Relarian Defence

Relerian is considered perhaps the most advanced kingdom when it comes to defensive technology. Although their standing defense force is not the most powerful in Atemnity, their focus on defensive and protective magic is unique in the Seven Kingdoms.

Relerian has two main military forces, the **Domestic Guard** and the **Navy**. Unlike many other kingdoms of Atemnity, Relerian has *no standing land army*. Historically, Relerian had a mandatory four-year draft for all young people once they turned 24 until they reached 32 years of age, but the Army was abolished in the year 1000 AE. A full breakdown of military structure and presence can be found here.

## Army

In 1000 AE, Relerian abolished its standing army. After consulting with military experts, they determined that resources utilized by the Army would be better used by the Navy and the Domestic Guard, as most military travel into and out of the kingdom is done by waterway.

## Domestic Guard

All young people in Relerian must serve for 2 years in a Domestic Guard position from the age of 24-26. The Domestic Guard of Relerian is known as the *Malayikim (mal-a-kim)*, which translates to mean the Defensive Angels.

This position replaced the mandatory Army draft, which was abolished almost 50 years ago. Instead, most young Relerian recruits are enlisted to check border points and report suspicious activity and respond as appropriate. Trained Guardians may occasionally have posts in the *paechubim (Pay-chu-bim)*, overseeing messages and helping their supervisors get them to the correct recipients.

This Domestic Guard also oversees activity coming and going from all ports, providing a heavy guard along borders and sea ports throughout Relerian.

In the event of wartime, Domestic Guard will also be called upon to support Guardians, but will not be in charge of offensive actions, which will be in the hands of the Navy.

Additionally, during disasters at home, such as floods, the Domestic Guard is recruited to provide first response to the region, bringing organization and supplies to help those impacted by the event.

The Domestic Guard also provides charitable services to communities, overseeing shipments of food for areas stricken by famine, for example, and bringing clothing and building supplies when needed.

### **Domestic Guard Structure**

The Domestic Guard is technically under the rule of the Relerian Navy, and the entire Guard is overseen at any given time by a 20-person Naval coordinating group who ascertains need and mobilizes the Domestic Guard.

For the first year in the Domestic Guard, young citizens of Relerian are not assigned to any one particular task or responsibility. Instead they are used as manpower assisting second year guards and Navy officers in domestic tasks, rotating to a different location either after a project is finished or after two months, for an ongoing task.

In the second year, *Meleyikas* (May-lay-ike-as) are assigned a particular year-long project or responsibility by choosing their top three strengths and interests, and then being assigned to one of them via lottery. These tasks include the following departments:

* Humanitarian efforts
* Defensive tactics
* Infrastructure improvements
* First year training and instruction
* Government administration
* Census survey
* Agricultural survey
* Research assistant
* Paechubim (Guardians only)

During this final mandatory year, Meleyikas take a junior-professional position in their respective field, working to support professionals and overseeing first-year Guards.

As requested and approved, Meleyikas may stay on a particular project for a third or fourth year. This is popular for those who wish to enter into work in a field related to their assignment. However, only about 15% of the population of young people over the age of 26 remain in the Domestic Guard after their second year.

## Navy

Relerian’s Navy, known as the the *Xichi Mochae Relem* *(Zee-chi Moe-chay Ray-lem)* or the Host of Deep Roots, is not only trained to have dealings in the oceans, bays, and gulfs of the region. It is also highly trained in warfare in small bodies of water, including rivers and lakes. They are also trained in guerilla marsh and swamp-style combat. As much of Relerian’s populated land is on wetlands, the government determined that a Navy-centric combat force would be the most useful.

The Navy does not have a draft. Instead, it has a rigorous process wherein it tests Malayikim recruits for physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, and then invites between 500 and 750 new members each year to become part of the Navy force, specifically geared to militaristic efforts before any other forces are activated to combat.

There are two main Relerian Naval bases in Sepkuneo and Zikwimmeo, with a small man-made outpost in the middle of the Ryqish Lake.

### **Navy Structure**

The Relerian Navy has a little over half a million standing members at any given time. During peacetime, they often engage in humanitarian projects in conjunction with the Domestic Guard. Naval Bases are also structured much like small cities, with civilians and members of the Navy alike engaging in production and trade.

