Imperial Army

> "*We are the first and the last stand, the only line of defense between order and absolute chaos. As the heavens chose our Emperor he chose you to protect them!*"
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## Introduction

The Imperial Army is the largest military organisation in Xyrillia. Under the command of the Ethyrion it serves as the army of the entire Celestial Empire. Every Prefectum has to reinforce the Imperial Army with troops, supplies and money for their protection.

## Brigades

The Imperial Army is split into twelve Brigades. Although all are part of the same army and loyal to the Ethyrion; each of them operates independently with its own commandery. A Brigade consists of imperial units such as Levy and local ones such as *Kaluken Knights*. Imperial troops are diverse in origin and blood to ensure their loyalty to the celestial throne while the specilialised troops are only local to prevent infighting and a strategic ballance. For that reason the majority of Brigades are dedicated to a Prefectum. In times of peace their numbers are relativly small and they remain stationed in their respective Prefecti.

### Organisation

The majority of Brigades are organised in a strict fashion which regulates the minimal and maximal numbers of troops and units. Every regional Brigade abides these laws, yet there are those that have unique characteristics and deployment.

Imperial law dictates that every Brigade must enlist atleast 1000 Levy either armed with melee or ranged weapons, 1000 Prefectian Guards, 20 Gunners armed with any ranged weapon, 100 cavalry men and 20 units of artillery. There can never be more regional troops then imperial ones, an ideal measure will have ten times more imperials then locals. For every 100th man there must be atleast one overseer of noble birth, for every battalion there must be atleast one general and for every third battalion there must be a strategist. For every 15th solider there must be a civilian capable of either cooking, crafting or reading. For every 50th man there must be a solider with medical knowledge. For every 30th man there must be a musician, dancer, courtesan or minstrel to keep them entertained and ordered. For every tenth man there must be beast of burden to carry weapons, tents and supplies. Every Brigade needs a representative royal General, atleast ten administrators managing fincance and supplies and three advising eunuchs from the Xilian nobility.

### Brigades

* **First Brigade-** also known as the *Royal Army, Blessed Host, Emperors Finest* or *Jade Legion*. They are almost entirely composed of Xilian units and are by far the most elite military force in all of Xyrillia. They rarely leave the Imperial Realm and only do so on direct orders from the imperial palace.
* **Second Brigade-** or (...) army or *Golden Legion*. They watch over Sheiley and are known for their elite infantry. The second brigade is perhabs the largest and one of the most well equipped.
* **Thrid Brigade-** also known as the *Phoenixguard, Cranes of Saoleng* or *Moonstone Legion*. They guard Saoleng and are renowned for their superior cavalry, especially their ratite Riders.
* **Fourth Brigade-** or (...) or *Alabaster Legion*. They protect Sanchai and are known for their supreme artillery and marines.
* **Fifth Brigade-** also known as *Blades of the Steppe, The Emperors Scimitar* or *Devil Legion.* They are among the smaller Brigades and are stationed in the Kaianai. They mainly consist of imperial units. Most Keshen still oppose the idea of imperial forces in their territory as they see themselves as martially superior. Only in the Kaianai does the imperial court tolerate that most lords refuse to supply the Fifth Brigade with soliders and raise their own armies instead.
* **Sixt Brigade-** more commonly known as the *Emperors Dogs, Shepherds of Savages, Guardians of the Swamp* or the *Mud Legion*. They are by far the smallest Brigade, constisting of only a few thousand men mostly armed with match-locks and spears. They are suportet by a dwindeling number of tribal troops from the Mangrove Coast. They mostly guard the Floating City and serve as enforcers to prevent conflict between tribes, should the Prefect deem it necessairy. Serving in the Sixt Brigade is a punishment for severe disbehaviour or theft in the Imperial Army.
* **Seventh Brigade-** also known as *Fangs of Osho, Blades of the Wild* or *Malachite Legion*. The seventh guards Oshos rural outsides and is amongst the largest armies serving in a lower Prefectum. Yet they are highly restricted as it is forbidden for them to enter the sacred jungles of Oshos core.
* **Nawangian Brigade-** Since the invasion of Nawanga and the Onya support in the (...) war does the Celestial Empire host a Brigade entirely composed of their kind. They are also known as *Fangs of Apophis, Spears of Ombross* or *Onyx Legion.* Their troopes embrace exotic weapons and tactics during battle, combined with the Onya battle prowess. Lead by an elite guard of Vulu Kai in platin armor the Nawangian Brigade is considered one of the most dangerous and hardest to fight. Their Ozul can often keep up with Keshen Kaluken or Xilian Palace Protectors. Due to their outlandish tactics and fighting style both xyrillian soliders and generals find it increadbly hard to best them.
* **Obscure Brigade-** Composed only of outlandish troops, beasts and warengines the Obscure Brigade is the smallest and most diverse of armies. Form every conquest into another dimension the Xyrillians took troops, tactics and weapons with them, only to unite them in this army. The Obscure Brigade rarely fights on its own but often supports other Brigades with battalions of troops perfectly tailored to the thread at hand. Only few xyrillian generals know how to deal with Flying Chariots, Solar Engines, ilithian Greatswords or esharic Deathbringers.
* **Shao Gei Mercenary Brigade-** although bound to Imperial authority, the Shao Gei Mercenary Brigade can act independant and enlist any man they want. They fight for money rather then feality of the Celestial Throne. Although the Xilian court does neither trust not like them, they rely on their support. Not only because their troopes are often more determined and stronger then their own but also because they could not afford such a large force to turn against them. There are only rare incidences were a Rogue Prefectum could emply the Shao Gei, yet there were many Ethyrions that only gained the throne with their support.

