Army of the Mountain Elves

Army of the Mountain Elves

Author's Note

There have existed through the millennia a number of great armies, born from across Kermoria and in lands beyond. Conquerors have ravaged countries one after another like a tsunami sweeping over a coastline, washing away every trace of culture in its path. One of the most memorable is the original Dragon Priest Empire, and more recent thoughts cannot shake the terrors of the Gorbesh and of the Outcasts. There is, however, one nation which has stood, since its inception, untouched by such powerful foes, for even the greatest warlords have always feared its eternal might. None dare to approach its interior, and most do their best to avoid even its fringes. This is the Mountain Clan.

Xelten Tyrsin
Ranger of the Mountain
398 AV

Structure

As with most militaries, the Elamirijen Imperial Army consists of officers and of common soldiers. Without the meat of the army, officers are all but useless. Ability to command or personal martial prowess does little if there is nothing between you and the massive hordes of encroaching enemy combatants. As such, even the lowest ranked personnel are attributed a level of respect among the People, for it is they who insure the peaceful lifestyle of those residing in the heartland of Her Majesty's domain.

Subordinate Ranks

Initiate grunts are known simply as prio elen, which translates commonly as first soldier. Those with particular combat skill are eventually promoted to prio alten, or second soldier. On occasion, a warrior with exceptional combat skill will remain in the infantry as a regular troop, and these are given the honored title of prio henen, third soldier. A prio henen will most often serve in a small contingent of others holding the same rank for the purpose of special tasks. Other times, an individual will hold this title temporarily for the purpose of gaining experience in a unit before being promoted to a position of command.

The first position of command gained by a young soldier is sanyapra priojeni, which is loosely translated as leader of soldiers. The number of soldiers commanded by a sanyapra priojeni varies from as few as half a dozen to as many as fifty, depending on his or her skill and experience as well as the needs of the army. During war time, individuals holding this rank will tend to be the first in a charge, which makes it very important that they have exceptional awareness on the battlefield. In the event that they are cut off from the orders of rear commanders, a sanyapra priojeni is trained to restructure the unit and take a temporary role of ses priojeni. By doing this, the squadron can continue to operate effectively as a force attempting to accomplish whatever orders were last received, rather than wander aimlessly in confusion. They are marked in such a way as to be easily recognized by their subordinates during the intensity of combat, but details of the method are a Clan secret.

Commanding between three and ten sanyapran priojen is the ses priojeni, or "voice of the soldier." These leaders must relay commands between commanders at the rear of the line and those leading charges, as well as make tactical decisions of their own as to how the orders are best accomplished. They must be swift and strong, for their deaths inhibit the efficiency of the army.

Fortunately, as mentioned before, the lower ranked personnel are trained to continue operations without rear commanders. You may cut off the arm wielding the sword, but that will not stop it from cutting you. In one famous battle, a regiment was nearing defeat, and most of the sesan priojeni were slain, leaving the subordinate sanyapran priojen to fend for themselves in an effort to finish the mission. Without coordination, their approaches all differed dramatically to the point that when they coincidentally attacked the enemy all at once, their foes were caught off guard and completely baffled by the independent tactics, resulting in a victory for the Mountain forces. The lieutenant in charge was, however, bifurcated for allowing the situation to deteriorate so far.

The final common rank is halipa priojeni, or soldier master. They command as many sesan priojeni as is necessary, and they report directly to a lieutenant. Persons with this title are given a great deal of respect among the People, for it is achieved only by those with exceptional combat and command abilities. It is considered among the greatest honors that a commoner of the Mountain Clan can earn, for most soldiers cannot expect to be promoted above this rank. As part of the uniform, they wear a special cape to signify their position, with layers of embroidery added for each successful campaign as well as each year served since their promotion. An Elf who survives multiple wars and retires in old age as a halipa priojeni will bear a cape with extremely elaborate ornamentation.

Officer Ranks

In the army of the Mountain Clan, all officers are nobles, without exception. Most of them are Lords and Ladies; that is to say, their nobility is inherited, and as such they are able to receive tactical and martial training beyond that of a regular citizen. In very rare circumstances, a common soldier will display talents beyond their station and be recommended by a senior officer for promotion. In these cases, a member of the royal family may choose to elevate them to nobility, making him or her what is normally translated as Baron or Baroness. After this, they are eligible to receive promotion to the officer ranks. As with all stations among the Mountain Elves, failure is not tolerated. Whether a Lord or a Baron, failing in tasks as an officer can, in extreme cases, result in removal of both their rank and noble status. This can, of course, be accompanied either before or after by the execution of the individual.

Like soldiers, officers can perform a variety of duties, including fighting on the lines or serving as scouts. In general, though, the authority and hierarchy of officers requires less explanation than that of soldiers. They begin with lieutenants who issue orders to soldiers on the battlefield. These lieutenants report to commanders, who in turn report to generals. Rather than explain how that works, I will elaborate on a few of the special ranks assigned to those who perform specific jobs.

Five special posts exist for the defense of Elamiri and the rest of the Mountain territory. These are called the Northern Watch, Eastern Watch, Southern Watch, Western Watch, and Central Watch. A person in charge of one of these posts is given the rank of Captain; he typically assumes the authority of a commander, but he or she technically exists outside the command hierarchy. The second-in-command is given a title akin to Vice-Captain. The four exterior captains report to the Captain of the Central Watch, who also serves as the commander of the five watches as well as Captain of the Royal Guard, responsible for the security of the royal family and safety of Elamiri citizens. Presently, this position is filled by Herrick Iocaste, who reports directly to the Queen.

During wartime, a head general is appointed, the sansangorma. This has been mistakenly translated simply as warrior, but it is more literally meant as the embodiment of war, and as such can be better translated as warlord. This person is responsible for all activities related to the war, which can include the gathering of resources, construction of fortresses, allocation of troops, recommendation of alliances, and so on. While this is expected to be a Mountain Elf, it is possible that in a united war effort against a common enemy, a master tactician from another Clan could be appointed the sansangorma. As a matter of interest, there has never been more than one sansangorma at a time. Conceivably, if the Mountain was engaged in more than one war at once, a second sansangorma might exist. It is, however, unlikely that this will ever be put to the test, for the appointment of even a single sansangorma typically strikes absolute horror into leaders of nations not allied with the Queen. During what is now known commonly as the Resistance War, or sometimes the Second Elven-Human War, Lord Teiro was effectively a sansangorma, though he was not appointed such by the Queen.