The Imperial Legion

"Within a race, no two individuals are the same. But due to the magnitude and severity of atrocities committed by the imperial legion which follows dusk elven supremacy and will only let its finest men fight, that philosophy is often tested. The Imperial legion puts on a front of wishing to eradicate liberal degeneracy, which is perpetuated by groups like DECTA and the drosden fleet, but their strict social rules and treatment of enslaved groups is so utterly barbaric the words 'imperial legion' still sends shudders down the spines of many. They were only able to rise again through subterfuge, and travellers are to avoid the purple/black uniforms if they hold their freedom and life dear." - Hitch-hiker's guide to Jeslorian militaries.

The Imperial Legion

The imperial legion, much like the Iron Legion, is noted for its tenacity. When the empire fell, the remnants of the legion reformed as a terrorist organization operating under the name 'dagger'. Dagger continued to exist, spreading extremist beliefs aligning with the church of Kragen, particularly targetting DECTA civilian targets. They continued to be a nuisance, constantly working with the criminal underworld and continuing to exist even if they could not make much of an impact on the world around them. If anything, they held out long enough as an illicit terrorist organization to help orthodox imperial loyalists take control of the new empire, so they could return to the olden ways. While political sympathies for dagger - a known terrorist and extremist groups - were pointed out during their rise to power, weaker democratic opposition did very little to stop it.
When the second empire rose took control again, dagger was rewarded for its loyalty by being integrated into the new imperial legion, although many of these soldiers that fought for dagger were eventually killed in political purges. These purges did not only target racially/ideologically incompatible groups within the army and imperial territories, they even targeted the very people that helped them attain power, specifically the terrorists who fought for dagger.
After the purge, when the legion was seen as sufficiently purified, it was fully re-armed and re-equipped. From there on out, the legion was sent to do what it was familiar with: subjugate its neighbours (which many extremists/idiots in DECTA territories described as redpilled before the atrocities were revealed.) as a display of military power. Once the imperium had reclaimed its former territory, the legion was back in business. They now had access to new technologies left behind by occupying DECTA forces and were able to kickstart their own R&D department. They have a lot of catching up to do to get on par with the RCF and expeditionary command, but they will get there.
The imperial legion is divided up into 5 segments: Tenebris Inquisitorea, The Dogs of war, the alliance army, The bishopry, and the elitus. They fall into a certain hierarchy, with the elitus at the top and the dogs of war at the bottom.

The Elitus

The elitus are the elites, as the name would imply. They are excellently trained, have access to a wide variety of equipment, and most importantly are among the most zealous in the army. They are not like soldiers in other armies, when a grenade sticks to them, getting it off is not a thing that crosses their mind. Instead, they will take it to mean that Kragen has chosen for them to ascend, and they will charge into the enemy to take them with them. They are about on par with peacemaker shocktroopers in terms of how well protected they are, donning both energy shields and regular armour to ensure they are protected at all times against the most common threats on the battlefield.
It is a fiercely held belief that falling in battle honours Kragen, but retreating, or even worse, yielding is a disgrace. Elitus don't fall back, they will die before it even occurs to them, and if they do, they will be cast in chains or executed. Cowardice has no place in the imperial legion, let alone the elitus. The elitus are feared by other factions for their skills and toughness, and were not a force to be trifled with, even back when the imperial army was known as dagger. 

Tenebris Inquisitoria

Tenebris Inquisitoria is the religious arm/Secret Service of the dusk elven empire. The Tenebris Inquisitoria is essentially the empire's military police, a necessity when an army has a slave division. When units try to retreat, the Tenebris Inquisitioria will be there to put them down, and they're also instructed to kill soldiers that are seen yielding - provided they can get to them, as the tenebris inquisitoria generally stays behind the frontline. They're not heavily armed or armoured, as they are technically not soldiers. When not on the field, they act as religious enforcers, making sure that the imperial religion is practices correctly.
Whenever they are deployed in close range to enemies, they act as infiltrators, something they are quite good at. Without direct input, J4k08 has much more difficulty directing his counter agents efficiently, and TI agents can slip through the cracks and infiltrate DECTA. The crownest agency does not have this weakness, and can weed them out much faster. Their main mission as spies is simply to relay information back to the empire to help out military movements.

The Bishopry

The religious/medical regiment within the imperial legion. They are fully unarmed and generally not cared about by soldiers. It is the only branch of the imperial military women are allowed to serve in. They stay between combat groups and the TI during missions, patching up soldiers whenever they fall and bring them to medical camps behind the frontline.

The Allied Army

Made up of non-dusk elves, the allied army is composed of races the empire has either allied itself with or has subjugated. Some slaves in the dogs of war are so resigned to serving the empire they are allowed to serve in the allied army, primarily because it would be a waste of skill otherwise. The allied army is the second-largest body in the imperial legion (second to the dogs of war). 

The Dogs of War

The most commonly seen soldiers on the field, the imperial legion essentially deploys slaves. Slaves in the army are either men, or infertile women, who serve no other purpose to the empire than cannon fodder. To prevent them from rebelling or escaping, the tenebris inguisitoria ensures their compliance through religious conditioning and constant mistreatment. Most factions, except for DECTA and the drosden fleet don't bother trying to help anyone in the dogs of war, and the effectiveness is, disturbingly enough, not always that good. They are given low quality weapons and little to no armour, basically soften defenses of enemies or draw their attention into a certain direction before large forces led by the elitus attack proper.
Slaves get no rewards for fighting other than food and the privilege of living another day, and other soldiers in the army can use them however they please. Mortality rates in the dogs of war are high, partially because even if they get injured, the bishopry will not help them. The dogs of war only fight mostly because through constant abuse and conditioning, they've begun believing into the ideals of the empire. Some even get out of the dogs of war and become part of the allied army if they are proven to be loyal enough, further incentivizing abandonment of all hope, which is a core tenant of the dusk elven religion.

ut hic et non amplius (to here and no further)

Type

Military, Armed Forces

Alternative Names

Dagger

Theme