Gruka

*Everyone who knows even a bit about the Lirei military knows that 80% of it are Grukas and cavalrymen whilst the remaining 20% are footmen and siegework weapons.*

**Grukas** are the primary factor of the Lirei Military , to be more accurate , Grukas are groups of cavalrymen organized into their own jobs , they all work together for maximized efficiency.

### ***Organization***

***Squad** - 2-15 people*

***Company** - 100 people*

***Batallion** - 500-100 people*

***Kova** - 2000-2500 people*

***Gruka** - 7000-9000 people*

### ***Jobs:***

Moving an entire gruka is a problem and drains supplies very quickly , however solutions were found. Grukas barely ever move as one expect in large battles , so they split in Kovas or Batallions who find their own spots to settle a camp. Once camp is settled they split up into even more groups :

**Suppliers** supply the camp with water , gear , food , they're always on the move , in shifts and are always protected , before a supplier group starts the journey after talking a rest a scout will scout the path for their own protection.

**Scouts** scout , gain information and sometimes act as messengers. It's common that they take chances to attack or lower enemy's morale , they set up fires , attack enemy supplies , and are usually on offensive side of scouting. Always armed with bows , light cavalry and sometimes even a few heavy cavalrymen. They will also lure enemy troops into ambushes if they have a chance.

**Messengers** exchange information , usually a group of 5 men or sometimes just one. They exchange information between camps. Frequently not even dressed in armor or an uniform to blend in with civilians and to be faster on the horse. Messengers also have their own codes to communicate.

**Caretakers** cook food , hunt  food , treat wounded , care for horses and so on. Usually slaves , cooks , medics ,  volunteers or inexperienced fighters. Sometimes blacksmiths who make quick repairs or craft spear/arrow heads.

Everyone works in shifts , one half of he camp rests while the other half works. Before battles or smaller skirmishes camp will alert neighbouring camps about their plans. Then both camps meet together and attack the enemy.

Squads belonging to one camp also can work together and rest in another camp. If a squad decides so messenger will be sent and under an hour the camp will know that their squad has decided to take a rest/heal in another camp so they shouldn't worry.

### ***Communication***

Gruka groups rely heavily on communication for effectiveness , but sometimes they leave sealed cloths tied to benches , sticks or other materials.

Unique thing to Grukas is the cloth communication system , it uses sealed colored cloths and each color and lenght has it's meaning , they are left on branches , stones and other places where it is easy to notice them. Meaning of those cloths is not standardized , each camp has their own and only officers know the meaning , whilst generals and other high ranks know meanings of all cloths. Those same cloths almost always only tell the information of the enemy's situation or location , and to know that your ally left the cloth there each cloth has a seal. Information about own camp can backfire so it is never used.

Other than cloths of course there's horns , shots , bell rings , symbols left on trees/stones and whatever the soldiers can think of.

### ***Equipment***

#### ***Armor:***

Light or medium armor for torso protection , usually made of chainmail , scale , lamellar ,leather and sometimes light plate. Also it's frequent to see breastplates.

Heavy cavalry uses heavy armor , usually full plate.

Lirei cavalry helmet with cheek and nose guards aswell with a small spike or comb on top is used by all cavalrymen expect most archers. Soldiers can apply chainmail to their helmet for better protection but most pick a mask instead.

Face mask is a common part of cavalry life. Soldiers buy and apply them for prestige. Having an emotionless masks can damage enemy's morale for they don't know who's behind the mask , they cannot see are they blind , a boy , a brute , is the enemy scared or furious. Putting a mask on is like removing everything what makes it's wearer human. With that mask the cavalryman kills and burns enemy armies.

Arms and legs are protected by bracers. However archers may not wear arm bracers.

Leg bracers are usually long and cover majority of the leg because that's the closest part of the cavalrymen to the footman on the ground.

Heavy cavalry uses leg armor which completely covers the leg , from thigh to toe.

Cavalrymen frequently decorate themselves putting colorful feathers , animal skins or face masks to their equipment to recognize each other on the battlefield easier. Decorations are also applied on helmet spikes or combs , usually small flags. Colorful cloths are wrapped around the belt  , shoulder or diagonally across the chest. Those cloths sometimes being just dyed fabric or silk given to the soldier by his own family.

Different battalions sometimes willingly accept that all of their members will for example: wear a red feather on the right side of the helmet.

#### ***Weapons :***

Most common from all is the **spear**  , usually 2.5-3 meters long. It's head is very sharp to pierce heavy armour. Big majority of those spears have wings and every light and heavy cavalryman carries minimally 2 of them. Whilst archers and musketeers only one

**Composite bow** used by archers and most men on scouting or hunting missions despite their primary job. It is a fairly simple weapon. An upgrade from the regular bow , very popular in nomadic life of southwestern steppes of Liria.

**Scimitar** , the good old scimitar. Every household has at least one , and everyone carries one both in the army and frequently men and women on the streets. It's used more as a backup weapon , when the spear breaks or if the enemy enters into the close combat. There are many known cavalry charges with only scimitars.

**Mace** is used mostly by the heavier cavalry , it's actually a bit longer than the usual mace because it's user is on horseback but still functions the same. In some risky situations it's being thrown on the enemy as a distraction before the real attack which may come in handy.

**Shields** are standardized by heavy cavalry while medium cavalry only uses it if an individual wants so , however he pays for it and it's usually not the kite shield heavy cavalry uses but the wooden round one. Shields are painted and decorated aswell.

**Musket** , a new invention mostly used by footmen , however there are cavalry units which are equipped with it , they usually use it in their missions but in large battles they're mostly given to footmen to shoot down enemy cavalry and soldiers. If not then mounted musketeers simply shoot it once and then switch to spear , if they have an advantage they can stay on the spot and shoot constantly before changing positions.

**Javelins** are also common and used by everyone , usually a 1 meter long stick with a sharp top made out of cheaper metal. Wood and material used are of low quality so once it is thrown the weapon may break or bend - lowering the chance of it being thrown back.

**Naphtha** is a liquid naturally found in Lirei desert. It's incredibly flammable and apparently in big quantities can even burn on water because the liquid is lighter than the water itself. It didn't take long for Lirei to start using this in wars against non-Lirei opponents. It's stored in glass or clay pots which are thrown onto the enemy , it's user can use a torch to ignite it , magic if he's able to or simply wrap a cloth around the pot and set it on fire. Naphtha is that one tool which makes the entire Lirei cavalry seem inhumane because if they cannot cause any damage to the enemy they will turn to trying to encircle the enemy , bringing them closer together before throwing flaming naphtha on them which in almost all situations brings the Gruka decisive victory.

### TLDR :

*Lirei Gruka or sometimes the entire cavalry is sometimes called a "Horde" by outsiders which makes some think that it's a group of many wild unorganised men on horses pillaging and making the enemy miserable while in reality it's a force of highly trained organized groups each one being a cog in a big machine which gives attention to everything happening inside and outside itself trying to gain an advantage over it's enemy in all ways possible which in the end pays off.*