Imperial Legions
The army was dressed in travel clothing, Camoflage patterns making the over seven hundred members blend together, especially as their travel capes draped over full backpacks, here and there the breeze lifted the capes and flashes of color from the battle banners on their packs became visible and then disappeared again.
"Ten, Nine," the Legion tensed, bringing weapons up, couching their shields, casting spells as appropriate, lifting off the ground if they had flight capes, or flying capacity, "Zero, Now, forward March, for the Glory of The Empress!".
A swirl of Purple fog and green lightening and the way was open to the new world, and the force charged in.
Composition
Manpower
771 is the average size of a Legion under the reforms of Roman the Conqueror. This does not include the often 100-200 strong baggage train that accompany any legion on the march.
Equipment
Standard Under armor is supplied to all, only the style of this armor is mandatory and the individual Trooper can buy replacements if they have the money.
Style: Tunic, Trousers/Hose/Leggings, boots or sandals, and a Helmet.
Most common material is Quilted Cotton, or leather.
The Trooper will also receive a standard issue backpack with cape attachment.
Battle, Ceremonial, and Travel cape. Battle Cape is attached to the Battle config of the Backpack, Travel cape depends from the top of the Travel config backpack and shrouds the trooper while they travel. Ceremonial cape wraps around the upper body whilst leaving the weapon arm free.
Battle Uniform (also usable during Travel) of camouflage pattern, this consists of thin plates of metal to be strapped to the under armor on chest, upper and lower arm, upper and lower leg, over boot, and under backpack. battle Uniform can be improved if the trooper can afford to, even to wearing armor that does not match pattern, as long as they can wear their backpack and cape.
Ceremonial armor is made of chromed aluminum to shine, and consists of plates that cover shoulders chest, abdomen, Kilt, and Grieves. it is shiny and does not give protection. it can be dropped in seconds if you know what you are doing. The cape is attached under the shoulder plates.
Weaponry
Standard issue: Short Sword (Gladius), 3 javelin, Missile staff, and Tower Shield.
Specialist units will have different weapons depending on Job.
Shock Units have two handed swords (Greatswords) and no shield.
Artillery and Officers have a rod of Magic Missile instead of the staff.
Ground mounted units have curved Long Swords, (Sabre) and Kite Shield
Flying mounted units have Missile Staves and Sabre.
Ship mounted troops have a cutlass, a longer, curved, Gladius.
Mage Units have their spells.
Vehicles
Conestoga style with two horses is most common, though officers will often have Vardo style.
Wagons may also be driven by magical engines instead of horses/oxen.
Specialist units may have other vehicles.
Flying Animals and Carpets also fall within the purview of this use.
Structure
Lowest rank Trooper; Next is Senior Trooper (often shortened to Senior)' next is Octovir who commands a Squad/Octo of 8 troopers (officially, actually most only command 7 Geminir command a troop of 14 -16 troopers and 2 Octovir; Quatrovir command a Triginta of 28-32 troopers, 4 Octovir, and two Geminir; Centuri command a Century of 56-64 Troopers, 8 Octovir, 4 Geminir, and two Quatrovir, they will have a guard of two with them at all times. (76)
Higher ranks have an Octo/Squad of 8 as guards and a second Octo as command structure.
An Artibusi commands 2 Centuri and their units (169 A Bellivir commands 2 Artibusi and their units (347), Legate commands a full legion which means they have 2 Bellivir, 4 Artibusi, 8 Centuri, and all their troops beneath them, plus they have their own Centuri. (770)
Tactics
Reconnaissance and spy the area first, every legion has a spy master for this purpose.
Send Auxiliaries to damage communications or command, take out the bad guy.
Establish Air superiority, Hit with Artillery, send in the Shock troops and follow with normal troops.
Training
General marching and specialized training for roles assigned in the formation.
Logistics
Logistical Support
Though a Legion will have 100 to 200 persons in the Baggage Train a Legion neither employs these people, nor does it particularly need them, often a Quartermaster Centurion will be placed in charge of this Baggage train. Their word is law. they are to ensure corruption does not occur. Often they are the source of said corruption.
The Empire attaches Training Cadres to Legions on campaign to ensure the reserves are kept up to battle readiness. these cadre are usually a single Troop and will attach to the Command unit.
Auxilia
Auxiliaries are the Adventurers common on the world, though there will be up to a full Century of them in a Legion they do not count towards the number of troops as they are considered independent.
The Auxiliaries do not have a Centuri attached to them, nor do they follow the normal command structure with each Squad being eight people who have training in being adventurers and a certain amount of training in cooperating within the Squad.
Recruitment
Any person born of the Empire may take training in the Imperial Legions, and must serve a minimum of five years.
It is possible to flunk out of training.
Troopers are seldom stationed within their home province.
History
The Empress used troops formed from the armies of those she conquered personally, it took her only a decade to capture the whole of the Breton Region of Youroppa, taking each clan in turn.
She turned her attention away from Breton and began campaigning East into the interior of the continent, the individual clans were watched by Legates, each of whom had a Legion made of troops from various areas.
In the Idiok region of Breton the Legate Governor was Romanus and he had a Legion that was two thirds Idiok troops. when the empress was on campaign the Idiok rebelled, turning on the non Idiok troops and driving Romanus out of their lands.
Romanus reorganized the troops he had left to him, less than two full Centuries. he then used his knowledge of the terrain and the people to retake the central fortress. Now with two Centuries, bolstered by loyal local forces and a Fortress at his command he contacted the Empress, but did not wait for her to return, instead he began a series of battles to demolish infrastructure and morale in the Idiok region.
It took the Empress nearly three months to return to Breton and join the quashing of the rebellion, and by that time Romanus had retaken the region.
The Empress was impressed and promoted him to Consul, under her, she listened to his advice on the re organization of the Legions, and then put him in charge.
Romanus then created the current model of formation, and the tactics he used became standard practice. He also was the one who started the Imperial Army's practice of having people serve far from their home land.
He also provided the reward structure for troops to retire far from home, and even mingle with the local population.
After ten years of organizing he had changed the Imperial Armies into a new force never seen before, and the Empress put him in charge of taking the Alpine regions. His tactics and organization earned him the name 'Roman the Conqueror'.
it also earned him the title of 'First Consort' as he became first the Empresses right hand man and eventually her lover.
Roman was in charge of the Legions for seventy years, when he retired he was given a mansion in the Idiok Region, it was decorated with the heads of those he conquered (it is believed they were painted portraits but they do not survive if they were).
The Legions have served the Empress faithfully ever since.
Historical loyalties
The Faceless Empress
Roman The conqueror
The Divine Circle
Type
Infantry
Founding
-1980
Overall training Level
Trained
Assumed Veterancy
Trained
Used by
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