Silver Shields
Shields of Silver Reflect the Fear of Their Enemies
The professional martial order of the Coastal, the Silver Shields are the most elite soldiers within the merchant republics. Serving both as mercenaries, and the standing army of the Coastal there is always a contingent of the Silver Shields out on some deployment. This high utilization, exceptional training, and selective recruitment has made the Silver Shields well renowned for skill and effectiveness.
The Silver Shields also serve a secondary role within the Coastal society, they act as an assurance of peace between the republics. With all Republics contributing their most elite soldiers to this company order they know they would face the strength of their own warriors should any take actions against the others. This was the initial cause for the Silver Shields to be maintained after the invasion of Corsyra. The shifting political alliances had long threatened to undermine the stability and economic prosperity of the Coastal, and having seen what could be done by a unified state the oligarchs established the Silver Shields as a permanent order.
Recruitment
Unlike most positions within the Coastal's Army, money cannot buy one membership into the Silver Shields. The members of the Silver Shields are selected from the constituent armies fielded by the various republics, with only the most veteran and skilled considered for membership. Mercenaries of particular renown are on rare occasions considered for membership as well, however they must be Coastal born, as to assure no split loyalties on the battlefield.
Once a candidate has been selected for consideration they still have many steps before being admitted into the ranks of the Silver Shields. All potential candidates are put through a rigorous test of martial skill, and physical ability. This test proves that the candidate is able to meet the high demands of the Silver Shields. Should the selectee pass this grueling test, they then are moved to be mentored by a senior member of the Silver Shields. This mentor is selected carefully, attempting to match the strengths of the new recruit with that of their mentor. The other consideration taken is that no candidate and mentor are allowed to be from the same republic. This is done to assure loyalty first to the Silver Shields, and to not further any loyalties to their homes. Once one is a member of the Silver Shields, you are a Shield first and a Coastal second.
Equipment
The Silver Shields are a group of primarily heavy infantry, which bare broad hoplon styled shields and spears. Their heavy armor and shields are all made to be nearly identical, as to present a unified image to their enemies.
Assets
Silver Watch Keep
Silver Watch Keep is the great stronghold of the Silver Shields. Situated high in the northern mountains, this bastion guards the largest overland road into the Coastal Republics. This large fortress is capable of housing and outfitting the entire order of the Silver Shields, however only about two thirds are stationed there at any given time. This large fortress is also where the Order secures their wealth, as a portion of all contracts is paid to the order itself.
History
Formation
The Silver Shields were created as a standing profesional fighting force with which to invade the island nation of Corsyra -Nation-. Mustered from each of the city-states of the Coastal Republics, the republics each put forward their most capable warriors to fill out the ranks of the invasion force. This initial force was around two thousand strong. As a sign of unity for these warriors a new kit was commissioned by the Republics. A standardized set of armor and weapons was created for this expedition, and was when the mirror polished shields were first created. The large hoplons of polished steel looked as though they were silver mirrors when finished.Aboard a large fleet the two thousand soldiers of the Silver Shields set sail for Corsyra. Making landfall in what was at the time the small port town of Bandar, the Silver Shields disembarked and engaged the few defenders that stood against them. Underwhelmed by the resistance they faced, the Silver Shields quickly secured the town and began to fortify their new harbor. This small town would become the Coastal regional capital, and primary base of the Silver Shields during the initial occupation.
Occupation of Corsyra
With the town of Bandar now fortified and securely in the hands of the Coastal, the Silver Shields began to march inland, securing towns and villages as they went with little resistance. Word reached the then King of Corsyra of the invasion and he mustered his levies and withdrew his forces to Marsa with half of his force, and with the rest accompanied him to the mountiantop citadel of Corsyra. Around a third of the Silver Shields were sent to begin to lay siege to the citadel, while the rest under the Lord Commander moved to secure Marsa. With the majority of his force the Lord Commander quickly set upon the small city of Marsa, quickly overcoming its defenders and occupying the city. He then left a small contingent to occupy the city while he regrouped his forces at the Citadel. The siege lasted as long as the entire campaign thus far, with the strong defenders holding a difficult to assail position. The fortress eventually fell to the numbers of the Silver Shields and the island of Corsyra had been claimed for the Coastal.
The Silver Shields stayed on Corsyra for a time, while a second force was equipped to hold the island. A quarter of the original Silver Shields would stay on the island, and the Lord Commander would be made the Governor of the Island. With the arrival of the occupation force, the majority of the Silver Shields were returned to their home republics and briefly disbanded.
Reformation, and the Civil War Crisis
Shortly after the Conquest of Corsyra, the Republics fell back into their old ways of vying for power against one another. Conflicts between merchant houses became ever more frequent and bloody as larger and larger forces of mercenaries were deployed. Word of the growing tensions in the homeland traveled with merchants to Corsyra and found its way to the former Lord Commander of the Silver Shields. He recognized that the unified Coastal state he depended on to maintain his position was in jeopardy of collapse. As such he called up his five hundred Silver Shields, and set sail to the republics. Word of his arrival preceded him, and the rest of his band quickly rejoined him and the Silver Shields were reassembled. It was however more than just the original two thousand that answered his call, nearly double met him in his march. Nearly five thousand strong he marched from Republic to Republic and demanded an end to the fighting. Under threat of destruction by the Silver Shields, the Republics signed an accord, the Pact of Shields. Under this pact the Republics of the Coastal would no longer war amongst themselves, under enforcement of the Silver Shields; an order which would now be permanently maintained.
The Century of War
Shortly after the unification of the Coastal Republics, war resumed against the Coastal. Seeing the diminished forces in the Gothic frontiers, a series of revolts broke out against the Coastal Governors. Being fought at the time by local forces, the Governorscalled for assistance and it was the Silver Shields which were the first to answer. Marching over the pass, they joined the conflict with great success. It was their limited numbers though which stifled their effectiveness, as the territory was too large and their enemies too numerous to combat with such a small force. As the decades continued the Silver Shields were deployed time and time again, facing off against the Gothic forces in many of the major battles. Despite their impressive success record the Silver Shields were merely plugging holes in a sinking ship, and for all their progress each spring they would lose more ground over the winter.
It was the presence of the Silver Shields that allowed the Coastal Republics to hold on to this territory for as long as they did. There was no force which the Gothics could raise that could match the skill and experience of the Silver Shields. It was during this campaign that the Silver Shields earned their reputation and renown, proving to the world that the small nation could hold its own against the larger nations.
Ultimately this was a losing endeavor, and no amount of valor and success by the Silver Shields could hold this territory. The Coastal were simply too outnumbered by the large Gothic Kingdoms to the north. In the end the Coastal Republics would construct Silver Watch Keep at the edge of the pass to house the Silver Shields and prevent the Gothics from invading their lands.
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