of five
	+ Quartermaster-Leftenant plus staff of five
	+ 6 musicians, usually drummers
	+ 6 Runners (usually mounted)
	+ 2 Cooks
	+ 2 guides
* 6 ealtai/flocks (singular ealta)
	+ Leftenant
	+ Sergeant
	+ Quartermaster-Sergeant
	+ Cook
	+ Messenger
	+ 20 pikemen
* 2 ealtai/flocks (singular ealta)
	+ Leftenant
	+ Sergeant
	+ Quartermaster Sergeant
	+ Cook
	+ Messenger
	+ 20 swordsmen
* 2 ealtai/flocks (singular ealta)
	+ Leftenant
	+ Sergeant
	+ Quartermaster Sergeant
	+ Cook
	+ Messenger
	+ 20 archers/musketmen/crossbowmen

Scatai were especially often hired out by the Mercenary-Guild of Redruth,

By the 1690s, the Scatai had all but vanished from the list of offered mercenary companies to be replaced by the Criúli (singular Criú), the Mercenary Companies. Of course, one could also hire individual ealtai.

## Distinctive Troop Types

*OOC-Note: One could read this as a unit roster for the Selkie in Medieval II, if one wanted. And it's WiP.*
*See also: Marcach, Selkie and Horses.*

### Heavy Cavalry Militia: Merchant Militia

The Merchant Militias were drafted by cities in times of need, basically arming the clerks and merchants and putting them on horses - they were well armoured and could fight, but they lacked the proficiency and elan of real Marcach. During and after the Crusade, many cities enacted laws, which required every merchant to hire a certain amount of mercenaries (numbers varied by city and income class) to take over militia cuty for them under the command of the City Guard and the Merchant Militias ceased to exist around 1350.

### Light Cavalry: Spearriders

Spearriders were armed with a spear and armoured in light padded armour, if armoured at all,

Spearriders were especially found in the most rural areas and among both bandits and militias alike.

### Light Cavalry: Horseboys

Horseboys are usually children, riding bareback and with great skill - both in horsemanship and with their javelins, which they can throw with unmatched precision. However, as good as they were at a distance, the more reckless they were and the more they had to stay out of close combat or the range of enemy archers as the Horseboys were usually unarmoured.

Mounted javelin-throwing is still practiced in along the shores of the White Cliffs.

### Light Cavalry: Móinteánni

The Móinteánni ride the Móinteán, horses usually used in forestry in the Moorlands around Lake Iasc. Light horses and light riders are quick and can easily outmaneuvre heavier cavalry. Armed usually with a long spear and a small axe, they were well suited to ride down their opponents. Their light and agile horses also made them formidable scouts.

### Medium Cavalry: Lancers

Armoured in the Cathéide, the classical Horseman's Armour, the Lancer is usually called medium cavalry. The Militias in rural areas, and to this day the Younger Militia, made heavy use of these horsemen, who were not as heavily armoured as many of their opponents, could, however, rely on speed and manoeuvreability, as well as low costs.

Usually armed with a lance, a sword, a round shield and a multitude of daggers, they were a danger to their enemies, especially when charging. For non-combat purposes, many of the horsemen also carried bows and arrows or crossbows and bolts, usually to supplement their rations with fresh game or to defend themselves against wildlife.

Many of these horsemen patrolled the Old Traveling Roads and other important streets, sometimes as professional soldiers and men of the City Guards or as Militiamen.

### Light Infantry: The Ceitherne

The Ceitherne were the rabble from the streets of villages, towns and cities, usually armed with a light shield and a small axe, both of which they could use to great effect.

### Medium Infantry: The Cliathairi

Cliathairi were professional soldiers, usually under the employ of a land-owner and usually, they were paid by the land-owner to keep up order around the estate and to keep the estate bandit-free. Lightly armoured, they are experts in handling their spears and short swords, as well as their round shields. If several land-owners were so inclined, the Cliathairi could be used in conjunction against a shared enemy.

### Light Infantry: Archers of the Folaidan-Laoghi

The Folaidan-Laoghi, *Warriors with the Hidden Face*, are warriors recalling the ancient traditions from the Cloch Mountains, the Silver Mountains and the Great Woods. While the Folaidan-Laoghi are not known as impressive archers, their commanders know of the worth of these troops and while neither their bow nor their arrows are on the standards of the remaining Selkie's weapons, the Archers are capable of defending themselves with the small axe they usually carry.

### Light Infantry: Axemen of the Folaidan-Laoghi

The Folaidan-Laoghi, *Warriors with the Hidden Face*, are warriors recalling the ancient traditions from the Cloch Mountains, the Silver Mountains and the Great Woods. These men, and usually, they are men, are equipped with an axe and a shield - hardy, reckless, without discipline, they stand little chance against an opponent in formation and with discipline, but their experience in raiding makes them formidable raiders, flankers and shock troops.

