Meshayal Company
They’re the standing defense for the Demar Forest. Really, all the Topan League. Between raiders from outside of Topan and the nightmare-scape ruin of Emar Dorsat, they’re not bored…
The Meshayal, or Gladeguard, is a professional company of scursal riders that defend and patrol the Topan League and the Demar Forest. According to skalds, the company's name literally translates to 'glade defender' in ancient Kayam.
They were formed in 510 ILC, as part of the First Founding, otherwise known as the initial establishment of the Topan League. The company was assembled was in part because of a surprise invasion out of Emar Dorsat of grave elementals, wasp spiders and worse that is remembered as the First Shadowhive Crusade.
They’re a serious lot most of the time. But they know their history and just how bad it could get if they aren’t careful.
The First Shadowhive Crusade came to a bloody end on the shores of where the Chuzhou and Biverming rivers meet. A place called the Emerald Delta. Of the initial two thousand initial members of the Meshayal, four hundred survived. However, they stood victorious, driving the remainders of the crusade back into Emar Dorsat or into the outer quarters of Ferilthan.
It was two thousand scursal cavalry against four times that number. Even the gods and goddesses held their breaths that day. Had the Graveknight Stezon Dranis won… what is contained at Emar Dorsat might cover half the continent by now.
Organization and Duties of the Company
In times of peace, the Meshayal Company is a small standing army of skilled cavalry that exclusively ride Demar Forest scursals. This force comprises exactly four hundred men and women. This is done in honor of the surviving four hundred from the Battle of the Delta.
The company is organized into units or groups called ‘lancets’. This is in part because of the company skill and use of spears and spear tactics both on the ground or on scursalback. There are four to eight members in any lancet. These lancets are assigned patrol routes along either the frontier of Topan League territory, the Demar Forest interior, or along the fringe of Emar Dorsat or Ferilthan.
Duties of the company are straightforward. They are to defend the frontier against incursions and raiders. Internally, they are called on to settle disputes between allied cities or tribes within the League itself. Also, they are the first line of defense against necromantic type incursions from Emar Dorsat, or undead incursions from Ferilthan.
Taking Up the Call
Recruitment is uncommon but does happen as standing members retire from active service in the company. A call goes out from the capital at Zikata for candidates from across the League. Those that answer are put through three months worth of training. This is just the initial assessment. Many don’t last through those initial grueling weeks, but those that do go on the Sorting List.
From the Sorting List, candidates are trained for a full year. This is the second assessment. Any that remain after the second assessment are the true candidates for membership and are offered the green and gold tunic of the Meshayal.
Anyone who does last through the second assessment but isn’t selected, are offered a place on the Habital, the “Stewards”. The Habital Company is a companion to the Meshayal, only the Habital handle waterborn troubles and emergency relief efforts.
It’s an honor to be offered membership in either the Meshayal or the Habital. However, there are some that chose not to. There’s no shame it in. My sister chose to… well… take up piracy so she can, in her words, ‘show them how its done’. But that’s another story…
Weapons and Tactics
The company specializes in standard cavalry tactics along with use of the spear, bow and sword. But since their mounts are the giant squirrels called scursals, they also are trained in how to harass the enemy as their mounts scale walls, trees and other vertical surfaces. Then there are the tactics from overhead, called the Rain of Claws.
An average member of the Meshayal is equipped with a spear, short sword, and bow. All members also have their own scursal, once a selected candidate into the Meshayal has gone through the Mark of the Leaf, where they imprint and bond with a young scursal.
Despite being known as a cavalry company, Meshayal are dangerous on foot as they are mounted on their scursals. Many raiders have made the mistake of thinking that once a member of the Meshayal has been knocked off their scursal, they are easy prey. These same raiders also make the mistake of thinking they can steal a bonded scursal. Both assumptions lead a person to an ugly, painful conclusion.
by CB Ash
Type
Cavalry
Founding
510 ILC
Overall training Level
Professional
Assumed Veterancy
Decorated/Honored
Used by
I’ve fought against them when the Khan wanted to test Topan’s frontier. Then again when Emar Dorsat vomited out another one of its ‘Dread Campaigns’. Personally, I’d rather have them on my side than against me.
These guys sound like fierce warriors. I wish Stefanos would elaborate on his sister though, she sounds very interesting. Great Article!
His sister? Yep, its probably time he wrote about her! She is quite interesting. :D