Storm Lancers {Suranthi 2nd Brigade}

'The pair rode along the rocky tundra cliffs, slick with ice, as if it was flat ground, with an ease that befit their name, and their mounts, two large aggressive war boars. Weapons obvious and in attendance, their confidence not even remotely hidden, the quality of their armor and weapons telling. Veteran eyes, scanning and noting everything around them, fearless, but comfortable despite the threat of dangers, and the reports of a band of ogres lairing in the area. From all this, and the coat of arms on their cloaks, you can tell. These two are Storm Lancers'

Composition

Manpower

This elite section of Suranth's military numbers, though tied by dual oaths to the Church of Sir Kartheart, and to the High King of Suranth. They are the Exemplaris of Kartheart.  

They number 2000 soldiers, dwarven mostly, but with a scattered handful of the other civilized races. They work in small divisions of 10-20 in most cases, and that can be split even further if required, down to even just working with a partner. This is due to their level of training of course, but in truth they are at their best when they can use their nature as heavy cavalry effectively to initiate engagement with an enemy, so working in numbers of 50 to 100 at least. The more of them can be brought together and used in a task or engagement, the more effective they become. Due to their religious nature, however, they've always been looked at by the nobility and ruling class of Suranth as being of dual motivation, that is, there have always been whispered questions of which oath matters more. Do they truly serve their country and their people, or are they merely a church puppet playing the part to exert the churches influence?

Equipment

They are equipped, as one would logically expect, with the best armor and weapons their nation can offer. They are a varied and different type of soldier, not all trained to universally fight the same or similarly, and not all equipped the same. They all are armed and armored as they choose, resulting in a much wider range of equipment preferences. They also all raise their own war boar, a monstrously large, ornery beast, built for the tundra, thick coarse hair, a layer of insulating blubber, and hefty, solid muscle. These creatures are almost horse sized and much stronger, with vicious massive tusks.

Weaponry

There is a wide variety, for each soldier is equipped based on their preference. Their boar spear, of course is their primary weapon, the 'lance' that gives them their name. However one will see all matter of blade, axe, war-hammer, gun, crossbow, any and all see use by some in this elite warrior caste, though of course cavalry axes or cavalry hammers are their most prominent secondary weapons.

Vehicles

Wagons, and they have access to a few ships, though most of them prefer dry land and would rather ride or even walk, instead of sail, even for long distant.

Structure

These elite soldiers are spread to each county, equally, and for the most part they are under the purvey of the highest ranking military officers in the county they are in. But they do answer, ultimately, to General Morgrym Ironcliffe, the leading officer of Suranth's entire armed forces, and a Storm Lancer himself. They are Exemplaris yet it would seem they hold High King and Country in higher regard than Sir Kartheart, especially with the rise of the Crusader orders, whom they openly and often butt heads with, usually to the detriment of the Crusaders in question.

Tactics

The Storm Lancers fight as a unit, though they also are skilled individual warriors. The dwarven influence is obvious in their preferred tactics; Rolling Wheel and Spoke for maneuverability and flexibility, along with Spiked Wedge when they need to use a proper cavalry charge to try and break an opposing formation. Both these offer, in different ways and applications, a bristling wall of steel, tusks and a violent and efficient wave of shot against any enemies before them.

However they do have a...rather unique approach to the cavalry charge. The tactical maneuver is jokingly known amongst the soldiers in the unit as the 'Stab and Stick' and even more amusingly, the 'Spit Roast." Soldiers, even more traditional minded dwarves, are nothing if not vulgar. One must do what one can to find humor when your life is one of violence and campaigning. The more technical name in any war manual or officer's briefing and education is "Bristle and Break." It is simple, but devastating in its execution, and is a favorite joke among the ranks.

What it is, is a heavy cavalry charge as one might expect it, spears leading, war boars squealing, the ground thundering, dwarven war calls roaring. However the difference is on contact with the enemy. Once those spears hit, the riders slip loose of the saddle, having loosened their leg straps preemptively. They lever themselves with their end of the spear, and once clear, as their war boar thunders forward, they'll simply release, coming up in the fray and melee, having scooped their secondary weapon from a carefully crafted side strap on their boar's flank, whichever off hand the rider happens to use (predominantly left.) The boar, for their part, knows their job. They run amok. Unleash pure havoc, buying their riders those few key seconds to regain their feet, get shields off backs as required, slipping into the arm straps, and getting their footing, their secondary weapons to hand. The boars do not flee like horses though. They wheel about, and keep fighting letting their bulk and tusks smash and rend. Its a risky maneuver and is not used often, even though they drill and practice it with obsessive intensity. This is because though effective, it is a tactical movement that has high risks. If your foe does not break, does not suffer enough shellshock in the initial impact, it is all to possible they will assault the dwarf riders before they can get their footing and be ready to fight. This of course, is why it is rarely used. But it has been used successfully often enough to have earned a spot in soldiers hearts and humor.

"Shock and Awe, aye laddie that's the idea. But nae 'ow yer used too. Ya see gotta give 'em Greenskin bastards credit where it be due. The charge, the impact, that nae really be the shock. It awes 'em aye, but t'ey normally respond well 'nough, given a few moments. Nae laddie, the shock be right after impact, as two thousand becomes four thousand."

