Soldiers
“They fight the empire’s battles but never share in its spoils.”
DEFINITION
A Soldier is a member of the empire’s armed forces, either through conscripted service, voluntary enlistment, or noble command. Soldiers range from lowly footmen to elite guards and field captains. Despite being essential to the empire’s survival, they are commoners, owned in spirit—if not in name—by the nobility.
They’re expected to follow orders, die cleanly, and never ask questions.
TYPES OF SOLDIERS
| Type | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial Legionnaires | Core army of the empire. Uniformed, drilled, and ruthlessly disciplined. | May be stationed across duchies or at the capital. |
| Ducal Guard | Private armies raised by Grand Dukes. Loyal to house, not crown. | Viermont’s soldiers are feared for cold efficiency. |
| Margrave’s Troops | Hardened border fighters. Often half-wild, superb survivalists. | High casualty rate, grim reputation. |
| City Watch / Town Guard | Local law enforcement with minimal training. | More corrupt than competent. |
| Knight-Commanded Retainers | Personally trained and equipped soldiers for noble households. | Most loyal, sometimes magically enhanced. |
| Mercenaries / Adventurers | Hired blades. Unpredictable. Rein might interact with these often. | Sometimes recruited into regular ranks during war. |
DUTIES & CULTURE
- Suppress rebellions, enforce noble law, guard borders, protect convoys, and fight in wartime.
- Expected to be loyal, silent, and efficient.
- Rewards are rare—honour, a medal, or a one-time bonus.
- Desertion = execution.
- Promotion is possible but rare; usually based on connections, not merit.
STATUS & PERCEPTION
- By Nobles: Useful tools. Replaceable. Kept loyal through propaganda and fear.
- By Commoners: Either admired (war heroes) or resented (enforcers of tyranny).
- By Scholars/Artisans: Often pitied or underestimated.
A soldier may rise to knighthood—but only through acts of extreme sacrifice or favour. Even then, they remain marked as "low-born" in polite society.
DARK REALITIES
- Used as test subjects for magical weapons or cursed relics.
- Expendable in battle—nobles often retreat while soldiers are slaughtered.
- Rarely remembered—unless they defy orders spectacularly or die in front of witnesses.
NARRATIVE POTENTIAL
Soldiers can be:
- Loyal but questioning NPCs who start to doubt the system Rein is defying.
- Elite bodyguards or assassins sent to stop Rein—some of whom she may turn.
- Survivors of old battles who know truths the empire buried.
- Childhood friends of the Saint or Rein’s former life, now turned against her.
SAYINGS ABOUT SOLDIERS
- “A soldier’s honour is buried in mass graves.”
- “Orders first. Questions after death.”
- “Nobles make the war. Soldiers make the sacrifice.”
- “If you want to find truth, ask the soldier who wasn’t supposed to survive.”
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