9th Legion, Furious Bulls

We do not defeat our enemies in battle; we break them so that no one can ever rise to stand against the empire by grinding their bones to dust. - 9th Legion Centurion

Structure

Legatus: The Legatus or general is in charge of the entire legion under his command, obeying their orders. They also have political influence as well.
Tribune: The second of the Legtus that carries out orders under them and ensures that reports on all parts of the legion are given to him when they are preoccupied with other duties.
Praefect: The third in command and in charge of maintaining the legion's supplies, equipment, and construction. They ensure that everything is in order and that the men are disciplined.
Primus Pilus: The veteran centurions of the legion that run the cohorts, each one has decades of experience and is an expert in warfare. They can act independently in battle when they see a change in a situation and adapt to it.
Centurion : The backbone of imperial officers in the legion, they ensure that their troops stay in line by any means, most of them are respected or feared by their men.
Optio : The second in command of a Centurion that aids them in daily duties and orders. Often take over when they cannot and can read and write messages for them.

Culture

Being A Member

We are the strength that will crush all; through it, we are strong. From our rage, we are unrelenting; all that stands will fall. Combine them, and they shall bring forth the red tide that shall wash away all that dare challenge us. - 9th Legion Pledge

Welcome to the embodiment of strength and will; know this: from now on, you must carry your weight if you are to succeed here, or there will be consequences. Here, we all know what it truly means to be strong; with it, we shall know victory no matter how mighty our enemies may be. No challenge is too great or impossible to achieve as long as we believe it can be done. But our most important gift is the rage we can harness; while most would consider this a bad thing when correctly harnessed, it can make us more powerful than ever before. Through these things, we shall triumph over all that dare to challenge us and crush them beneath our feet. Who needs brains when you can achieve feats unachievable by weaklings will never have what you have; with your might at your disposal, you will succeed where others cannot.

What People Think of You

It is not an uncommon idea for people to believe that the 9th Legion is nothing more than a bunch of muscle-bound brutes that want to fight everyone. Just don't let them hear you, or you're in a world of hurt. Despite their flaws, most of the empire's military know that they have their uses in battle; the only problem that they have with them is that they have trouble getting them to cooperate with them as they often do their tasks already given to them and will not do anything else until they succeed. Their might makes right mentality doesn't help either, as they usually want to meet whatever enemy face to face instead of having a plan to beat them. This is why, most of the time, they just let them do what they want or set them out on a challenging assignment that most other legions won't take, knowing they will find a way to succeed and keep them from running plans on large scale campaigns.

Public Agenda

The legion's duty is to serve the empire and crush all beneath their feat that opposes it.

Assets

Red Tide Armor: An extensively modified Legionary Armor that is stained blood red for intimidation and often more armor in the front rather than the back. This is mainly due to legion doctrine, facing the enemy head-on and retreating, exposing their vulnerability and potential death. The armor is also more flexible, allowing them to use their strength to its full potential and do tasks better without protection holding them back.
Bull's Fury: A cohort of some of the most vigorous and most aggressive soldiers in the legion, often being used as shock troops in frontal assaults, flanking and break down fortified positions. They are usually known for disregarding their safety and act like stampeding bulls that plow through anything in their way, causing massive damage once they enter melee. Their most distinct feature is that each one wears the horns of a bull they killed to prove their skill in joining the cohort.

History

Fury Made Manifest

by Jester%

It is often said that the creation of the 9th legions was forged from the fury of its founder, Brutus Arterian, a giant of a man who was said to be a demi-god of the old god Krimos, God of Honor and Strength. Brutus was famed for his courage in the face of the enemy, often being the first one into battle, refusing to let anyone stand in his way of victory. Frequently being said, he fought with the rage of a charging bull that could not be stopped, no matter how many men tried to stop him. It was from his stubborn determination that he had led many victories in the name of the Vatian Empire against the many barbarian hordes during the long and bloody Barbarian Wars facing many of their leaders and killing them in single combat to weaken the threat they posed. It was clear that this man towering above all was meant to lead and would be given his legion made he would train to harness the rage within them to crush all in their way in the name of the empire.
Through this aggressive strategy, the legion could match the savage and courageous barbarian tribes they faced; they were no match for the fury unleashed upon them and were forced to flee for survival. Yet none would, as even after victory, they could continue to charge after them, attacking whenever they could catch up to them to crush them. In doing so, they had managed to drive many of these tribes out and expand the empire's borders greatly. Yet much of that would be due to their reckless abandonment of restraint as they would destroy all in their path to ensure absolute victory. This rage would eventually see Brutus undone as well. He would be brought down after being surrounded by a thousand enemies, but not before killing them all as he demanded their lives as payment for taking his own, with a sea of blood surrounding his corpse with his legion honoring their found by wearing red armor to bring inspiration and fear that his rage brought them.

