Legionnaires
The most common rank in the Venatorian military, Legionnaires are footsoldiers that act as both law enforcement and basic infantry.
Duties
Most Legionnaires are assigned as guards throughout Venatorian settlements and outposts, though some are now being sent into the Ceilic region as infantry.
Their main duties are upholding the law and maintaining peace, though now their duties include wiping out any Ceilics that they come across.
Benefits
Legionnaires act as the standard infantry and law enforcement throughout the Venatorian Empire, and because of this, they have the legal power to arrest any civilian they see fit.
Legionnaires are paid fairly for their work.
Compared to other members of the Venatorian military, legionnaires are rather well respected by civilians, due to their general lack of power abuse, and thanks to their normal social standing.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Legionnaires wear half-plate armour held together with red dyed leather. They carry rectangular steel shields and wield shortswords. They always carry manacles and a key for them, in case they need to make an arrest. They are also often equipped with a small brass whistle, which they can use to call for reinforcements
Variants
Legionnaire Houndmasters are responsible for the training and wellbeing of Venatorian Dire Wolfhounds. They are paid slightly better than standard Legionnaires, and are never without at least one hound.
Legionnaire Engineers are trained in operating war machines and siege weapons. From catapults to ballistae to cannons to even moveable siege towers, Legionnaire Engineers are expected to be able to operate them all. Legionnaire Engineers are also expected to maintain these pieces of equipment. Legionnaire Engineers are paid slightly better than standard Legionnaires and are less likely to be put in harm's way.
Legionnaire Acolytes are followers of Minerva, or Athena as she is known in the Republic. They are the main healers of the Venatorian Legion. When not healing their comrade, they can bulster their strengths and and defenses, and use divine magic on their opponents. Legionnaire Acolytes wear chainmail armour and carry maces with them.
Velites
Velites act as the standard marksmen of the Venatorian legions, using muskets and crossbows to take out their enemies at range. They have similar training and skill to Legionnaires, though they fight in completely different ways.
Responsibilities
Velites are tasked with patrolling Venatorian settlements and military outposts. In major cities, they often overlook everything from watchtowers built into the walls. Many Velites are now being deployed into the Ceilic Region, where they set up ambushes and look out for any incoming locals.
Benefits
Velites, similarly to Legionnaires, act as common infantry and law enforcement, and have the legal power to arrest civilians.
Velites are payed slightly better than Legionnaires, due to their job requiring more skill.
Velites tend to receive an amount of respect very similar to what Legionnaires get. Very few Velites act differently from Legionnaires, and so civilians hardly tell the difference between the two ranks.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Velites are equipped with leather armour and a musket or crossbow. Their armour is always partially dyed red. They always carry a dagger or a hand axe in case their ranged weapon gets damaged or an enemy gets into close range combat with them.
Variants
Velite Foresters patrol the wilderness of Venatorian Territory, and are often sent just beyond the outskirts of Venatorian frontier towns, such as Venator Lancea or Venator Hiems. Unlike regular Velites, Velite Foresters are trained in horseriding and survivalism. Velite Foresters wear camouflaged cloaks to assist them in remaining stealthy in the wilderness.
Velite Mariners make up the bulk of the Venatorian Navy. They wield harpoon guns, which whilst heavier and slower to reload, are far more lethal than standard firearms such as muskets. Their harpoon guns are made with the intension of piercing incredibly thick armour, such as an enemy ship's hull, or the scales of a Dragon Turtle. Sometimes Velite Mariners use harpoons with tips coated in white phosphorus, as it can cause enemy ships to catch fire.
Triarii
Triarii are the heavy infantry of the Venatorian legions, they possess greater training than Legionnaires and have built up a reputation for unnecessary cruelty and violence.
Responsibilities
Triarii act as heavy infantry and special law enforcement. They have been deployed multiple times to end riots, and have become hated due to this.
Many Triarii have been deployed to the Ceilic Region, and whilst they have little struggle killing the average local, druids kill these heavily armoured soldiers with ease.
