Armies

Between all the politicking, backstabbing, and upheavals common to the World of Ice and Fire, there is one constant in this world. This is **Armies**. They are a necessary part of War, and will be important for not only attacking others but also defending your homeland. Almost all castles hold a definitive amount of soldiers, but there is an even larger amount that is present within the local area; ready to serve their liege lord at a moment's notice. The Army system provides a means to properly measure the military force of holds, while also giving a means to mustering one's forces. As well as the drawbacks of such a thing, such as rations and supplies necessary to keep such armies together.

## The Modes of Armies

There are three natural modes which an army can take. These are: **Passive**, **Reinforcing**, and **Guarded Mode**. Each mode refers to the three states an army can assume within their home territory. Marching and such is later described in this entry. These are all listed by the order in which they are most likely to occur. The information as to each mode is described to below.

### Passive Mode

This is the natural resting state of a local province, or hold. The exact numbers for soldiers within a province depends on the context of the province itself. In this mode, the normal amount of troops occupying a hold is just that. No more or less, unless aided by an outside party, but even that is not without its own consequences. The surrounding province is also occupied by soldiers in service to the liege lord, but they are neither attendant nor prepared for battle. In this stat, no extra resources are needed to be spent. Holds are moderately protected, with the surrounding province also held in authority.

### Reinforcing Mode

This is the most active state that a hold can be in. This is an action taken when calling one's banners, or assembling their troops. Each region of the Seven Kingdoms musters soldiers at different rates, and the exact total that can be mustered depends upon each hold. Reinforcing is a weekly action that must be taken, meaning that only a certain amount of soldiers can be earned within that time in-character. Reinforcing, however, leaves provinces open for attack if all the soldiers are taken from said province. As well as this, the mustering army will have to expend resources with rations to feed their troops.

### Guarded Mode

This is a defensive state that a hold can be in. This can be accomplished after Reinforcing one's hold. When this is done, your hold will be at maximum capacity, as all of the troops are defending it. However, this leaves the local province completely unprotected, so while the lord and his soldiers will be protected; the small-folk are completely open to attack. As well as this, all the extra soldiers stationed at the hold will have to be properly fed with rations. Only the extra soldiers will need to be provided with this commodity.

## Marching

Once amassing an army, you will need to give it orders. Once your army is on the move, you will need to know how much ground you can cover. An army will normally move at a walking pace, even if cavalry are present. **The max distance an army can travel within a day, while normally marching, is 8 leagues or 24 miles**. As said, this is when an army is *normally* marching. Armies can also enter a Forced March, wherein they will march for an extended period of time, with little rest. Doing so will allow an army to travel **12 leagues or 36 miles**. The consequence for this however, is that if the same army encounters another within the following day, they will suffer a penalty in battle.