### **Officers**

* **Grand General** The head of the *Xech Relemoch (Zeh-k Rel-eh-mock)*, as the Navy is called in Relerian dialect, is known as the Grand General, and the position is usually filled by either the personal Guardian of the King or Queen or a close relative to that Guardian. The Grand General is located in the capital city, although they may travel in the event of wartime. This traveling is why in recent years, the role has been filled by a relative of the King or Queen’s Guardian rather than the Guardian himself or herself.
* **General Council:** Below the Grand General is a council of eight Council Generals - two Heroes, two Villains, two Guardians, and two members of the Royal Family (typically not immediate family). The Council Generals consult with the Grand General to plan overall strategy and coordinate with Base Commanders.
* **Base Captain:** There are three Base Captains, one for each of the three primary Naval Bases and smaller outposts nearby, as appropriate. They are ultimately responsible for overseeing the day-to-day organization and management of the Relerian Navy.
* **Auxiliary Captain:** Each Base Captain oversees 5-10 Auxiliary Captains, who help them monitor and organize daily operations for the Relerian Navy.
* **Commander:** There are usually about 25-30 Commanders spread out over the bases. The Commanders are each responsible for a about 2,500 members of the Navy across ranks.
* **Lieutenant Commander:** Each Commander appoints 5 Lieutenant Commanders to help them oversee daily operations and complete paperwork for the higher ranks reporting on individual strengths, weaknesses, needs, worries, and other official paperwork to be completed and transmitted to the capital on a daily basis. This usually constitutes overseeing the equivalent of 10 boats of 250 naval infantrymen each.
* **Lieutenant:** The numerous Lieutenants in the Relerian Navy work under the Lieutenant Commanders, overseeing specific cohesive regiments of troops, usually overseeing a single boat of 250 troops.
* **Junior Lieutenant:** This is the second lowest position for those approved for officer status during testing in the Domestic Guard. When Officer Recruits have passed the first round of exams, they become Junior Lieutenants. These officers help the Lieutenants oversee general Seamen and Recruits to ensure that they are clothed, fed, and have proper provisions. They are also responsible for conducting daily exercise and fitness, ensuring the health of troops, and other tasks to ensure good reports from Lieutenant Commanders during regular fitness and health evaluations.
* **Officer Recruit:** This is the lowest rank of Officer in the Relerian Navy. This group is composed of all those who passed physical, mental, and magical aptitude tests that Naval Authorities determine make them qualified for potential leadership. At this level, Officer Recruits are not much different from Recruits and Seamen, although their workload is much more rigorous. Officer Recruits have a standard 8 hours of regular Naval work each day, but are expected to take 4-6 hours of additional educational work in the evenings. At the end of 2 years as an Officer Recruit, members of this class of the Navy must pass a rigorous physical, intelligence, and mental exam combining all they have learned to advance to Junior Lieutenant. Officer Recruits may take this test a total of 3 times before they must decide whether to stay in the Navy at a Non-Officer Position or leave the Navy entirely.

### **Non-Officer Positions**

* **Seaman:** Once Recruits have graduated, they become Seamen. These are non-officers who undertake skilled labor for the Navy and have a good understanding of Navy structure and mechanisms. These are the primary “soldiers” used by the Relerian Navy during wartime.
* **Recruits:** For the first two years after non-officer members of the Navy are accepted to the Navy, they undertake rigorous physical, weapons, and tactical training in order to graduate to Seamen. Although Seamen compose the primary combat force for Relerian, in an emergency Recruits may also be called upon to the field (or across the water, as the case may be).

## Aerial Guard

A very select number of Domestic Guard members are invited to join the Aerial Guard, or the *Xechsalach (Zee-k-Sal-ack)*. This group of soldiers is not counted among the standard military endeavors of Relerian, as they have never numbered over 50 (there are usually 20-25 at any given time).

To join the Xechsalach, one must possess the ability to fly, either through the power of flight or through the ability to learn to ride a flying creature of some sort. *Diqij’ (Dee-Quill-gee)*, which are flying horse-like creatures with a black exoskeleton-type of a shell, are the most common animals used for this purpose, as they are often found in and on the edges of the Forest of Mist, and can be domesticated fairly well by experienced Relerian trainers.

The Aerial Guard is rarely used, but can be used to transmit urgent messages, and have been called upon in wartime. There are always 2-3 dragonriders, who typically ride a deqij’ on a standard assignment, but are also paired with a dragon from birth.

The *Xechsalach* works directly for the King or Queen and the Konassim, and their missions do not fall under other branches of the military.

## Safety & Security

Safety and security is often handled by the Domestic Guard or other enlisted people stationed in local areas. However, issues that require legal consideration are most often overseen by those appointed by the Konassim to handle local public safety.

In most regions of Relerian, governors are responsible for overseeing security and safety. There are also local organizations and associations for those who served in the Defense division of the Malayikim to continue to protect local communities after service. In major cities or highly populated areas, an *agasileen* or sheriff may be appointed to oversee a small volunteer force dedicated to Relerian’s safety. Usually these are Relerian citizens who held ranking positions in the Navy or served successfully as a manager or leader in the Domestic Guard.

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