Mykaran Battlesingers

In their allies, their voices may invoke the images of angels and other heavenly beings, but in those of their enemies all they do is seed terror and despair.

— Indrik Galean, Heronian General

There are some soldiers of such fearsome reputation that the mere sight of them can cause panic and disarray. Elite warriors whose skill, equipment and abilities make them a force to be reckoned with. Nurn's Battlesingers are no different. Well, that is not entirely true. They differ in the fact that most people flee when they hear rather than see them.

Ensnared Culture

Of great renown in the modern world, the art of Battlesinging finds its origins in the earliest forms of Mykaran culture. Singing, songwriting and composing had always been held in high regard by the northerners, being their primary means of keeping their history alive. Additionally, they were known to use singing and chanting as tools in battle, increasing the combat ability and ferocity of their soldiers in various ways. When the Mykarans entered what is now Illigara in the 14th century DA, having been driven out of the north by the Mykonians, their skills and battle prowess soon attracted the attention of the Daughters of Cybelle. Ensnared by the cult, Mykaran warriors and especially the Battlesingers became the backbone of Cybellian armies.

Heralds of Despair

They soon became famous or rather infamous, their skill and abilities making them dangerous foes to face. However, with this fame came the stories. Nearly every enemy they faced would tell different tales of the strange chanters and many would embellish them, to either excuse a defeat or enhance a victory. As such it is difficult at times to distinguish myth from reality.

The Myth

Most myths detail the Battlesingers as something akin to a force of nature. People, usually women, capable of moving entire armies with only their voice. A single Battlesinger is able to move regiments with utmost precision and an entire group can move the army as if it were a single warrior. All with different intonations and melodies. If intended they can turn the song of command into one of threat creating a monstrous chorus that will drive the spirit from even the bravest of warriors. That is not to mention their ability to push someone into a trance-like lull with Siren-like melodies.

The Truth

Reality is not quite as impressive. Mykaran Battlesingers are indeed able to use their voices to improve morale and ferocity of those fighting under them. That song and music can invoke great emotions within humans is a well-known fact, but the Mykaran way enhances this ability tenfold. Be it to demoralize the enemy before the battle, uphold the morale of their own forces or give short basic tactical orders, the Battlesingers poses a wide array of methods to support their allies. Many reliable accounts tell of regiments fighting with an animal-like ferocity under their influence.

Most of their more mythical feats can be traced back to their service in the Cult. The Cybellians were known to employ vast slave armies, which they kept under control through a complex net of indoctrination and use of substances. It seems that the Mykaran style of singing was especially complimentary to whatever concoction the Cybellians used to control their slaves. There can be no doubt that the Battlesingers are one of the prime reasons for the slave's ability to face seemingly any enemy.

Sisterhood of Elites

by Ting Xu

After the unit was disbanded following the Amerian Purge in the late 16th century, the practice of Battlesinging remained a remnant of the Mykarans darker past. That was until Ameris III. revived it centuries later. From then on, Battlesingers would once again form a vital part of Mykaran armies. Battlesingers are recruited from a myriad of musical academies found throughout Nurn, the practice of singing is still of great importance to the culture and many begin to learn and practice before they can even fully read or write. The recruits, which are all female, are then put through an extensive and to outsiders utterly mysterious training.
After seven years, about one out of twenty recruits emerges as a fully-fledged Battlesinger and are assigned to a regiment. They are equipped with the best armour and weapons Nurn can provide which, combined with their great skill in sword and board combat, makes them lethal opponents on their own.

Let our enemies slander us and call us Sirens all they want. Our people know that our songs spread only one message: That of the pride and unbroken might of the Mykaran People!

— Shitar III., Birin of Nurn

Type

Infantry

Founding

1377 DA
1821 DA (Second Founding)

Overall training Level

Elite

Parent Formation

Mykaran Guard

Used by

• Daughters of Cybelle
• Khadmean Kingdoms
• Tetrarchy of Nurn

Position in Society
Battlesingers are honoured in Mykaran society, being held in the same regard as the best professional singers, composers and storytellers. When on campaign they do enjoy better quarters than the common soldiers and are often the first to get rations and new equipment. When in Nurn, they usually stay within the great compound of Nurn's military academy, unless they are already married.

Your voice holds power. Use it wisely.

— Mykaran Proverb

Male Battlesingers
In a twist of irony, male Battlesingers have completely disappeared from the units modern incarnation. There are reliable reports of male Battlesingers during the Cult's reign, a rather extraordinary fact given that the Cult pushed the concept of a matriarchal society to its most extreme and horrifying form. Other fields, especially those dedicated to more civilian purposes, do show that Mykaran men have just as much talent and ability as their female counterparts. They are just not made use of, as no man is allowed to even begin the training.

by Ivan Martinez