The Devoted

The Devoted are one of the guard units of The High Kingdom, albeit not one of the palace guards. Rather than performing ceremonial duties, their role is of shock troops in battle. Many Elven societies, even though elves do not normally form the lifelong attachments more common in humans, have some individuals who for some reason or another become besotted with another to an immoderate degree. When this passion is not returned in like, which it rarely is, they can then fall into deep despair. This is different to the normal heights and lows of elven passions, which are ephemeral and soon forgotten. Sometimes, these souls will kill themselves from this despair, but this is hard for such a long-lived race, so they will often turn to a way of life where they take more and more extreme risks in order to assuage their pain. Other elves just become so jaded with life that it ceases to hold all meaning for them, and again, they start to take more and more risks in order to continue to find stimulation. Yet others are, for various possible reasons, shamed to an extent where they are not able to venture out into society ever again. All of these are potential recruits for the Devoted. In battle, they cast aside all restraint, as well as all armour and clothing, and charge headlong into the foe, hoping to either die, or redeem themselves in bloodshed. Frenzied with bloodlust, their charge is accompanied by howls and screams. Few can withstand even their appearance, yet alone the whirl of blades that accompanies their arrival. The charge of the Devoted, if targeted at the right point in the enemy line and at the right moment, has swung many battles. In others, where they have charged prepared positions, or into heavy bowfire, they have died en masse. The legendary status of the Devoted is such that many half elves and humans are also now founds amongst its ranks - not recruited for the same reasons, but exhibiting the same behaviour. In addition there are also those who follow the ethos of the Devoted, without actually being part of the military unit itself. In F'erend'ar, there is no equivalent to the Devoted. While similar individuals exist, the idea of fighting in this way is seen as completely against the ethos of civilised warfare. In The Great Kingdom, there are far fewer pure-blood elves, and even those who fit the criteria above find other roles within society, rather than taking the path of the Devoted.

Composition

Manpower

The size of the Devoted depends greatly on how long since they were last used, and how well their recent battles have gone. In general there are normally around 300-600 Devoted.

Equipment

The Devoted are normally noted for their lack of equipment, especially defensive. They never wear armour or even clothes in battle. They may carry shields, but normally drop them before hand to hand combat, using them only to get through fire zones.

Weaponry

For weapons they will normally either use two-handed swords or axes, or a pair of swords in either hand. They will never use missile weapons, except sometimes a heavy javelin thrown just before contact. Weapons are not standardised - each Devoted uses whatever weapon they find most appropriate.

Type

Infantry

Overall training Level

Elite

Parent Formation

The Royal Army

Used by

• The High Kingdom