Tripartite General Staff of 7-629
"Morning Feythen'z. Orders' in. Marching to scrape, with saddles to follow. Same as before, but - bit of a problem. They's to distribute to the men. Rub is-- fucking kho-ho luthun is insane to expect the men to take well on this drivel." Spake a captain to another and placed a printed stack of letters upon his lap, as he lay upon his bed. Silence for a moment, little more than a beat.
"I *wonder.*" he growled, and took one from the stack, and scowled immediatly upon finishing the short speech. Theirs was one of the line regiments, the Vaerg-varan ones - meaning, they'd see their recruits second, mainly older men and younger boys. New recruits had come not week ago, and they were being drilled in the use of their arms and bayonets. Grand Duchess had taken her share of the litter, and the non-clanned city folk mainly remained in the firm battalions. "Who in their right mind writes this--!" Now the battalion command would have to consider ways to cover for the headquarter and them pissing it all in the wind before the race horses had even left their pens--
"Well, what'd ya expect." the other one sighed.
"Possess shame and awareness not to *dsitribute* this--" the other captain got up. "Well. Neither the Tvbéran nor his lackey from Monoëch appreciate not doing precise-lick what they command. See to it, then."
"You mean-- in person?"
"Well, seen as we are the sole salts here, only professional officers below the regimental commander-- Well. We've stood line. We well comprehend the intricacies of the infantry society. Why? 'Fraid to get lynched?"
"Yes. Yes I am. It-- it isn't *that* bad, or is it?"
"Well." the other captain re-read the orders. "For ill, I believe old Z'anto will be known for his potent, beautiful speeches."
"Mother of Týoll--!" groaned the captain. The other captain, leader of the two line battalions in the regiment, with each having one other light and picket, as well as a number of civilians handling the camp work - these were under the command of the younger, more hesitant captain. So the other one, named Kyolavi, called together the men, having just been served their chow. They trickled in, and Kyolavi was disappointed in seeing that they did so sluggishly.
"Yop-yoppak!" called he, men to stand en-attention. Many of them slogged their shouldered yet á la 'What the fuck now, get to fight soon or not? We were promised loot.' The captain hesitated, and saw around him were camp-workers, who were under no code of silence whence it came to what they heard and saw. It was an intelligence fuck-off and kiss yon privyy goodbye, for all will know now-- so make it public, see there are no rumours, and seek to mitigate. Fathers drown yon kho-ho. His fingers forgot to fight. Complete-lick poncered the ball. This the captain Kyolavi was thinking.
"Ease, then. Gentlemen. So. I-- I have a letter from command. Pay attention. Orders were to distribute to each company, and I venture to do so in person. So listen up. As you are aware, commander of the Tripartite forces proper, the surpreme commander, is and has been, the count of Monoëch. Man we refer to as Z'anto-tar. We do as he says. For as long as he is commander in chief, he hands us the rope and tells us to jump over-- or crawl under. We, all of us, will thread the ground with our gobs if there is need. We are in it to *win*. So I quote his orders, and the speech he has given us, and pardon me for butchering his fine tongue, I understand this text is translated from alden Kiri. Ahem." spoke the good captain. He began.
"You're not-- no."
"I am, yes. And each regiment gets to choose. We've got loads of botany, back. Just-- have the sergeants ready for regulars in case this revel of shite decides to turn pear-shaped.
"I *wonder.*" he growled, and took one from the stack, and scowled immediatly upon finishing the short speech. Theirs was one of the line regiments, the Vaerg-varan ones - meaning, they'd see their recruits second, mainly older men and younger boys. New recruits had come not week ago, and they were being drilled in the use of their arms and bayonets. Grand Duchess had taken her share of the litter, and the non-clanned city folk mainly remained in the firm battalions. "Who in their right mind writes this--!" Now the battalion command would have to consider ways to cover for the headquarter and them pissing it all in the wind before the race horses had even left their pens--
"Well, what'd ya expect." the other one sighed.
"Possess shame and awareness not to *dsitribute* this--" the other captain got up. "Well. Neither the Tvbéran nor his lackey from Monoëch appreciate not doing precise-lick what they command. See to it, then."
"You mean-- in person?"
"Well, seen as we are the sole salts here, only professional officers below the regimental commander-- Well. We've stood line. We well comprehend the intricacies of the infantry society. Why? 'Fraid to get lynched?"
"Yes. Yes I am. It-- it isn't *that* bad, or is it?"