### Medium Infantry: Pikemen of the Folaidan-Laoghi

The Folaidan-Laoghi, *Warriors with the Hidden Face*, are warriors recalling the ancient traditions from the Cloch Mountains, the Silver Mountains and the Great Woods. There is little the Folaidan-Laoghi could do against the Cavalry of the High Kings and even deep into the Dark Ages, there was not much, which they could do to match the Cavalry of the Selkie-Lands on their own turf. The Folaidan-Laoghi simply did not have the horsemen. They had long, pointy sticks, though, and the experience to use them against cavalry.

### Heavy Infantry: Swordsmen of the Folaidan-Laoghi

The Folaidan-Laoghi, *Warriors with the Hidden Face*, are warriors recalling the ancient traditions from the Cloch Mountains, the Silver Mountains and the Great Woods. Armoured in mail and with a helmet, these men are the nobles and leaders of their armies, wielding fearsome two-handed swords and commanding the respect of anyone, who encountered them and lived to tell the tale - of masked giants with equally giant swords, which cleft anything in half, which opposed them.

### Light Infantry: Gwentarra

Light, professional raiders in light armour and usually unmounted - these men of the Great Woods usually carry axes and are not as undisciplined as their raiding origins suggest. Quite on the contrary, the bands of the Gwentarra are known to follow their Captains to the death and further, if the need should arise - but anyone other then their Captain has to earn their fellowship and respect or pay a hefty sum for their services.

### Light Infantry: Helwyrra

Helwyrra are untrained archers, huntsmen recruited from the Great Woods. While untrained, they are far from unskilled and have held off many an enemy from their farmsteads and villages.

### Medium Infantry: Billmen Militia

A billhook is an agricultural tool, an axe and a hook on the end of a long pole. Used to trim down trees, many towns in the Free Lands can rely on small armies of men experienced in grabbing and pulling something from high up down with their tools - be that branches or enemy horsemen. And for anything else, they still carry an axe on a long pole.

### Medium Infantry: Crossbowmen

Few weapons revolutionized Selkie-Warfare as much as the crossbow: While still being expensive to produce, the crossbow allowed to put a ranged weapon into the hands of almost unskilled soldiers, put them on the battlefield and to counter armoured horsemen and armoured infantry alike. Cities quickly began to pass laws, which mandated a certain amount of crossbows and bolts in every house for now they had an effective defensive weapon in their hands. Funnily enough, the Crusaders brought this highly effective weapon to the Lands of the Selkie.

Armed with their trusty crossbows, a short sword and a lot of guts, these men and women are positioned on the walls or on strongpoints in times of need - and from there, they dominate anything, unless that anything comes too close.

### Medium Mounted Infantry: Dragani

Dragani, dragons, were the logical continuation of thought for more professional crossbowmen: The crossbow was a large, unwieldy weapon and its carrier quite immobile. The conclusion was for the crossbowman to be placed on a horse, to ride to the battlefield, dismount, shoot a few times at the enemy, remount once he was too close or the crossbowmen were needed elsewhere, rinse and repeat. Armed with their large crossbows, swords, maybe even a shield and armoured in the Cathéide, these men were a formidable mounted infantry.

Although smaller crossbows and, after their inception, firearms, were adopted by horsemen as mounted weapons, the Dragani evolved into the Selkie-Dragoons.

### Medium Cavalry: Mounted Crossbowmen

Mounted Crossbowmen utilized smaller crossbows then the ones used by the infantry with about the same rate of fire and less armour penetrating power. However, what the Mounted Crossbowmen lacked in penetrating power, they made more then up with speed and agility.

### Light Infantry: Naphatai

Naphatai are an adoption of a weapon brought back by mercenaries in Kyrenaian Services: Naphta, a sticky substance, which easily burned and seeped through cracks in even the best armour. Filled in containers of clay, with a rag hanging one end (said rag being lit shortly before being thrown), it is a weapon not unlike a modern molotov cocktail and about as vicious. Naphatai are usually called up during sieges, where they can throw their vicious clay containers on the enemy at the gate or wall.

## Tactics and Strategy

The Warfare of the Selkie in the Dark Ages is Raider Warfare - light and fast troops engaging in raids and and guerilla warfare, exploiting the weaknesses inherent in a larger enemy and in the longer supply chains a larger enemy requires. A pitched battle with a superior enemy is usually avoided, rather the Selkie lay ambushes, harass, plunder, seek weaknesses and exploit them. Especially against heavier troops, the Selkie like to employ their knowledge of their home and the lightness of their troops to exhaust them in pursuits.

Usually, the Selkie avoid pitched battles. They can fight them, but they don't like it.

### The Marcach's Dance or Armoured Dance

In a more modern case, the Marcach's Dance was the tactic of choice of Lieutenant Finnegan Riteoga of the Tribe of Navan, D-Platoon, 14th Company, 18th Maor-Regiment during the assault on Cohortial Strongpoint LXXIV during Operation Spartacus.

## Women on the Battlefield

Fighting women have a long tradition and even outside of the Orders,

## See also

* Military History of the Selkie in the 1st Century BCE.
* Society and culture during the 4th century in the Lands of the Selkie.
* Military History of the Selkie in the Second Golden Age (1412-1863).
* Military History during the Kyrenaian Middle Ages (942-1463).