The Black Army of Valor
The Black Army of Valor is the personal army of Daxos, King of Dark Isle. They are famed for their lifelong training and iconic spear and shield fighting style. In addition to serving as the primary military might of The Blood Realms, the Black Army are also a religious order that believe warrior souls linger on the material plane in order to serve the state eternally, and that such a fate is the ultimate goal of a soldier.
Composition
Weaponry
Each soldier in the Black Army of Valor is equipped with their famed Soul-Shields. Traditionally, those of The Black Army are trained in the use of longspears, short thrusting spears, and bolas. Aeronauts are occasionally given vials of Heartfire, but given the rarity of Sanguimancy and the intense training required to use it effectively, Heartfire has become almost non-existent on the battlefield. This rarity has given rise to common Alchemist's Fire and unstable bombs to become commonplace among the aeronauts.
Vehicles
Aeronauts of the Black Army bond with Duskhunters, magically enhanced giant bats. Rather than a proper cavalry, the Black Army trains it's soldiers in the use of the war chariot. Dark Isle also maintains a flotilla of Sinking Scorpions exclusively manned by Black Army artillerymen.
Structure
The command of the Black Army is a genetic hierarchy based on "purity of blood". Humans form the bottom of the pyramid, then eighth generation half-breeds, to first generation Dhampir at the top, with the sons and daughters of Daxos himself holding highest command. Rather than the ranks used by different militaries, the Black Army identifies their blood-rank with a number. Tens are humans (or other non-Dhampir), Seconds are those first-bloods put in charge of the others, and Firsts are the children of Daxos. Tens, who are the most numerous, are always distributed into specific phalanxes and are not used for anything other then infantry fighting.
Tactics
The Black Army is known for rapid, aggressive advances followed by the famed "Wall of Death" in which they lock shields and wait for the enemy to try and break the wall. When given the opportunity, they part the wall, allowing shock troops driving war chariots to slam into the enemy and often send bombers flying overhead.
Training
Most of the Black Army are career soldiers, selected from birth as part of Daxos' Blood Tax. It is rumored that the King of the Blood Realms has a secret breeding program designed to rapidly produce soldiers.
Once a child is given over to the Black Army, they spend their every free hour learning to fight.
History
The Black Army of Valor was formed by Daxos, then Prince of the Isle, in 919 EK as part of the Crimson Wars. It was originally formed entirely of humans and led by Daxos himself against his fellow vampires. Driven by fear of the ruling vampires of Dark Isle, human peasants joined the Black Army in droves, even more so when Daxos promised that under his reign, there would be no hunting of men in addition to a promise to join the Empire, which was an extraordinarily popular idea among the common folk at the time. The Black Army earned it's fame in the Battle of Blackport, in which they took incredible losses to hold the city for months, long enough for the Imperial Legion to arrive and turn the tide of the war.
Historical loyalties
The Black Army has always been loyal to Daxos first, The Blood Realms second, and the Empire last.
Type
Infantry
Founding
919 EK
Overall training Level
Elite
Assumed Veterancy
Decorated/Honored
Parent Formation
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