Black Dogs

Mercenaries are common in the Jagged Sea region, and among mercenary bands none are as famous as the Black Dogs. Lead by Prince Cane Nero, the mercenary company numbers enough to fill a full legion, though they're rarely deployed in formations larger than a maniple. They're based out of Firegate and also hold an exclusive contract for protecting the city; though there haven't ever been fewer than a thousand Black Dog soldiers here, three cohorts of one hundred each are dedicated defenders and not available for any other contracts.
Their reputation paints the Black Dogs as grim, and this band is composed of consummate professionals. Benefits and pay are both generous, with retirement options for the rare Dog who lasts thirty years in the legion, and survivor benefits to the families of fallen soldiers. Though the Prince doesn't make quite as much money off of his soldiers as some mercenary leaders, he's well supported by his own lands and title, allowing him to take better care of his soldiers. The loyalty of the average Black Dog is, as a result, quite high; they're more willing to die in the line of duty than the average mercenary.
Lately, Black Dogs have been hired by an alliance of lords in the Jagged Sea area to prospect, pacify, and otherwise dredge previously inhabited areas for relics and artifacts. The jungle areas targeted by this alliance are home to several man'di tribes and the conditions have forced the Black Dogs to adapt, but they have persevered, paving the way for colonization.

Composition

Manpower

The Black Dogs number around six thousand total, though this includes support staff. At least four thousand men and women are infantry-capable and armed for the job; another thousand have other combat roles (siege weapons, magic support, pilots, etc.) The last one thousand are cooks, clerks, and other support, though they're still expected to drill with weapons.

Equipment

Standard Black Dog equipment consists of a large bronze shield, falcata, steel and lamellar chest piece, greaves, helmet, and a vambrace for their sword arm. Soldiers with good aim are given pilums to hurl at the enemy while others are given long spears and sent to the front of the formation; bronze shields are still used because they better conduct magic, and battle wizards use this to form more effective barriers against projectiles.
Cavalry is rare, with warmachines preferred when it comes to disrupting enemy formations. Soldiers are also expected to maintain their underclothes, a half tent, and shovel as part of their kit, with waterskins, whetstones, and the necessary oils to maintain their equipment also provided.

Weaponry

Falcatas are ubiquitous, with most Dogs also carrying either thrusting or throwing spears. Exposure to the jungle is starting to change their equipment load out, with several foregoing their shields to wield larger swords or sometimes a short spear and falcata combination.

Vehicles

The Black Dogs maintain roughly one hundred warmachines, some of these decades old. Most of them are salvage, as the Prince put together the mercenaries with his own coin, but all are quite serviceable. Several skyships have been acquired (some as payment) and ferry the Black Dogs around the world.

Structure

The Prince is in charge of the entire legion, and ultimately accepts or denies contracts. Below him is the Fist, five captains in charge of the soldiers; four captains see to roughly a thousand infantry each, with the fifth captain overseeing the rear and any unattached specialists. Lieutenants oversee maniples (around three hundred soldiers) with a sergeant in charge of a hundred, and corporals tending squads of eight to ten.

Tactics

The Black Dogs train in standard phalanx tactics as most soldiers in the Jagged Sea and surrounding areas do, though as contracts have expanded their range, their tactics have also been forced to expand. Anti-cavalry tactics in particular have become more important in the east, and small unit tactics are studied for units heading to the jungle. The Prince and the Fist place their emphasis on efficacy over tradition, and hidebound tacticians are swiftly replaced. The Black Dogs in general specialize in envelopment; their commanders are rigorously trained to be stoic in battle, not taking bait but enraging the enemy into making foolish mistakes.

Training

Black Dogs recruit heavily from orphanages, and part of the Prince's largesse in his own city includes paying for training (and food) in such organizations. Training ideally begins when children are around ten, with prospective candidates encouraged to attend schools and camps provided by the city (which also provide rudimentary education), with actual candidates accepted at the age of fourteen. A one month long crucible is undertaken by initiates that includes physical training and rudimentary phalanx combat, and Black Dogs train constantly when not deployed, especially if they anticipate contracts to non-traditional warzones. It's expected that a Dog with five years of service has received training in phalanx, anti-cavalry, anti-warmachine, and jungle warfare. Practice makes perfect of course, and seasoned veterans are extremely skilled.
Combat training focuses on falcata, spear, and hand-to-hand. Additional weapon training may be sought with good reason (non-traditional deployment) and once the other skills are sufficiently mastered. Black Dogs avoid projectile weapons for the most part; their battle wizards make their own formations nearly impervious to anything short of a warmachine or siege engine, and the Dogs prefer to close in with their opponents.

Type

Infantry

Overall training Level

Professional