"Well." the other captain re-read the orders. "For ill, I believe old Z'anto will be known for his potent, beautiful speeches."
"Mother of Týoll--!" groaned the captain. The other captain, leader of the two line battalions in the regiment, with each having one other light and picket, as well as a number of civilians handling the camp work - these were under the command of the younger, more hesitant captain. So the other one, named Kyolavi, called together the men, having just been served their chow. They trickled in, and Kyolavi was disappointed in seeing that they did so sluggishly.
"Yop-yoppak!" called he, men to stand en-attention. Many of them slogged their shouldered yet á la 'What the fuck now, get to fight soon or not? We were promised loot.' The captain hesitated, and saw around him were camp-workers, who were under no code of silence whence it came to what they heard and saw. It was an intelligence fuck-off and kiss yon privyy goodbye, for all will know now-- so make it public, see there are no rumours, and seek to mitigate. Fathers drown yon kho-ho. His fingers forgot to fight. Complete-lick poncered the ball. This the captain Kyolavi was thinking.
"Ease, then. Gentlemen. So. I-- I have a letter from command. Pay attention. Orders were to distribute to each company, and I venture to do so in person. So listen up. As you are aware, commander of the Tripartite forces proper, the surpreme commander, is and has been, the count of Monoëch. Man we refer to as Z'anto-tar. We do as he says. For as long as he is commander in chief, he hands us the rope and tells us to jump over-- or crawl under. We, all of us, will thread the ground with our gobs if there is need. We are in it to *win*. So I quote his orders, and the speech he has given us, and pardon me for butchering his fine tongue, I understand this text is translated from alden Kiri. Ahem." spoke the good captain. He began.
Soldiers of yon Houses, Issqarans, Slëmonochi, Tvbéri, Raq'huemei, men of Rämenara, Fringe, Vaerg'vara, all. I greet thee a commander in chief to yon venture, to destroy the enemy - utterly. Our recent actions in the Fringe have held the enemy by the throat, and strucken him in the pants, and he is frightened. King, L'ostav, Khaerlemmen, all. They fear us. Let no-man consider our burning will to defend all that is Harnothi to be any less than worth our Fathers and their Fathers. You are the ones who defend this land, and yon rightful men to farm all Land South of the Fringe. These lands belong to us all. .. And this I swear, by my fathers grave and their fathers and their Fathers: I shan't sheathe mine sword until the from the Fringe flows naught else but loot. Push, push and push again, and you *will* dip your spears into the sea..
*Fuck* he forgot half the Houses which sent us lads. Does he not know where his men are from--! And Rämenarans see pig tallow as filthy-- they will not touch a rifle if they are smothered with the shite.
Some of them were staring at the captain pondering the same question: why are ya takin' orders from them? Why'm I takin' orders from ya?
"Way to get out of all this, is not to consider sedition, but do as you are told, and simply-- Military maxims you all know. Absorb a blow which would destroy a lesser being and retain the ability to resist.
"Khórr's got an idea. You know how navies give rations of booze to the lads." "You're not-- no."
"I am, yes. And each regiment gets to choose. We've got loads of botany, back. Just-- have the sergeants ready for regulars in case this revel of shite decides to turn pear-shaped.
Structure
Formed during the Fringian War, the Tripartite command was far less stable and effective than the hostile Taergaledian one. The problem mainly lay in the army being formed out of three major nations, with some dozen Houses having representatives in the force, some of whom utterly hated the others. Blackmail, indimidation and murder were almost common.
Count of Monoëch, Salkanner Rutuva-tar was the formal commander in chief. Being chosen partly because he was deemed a harmless, fairly competend yes-man to the rest of the generals, tar-Rutuva mainly dealt with supply come major battles, and left the rest of the war effort in the hands of tar-Khórr. tar-Rutuva was well able to rally lesser nobles to give their sons and gold to the Tripartite, as well as a decent diplomat, who was however woefully over-aged and under-experienced to run a war of the size-- yet who could replace him? He was, after all, related to the Old Lamkonn, and was constantly lobbying for support from Raq'huemea as well as well as the northern Rämenara, the navy of whom could well have blockaded the Taergaledian commerce in the far south, likely strangling the nation into a House controlled husk, or puppet.