## Weapons and armor

### Siege equipment

The most prominent tool used during sieges are bamboo ladders. They are increadibly long and so flexible they can form a circle without breaking, yet they are stable enough to allow soldiers a safe climb to the top of a wall. They are mostly carried by a group of six men, two on each side of the ladder. The first two begin a sprint before running up the walls supported by the bamboo. Other troops use throwing hooks or climbing axes.

### Armor

The most cheap and commonly used type of armor is **Paper-Armor**. It is made from the wood and leaves of *Lyse*, a very common crop plant. Its dried fibers are pressed into hardened plates which consist of countless layers. These plates are stitched together and form a lamellar armor that is harder then leather. Paper armor is inferior to metal armor and comperable to flax armor, yet far cheaper to make. Its largest weakness is water. It gets softer during rainfalls and can get completly destroyed when fighting in a river or other body of water for too long.

Its superior form is known as **Lai-Armor**. The paper is treated with a special type of salt water that increases its durability due to crystallising. After that, the armor is lacquered in a special color that makes it resistent to water and thougher in general. Xyrillians have developed over 200 types of lacquer of all sorts of ingredeants, some of which are capable of making wood as hard as iron. Lei-Armor is treated with such materials to make it almost equal to steel armor while being lighter and cheaper. Generals, agents and nobles often wear a thin variant of Lei-Armor under ther clothes. It is completly silent and can not be spottet with bare eyes, yet it is defensible enough to stop a steel blade.

**Steel Lamellar Armor** is reserved for xyrillian elites. It is usually lacquered atleast as thickly as Lai-Armor, providing a protection that exceeds the majority of other metal armors used in Xyrillia or even across the worlds. The only superior form the Imperial Army uses is made from platin and osmium and only available for the highest ranking commanders and nobles.

### Weapons

   The most common xyrillian weapon is the spear. There exist over 100 variants across the prefecti. Most of them are designed to be used in combination with a shield. The most prominent of them is the *Yi-spear*, a light halberd that is cheap to craft and easy to use. The majority of infanterists use this type of weapon. Some of them might prefer the double bladed variant, although it has mostly grown out of fashion and is only used during parades or by honor guards. Unique to the Imperial Army and Shailey is the *Xyrillian Pike*, between four and seven meters in length. As a secondary weapon many carry a short sword. These are forged in the western fanned style and are excellent for both cutting and thrusting. The two handed variant is common among elite infantry or cavalry.

## Units

### Light Infantry

**Prefectian Levy-** Mostly compromised of peasents and lowborn citizens, Prefectian Infantry makes up large proportions of the Imperial Armies frontline. They are organised in squads depending on their origin. Prefectian Infantry is among the more elite light infantry. Although its soldiers come from low birth and have no martial background they still undergo atleast one year of training before joining the Imperial Army itself. Prefectian Infantry is clad in paper armor and armed with Ji spears or axes and shields.