Benefits
Triarii not only have the legal authority to arrest civilians, but to kill rioters on sight.
Triarii are paid generously, not only due to their impressive martial abilities, but due to the hatred many citizens harbour towards them.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Triarii are equipped with chainmail armour, a steel rectangular shield and a longswords. They wear a thin, red cloth over their armour to identify them as members of the Venatorian Legions.
Variants
Triarii Siegemasters sport heavy plate armour and carry hand cannons. They are used to destroy walls and locked doors to allow Venatorian forces access. Triarii Siegemasters are typically used during offensive operations to create entrances into buildings where terrorists are suspected to be gathering, though they were used by Legate Commodus Formido during the fall of Clan Spartach.
Triarii Drakewalkers are a special type of Triarii who wield pikes that have been converted into Fire Lances. These Fire Lances have four charges attached to them, and the Triarii Drakewalkers typically carry more charges on their back. Triarii Drakewalkers were only recently created, and have been rather useful in the destruction of outposts held by the Ceilic Clans. The Triarii Drakewalkers have also seen action hunting the Adamant Wolves and other bandit groups, and are quickly gaining a reputation that strikes fear into the hearts of those who see them. Triarii Drakewalkers wear protective metal visors on their helmets to prevent any misfire of their weaponry from causing serious injuries, and their chainmail has been made fireproof thanks to being treated with red phosphorus.
Triarii Purifiers are Venatorian soldiers trained in the art of monsterhunting. Triarii Purifiers wear plate armour made of an alloy of grey adamant and steel, and carry silver greatswords. Triarii Purifiers are educated in the various supernatural creatures that could be considered a threat to the work carried out by the Venatorian Empire, from the different types of vampires, to basilisks, to ghosts, to fae spirits. Triarii Purifiers are equiped with holy water, potions, poisons and even small explosives in order to aid them in their duties. The Venatorian Empire deploy Triarii Purifiers to areas they believe to be under a supernatural threat.
Optios
Second in command to centurions, Optios are better suited to strategy and logistics than to open combat.
Appointment
When a soldier is promoted to the prestigious rank of Centurion, they are asked to choose one of their comrades to become their Optio, as they need someone they trust with their life.
Duties
Optios tend to be more informal with their subordinates, so they can better gather information on the general situation amongst their troops. Optios try to build a more personal relationship with their men than their Centurion does, allowing the unit to build on both respect and trust.
Responsibilities
An Optio is expected to advise their Centurion in military strategy, and often manage their forces. Some Optios also serve the Empire as prison wardens if their Centurion is in charge of a settlement.
Optios arrange supply routes to military outposts and manage reserves.
Benefits
Optios are second in command to Centurions, giving them power over legionnaires, velites, triarii and even auxiliaries.
Optios have the ability to arrest civilians, approve death warrants and pardon lesser crimes.
Optios are payed generously for their service to the Empire.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Optios wear dyed red studded leather armour and carry flintlock pistols. They wear blood red pauldrons to signify their rank.
Centurion
Centurions command one hundred troops, with the help of their Optio. They are well known for their dominating presence and ruthless battle strategy.
Responsibilities
Centurions are in command of one hundred troops, though they have their Optio advise them.
They create military strategy and operations. Their men are expected to follow these orders without question or face severe consequences.
If a Centurion is preforming to a low standard, they may face dishonourable discharge, though this is normally only reserved for the incredibly incompetent and the disobedient.
Benefits
Centurions have command of one hundred soldiers, and have their Optio to assist them in running their forces.
Centurions are permitted not only to arrest civilians, but also any military personnel below them in rank. They can write death warrants but require their Optio's signature to ensure that they are of sound mind.
Centurions are paid very generously and often retire into a luxurious lifestyle after their military career ends.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Centurions are equipped with adamant chainmail decorated with their medals. They wield an enchanted weapon of their choice, though they rarely need to use it.
Praetorian Guards
Praetorian guards are soldiers that performed feats similarly to that of Centurions, but instead chose to devote their martial skill to the protection of their Emperor. They are both bodyguards and intelligence officers simultaneously, trained in combat and espionage.