tar-Rutuva was later seen as the sole one to mayhaps been able to reform and create a functional army command, yet he did not for his fear of other commanders, as well as the Tvbérans, and especially the Druid, the cabal of whom virtually shot down Thems'k Khórrs ambitions of becoming a legend. Khórr Thems'k-tar was a famed reformer and a military writer, who acted virtually as a glorified field commander in charge of less than c.a. 30 000 men, with never more than one third of all combatants involved, if the number exceeded said total. Khórr, being something of a legend in the minds of the men, was a major popular figurehead of the war effort, as well as a competent commander, daring and knowledgeable of all aspects of modern war, as of 7-629. Khórr was the inspector of infantry, as well as the liaison to the Botanist Council, who oversaw virtually all innovation and science whence it came to material and supply. Indeed, it was the inclusion of all things 'new' and 'revolutionary' which paved the way for Khórr to crush the enemy at 1st Vaerg-vara, a battle which saw two full corps on both sides clash, and prove, that the Taergaledian enemy was woefully underprepared to fight a battle on rough ground, especially without heavy artillery and supply.
The Taergaledian army was virtually destroyed, with the divisions being reformed only after the winter of 7-630. The battle ended the threat of invasion for a full year, during which the Tripartite commanders did virtually nothing but squabble, some sending envoys to sue for ceasefire, and others, Khórr included, seeking to seal the Fringe, and prepare to invade the South again from and unexpected angle. Khórr spoke strictly against involving the Mölqaran lords in the west, as their presence would surely bring about a Great War, for which the Houses were not prepared.
Still, envoys were sent. Eventually, this deed brought the covert Qumortanes of the Land-Empire into Harnoth, and the attention of the Emperor, who felt House victory would mean the destruction of any and all serious resistance to a Imperial invasion of Mölqara, and the Mihurite further North. Khórr was the one to discuss and agree on the terms of Imperial tampering, and decided to retain a very low-key presence, with little more than training and advice from the Land-Empire. This would bring about massive effects for later politics, as the hundreds of soldiers trained by the Haraerlan would yet again refrom the entire Kiri-soldiery, which meant the reform of the society as well.
Amongst the most hated men in centuries for the army was Z'anto Mannar-tar, who was ironically both noble, and professional whence it came to soldiery. He was best connected, and elected strategist of the Tripartite war effort, and an utter failure for his 'machine mind' and his disrespect for traditional institutions of war for all Harnothi-speakers, a vain, prideful poncer, who saw the 'duty' of all others die for the 'nation' (which did not yet exist for most) and amongst the worst orators imaginable--!
He was a veteran soldier, yes, yet his professional nature was alien to the northern Kiri. He commanded military police forces, as well as intelligence networks, the sole purpose of which was to catch for him any and all spies from other, *friendly* Houses looking to displace him-- None of the intelligence his men gathered was shared outside of the staff, and it happened constantly, that entire Corps of men were working without knowing where, or what mission the neighbouring Corps was committed to.
Paranoia was common in the staff - yet for tar-Mannar, the belief he was the sole competent man in the entire force made the situation worse, for he drew resources from the military to protect his own hide, which was accepted by many of his men, for they had 'allied' with the Tvbéran regular, who at times blamed his officers of sedition or plans to depose, and had them interrogated, imprisoned and often exiled to Rämenara, or sometimes executed outright.
There were several characters worthy of mention in the Tripartite staff, yet these three were mainly remembered by later Kiri, for various reasons.
tar-Rutuva was later seen as the sole one to mayhaps been able to reform and create a functional army command, yet he did not for his fear of other commanders, as well as the Tvbérans, and especially the Druid, the cabal of whom virtually shot down Thems'k Khórrs ambitions of becoming a legend. Khórr Thems'k-tar was a famed reformer and a military writer, who acted virtually as a glorified field commander in charge of less than c.a. 30 000 men, with never more than one third of all combatants involved, if the number exceeded said total. Khórr, being something of a legend in the minds of the men, was a major popular figurehead of the war effort, as well as a competent commander, daring and knowledgeable of all aspects of modern war, as of 7-629. Khórr was the inspector of infantry, as well as the liaison to the Botanist Council, who oversaw virtually all innovation and science whence it came to material and supply. Indeed, it was the inclusion of all things 'new' and 'revolutionary' which paved the way for Khórr to crush the enemy at 1st Vaerg-vara, a battle which saw two full corps on both sides clash, and prove, that the Taergaledian enemy was woefully underprepared to fight a battle on rough ground, especially without heavy artillery and supply.