**Crossbow Levy-** Those who may either choose their role in the Imperial Army or fail physical training are armed with crossbows. They are easy to shoot and reload and require no other skill then aiming. Crossbowmen only wear enforced tunic and are rarely armed with a secondary weapon. Many of them only recieve short training and are compromised of peasants. During conquest most captured men which are forced to join the army are armed with a crossbow which causes their battalions to overswell with ranged fire.

**Match-lock Levy-** Armed with large match-locks these gunners possess the firepower to pierce most infantry armor. Although they take far longer to reload then bows or crossbows and are very inaccurate on longer ranges, many battalions wish to include atleast a small detachment of gunners.

### Heavy Infantry

**Prefectian Guard-** Those which exceed during their early recruitment training may take the role of Prefectian Guards. These warriors recieve an additional year of training and make up the majority of the Imperial army. They are by far the most effective unit both on expenses and effectivness. They wear rather heavy Lai-Armor and are armed with Ji-pikes. These increadibly long weapons can block off arrows when held up straight like a forest of spearshafts. When used enemies are kept on a safe distance aswell as being effective against all types of enemies including cavalry. During battle the first row of warriors kneels down, holding their pikes in an almost horizontal line. The second row holds their spears on head-height while the thirds moves them down, ready to reinforce gaps in the spearwall. Should enemies come close enough so that some soliders may not be able to use their pikes any more they may switch to their secondary smallswords.

**Repeating Crossbowmen-** Armed with larger and stronger repeating crossbows these archers join the more elite forces of the Imperial Army. Those that exceed with the regular crossbow are granted this enhanced variant alongside with paper armor, a secondary weapon and increased pay.

**Firelances-** As a mobile and handy piece of artillery, Xilian forges have developed Rocket launchers known as *Firelances*. Although they reload rather slow and are not without danger to the gunner wielding them, the have more range then any bow and can unleash massive destruction. They are especially effective against large groups of infantry, cavalry or fortifications. These mobile siege units are protected by paper armor and armed with a secondary sword. Most Rocketlaunchers have a blade attached to them and can be used as unwieldy spears in close combat.

(((((((((((**Handmortar Gunners-** Those equipped with Handmortars must be well trained and careful with their weapons. Although they can unleash mass destruction it is not uncommon for them to explode when fired to often or without proper cleaning after every shot. As mobile siege units with incredible range and firepower, Handmortar Gunners are a valuable asset to every brigade. They usually wear enforced paper armor and a special steel helmet made to protect their ears from the loud explosions.)))))))))))))

### Cavalry

**Prefectian Levy Riders-**This light cavalry is composed from peasants with riding experience. Mounted atop unarmored horses they undergo a relativly quick training and are used as scouts, outriders and as cheap shock cavalry. Armed with short spears or scimitars in Keshen style and large shields they can disrupt enemy formations or chase missile troops and fleeing foes.

**Prefectian Dragoons-** Mounted atop of larger and stronger Quilians, the Prefectian Dragoons are usually elite warriors or insignificant aristocrats taking this highly renowned position in the Imperial Army. They are clad in iron-lamellar armor while their mounts wear enforced and lacuqered paper armor. Armed with glaives or halberds and relativly large shields they are excellent for rushing into the flanks of back of enemy units and cause havoc. As long as they recieve support from a frontline they are more or less unbeatable in infantry clusters.

**Repeating Ritian Riders-** Armed with repeating crossbows and in rare cases match-locks or grenade launchers these cavalry men are mounted on Ritians. Although more fragile these large birds are faster then most horses. Repeating Ritian Riders where assembled to counter Otogaoi horse archers.

**Zikadian Tortoise Cataphracts-** Riding on a giant Zikadian, up to four soldiers can be mounted on this beast of war. While the crab like Zygoa already has an almost impenetrable shell, the soldier on its back are clad in heavy lamellar armor. While the one riding it is armed with a spear or glaive, the two to three soldiers on its back are armed with repeating crossbows or match-locks. The Zikadian itself has several pincers and a large head that make him an already dangerous encounter in close combat. Although this unit is rather slow, it is extremly tough and almost invunerable in fights against light infantry.

**Giondar Warstrider-** The giant Giondar tower above the majority of Xyrillian creatures. The Imperial Army uses them regularly due to their combination of size, speed and crushing impact on the battlefield. Mounted in the Giondars back is a pavillion with three to six soliders inside. These are armed with repeating crossbows, match-locks and in rare cases rocket launchers. From their enleved position they are protected from every close combat attack and the wodden pavillion protects them from most enemy fire.

