The Nosferian Military
Structure
The Nosferian military is divided into four main branches: The Navy, The Army, The Inquisition of Cattakhan, and The Pyrian Knights. The Navy patrols the coasts around Passaro, Harlea, and Vrykolia. Thousands of ships have been constructed over the course of Nosferia's existence. On the eastern hemisphere of the world, Nosferia is the largest and most dangerous naval power. As such, they have some of the most well trained sailors and best equipped ships of any navy. Most of their navy is equipped for defensive combat. Nosferia does not deal in conducting raids or attacking other territories. Although, they are more than capable of equipping their ships with weaponry that would allow for more offensive measures. They do not sail far out into open water as the Vampire sailors upon their ships cannot survive comfortably outside of the shelter of the Shroud Generators from the sun. Each ship is fashioned to deny sunlight from breaching through the hull to the interior in the event that a ship is sailed out past the protection of the Shroud Generators. Those boundaries go for many miles past the coasts of the continent. Nosferia has extensive blockades for every prioritized stretch of land from Harlea down to Vrykolia, and a plethora of patrol ships sailing to and fro between each blockade.
The Army keeps the peace within Nosferia and protects the borders of Yama-Do and awaits to repel invading forces. Typically, the Nosferian armies in Vrykolia, Harlea, and Passaro are inactive aside from guard duties. The officers are instructed to run constant drills for their subordinates in order to keep them conditioned and prepared for combat, however. So, while they do not usually see combat outside of occasional skirmishes with dissidents, they are more than ready to fight if the need arises. Balacav's army units constantly deal with the dire animals, feral creatures, and rabid undead deep within Balacav's forests that hunt and kill the peasantry alongside the Blood Hunters who specialize in wiping out the nests and lairs of those creatures. Yama-do is consistently having to push back threats from Carcaan. The demonic incursions from the dessert wastes require a constant state of high alert for the fortresses and patrols that defend the border.
The Pyrian Knights protect The Emperor, high value individuals, and areas that have been granted his personal protection. Most members of the Pyrian Knights are former members of the Army or Navy who demonstrated a great deal of ability and were given enough commendations to warrant the attention of the Pyrian Knight Commanders. While mostly stationed within Balacav, their duties as an order often takes them out of that region. Pyrian Knights typically guard a few specific targets outside of the emperor himself. The Emperor's Hands, The Five Regents, and the Heads of the vampire clans are all watched over by Pyrian Knights. The Pyrian Knights have a handful of major positions. Guardsmen, Investigators, Commanders, and Honored ones. Guardsmen Protect their charges. Investigators look into assassination attempts and conspiracies against the throne. Commanders lead The Pyrian Knights and sometimes lead special Army and Naval detachments. Honored Ones are individuals recognized and given commendations by the throne that are knighted, but not fully conscripted into service. Their services may be called upon by The Emperor or his hands, but not by any other high ranking government officials. The Inquisition has its own battalions of troops and commanders who are subordinate to Inquisitors and those above them, The High Inquisitors.
The Inquisition of Cattakhan investigates subversion of Imperial rule and of The Church. The Inquisition has authority over all branches of the Nosferian military, however, it does not supersede the military in all instances. When it comes to the defense of the empire from foreign threats, the military has the last word. The Inquisition has near absolute authority when it comes to dealing with seditious or traitorous elements. Often times the inquisition will only deal with these sorts of things when magic, illegal religious organizations, or crimes against The Church come into play. Standard acts of rebellion are typically left to the army or the constabulary.
Outside of those branches are smaller, more specialized organizations. Some are dedicated to specific tasks, while others are stationed in certain regions much like the Tsusny Okhin in Yama-Do, Regent Batu Acharya's twenty turned daughters and advanced cavalry. In Vrykolia, Lady Penelope created the Arkoudanian Guard, a fighting force consisting of Werebears that serve under her. These specialists are not as widely revered as the Pyrian Knights, though they are nearly as effective. The Constabulary was established as the predominant source of law enforcement within urban areas, more so trained investigators than soldiers. Though it is not regularly an organized force, those who have opted to commute their sentences through service in the military are often referred to as The Damned. For the sake of maintaining resources, sometimes battalions of The Damned will be sent on missions with high mortality rates or significant chance of failure.
Public Agenda
The Nosferian Military seeks to maintain order and stability within The Empire. They protect the realm from both foreign and domestic powers seeking to undermine and dismantle that order. More so than that, Nosferian society considers the military to be an example for all Vampirekind to observe. They encourage discipline and self control, two ideals that The church of Cattakhan preach for vampires. Though not all members of the Nosferian military are vampires, their collective might as an organization is used as a testament to the people of Nosferia as well as the world of The Emperor and The Church's power. As such, the Nosferian military is an incredibly public force. Each victory they have against any enemy of The Empire is made public in an effort to maintain faith in their abilities as a fighting force. The Empire regularly celebrates the victories of its military with festivals, parades, and banquets. They have yet to lose a major conflict, however, few of the nations outside of Nosferia have sought conflict with it since its founding.
Assets
The Nosferian military had an endless supply of weapons and regularly sees enlistment from the general populace. They are not want for arms and armor due to The Empire's consistent supply of steel and other materials required to forge their equipment. In addition to their Standard weaponry, the Nosferian military has access to a plethora of magitech weaponry and artifacts secured by The High Chancellor and his many contacts as well as the Nosferian Explorers Commission. These arcane tools range from portal making apparatuses to engines that fire bolts of destructive energy as artillery. While magitech is made somewhat scarce to prevent theft or misuse, artifacts and enchanted equipment are common amonst the ranks of the Nosferian military. Gunpowder weaponry is used amongst all four branches. Flintlock rifles make effective gun lines against reckless enemies and pistols are not uncommon amongst officers and specialists.
Within the borders of Nosferia, the military holds a number of fortresses. Passaro and Yama-do have more fortresses between them than any of the other regions given the borders they protect. The most famous fortress is fort Kolvos in Balacav where the Pyrian Knights are trained. Aside from the major fortresses, the military holds prominent stations within all of the major cities and although they leave the majority of the local law enforcement and civilian protection to The Constabulary, they keep watch all around the cities of Nosferia.
The Navy has some of the largest, and most well equipped iron clad vessels in the world. They sport a number of powerful artillery ranging from cannons and high powered ballistas to batteries charged with arcane energy that can disintegrate invading ships. Their scout ships are fast and armed with lighter weaponry, but are capable of catching up to and boarding ships at terrifying speeds. Pirates and smugglers make themselves scarce in Nosferian waters. The troops of the navy are well equipped with enchanted weaponry and flintlocks that enable them to be effective in the event of skirmishes on the decks of ships.
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