Valian Military

*Silith Istil is a relatively small country with a comparatively small military to match, active duty soldiers only number around* 40,000 *men and women, with an additional* 100,000 *citizens in reserve. Because of this, the Valian Military is geared for defense and lacks the numbers to extend their reach very far. However, despite their small numbers, troops in the Valian army receive the very best in both training and gear. Silith Istil's vast wealth means being able to equip their troops with some of the best arms and armor in Alden Rhun, with officers and more elite soldiers sporting enchanted weaponry. Outside the regular army, Silith Istil emphasizes the employment of specialists who are the best of the best at what they do, making attacking The Vale a frighteningly costly ambition.*

   ·       **Unit:** Light Infantry

·       **Number:** 15,000

·       **Weaponry:** Masterwork Mithral Partisan, Mithral Shortsword

·       **Armor:** Masterwork Sallet, Chainmail, Coat-of-Plates, Mithral Heater-Shield

·       **Average Age:** (Human: 21 years) (Half-Elf: 63 years) (Elf: 250 years)

·       **Average Level:** 7

·       **Class Make-up:** Fighter (Vast Majority)

·       **Role:** *The backbone and bulk of the Valian Army, these troops form the frontlines and are the first ones to engage the enemy in close-quarters. Unlike similar troops from other kingdoms who know only tight-formations and the most basic use of their equipment, Valian spearmen are potent and versatile combatants on and off the shield-wall. Instead of the pikes or longspears their counterparts favor, Valian spearmen use much more maneuverable polearms called Partisans that can both deliver a lethal cut and thrust. An uncommonly formidable common soldier...*

·       **Unit:** Archer

·       **Number:** 5,000

·       **Weaponry:** Masterwork Longbow, Shortsword

·       **Armor:** Masterwork Kettlehelm, Studded Leather suit

·       **Average Age:** (Human: 21 years) (Half-Elf: 63 years) (Elf: 250 years)

·       **Average Level:** 7

·       **Class Make-up:** Fighter (Vast Majority)

·       **Role:** *From the towers, parapets, and ramparts, to the open fields and dense forests, Valian archers are the long arms of Silith Istil's military. Their numbers are too few to shower the enemy in arrows, instead Valian archers focus on efficiency as opposed to volume. When fighting begins, archers will shadow knots of more heavily armed troops to whittle away at the enemy with focused pinpoint accuracy. Not especially impressive on the open battlefield, but when using guerilla tactics or fending off a siege they are at the top of a list of worrisome factors.*

·       **Unit:** Medium Cavalry

·       **Number:** 2,500

·       **Weaponry:** Masterwork Mithral Glaive, Valian Battle-standard

·       **Armor:** Mithral Full-Plate

·       **Average Age:** (Human: 30 years) (Half-Elf: 90 years) (Elf: 315 years)

·       **Average Level:** 12

·       **Class Make-up:** Cavalier (Majority), Fighter (Minority)

·       **Role:** *Made up of soldiers with exemplary military service, most are selected from the common soldiers for their patriotism, bravery, and great personal prowess. Unlike the heavy-lancers of Castile who smash through enemy lines, the Valian cavalry weaves in and out of combat at the flanks, and as standard bearers to boost the morale of the other troops. The white steeds they ride trace their ancestry to Castilian war-horses that were then bred for intelligence and swiftness rather than ferocity and strength.*

    ·       **Unit:** Heavy-Infantry

·       **Strength:** 10,000

·       **Weaponry:** Masterwork Mithral Arming Sword, Mithral Dagger

·       **Armor:** Mithral Full-Plate, Masterwork Mithral Heavy-Shield

·       **Average Age:** (Human: 26 years) (Half-Elf: 87 years) (Elf: 295 years)

·       **Average Level:** 10

·       **Class Make-up:** Fighter (Vast Majority)

·       **Role:** *Despite their designation as Heavy-Infantry, these soldiers move with startling celerity, hewing the enemy apart with the finest blades The Crown can provide, and breaking foes upon their shields. They are a versatile unit that can adapt to a variety of tactics at the discretion of their commanders, working seamlessly as one towards a singular goal, or as individuals to tackle several objectives at once.*

    ·       **Unit:** Silithar Knights

·       **Strength:** 400

·       **Weaponry:** Various (+5)

·       **Armor:** Mirthal Full-Plate of Swift Girding (+3), Mithral Heavy-Shield (+2, Optional)

