The Armies of Theocracy of the Pale

The armies of the Theocrat are tough and professional, guarding the eastern borders from monstrous incursions originating in the Trollfens and Rakers, as well as bandits penetrating woodlands to the west. Although both of its neighbors to the north and south are friendly states aligned with Law, a portion of the Tenha Host under the new Duke, Ehyeh III (R11) crossed the Yol in late CY 578 and now threatens Wintershriven itself.

There is no distinction between the army of the

Pale (known as the Faithful Bands)

and the army of the

Church Militant of Pholtus

. Inasmuch as the head of state is the head of the church, and no nobility exists to speak of other than that formed by high ranking clerics in the church hierarchy, the army of Church and State is identical.

As of CY 578, the armies of the Pale are deployed as follows, although major redeployments to meet the threat posed by Tenh are in motion, and new troops are in the process of being raised, to be ready by the spring:

• Rakervale

• 50 light infantry with longbow

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 75 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Northern Lights

• 25 medium infantry with crossbow

• All of the

“Brilliant Castles”

(Griffwatch, Arndulant, Illustrious, Ascension, and Egremont) have the following garrisons:

• 30 light infantry with longbow

• 25 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Hatherleigh

• 50 light infantry with longbow

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 75 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Wintershiven

• 200 light infantry with longbow

• 100 medium infantry with crossbow

• 500 heavy infantry with spear, wearing chainmail and shield

• 100 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Holdworthy

• 100 light infantry with longbow

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 200 heavy infantry with spear, wearing chainmail and shield

• 100 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Longfield

• 50 medium infantry with crossbow

• Hawkburgh

(1/3 are rotated out of Pilgrim’s Gate at any given time)

• 50 light infantry with longbow

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 75 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Stradsett

• 50 light infantry with longbow

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 75 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Abbotsford

• 50 medium infantry with crossbow

• Ogburg

• 150 light infantry with longbow

• 100 medium infantry with crossbow

• 350 heavy infantry with spear, wearing chainmail and shield

• 125 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Duvik’s Pass

• 50 medium infantry with crossbow

• 25 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Eltison

• 50 light infantry with longbow

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 75 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Landrigard

• 25 light infantry with longbow

• 150 heavy infantry with spear, wearing chainmail and shield

• 50 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

• Copper Gorge

• 75 medium infantry with crossbow

• 25 heavy cavalry with crossbow, wearing plate mail

In addition to the regular troops permanently garrisoned above, up to

10,000 levies

can be raised from the countryside in a sennight. These will rally at either Wintershiven, Hawkburgh, or Ogburg. Levies consist of:

• 2,000 light infantry with javelin and sword (skirmishers)

• 6,000 light infantry with spear and shield

• 1,000 light cavalry with crossbow

• 1,000 medium cavalry with sword, wearing chainmail and shield

Finally, the

Templars

, the enforcers of the Church Militant, can field a considerable fighting force. Normally they are scattered throughout the land, but when the call is put out can assemble with remarkable speed, bringing their whole weight to bear in but a sennight.

Leaders will be high-level clerics, cavaliers, or paladins. The force consists of the following:

• 700 heavy cavalry with lance and sword, wearing plate and shield (Templars)

• 2,000 medium cavalry with sword or axe, wearing chainmail and shield (esquires)

Medieval German miniatures are appropriate for the army of the Pale.