Dosjoryan Military

Overview

The Dosjoryan Military is a large organization that holds much power over the land due to its constant efforts to dissuade Gendirl aggression, build and rebuild settlements, and maintain law and order. Those who join the military start as the bottom rank, soldier, and may move up depending on their ability to lead and their desire to make a career of serving. There are a total of four ranks: soldier, captain, commander, and supreme commander. The Dosjoryan Military is led by the Supreme Commander and is headquartered in Hasenburg. Smaller stations exist in all of the other cities and many of Dosjorya's towns.

Roles in Dosjorya

The military's primary task, as it was when humans first arrived in Dosjorya, is to protect people from Gendirl aggression. From when Arapomo Thora led his men as they crossed the Ocean to modern times under leadership of Crabilon Meldoni, the military has stood ready all across the land to deter attacks, and fought against angry bands of Gendirlo who felt as if they had been wronged in some way. With Gendirl matters, the Order of Innena orders some of its members to aid the military in negotiating non-violent solutions, or at the very least serve as translators. Though in recent times this has been challenged, the Dosjoryan Military follows the guidance from the Innena as to which lands can be rightfully protected and which lands must be governed by the Gendirlo.
In addition to their protective roles, the military also enforces rules and laws put into place by the settlements. Soldiers stationed in specific areas are taught the rule of law for that settlement and the necessary force allowed for certain offenses. Soldiers who enforce laws are held to the highest of standards, any misconduct being a reflection of not just themselves but also their troop's captain. Captains are in charge of any punishment for their men, and also are involved in maintaining order in the event of a major crime.
The third role the military holds is in construction and repair. Dosjorya is a wild land and even within the bounds of Settled Dosjorya, disasters and mishaps can happen. The Great Achton River periodically floods beyond its banks and impacts the settlements along it, requiring the might of the military to aid in recovery and rebuilding. Other disasters such as fires, severe weather, and occasional earthquakes also cause destruction that must be handled by the military. Many of Dosjorya's cities and towns are very old, their infrastructure occasionally in need of repair or upgrade, and these settlements turn to the military. The Dosjoryan Military will not aid all settlements for building projects, only those who contribute to the organization's funds. But the military will respond to any natural disaster no matter which settlement is involved.

Soldier

Soldiers make up the vast majority of those in the Dosjoryan Military. The bottom of the ranks, it is the duty of soldiers to perform the numerous duties the military must perform. All soldiers are given training on a weapon of their choice, as well as how to use it against Gendirlo. Most also are given training on how to deal with criminals. Training times can vary, but usually takes between two to three months, depending on the thoroughness of that soldier's education.
All soldiers serve for a minimum of a year unless they are discharged prematurely. Those who serve for a year gain a gold coin as compensation, and this alone drives many to serve the minimum. Those who accept their coin cannot serve again and earn another gold coin until three years have passed, or unless they had committed to a longer term of service. Those who serve the minimum are ineligible for promotion.

Captain

Captains are considered the most important men in the military. Seen as a liaison between the common soldier and the men with real power, captains are the ones who maintain order among their men, guide and order them through any mission the troop is assigned, and who must interact regularly with those they lead. The stress of the position leads many to retire from duty before they can be considered for further promotion; most who are promoted are seen as exemplary in skill and are promoted to commander swiftly. Those who serve as captains for a long period of time, over a decade, are rewarded with a bonus of five gold coins. There is no typical term length a captain must serve, as all are able to retire when desired and will receive another gold coin for their service, on top of the one given to them for serving as a soldier.
Captains lead troops of between twenty and one hundred men, depending on their seniority and competence. Each captain is stationed in a particular settlement, though those who lead their troop through missions regarding Gendirlo may travel elsewhere for their task. Most captains are given a set of armor, Zougar leather armor if materials are available and Sathen leather armor if not. Some may be given steel plates to augment their set if they are to routinely lead men through dangerous missions. While the main purpose of the armor is to protect the leader, it also serves another important role in allowing the troop to easily identify their captain if events become chaotic.

Commander

The first position order real power a person may reach is commander, and for a vast majority of them, this is the highest in the military they will go. Commanders are in charge of making the supreme commander’s orders become reality, though commanders must often be independent enough to figure out how to orchestrate missions and troop movements on their own. Such a position is a big responsibility and a constant mental challenge but one that compensates well; commanders receive two gold coins for each year they serve in their position, on top of those that they earned from their time in lower ranks.
Each commander is stationed in a particular settlement, with older and more experienced commanders being stationed in Dosjorya’s cities. The number of troops they command depends on the area, the need for military action in the area, and the number of commanders who share the same settlement. They will be given their own office and must not only be literate, but highly capable of reading through countless reports and documents regarding their station and the troops and missions they oversee.
Commanders rarely involve themselves in actual battles, as the choice to do so rest solely on the individual's shoulders. Some choose to oversee important missions in person, and even provide aid to their men if needed. Most remain in their settlements and rely on the Klouktalo Sawta and Innen messengers to carry orders and information back and forth.

Supreme Commander

The Supreme Commander is the leader of the Dosjoryan Military and holds the most power of anyone in the organization. Called the "Face of Death," the Supreme Commander makes heavy decisions, particularly in the face of Gendirl aggression, that can lead to death of those who serve in the military. These decisions encompass a wide range of actions, from ordering a defense to be set up to negotiating with angry Gendirlo, from enacting harsher temporary punishments during waves of violent crime to directing a hunt for a dangerous criminal. Commanders make these decisions reality, but they must not stray from the Supreme Commander's will or they risk punishment.
Every Supreme Commander has appeared in public with a particular sword on their belt, the one symbolizing their status. Arapomo, Dosjorya's first Supreme Commander, ordered the sword to be forged after beholding the blood cost of the war against the Gendirlo. He asked for the sword to have specific properties so that any man who succeeded him would know the true weight of the position they have ascended to. This sword was made brittle so that if it saw actual combat, it may shatter completely; this symbolizes the military's leader as not above scrutiny as well as shows the Supreme Commander that their tools, the men they command and the power they hold, must not be squandered or used inappropriately. The blade was ground with the sharpest edge possible, to remind the Supreme Commander how easily they can cause pain or alter the course of Dosjorya with their actions. And the grip of the sword has an irritating substance rubbed onto it periodically, a way to make the Supreme Commander learn to be reluctant to act and think through their actions and orders carefully, lest they end up with unintended and unwanted consequences.
No council or group helps to direct the Supreme Commander, though the commanders stationed in Hasenburg have the task of overseeing accountability. The Supreme Commander chooses their successor, and must teach the new leader everything that must be known for one to ascend to leadership. If in the event that the Supreme Commander is unfit for duty or cannot teach their successor, the commanders of Hasenburg pick a new Supreme Commander and guide them.

Type

Military Order

Related Plots

• Book 2: The Brewing Storm
• Book 3: The Fallen Rise