The Tenebric Vanguard
The Tenebric Vanguard is a sect of elite warriors which are based out of Sirenwall in the Red Mountains, but travel the continent offering their services as soldiers. They worship the Rider and pay homage to them in wartime. They are highly sough after mercenaries, both because of their elite status and because it is believed that their worship of the Rider curries favor with it, and in turn the tides of battle will favor them.
The Vanguard is known to be a herald of the Rider, and in some cases have ended conflicts simply by appearing on the battlefield, as the opposition does not want to risk the ire of the god.
Composition
Manpower
The Tenebric Vanguard is a force approximately 10,000 strong in their base in the Red Mountains. In a standard contract, they would dispatch 1,000 soldiers to the desired location at 100 gold per soldier. The contract would also articulate the specifics of each conflict, such as special equipment the soldiers would need or accommodations based on location.
Equipment
Every Vanguard mercenary would come standard equipped with scalemail and a shield, all forged of Red Mountain steel. Some mercenaries who request to be on the front lines of battle are known as Sanguine Towers and are equipped with tower shields and pole arms
Weaponry
Every mercenary is given a longsword, bow, and spear.
Vehicles
On rare occasions, it would be stipulated in their contract that the Vanguard would need a siege tower or other machine of war to properly fulfill their contract, but often the only vehicles used were for transport.
Tactics
The Tenebric Vanguard regularly apply two forms of strategy to battle, both designed for offensive push, that could be used separately or in tandem.
The Blood Tide was the second tactic they employed, which entailed either heavily or medium armored Sanguine Mercenaries sprinting at full speed, preferably down a hill, to crash against enemy lines. It was a wrecking-ball tactic designed to quickly and brutally wipe out the opposing force. If their opponents would larger, they would form the Red Wall. It is designed for combat against a much larger army. Sanguine Towers take up a phalanx formation and slowly press forwards against the approaching army while Sanguine Screamers or more lightly armored troops leap over the wall to actively press the offensive and break the enemy line.
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