First Into Battle

by Jester%

It has often been a tradition in the 9th Legion to be the first to face an enemy with overwhelming strength and resolve, no matter the odds set against them. Their excessive aggression and stubbornness are something to witness personally, as they often get them in all sorts of trouble. Yet, they usually break through most enemy lines and fortifications when needed. It does cause problems; however, once they get riled up, it is hard to get out of it unless one of their officers snaps out of it or exhaustion takes over to get them in order. This mentality of hit-hard and overwhelm is etched into the legion, believing that their might makes right like a charging bull facing down anything in their path. It has made them one of the most aggressive legions in the empire and by far one of the toughest, as it takes a lot of effort to try and stop them when they go into battle.
Their infamous red armor also aids in psychological warfare as they could care less about being spotted by the enemy, and it is often seen as an invitation to face them and meet their death when they face them. It also aids in the idea that they are hard to kill as it's hard to tell if they are injured or covered in the blood of their enemies with all the red covering them. Most armies often see the legion's arrival as a sea of blood that will always bring death to all that face them, knowing that death will soon come for you. Yet all that has its toll, as their losses are much higher than most other legions. They rarely use defensive tactics, seeing it as dishonorable to wait for an opponent to come to them. The results that lead to victory or defeat are inconsequential to them so long as they show their foes their strength, ensuring they pay dearly for crossing blades with them in battle.

Breakers of Men

There is often a saying when the 9th shows up: " When the bull bears its horn, nothing remains in its wake. " While this is believed to be an analogy of their battle prowess, it often has two meanings, the other being their brutality towards their enemies. It has been a long-held belief amongst the legion that weakness is not tolerated, as only the strong shall know victory, with the weak being the number of corpses of their enemies that they leave in their wake. The idea of taking prisoners is not for debate either; it takes days and a whole lot of holes to clean up after them when they are done defeating an enemy. It might as well be a massacre at that rate. All of this stems from their idea of being the strongest, as no mercy should be shown to its enemies, for they will not be shown in return.
Every victory they achieve only encourages them to press on and seek out more foes should they have enough strength to do so, even after a hard-won fight. It is another way to demoralize anyone when facing them, as it might be better to run knowing that the chances of fighting them and winning are tough to achieve. It is not uncommon for an enemy force to surrender to other legions when the 9th is on their heels and see their chances of living are much higher than with them. It is not easier with settlements that they capture either, as any sign of resistance is often met with brutality on those who resist. Their broken bodies are displayed to show all the price of standing against them, being better to keep their heads down if they meet the bull in the eye and be trampled by it.

Porro pergentesque (Onward and Forward)

Founding Date

955 BCA

Type

Military, Army

Alternative Names

The Charging Bulls

Formation Type

Legionary

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Veteran

Demonym

9th

Leader Title

Legatus

Parent Organization

Imperial Legions

Related Ranks & Titles

• Decanus
• Decurio
• Tesserarius

Related Species

• Humans

Related Ethnicities

• Vatian

Strength Above All

by Jester%

Come then, prove that you are worthy of wearing the red and hit me. - Angry Legionary of the 9th

Being a member of the 9th is not easy, as only those who are strong and can harness their rage have a chance to join their ranks. Each member must constantly prove that they can hold their own or be forced to face punishment for their weakness. Fights and feats of strength are often done to prove one's capabilities in battle. Their hot tempers tend to cause fights to happen between them, but they create respect and comradery when facing challenges and holding their own. This culture that the 9th legion holds usually results in tension with its fellow legions, as being around them can be tricky since they are not the best people to be around when they lose at a game of dice.

Rage Within

by Jester%

My anger is my strength; it will guide me in crushing all that challenges me. - Legatus Romas

The wrath of the 13th Legion is legendary within the empire, and many know not to have it fall upon them if they value their life. Many have often questioned how its members can harness such hatred to aid them in battle, from alcohol to training to maintain it. However, some have found similarities akin to barbarian Berserker rage or at least an imitation of it that could be the answer. Many of its members often find it difficult to stop in the heat of battle and lose some awareness between friends or foes in front of them. Yet even out of battle, they still maintain a degree of aggression that can quickly go off for the slightest of reasons.

No Task Too Great

by Jester%

We are to take that Fortress, but I’d say we can get it done in a week. - Tribune of the 9th

Besides having anger issues, the 9th is also known for its stubbornness in its desire to achieve victory and the tasks given to it. Because of this, it can do whatever it puts its mind to, as failure is not in its vocabulary. This does not mean they use complex plans or daring tactics to win success; their sheer willpower will see them through. While most would be baffled by such a thing, seeing it firsthand as their above-average strength and military cohesion can achieve astonishing results. When they need to bring down a gate and have no siege equipment, they charge as one to break it down, or when they need to reach a high place, they use their shields to create a human staircase to get themselves up. Brute force alone can never win the day, but adding a determined mind can bring new possibilities for success.