A veteran Storm Lancer, having a chuckle, whilst explaining what the 'Bristle and Break' means, and what makes it different to a normal heavy cavalry charge to a new recruit.

Training

Besides training 4 times a week for 2-4 hours at a time, to join the Storm Lancers you must have at least 15 years in the Suranth military, pass an intensive set of examinations and tests, both written, and physical. After that comes two years of proper training with the fellow Storm Lancers, everything from arctic survival, to combat, to public interactions and of course raising, breaking and learning to ride and fight atop your war boar.

Logistics

Logistical Support

Based on mission parameters versus if it is just a general patrol, etc etc.

Auxilia

Normally if it is a scouting party that is knowingly being sent to scout out dangerous areas, or engage an enemy directly, at least one magi and one priest will be assigned to the unit.

Upkeep

They are the most well paid of Suranth's armed forces, even the greenest among them measuring their pay in silver, plus all their equipment being provided by the state.
To train, properly equip, and fully brief and swear in a new Storm Lancer costs nearly 10 Gold Suns initially.

Recruitment

Recruitment is pretty much strictly done from the Suranth military. They look for reports of skill, bravery, and going above and beyond the basic calls of duty and action for a soldier.

History

Established within the first century after the nation was reclaimed and resettled, King Cormac Ironcliffe knew right away he'd need to establish, train and insure the ability and authority of an elite military group. So the Storm Lancers were born, officially established in 1200. In 1291 Cormac's eldest son Morgrym took his tests and vows. Even though he was already the head general of the nation's army, he was tested just a thoroughly as any other soldier, at his own insistence, before he could join. He also swore the oaths to king and country, and to the people of Suranth, as any who join must. Now both ancient, it is well known their times are coming soon, and that the next leadership of Suranth's military has massive shoes to fill.
This unit has been involved in every major conflict that Suranth has found herself in ever since, but the one that made her famous was her first true 'solo' conflict. In 1293, a small Abyssal incursion occurred in a cavern system only 40 kms south of Geata-Iarainn. An undiscovered area of Black Mist taint, the incursion started when an innocent druid, searching the cavern system for various medicinal herbs and mosses. It was dark, hard to see, and the human druid didn't really think to much of it, trying to use a bit of magic to form some latent natural energy within the cave into light around his hand. But the latent taint hooked into the spell and its energy, and used that to kickstart and rip open a door to the void, to the abyss. It was not amazingly stable, however, given the weakness of the spell's energy. Only about 10 minor demons, and a lower end daemon of Iracundia managed to slip through the tear before it collapsed in on itself. But that was enough. Soon they'd collected a small, but dangerous force of easily influenced monsters. Ten ogres, a stone giant, and a warband of twenty-thirty goblins, along with a few worgs, pulling and mentally enslaving the beasts.
They hit multiple caravans, and at one point, even attacked a watchtower and laid waste to the garrison. It was that incident, with an eyewitness survivor, that informed King Cormac of the situation. 80 Storm Lancers, led by Morgrym Ironcliffe, along with five magi, five priests, and ten Slayers. They marched with fury, their steps pounding the stone. They stormed the cavern systems with guns and magic blasting and bursting, forcing the monsters out of their holes into open combat. The Slayers became the anvil, the Lancers were the hammer. As the beasts retreated, their leader slain by Morgrym Ironcliffe in the caverns, for in an act of bold and unique tactical foresight, he moved on foot with the slayers, magi and priests, and was met upon chasing them out by his War-Boar. He rode to rejoin the column and the shrieks of the boars echoed from their left. Down a small rise came the eighty elite war-riders, the storm of tusks and cavalry hammers slammed into the monsters with the fury of Sir Kartheart himself, forcing the enemy to back step towards the tunnel exits they'd used. Right into the six Slayers left alive, whom despite grevious wounds, held that cave entrance against all comers, daemon, greenskin and joten alike. They all met their most honorable end there, avenging their kin.
The operation was not without casualties besides the slayers, however. Three of the magi, two of the of the priests, and eleven of the Storm-Lancers didn't make it out alive. However even with a nearly twenty percent casualty rate, this assignment cemented the reputation of both the Storm-Lancers and General Morgrym Ironcliffe as brave, tactical, and loyal soldiers and heroes of the nation. In the time since, that reputation would be cemented again and again, and now, with Cormac Ironcliffe believed to be not much longer for this world, as the great conclave of dwarven chiefs begin the election process, it is believed that Morgrym Ironcliffe, whom himself is ancient and will likely not see the end of this century, will play a crucial role in the vote. For though he does not stand to have a voice, his influence and station dictate that his favor is paramount for a proper transference of power.

Historical loyalties

King Cormac Ironcliffe, ruler of Suranth
Nation of Suranth
General Morgrym Ironcliffe, First Rider of the Storm Lancers, Lord Commander of the Suranthi Armed Forces

Type

Special Forces

Founding

1200

Overall training Level

Elite

Assumed Veterancy

Veteran

Used by

• Suranth