Order of the Dragonslayers

The Dragonslayers were an elite group of hunters residing in the, now ruined, Citadel of Avaur. This formation consisted of nine separate cohorts, each led by their own commander - Legatus. The leader of the First Cohort was traditionally appointed as a Grandmaster of the entire formation, granting him additional power regarding both internal and external affairs.
Formed right after the First Sealing, back when dragons were posing actual danger to human society, the Order went through many hardships, culminating in its dissolution in years following the execution of Legatus Arkadan after a dragon he didn't eliminate in time destroyed the capital of Zorathaan. The former slayers were usually outcasts, shunned by the society they spent centuries protecting.

Composition

Manpower

The entire Order of Dragonslayers consisted of around 21 000 members, nearly 3 000 serving as logistics and service members, including armorers, blacksmiths, cooks, so on and so forth.
Each Cohort numbered about 2 000 men, and each focused on slightly different aspects of dragonslaying.
The First, Second, and Thirds Cohort were specialized in close quarters combat and consisted of the most experienced and strongest hunters of the Order. Fourth and Fifth were trained in ranged combat and were using specialized greatbows, crossbows, and even Scorpios (balistas). These cohorts were also usually designated for scouting the area. Sixth and Seventh Cohort were dedicated to study dragons and train the new members in the art, while the last two were responsible for logistical affairs of the order. This included managing the field hospitals and the baggage train during the hunt, as well as keeping the Citadel operating. Members of these Cohorts were sworn dragonslayers of the Order and had seniority over the last 3 000 servicemen that didn't belong to any Cohort. They were also usually incapable of other tasks due to age or health.

Equipment

Depending on the purpose of the Cohort, each utilized different equipment; first three were issued very long steel lances, hefty halbers and glaives, alongside a specific form of a kite shield. Since they didn't fight humans, many didn't bother wearing a secondary weapon, but those who did were given a bastard sword with very strong taper and diamond cross-section. Though not by any means unsuitable for the task, plate armor rather uncommon, with most of the slayers wearing scale armor. 
The ranged Cohorts utilized greatbows made of flexible, mild steel, as well as modified field crossbows. When in need, they tended to use Scorpios, a form of a mobile balista, to launch steel bolts into their target. These bolts could be the size of a typical spear, if not larger.
Members of the non-combat oriented Cohorts were issued a shortsword, which was rather used as a decoration and sign of status than weapon.
High ranking dragonslayers, such as captains, and the most experienced members of the order were usually free to choose and maintain their own equipment, only required to bear proper insignia. Among them was also prominent the use of plate armor, though heavily modified and vastly different from the typical full plate worn on human battlefields.

Weaponry

Depending on the size and type of the dragon, Order was sometimes forced to use uncommon weapons. Among those was a machine known among the ranks of the slayers as Terach; an enormous ballista spitting forth 15' long bolts made from a special alloy known only to Order's smiths. Too large to be moved, every time it was needed required over two dozens workers to assemble the beast and its platform. Terach was not the fastest machine, however, as the period between shots was equal to nearly five minutes; at the same time, one shot was almost always more than enough to either bring the dragon to the ground, or kill it.

Training

The Order recruited anyone, and never complained about lack of willing young men; it was afterall a greatly honored and celebrated organisation, and being within its ranks was to many the perfect life. 
Cadets, between ages of 17 and 21, went through rigorous training over the course of 10 years, where they learned everything about the Order itself and dragons. Many of their tasks during that period were in the logistics department, with only few lucky enough to see the actual slayers on the hunt. After graduation they were presented to the Legati, who then, usually randomly, assigned the cadets into groups of 9; each group was then tasked with killing a younger dragon, and performance of each person dictated into which cohort they will be taken in. Every such exam was overlooked by an experienced division in case something went wrong.

Overall training Level

Elite

Assumed Veterancy

Decorated/Honored