·       **Average Age:** (Human: 35 years) (Half-Elf: 105 years) (Elf: 345 years)

·       **Average Level:** 22

·       **Class Make-up:** Fighter/Wizard or Sorcerer (Small Majority), Fighter/Paladin or Cleric (Small Minority), Fighter/Rogue (Vast Minority)

·       **Role:** *The elite of the Valian military. All hopefuls must be, even distantly, related to nobility from either Castile, Alexandria, Videk Umbra, or Endien. Applicants are then interviewed by the Grand Master of the order, if deemed worthy, he or she will assign the new squire to a knight for a period of ten - twenty years who will train and educate them in the ways of war. Part of this education includes the study of magic with all knights being expected to know spells of Magnitude II or higher. Each successfully trained Silithar Knight is a warrior worth a hundred common soldiers, they command castle garrisons, and lead military operations both foreign and domestic. Twenty of the Silithar's best remain in the capital, with the others posted throughout the country, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice.*

    ·       **Unit:** Faradrim Rangers

·       **Strength:** 2,000

·       **Weaponry:** Various (+5), Keen Mithral Dagger (+2)

·       **Armor:** Masterwork Studded Leather Armor (Drake Hide)

·       **Average Age:** (Human: 21 years) (Half-Elf: 63 years) (Elf: 250 years)

·       **Average Level:** 20

·       **Class Make-up:** Ranger/Rogue (Majority), Ranger/Fighter (Minority), Ranger/Druid (Vast Minority)

·       **Role:** *Unlike their Silithar brethren, the Faradrim require no titles nor proof of lineage, merely an uncommon grit and unbending will to join. Once every four years, new recruits in their early-teens are selected and trained for a period of five-years in archery, stealth, survival, and close-quarter combat before being put through the harrowing and dangerous Wilderness Trials, three months in the Vilyasoron Mountains, of which fewer than 9% pass. They are the eyes and ears of Silith Istil, most patrolling the lonely corners of the wild unseen, though a fair few take on roles as spies, and professional bounty hunters.*

    ·       **Unit:** Dírithon Mages

·       **Strength:** 3,500

·       **Weaponry:** Staves, wands, and enchanted daggers are common.

·       **Armor:** None

·       **Average Age:** 40 (Human), 122 (Half-Elf), 368 (Elf)

·       **Average Level:** 16

·       **Class Make-up:** Wizard (Small Majority), Sorcerer (Small Minority), Magus or Summoner (Vast Minority)

·       **Role:** *The mages of Istar Lerendi are an eccentric and often misunderstood bunch, but the one thing nearly everyone is in agreement on, is potency of their magic. Applicants hoping to be accepted into the parallel world this school occupies must first be able to cast spells of Magnitude II or greater before being considered for admittance. Tuition is a hefty 100 Runes per year, but there is no limit on how long one may study here. Adepts must demonstrate the ability to cast spells of Magnitude V, Journeymen must cast spells of Magnitude VII, Masters must be able to cast spells of Magnitude IX, and the title of Archmage is given to those who demonstrate the ability to cast Mythic level magic and must create their own unique spell. Reclusive, mercurial, abrasive, and off-kilter though they often are, Dírithon Mages are innovators of civilization in times of peace, and scions of destruction against Silith Istil's foes.*

    ·       **Unit:** Airëhên Healers

·       **Strength:** 600

·       **Weaponry:** Various (Depends upon their deity's favored weapon)

·       **Armor:** None - Medium

·       **Average Age:** 40 (Human), 122 (Half-Elf), 368 (Elf)

·       **Average Level:** 15

·       **Class Make-up:** Cleric (Majority), Oracle (Minority), Alchemist or Paladin (Vast Minority)

·       **Role:** *To become one of The Vale's elite healers, they must petition the leader of their local parish to recommend the acolyte to Isilme Cathedral or the Cathedral of the Night Sky. Only acolytes of exemplary piety, valor, and warmth are accepted, and unlike the mages, their education if accepted, is done as a work of faith, yet students are often put to task in maintaining temple grounds and helping run various works of mercy. Between such chores, acolytes are taught pharmacy, anatomy, theology, and astronomy, with emphasis placed on what is relevant to the acolyte's desired path. In peace times, Clerics and Oracles lead the faithful and perform the duties expected of them by their deity, Alchemists run apothecaries and brew medicinal potions, and Paladins stand vigilant over holy sites. In war, these men and women pool the aggregate of their charisma, and their wisdom to safeguard the innocent, and punish the wicked.*