Responsibilities
Praetorians guard the Emperor with fierce loyalty and a disregard for their own safety. They slay anyone who would try to bring death to the Emperor, and root out treasonous behaviour.
Praetorians are occasionally sent to act on the Emperor's behalf on matters deemed important to the Venatorian Empire. These tasks vary from overseeing an area of tactical or industrial importance, or killing a high valued target that is deemed a threat to the stability of the Venatorian Empire.
Benefits
Praetorians are paid very handsomely, and retire to a life of luxury and peace once their service is over.
Praetorians have the legal authority to kill anyone they suspect means to harm their Emperor, and are rarely questioned for killing anyone even without any legitimate evidence.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Praetorian Guards wear pitch black plate armour made of titanium, with a matching black helmet. The cloth used for their cape and under-armour is dyed purple in order to signify their ties to royalty. Similarly to Centurions, Praetorions also wield enchanted weaponry of their choice, although they find more use for their weaponry. The equipment of Praetorian Guards is created by the Church of Hephaestus, or Vulcan as he is known in the Venatorian Empire.
Praetorians also have a set of manacles, and often carry lesser magical items to help them in their task of protecting their emperor.
Variants
Praetorian Assassins are used by the Emperor in order to eliminate high value targets that are considered to be a danger to the Venatorian Empire. These Praetorian Assassins are incredibly skilled in espionage, and do not where any uniform as that would hinder their ability to blend in. Praetorian Assassins are known to even have some knowledge in the art of spellcraft, ensuring that even if they are disarmed, they still have a means of dispatching their target.
Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries are freelance specialists that serve the Venatorian military as highly skilled specialists, acting as both mercenaries and detectives.
Auxiliaries are hard to predict due to their uniqueness. No two Auxiliaries act or fight in an identical way.
Responsibilities
Auxiliaries are assigned an objective upon their employment by the Emperor, and are expected to accomplish it by any means necessary. If they perform their mission with both effectiveness and professionalism, they may be assigned a new task upon completion.
Benefits
Auxiliaries are paid handsomely by the Empire for their service, and get to keep any equipment they were issued. They are also typically pardoned of any and all crimes they have committed in service to the Venatorian Empire.
The Auxiliaries are practically exempt from the majority of Venatorian laws, and rarely face the consequences of their actions.
Accoutrements & Equipment
Auxiliaries often provide their own equipment, though they are welcome at the Venatorian Armoury. The equipment used by Auxiliaries ranges from plate armour and spears to leather armour and muskets, and everything in between.
Auxiliaries wear gold badges that identify them, so that they are not arrested by local Venatorian law enforcement for any controversial actions they take in order to accomplish their mission.
History
The first Auxiliaries were hired by Emperor Essitas Angelius, in order to deal with the growing threat from drakes wandering out of tunnels connected to Theiáfi Canyon.
The Auxiliaries have a long history of controversy, as they have committed atrocities many times in the past in order to ensure that the status quo is maintained. They have been used to deal with striking workers and to infiltrate any budding rebellions.
The Auxiliaries have been known to commit terrible acts as reprisal for any acts seen as collective treason against the Venatorian Empire. Those who are under suspicion for aiding seditious groups and outlaws, such as the Adamant Wolves, have been treated with utter cruelty and a lack of empathy by the Auxiliaries. They have a reputation to even kill civilians in cold blood just to display disapproval at disloyalty towards the Venatorian Empire.
Legates
Legates are the highest ranking members of the Venatorian Legions, the only one above them is the Emperor himself. There are only six Legates alive at the moment, and each one is considered a tactical genius and a force to be reckoned with.
Responsibilities
Legates command entire legions, their strategy can win or lose wars. Legates have much power, but even more responsibility, it is common for Legates to be punished for the failure of a military operation. The fates of entire wars rest on their hands, as do the lives of thousands of troops.
Benefits
Legates command entire legions, and each command ten centurions.
Legates receive the highest level of pay throughout the Venatorian military, and could purchase their own palace with only ten years of service.
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