The Taergaledian army was virtually destroyed, with the divisions being reformed only after the winter of 7-630. The battle ended the threat of invasion for a full year, during which the Tripartite commanders did virtually nothing but squabble, some sending envoys to sue for ceasefire, and others, Khórr included, seeking to seal the Fringe, and prepare to invade the South again from and unexpected angle. Khórr spoke strictly against involving the Mölqaran lords in the west, as their presence would surely bring about a Great War, for which the Houses were not prepared.
Still, envoys were sent. Eventually, this deed brought the covert Qumortanes of the Land-Empire into Harnoth, and the attention of the Emperor, who felt House victory would mean the destruction of any and all serious resistance to a Imperial invasion of Mölqara, and the Mihurite further North. Khórr was the one to discuss and agree on the terms of Imperial tampering, and decided to retain a very low-key presence, with little more than training and advice from the Land-Empire. This would bring about massive effects for later politics, as the hundreds of soldiers trained by the Haraerlan would yet again refrom the entire Kiri-soldiery, which meant the reform of the society as well.
Amongst the most hated men in centuries for the army was Z'anto Mannar-tar, who was ironically both noble, and professional whence it came to soldiery. He was best connected, and elected strategist of the Tripartite war effort, and an utter failure for his 'machine mind' and his disrespect for traditional institutions of war for all Harnothi-speakers, a vain, prideful poncer, who saw the 'duty' of all others die for the 'nation' (which did not yet exist for most) and amongst the worst orators imaginable--!
He was a veteran soldier, yes, yet his professional nature was alien to the northern Kiri. He commanded military police forces, as well as intelligence networks, the sole purpose of which was to catch for him any and all spies from other, *friendly* Houses looking to displace him-- None of the intelligence his men gathered was shared outside of the staff, and it happened constantly, that entire Corps of men were working without knowing where, or what mission the neighbouring Corps was committed to.
Paranoia was common in the staff - yet for tar-Mannar, the belief he was the sole competent man in the entire force made the situation worse, for he drew resources from the military to protect his own hide, which was accepted by many of his men, for they had 'allied' with the Tvbéran regular, who at times blamed his officers of sedition or plans to depose, and had them interrogated, imprisoned and often exiled to Rämenara, or sometimes executed outright.
There were several characters worthy of mention in the Tripartite staff, yet these three were mainly remembered by later Kiri, for various reasons.
Assets
The Tripartite army was formed from a dozen different types of unit, with hundreds odd types of musktet and cannon to brgi
Disbandment
By the end of the Fringian War, the entire general staff was ousted, as well as any and all officers and nobles at arms, and not under Taergaledian pay-roll at the time.
Demography and Population
Roughly 100 000 men served at any given time. However, the amount of attrition due to disease was appalling. Narcotics ran rampant in the army, and killings under the influence were commonplace. Some estimates place the number of veteran soldier, NCOs and officers to serve from since the Rape of the Fringe at less than 5 000. Virtually all others had fallen, cheesed it, or wounded.
Territories
Tripartite forces occupied large swaths at first, and were driven out with great alacrity. The Fringe was broken quite quickly, and raids were performed as far as Khaerlemmen lands. Come Fall 7-629, druidic opposition and lack of support from the other Houses saw the invasion fail, and a series of marches and counter-marches began, which in turn ended at the 1st Vaerg-vara. This set the border region at the Fringe, with Taergaledians trickling in through the Haevn'dan gap, as well as the very easternmost reaches of Tvbéran sphere.
All in all, Tripartite Command had virtually only their immediate tributaries, as well as the professional soldiers from the Vaerg-vara academy, who were however loyal to Khórr and had their hands tied by other commanders, who were wary of the man and his popularity.
All in all, Tripartite Command had virtually only their immediate tributaries, as well as the professional soldiers from the Vaerg-vara academy, who were however loyal to Khórr and had their hands tied by other commanders, who were wary of the man and his popularity.
Technological Level
Outside of Khórrian units, poor technology, dated weapons and tactics.
DISBANDED/DISSOLVED
Push, push and push again, and you *will* dip your spear into the sea! (unofficial, quote from the infamous speech by the Chief of Staff which was sent to the men)
Founding Date
7-629
Type
Military, Army Command
Alternative Names
The Clueless, Comet-tails
Training Level
Semi-professional
Veterancy Level
Trained
Demonym
Moss-mouth, Kho-ho
Government System
Oligarchy
Economic System
Traditional
Judicial Body
Tripartite command was an utter mess whence it came to law. All units seemed to follow their own practice, as well as law.
Official State Religion
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments