Imperial Foreign Legion
The Imperial Foreign Legion, commonly called The Emperor's Dogs or Coppercoats, is a Special Legion comprised of non-citizens who have joined with the Empire. This Legion is sent to the front lines first in most conflicts and has one of the highest casualty rates among the entire Imperial military. That in conjunction with the extreme training conditions they must endure has earned them a reputation as some of the most fearsome soldiers The Empire has to offer. Traditionally, they are broken up into battalions by country of origin, and when the Empire goes to war they put the troops that have come to them from this new enemy front and center. Gwelin Legionnaires are especially ferocious, as being captured by Ter Eiran regulars will net them a fate worse than death.
In exchange for such brutal service, the loved ones of volunteers to this Legion are immediately granted citizenship and support throughout the length of service. Those who become officers through distinguished action may choose to have their families moved to the Welres district of Triumph, a reward typically reserved for retired Imperial officers of noble blood. There is no retirement from the Foreign Legion, if one becomes crippled or (less likely) too old to fight, they are moved to the supply section of the Legion. This oath is eternally binding, so even long-lived soldiers from areas that have since been formally brought into the Empire are still bound to this unit exclusively.
Monsters who acquire work passports qualify for service with the Foreign Legion, though few take the Empire up on this offer. Still, it is the only way for folk classified as non-person monsters to become Imperial citizens, so Triumph is home to quite a few monstrous people in certain districts.
Composition
Manpower
The Foriegn Legion has never exceeded 4,000 regular soldiers and the number typically stands at around 3,000. They also employ fewer camp followers than most Imperial formations with only 200 at any given time plus 100 supplymen for each 1000 soldiers.
Equipment
The Foreign Legion is required to be able to survive in the field without support for long periods of time. Soldiers of the Foreign Legion carry with them an abundance of supplies, mostly medical in nature.
The iconic look of the Foreign Legion is their copper plated longcoats. Chain shirts are worn beneath large leather jackets lined with copper plates on the back. When deployed, the plates are usually painted over with charcoal or mud to prevent being easily spotted.
Weaponry
The Foreign Legion carry the standard Legion loadout for regular infantry- spear, shield, hatchet, dagger. Officers are easily identified by the broadswords they use, different from the longsword and shield normal Legion officers employ. Kuastans in the Foreign Legion are allowed to use rapiers if they specifically request it and can prove competence.
Training
Applicants hoping to join the Foreign Legion are put through training at Fort Glass outside of Vigilance. After initial assessment, those remaining are put through weeks of rigorous physical training in the desert with minimal supplies. The most notorious part of training is the Great Game, in which monsters are released into the training camp without telling the soldiers about it, serving as a final test. Those who live are allowed to serve.
History
Prior to the formation of this Legion, foreign volunteers were relegated to non-combat positions with the Supply Corp. During the Orcish Rebellion of the 1270's, an Imperial general leading Arid forces was forced to retreat from an Orc horde several thousand strong, leaving behind the supply units in his haste. Rather than abandon the critical food supply and wounded Legionnaires left in the Imperial camp, the Supply Corps began moving everything out with half of them taking up spears in an attempt to slow the enemy. According to testimony of said wounded soldiers, the foreign soldiers attacked the Orcs with a fury unmatched by any they had ever seen, and while many died, the survivors of that engagement would go on to be awarded the Imperial Service Cross by Emperor Richard IV himself, his last official act before being deposed by the Twin Empresses. It was these who would go on to form the Foreign Legion as it is known today from those who had been awarded, and their reputation was solidified in the Battle of Emberweep Mountain in 1279. Most of this original Legion was destroyed defending the Twin Empresses during the Day of Red Swords, later granted a full pardon by Emperor Chen II.
Emperor Richard VII removed the Foreign Legion from their historic role as vanguards of the Imperial forces, relegating them to garrison duty on Imperial holdings in the Singing Islands. When Richard VIII took the throne, he immediately restored them to their old position of honor and would go on to make heavy use of them during The Totem War and the Gnollish Rebellions. In apology for his father's insult to their Legion, Richard VIII added a contingent of Foreign Legion soldiers to the personal guard of his household in a position of high trust, second only to the Blades. It is from this service they gained the nickname "Emperor's Dogs" and they embraced it readily. Their new standard features a black hound breathing red fire across their service numbers, and officers have adopted helmets with a snarling dog motif.
Historical loyalties
Unlike other Legions who are sworn to the Throne itself, the Foreign Legion is directly subservient to the current Emperor, placing them outside of the normal chain of command. Even in instances of Legion coup or the Senate finding an emperor unfit for duty, these Legionnaires defend the Emperor's person with their lives.
Type
Infantry
Founding
1274 EK
Overall training Level
Elite
Assumed Veterancy
Veteran
Parent Formation
Used by
Comments