### Artillery

**Small Cannon**

**Hwacha spearlauncher**

**Hwacha Firelance-launcher**

**Great Cannon**

### Command

**Lord Commander of the Imperial Forces-** Under the Ethyrions direct supervision, the Lord Commander has the highest authority on ever battlefield.

**Brigademaster-** Leader and supreme commander of a Brigade

**Royal Marshall-** General and leader of a battalion

**Imperial Mage-** Master of mindcontroll, spirits or the elements in service of the Imperial Army

**Enlifted-** A secondary general or commander

### Xilian Units

Xilian units are only present in the Imperial Realm. They guard Xilian and its surrounding cities aswell as its great wall. They are among the most elite soldiers in all of Xyrillia and despite their duties in the Imperial Realm and Palace, they only serve in the First Brigade.

**Palace Protectors-** These elite units are unique to the Imperial Realm and the First Brigade. They patroll their sacred lands and fortresses. Palace protectors have undergone a extremly hard training of five years length to ensure only the most elite of soldiers may join their ranks. Their lamellar-steel armor is lacquered in the palest gold and their helmets are ornamented with green and white jade. Palace Protectors are armed with Guandao-Halberds and Repeating crossbows. They are ideal defenders in a siege scenario aswell as formidable warriors on the field.

**Royal Volley Gunners-** Armed with hand Volley guns, these Gunners can fire multiple shots at once. Their hail of fire can pierce almost every form of armor and has superior range compared to other ranged weapons. They wear reenforced Lai-Armor lacquered in red and gold aswell as a sword as a secondary weapon.

**Royal Cataphracts-** Mounted on the ivory Quillians unique to the Xillian realm, these elite cavalry men roam its wide gardens and fields. Arisen from the rank of Palace Protectors they have mastered the art of horsemanship in heavy armor. They and their mounts often replace steelplates with platin or osmium. They are armed with lances, spears or glaives and repeating crossbows as a secondary weapon.

**Xilian Dragons-** Since centuries the blessed Xilian realm hosts Xyrillian Dragons. Although smaller and tamer then their wild eastern and nothern cousins, they pose no thread to the civilians. While the mages of the imperial palace have trained them to be relativly peaceful in their designated gardens, they require strict controll during fights. When taken to battle they wear a special form of armor made from steel and leather. Incorporated inside are several Ley-Stones. A designated mage can controll the huge beast during battle to ensure it doesnt run rampant during battle.

**Trice-blessed Cotians-** These hulking statues are forged from silver and gold. Its insides are filled with earth and a spirit from each of the three High Prefecti. Their heads bear three faces, that of a phoenix, a dragon and a seaserpent. They are armed with two scimitars, each the size of a man. Trice-blessed Cotians are by far the largest and strongest type of animated statue in Xyrillia, protecting the sacred Xilian realm and its lords.

**Immortal Guardians-** Widely considered the best warriors in all of Xyrillia if not humankind, Immortal Guardians are the determined defenders of the Xilian Palace and the Ethyrion. They are chosen from the firstborn sons of the highest nobility and as one might find it regal to marry their daughter to a wealthy landlord, many find it to an honor of the highest rank to contribute their son to the Immortal Guard, the emperors bodyguard. Since the age of four they are trained every single day. Immortal Guardians do not only learn discipline, extreme resistence to pain and fear or the arts of sword, glaive and spear but also the (...) discipline. Each of them is given a unique Bornelixir to enhance their physical prowess and grant them a weaker form of foresight. Immortal Guardians can detect the usage of magic and resist it far better then any mere mortal. Their diet and the expensive Bornelixirs they are given grant them not only inhuman strength and size but also enhanced regeneration and resistence to plague. When they reach adolescence they are castrated to ensure their absolute loyalty. Immortal Guardians wear two types of armor. The first is lighter and more flexible and made from steel and Ironoak, the second is heavier and most likely the best humankind could produce. Made from plaques of platinum, osmium and diamand, it is pretty much indestructable. Their armor is lacquered in imperial red and their wear protective capes made from dragonpelts. Immortal Guardians are armed with Seshin-glaives. This unique weapon does not only bear a large platin blade but also a inbuild match-lock gun. They can fire rockets or armor-piercing shots before engaging into brutal close combat. As secondary weapons they are armed with a scimitar for cutting and a shoto for thrusting. They only leave the imperial palace when accompanying the Ethyrion or a member of his family.